“That task can wait.” She whipped around and jabbed her sword hand under Kosmina’s chin. “Tell me what you know or so help me, I will slice you from ear to ear.”

Kosmina lifted her head slightly as her eyes went strangely blank. “I know nothing.”

Tatiana’s blade pressed into Kosmina’s skin until a drop of blood rolled down the shining metal surface. “You lie.”

Kosmina went up on her toes, struggling to rise above the cutting edge. “No, my lady, I know nothing.”

Mal stood. “You’re wasting my time on these foolish games, Tatiana. An old lover returns and your focus is gone. I’ve had enough.” He took a few steps toward the door, hoping to pull her focus off Kosmina. Even if the KM agent had been prepared to kill him, he didn’t want her blood on his hands. “You said you wanted my help, but I’m here and you’ve done nothing to make use of me. Instead, you’re distracted. I’m tired of waiting on you. If you want to do this on your own, so be it.”

Tatiana paused, her sword hand lowering an inch or two. “Mal, wait. Don’t you see? Her disloyalty must be punished.”

“Being tricked by Octavian does not make her disloyal. It merely makes her gullible. She’s kine. If you expect more, you’re a fool.”

Some of the rage left Tatiana’s eyes. She dropped the sword from Kosmina’s throat and it became a hand again. “I suppose I do expect too much.” She took a step toward him. “And we have so much work ahead of us.”

He nodded. “We should focus on that.”

“We should,” Tatiana agreed. “This isn’t something I need to deal with. I’ll give her over to some of my household guards, have them see what they can get out of her while we’re gone.”

Behind her, Kosmina’s face took on the same soldierlike expression he’d seen in the wine cellar. Her hand went from the pocket of her uniform to her mouth, and then her jaw popped as she bit down. “Go to hell, vampire.”

Tatiana spun around as Kosmina began to convulse. Foam bubbled from her lips and she fell to the ground. After a few seconds of twitching, she lay still.

Tatiana kneeled and felt her throat. “She’s dead. Bloody kine traitor.”

Son of a priest. “Look at it this way,” Mal said. “She saved you the effort.”

“Hmph.” Tatiana stood, her silver gaze directed at him. “And you were trying to protect her.”

“No.” He came to her side, intent on damage control, and took her by the shoulders. “I was trying to protect you.”

“Me?” She frowned. “From what?”

“From Lilith’s wrath. You haven’t spoken to her since the incident with Octavian and when she disappeared, she was convinced you were angry at her. How much more time will you let go by before you console her? Do you really want her to stew longer than necessary? The more upset she is, the harder it may be to convince her to step through that portal with us.”

Tatiana’s hand went to her mouth. “Bloody hell. With this thing with Octavian, I’d completely forgotten.”

He released her. “You’ve got to call her to you, soothe her, and persuade her to come with us to the Garden. Make it seem like something special.” He narrowed his eyes. “She’s growing stronger, isn’t she? More volatile?”

Tatiana nodded and shifted her face back to human. “Thank you.”

Those were the last words he’d expected out of her mouth, but with Tatiana, nothing was a given. “For what?”

“For keeping your head when I’m losing mine.” She hugged him, causing him to stiffen. He forced himself to relax, but her touch was so repulsive it took effort. “I never should have let you go, Mal. We’re so good together, you and I.”

It was pointless to remind her that she hadn’t let him go; she’d left him to rot. “Yes, well, I’m here now.”

And the sooner he could rid the world of her and her hell-spawned child, the sooner he’d be gone.

Chapter Thirty-six

Chrysabelle slept as much as she could on the way home. The child in her belly had definitely begun to sap her strength, something she would need when she entered the Garden. She yawned and stretched as Jerem pulled the car around to the front of the house. The sun was just coming up.

Velimai opened the door, her gaze shifting from Chrysabelle’s face to her stomach and back up again. Her hands started moving. How are you feeling?

“Tired, but I’ll make it.” Behind her, Jerem brought her bag in. “Thank you. Take a few days off, okay? You’ve earned them.”

He nodded, smiling. “Thanks, boss.”

After he left, Chrysabelle glanced up the steps. “Damian moved in?”

Yes. He’s in the suite at the very end of the south side.

“How’s Amylia taking it?”

“She’s doing fine.” Damian came down the stairs. “How was your trip? Tatiana dead yet?”

“No, not yet. Mal and I have some work to do before that’s accomplished, but we’re close.” She gave him a hug when he approached. “I’m glad you moved into the main house. I like having you here.”

“I’m not sure I’m staying, though. The trust lawyer dropped off some paperwork while you were gone and I was reading through the list of the Lapointe Company holdings. Our mother was a very savvy businesswoman. Among the properties she purchased is a penthouse on Venetian Island.” He grinned. “I was thinking I might move in there. If you wouldn’t mind my taking that place.”