“You trust them?”

So far, Doc thought. “Yes.”

Rodrigo nodded thoughtfully. “Good. Having men around you that you can trust is very important in our position.” He spread his hands over his thighs. “This is how I wish to speak to you today. Pride leader to pride leader, si?”

Doc leaned back in his chair, still apprehensive. “Yes. Good.”

“What I say here to you is not to be repeated outside these walls. I have your word?”

Slightly more intrigued, Doc gave a short nod. “You do.”

Rodrigo leaned forward. “This other woman…” He sighed again. “I understand how it is. My marriage was a political one as well. My mate was not the woman I was in love with, but love…” He shrugged. “Those of us who hold power have little room for love.”

“I don’t believe that,” Doc said.

Rodrigo smiled sadly. “You are young. You will learn. Unfortunately, my daughter has no doubt made things difficult for you.” He muttered something in Portuguese. “Heaven is our youngest and my wife spoiled her. I know she is beautiful, but beauty is no replacement for a kind heart and a sweet spirit. She is…” He raised his hand. “I will just say she is too much like her mother.”

Doc stared at the man for a few seconds. “This isn’t the conversation I expected to have with you.”

“It is good to have this honest talk, yes?” Rodrigo sat back. “I will confess one more thing. I never liked Sinjin. Not his politics, not his personality, not his excess of ambition. He pursued me for Heaven’s hand. He was relentless. I knew he wanted only the political standing the alliance would bring.” Rodrigo frowned. “I finally agreed. I thought actually marrying her would be the punishment he deserved. And part of me was happy to give her into someone else’s hands.”

Again, Doc was left without words. What could anyone say to that?

“I know, you are thinking I am a bad father.”

“No, not at all.” Doc shook his head vehemently. “You did what any man in your position would have done.”

Rodrigo went silent then, nodding only slightly and studying Doc. At last, he spoke. “I know very little of you, but what I do know, I like. Perhaps our alliance will actually mean something.” He stood and offered Doc his hand. “I am not unhappy to have you in my family.”

Doc stood but kept his hands on the desk. “Before you shake my hand, there is something you should know.”

Rodrigo let his hand drop. A fleeting shimmer of gold passed through his eyes. “What?”

“Heaven lost the challenge. She’s…” Dammit, there was no easy way to say this. “She’s dead.”

The soft leather soles of Chrysabelle’s slippers made it fairly easy to trail Octavian undetected, but she still kept a good distance between them, occasionally ducking into open doors or hiding in alcoves in case he looked back. He was a vampire, after all, and the farther away they got from the ball, the less noise there was to cover the sounds of her breathing and heartbeat.

Perhaps the constant traffic of servants through the halls helped her. With so many guests staying at the estate, there was too much to be done for the servants to rest. Or perhaps it was the child’s crying in his ear and the soft words he spoke to her in an attempt to soothe her. She settled down a little, but the crying only became soft whimpers and hiccupy sobs.

When he stopped, Chrysabelle darted back around the last corner and listened. A door opened and closed. Holy mother, protect me. With a false confidence, she sauntered forth, opened the suite door, and slipped in.

Beyond the foyer’s arched entrance was a living room, and through there, another door opened into a bedroom. All empty as far as she could see, but small sounds deeper in told her to proceed cautiously. She inched forward, every nerve in her body on alert to hide or run or fight. Through a closed door in the living room, the sounds she’d heard became more distinct. More female. Two women. Most likely the child’s nursemaid and another of Tatiana’s servants. If Octavian had handed the baby off, where was he? If they had two adjoining suites, he could have left by another door. She relaxed and stopped hunching.

“What are you doing in here?”

She froze, the male voice behind her proof that Octavian hadn’t gone anywhere. With a deep breath, she fixed an innocent smile on her face and turned. He still held the child, who had finally quieted. “I’m sorry, I’ve gotten so turned around. All these suites look the same to me.” Then, as if just noticing the baby, she exclaimed, “Oh, the baby! Look how darling she is.” Chrysabelle came a few steps closer. “Look at those precious cheeks. May I hold her? I’d love to hold her.”

“No.” Octavian lifted Lilith higher.

Chrysabelle had expected that answer. Time was not on her side. If she tried to talk him into giving her the baby, all could be lost. Hoping she was doing the right thing, she pulled one blade free of its sheath and brandished it. The false sweetness left her words. “Give me the child and I’ll let you live.”

His eyes silvered. “Who are you working for? Who sent you?”

“You don’t need to know that.” She lifted the dagger, her heart pounding. “The child. Now.”

He stood his ground. “What family? Tell me that much.”

“No family. No more questions. Hand her over.”

The silver in his eyes faded. “KM?”