“Well, you shouldn’t have.” Chrysabelle ran a finger through the condensation on her water glass. “Does Doc even know that vampiress might be after him?”

Velimai shrugged.

“You’re a lot of help.” She stood and threw her napkin onto the table.

The wysper turned from the sink, soap bubbles dripping off her fingers. Tension creasing her face, she flung the suds off and signed, Don’t take your anger out on me. Deal with what’s going on instead of ignoring it, and you might get some answers.

“Deal with it? How? Acknowledging I’ve got some kind of power that resurrects me isn’t going to help me understand it.”

Find someone to talk to. Someone who can explain what power the ring had.

“You have any suggestions as to who this magical person might be?”

Velimai was wavering between solid and vapor form now, a sign of her upset. Chrysabelle didn’t care. She was afraid of what was happening to her, and that fear made her want to lash out, no matter who she hurt.

Talk to Mortalis. With that, the fae stalked out of the room, leaving the dishes, and Chrysabelle, behind.

“What’s he going to tell me that I don’t already know?” Chrysabelle plopped back down into her chair. She huffed out a few breaths, a little of her anger going with them. She shook her head, disappointed in herself. Velimai didn’t deserve her harsh words or crankiness.

She marched up to Velimai’s quarters and knocked lightly. “Vel, I’m sorry. Open the door so I can apologize.”

The wysper opened the door and crossed her arms, waiting expectantly with one brow lifted.

“I’m sorry I snapped.” Chrysabelle sighed. “Truth is, I’m scared. Scared of what’s going on with me, scared I’m not going to find my brother, scared of trying to become something more than comarré even though it feels like learning to walk on legs that don’t belong to me. I’m… well, in Fi’s words, freaking out a little. But you don’t deserve to take the brunt of that. Forgive me?”

Velimai smiled gently and nodded. Apology accepted. And I’m serious about talking to Mortalis. He’s very well connected. I’m sure he can find someone to explain the ring’s powers to you and how having that gold in your skin is affecting you.

“Okay, I will. I’m going to visit Mal, but first I’ll swing by Seven and see if I can get a few words with Mortalis.” She hesitated. “I know I’ve never come right out and said this, but I really appreciate that you stayed on after my mother died. You’re like family to me and I don’t know what I’d do without you. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I love you.”

Velimai’s smile got bigger and she swiped at her eyes. That gold in your skin really is changing you. She winked. Now get. I have dishes to do.

Chrysabelle started toward her rooms to gather a few things before heading out, then stopped. “Why didn’t Mal and Fi just stay here last night? It had to have been close to sunup.”

Velimai pursed her lips. I told them to stay, but he refused. Said the last time he’d been here when you’d woken up, things hadn’t gone well and if you still wanted to apologize to him, you knew where to find him.

“And he thinks I’m stubborn.”

He did at least let Jerem drive them home, though.

“I guess that’s something.” Chrysabelle shook her head as she and Vel went in different directions. Mal would have his apology tonight, and with Mortalis’s help, maybe they’d soon have a better understanding of what the ring’s power was doing to her.

On the way to Seven, Jerem filled in some details from the previous night, including that Fi had asked Mal why they hadn’t just stayed at Chrysabelle’s instead of racing the sun home. Mal hadn’t answered the question, prompting Fi to denounce him and all other men as pigheaded jerks. Unfortunately, Jerem had no other insight into what had happened at Bar Nine other than what Mal had told him, which was basically the same as what Velimai had told her.

The scene outside Seven was crowded, as usual, but one of the bouncers motioned her forward. She recognized him as Tec, the brother of the dead wolf varcolai Mia.

“You’re Doc’s friend, right?” he asked.

“Yes, and you’re Mia’s brother.” How awful to lose a sibling. “I’m so sorry about what happened to her.”

“Thanks.” Sorrow filled his eyes, then morphed into something else. “You here to see Dominic?”

“No, Mortalis. Is he here tonight?”

“Sure, I’ll take you in.” He unclicked the rope and let her through as he addressed one of the other doormen. “Back in a few.” He kept pace beside her as they entered. “Big news about Doc becoming pride leader, huh?”

She nodded as the door swung shut behind them, leaving them alone in the foyer. “Big news.”

A flicker of wolf blue shifted through his eyes. “Word on the street is things got pretty exciting at Bar Nine last night.” His gaze said he knew more but was fishing.

“I guess it did. Thanks for your help. I’m sure I can find Mortalis on my own.” She slapped her palm against one of the dragons painted on the interior double doors and pushed through.

Tec went after her, stepping into her path. “I heard a comarré was killed there last night. And that a noble vampire came out of nowhere, turned into some kind of black-skinned monster, and ripped the heart out of her attacker.”