Out for Blood (37 page)

“No, no.” Daci shook her head. “I want a Primoris Domus comar and I want one now. I want to show him off at the ball. I am the House of Tepes Elder, after all. I just hope I pick the right one.”

“Ask the questions I told you to ask and you’ll be fine.” Not that she’d fared that well with Damian, but how was she to know he’d turn into such a problem? At the time, he’d been the cream of the comar available, and there had been no question of whether or not she’d purchase his blood rights, just the negotiation as to how much she’d pay.

The sudden rush of blood scent filled the room, causing both women to gasp softly.

“Here we are,” the headmistress announced as she walked into the hall’s open space. Behind her followed four comars. All blond, all blue eyed, all dressed in white, and tattooed in gold. Each one a perfect specimen of their breed.

Tatiana watched as Daci scrutinized the men standing before her, although calling two of them men was a fair stretch considering they probably weren’t more than seventeen. She sat back to see how Daci would do.

Daci strolled both sides of the row of comars with a practiced nonchalance, getting a good look at each one. Then, without the slightest indication of her feelings upon her face, she stopped in front of Madame Vilma. “Have any had their blood rights purchased before?”

Madame Vilma nodded at the last one, also the oldest by his looks. “Daniel has. Unfortunately, his patron passed on but Daniel’s returned to us, eager to serve another.”

“He’s dismissed.” Daci waved her hand like she was pushing him away.

Tatiana smiled. Her Elder was doing well.

As that comar left, Daci asked her second question. “Which one is the youngest?”

“Jonah,” Vilma commanded. “Step forward.”

“His age?” Daci asked.

“Sixteen.”

Daci went to stand before the boy. He was easily a head taller than her and his broad body eclipsed her slim build. She leaned in and inhaled. He stood motionless under her scrutiny. She shifted her face and dropped her fangs, opening her mouth to breathe in his scent. He didn’t flinch, but his cheeks flushed the deep red of strong blood. The sight made Tatiana’s gums ache. This was the one.

“My lady,” he murmured, dropping his head a few centimeters.

Daci smiled and pulled back. She nodded, casting a glance at Tatiana before speaking to the housemother. “He’ll do.”

Tatiana covered her mouth to hide her prideful smile. The slightest twinge of jealousy bit at her, knowing that Daci would be the first to break that boy’s tender skin and taste the life that flowed in his veins.

She’d never wanted to rid herself of Damian so badly.

Fi couldn’t stop trembling. Beyond the ready room, the noise of the gathering crowd in the arena filtered through. The crowd that was going to watch this madness unfold. The crowd that would cheer Heaven on, because Heaven was one of their own.

All of them varcolai. All of them, save Doc, Omur, and Barasa, here to watch Heaven destroy her.

Heat built at the back of Fi’s eyes. Heat that meant tears. Why had she done this? She tipped her head back. She would not cry. No way in hell. She might be scared. And stupid. But she wasn’t going out there looking like a crybaby who’d suddenly realized what a jack-witted thing she’d done. Besides, she knew what she needed to do when she got out there.

She breathed a few steadying breaths and forced herself to run through the moves Omur and Barasa had taught her. Just in case. The way to move when Heaven lunged, how to anticipate a punch, how to take a punch.

How not to die.

“Mercy,” Fi whispered, tasting the word to see how bitter it was. She didn’t plan to use it, because using it meant losing Doc, but if not using it meant dying, she might. Dying would give Heaven complete access to Doc. Unless… Fi sat down on the narrow bench attached to the wall. Would she actually die? Or would she just be unable to return to a solid form? Or worse. Fi shuddered. If she died and got stuck in that nightmarish loop of repeating the day Mal had killed her…

She got to her feet. That wasn’t a chance she was willing to take. Not with the old witch Aliza dead. Who would cast the spell to get her out of the loop if it happened again? She shook her head and began to walk the perimeter of the room.

Doc burst in. “Fi.”

The tears she’d been holding back rose up fresh, spilling down her cheeks. She ran to him, buried herself against his hard body. “This has got to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.”

“Hey now.” He petted her hair as she sniffled into his chest, then gently pulled her back. “I think we both know falling in love with me was the stupidest thing you ever did.” He smiled and winked, but his eyes mirrored the fear she was feeling.

She smiled back anyway, knowing that was what he wanted. “I’m afraid.”

He frowned. “Your plan’s going to work. I know it will. And don’t be afraid of Heaven. Please, baby, you’ve already been through worse than anything that woman can dish out. You died twice, for Bast’s sake. You’ve lived with all the crap that goes on in Mal’s head. Heaven can’t be scarier than that.”

“She’s not. I’m afraid of losing you.” She sniffed and wiped her nose on the sleeve of the oversized jumpsuit she’d been issued. At least the boots they’d given her fit. Didn’t hurt that fashionista Heaven would have to wear one of these getups too. It was supposed to help even the playing field. “And you’re right.” She nodded. “I can do this.” But those words were for him. Inside, doubt raged. Would Heaven really let her cry mercy if something went wrong? Somehow she didn’t think so. “It’s going to be fine.”

His smile returned. “That’s the spirit.” He kissed her, too briefly. “I have to go. I gotta visit Heaven. Not supposed to even be here, actually.” He shrugged, looking embarrassed about what he’d just admitted. “That’ll all change soon enough.”

“It’s okay. I understand.”

He backed toward the door. “One move and this is all behind us.”

She nodded. “One move.”

His smile broke down. “See you when it’s over.”

She just nodded again, unable to find words. He shut the door. She went back to the bench, bent her head into her hands, and began running through the training once again just in case her plan didn’t work.

The door opened a second time. Barasa slipped in, closing the door quickly behind him. “I just have a second; they’re coming to get you. Draw the fight out as long as you can. Understand?”

“I understand, but I don’t think it’ll be necessary.”

Barasa hesitated, then patted her arm. “I hope you’re right, but if not, tire her out. And remember what we showed you.” He turned toward the door like he’d heard something. “Best of luck. Must go.”

And then he was gone.

Odd, but she didn’t have time to think about his strangeness, because seconds later, two big varcolai showed up to take her to the arena. They walked her down the hall and when the doors opened before her, the noise of the crowd rolled over her like a tsunami.

The guards stopped her at the edge of the arena. “Whoever leaves the ring alive, leaves victorious.”

Fi twisted sharply. “This isn’t a death match. Death
or
mercy.” Unless something had changed. Wouldn’t Doc or Barasa have told her? Panic scratched at her throat. “Right?”

The guard shrugged, then grunted, “Forward.”

She didn’t move. “Not until you answer me.”

The second guard laughed. “It’s death or mercy. But a human against one of us? Death would be mercy.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but he shoved her toward the arena. “Get in the ring or forfeit. Now.”

She stumbled forward, fear making her feet leaden and her muscles loose and rebellious. The varcolai stayed behind as she stepped over a raised lip that separated the grated metal from the sand. A light flared above her, trapping her in a blinding circle. The crowd exploded, chanting words she was glad she couldn’t understand. The impact of what was about to happen crushed her chest like a falling building. She focused on the only thing she could see, the sand, and tried to shut everything else out. The sand was soft and white as sugar. The tiny grains sparkled like little stars. Like diamonds.

Like Mal’s eyes when he was angry.

She closed her eyes. What would Mal do in this situation? He’d fight until he dropped. Until he had nothing left. Just like when he’d been in the Pits. She nodded to herself. That’s what she’d do, too, if her plan didn’t work. No one would be able to say she hadn’t given it her best shot.

And Doc would know that she’d died loving him enough to lay it all on the line.

With a fresh boom of noise, the crowd’s chanting broke through her thoughts. She looked up, peering through the light.

Heaven walked toward her from the far side of the arena. Even from a hundred feet away, Fi could see her jumpsuit fit like haute couture, her hair and makeup flawless, her combat boots shiny. As the spotlight above her came to life, she stopped, raised her hands, and waved to the crowd. They cheered back.

Fi felt like the girl who hadn’t made the pep squad all over again. Not that she’d ever really wanted to be a cheerleader. They were all so shallow. And slutty. Anger overtook fear. Why was she scared of this prissy little Brazilian chick? So what if she had the wardrobe that Fi had always wanted. That was
all
she was going to have because no way was Fi letting Heaven take her man. No girly-girl who’d had life handed to her on a silver platter was going to beat Fi; that was for damn sure.

Fi dug her feet into the sand, planted her hands on her hips, and lifted her chin to survey the crowd for Doc. Row after row of varcolai eyes met hers, some golden, some gleaming, all filled with anticipation. Except Doc’s. She found him in the pride leader’s box, the chair beside him empty. And waiting. Fi nodded. That was her chair and she’d take her place there, just as soon as she showed Heaven what she was made of.

She looked back at Heaven, still standing at the opposite end. Heaven made eye contact with her and a slow smile upended the corners of her mouth. She started forward again with a weird, loping gait.

Fi just watched, slightly puzzled. Talk about running like a girl. She hunkered down, digging her feet in a little more and lowering her center of gravity in preparation. She’d expected a bell to ring or someone to shout, “Go” or
something
to let her know the fight had started, but whatever. This was going to be so freakin’ easy—

Suddenly, Heaven leaped. Midair, she shifted into her jaguar form. She landed and kept running. Straight at Fi.

The crowd yowled in approval.

Fi held her ground. Only yards separated them now. Her heart pounded louder. This would work, wouldn’t it? It would. If she timed it right. If she didn’t—

With a snarl, Heaven leaped again.

Chapter Thirty-Four

W
hen Luciano had told Lola he’d wanted to be satisfied before he’d turn her, this was not what she’d expected. For several hours they’d sat in his apartment, a beautifully decorated suite of rooms so deep within the bowels of the building that they physically shouldn’t exist, and done nothing but talk. Or rather she had.

He’d wanted her to recount in detail her favorite sunny days. And so she had. Days spent at the beach, days with family, when Julia had been young and still her sweet little girl, busy spring days working in the garden, lazy fall days swinging in the hammock with a drink and a good book, stormy days that ended with rainbows and air that sparkled in the sun.

He’d sat in a dark corner far away from her, and although her eyesight and her hearing couldn’t compare to his, she was pretty sure he’d wept during her descriptions. If he’d meant to make her doubt her decision, he hadn’t. He’d only strengthened her convictions. Made her impatient for the change.

He rolled his hand through the air. “Tell me more.”

“I have nothing left to tell you.” She pushed to her feet. “Please. Time is running out.”

“Soon you’ll have nothing but time.” He stood and in an instant was in front of her. What would it feel like to move that fast? He held out his hand. “Come.”

She took it and he led her to the bed. At last, he was going to sleep with her as she’d originally thought. She was ready and willing. It wouldn’t be such a sacrifice. He was handsome and charming and possessed the same dark allure all vampires seemed to. Her body would welcome the use after the years she’d gone without. Not since her divorce if she counted the time. Being mayor made dating difficult. Few men wanted the scrutiny.

“Lie down,” he told her. “Make yourself comfortable.”

She did as he asked. “Do you want me to take my clothes off?”

“What?” His mouth opened quizzically. “Why would I want you to do that?”

“I thought… Don’t you want to sleep with me?”

His face stayed blank for a moment; then he burst into laughter. “
Cara mia
, you are
human
. Perhaps when you are turned, but now?” He shook his head. “You will understand soon enough. There are some of us who have sex with humans, but”—he raised his brows and tilted his head as he lifted one shoulder—“they do not plan to let them live anyway. Do you understand what I am telling you?”