A fringe vampire checked their invitation. Dominic had duplicated the one Creek had given to Chrysabelle so that each pair had one. The fringe scanned the invites and nodded. “Welcome to the House of Bathory’s Dominus ball. Enjoy your evening.”
And just like that, they were in.
From here on, he was Lord Moreau and Chrysabelle was Carissa. Dominic was Lord Santoro and Katsumi was Lady Kobayashi. Once they were through the main doors, they were directed through the house to the ballroom. The space was enormous, and in typical noble fashion, it was disgustingly overdone. Apparently the theme was the Garden of Eden. Mal tried not to roll his eyes, but it was hard.
Dominic stopped them near an enormous gilded cage filled with brilliantly colored macaws, most likely cloned. “Lord Moreau, if you’ll excuse Lady Kobayashi and me, there’s someone on the other side I must speak with.”
Mal nodded and tucked himself a little deeper into the surrounding jungle of potted palms and overwhelmingly fragrant tropical flowers. “Smells like a whorehouse in here.”
Beside and slightly behind him, Chrysabelle whispered, “And you would know that how?”
He ducked his head and forced himself not to smile. “Jealous already?”
“Just remember, I’m the only one of us adequately armed.”
That much was true. Dominic had a narrow blade hidden in his cane, and Katsumi’s hair was held up with a double-pronged six-inch kanzashi that looked like nothing more than an elaborate hairpin. All Mal had was a good length of garrote wire sewn into the lining of his coat. Chrysabelle’s pair of blades made her twice as armed as the rest of them. “Duly noted.”
They stood in silence for a while, observing, trying to determine where either of their targets might be.
“Maybe you should get a glass of blood,” Chrysabelle said. “Most of the nobles have one.”
“Dominic said drinking blood would shorten the life span of the injection.”
“Don’t drink it. Just hold it for effect.”
He nodded. “Fine, but not yet. This is a good spot.”
“I can get it for you. That would be my job anyway as your comarré.”
He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “How does it feel to be back here? You miss any of this?”
“Not in the slightest.” He felt her eyes on him. “Have I ever given you the impression that I had?”
“No. Not lately anyway. Maybe in the first few days after you’d left.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her give a tiny shake of her head. “When this is over”—her voice lowered—“I will put this life behind me once and for all.”
He tipped his head to see her better. The face wasn’t hers, but the expressions rang true and the look in her eyes held the strength of will he’d come to love about her. “You have plans?”
She smiled slightly and looked up from beneath her lashes at him. “Oh yes.” Her smile broadened for just a second. “And they include you.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
With Lilith cradled in her arms, Tatiana stood beside Octavian and Daciana outside the closed ballroom doors. She turned to take one last look and make sure everything was as it should be. Their comarré, Damian, Saraphina, and the newly purchased Jonah stood a few feet behind them. Since Damian had been here at Lord Syler’s, his spirit seemed broken. Like he’d resigned himself to his position once again. Or maybe it was the sedatives she’d put into his food. She’d have to determine if he was worth keeping soon. She couldn’t very well drink his blood while he was doped up.
The doors opened a sliver and Lord Syler joined them. “It’s time to announce you. The ball has been under way for nearly two hours. Lady Tatiana, you’ll be pleased to know Lord Grigor is not in attendance.”
“That does please me.”
Lord Syler held his hand out toward the ballroom. “Are you ready for the nobility to meet Lilith and greet the newest member of the House of Tepes?”
She kissed Lilith’s head, now crowned with the diamond and amethyst band that perfectly complemented Tatiana’s gown. “I am.”
Somewhat pensively, he moved a step closer. “It’s my great pleasure to do this for you and the House of Tepes. I hope you know you can come to me, should you need anything.”
She dipped her head graciously. He was not nearly the overbearing bore Ivan had been. “Most gracious of you.”
He smiled. “Let us proceed, then.” At the nod of his head, the servants threw the doors wide and he entered the ballroom. Tatiana followed with Octavian at her side as consort, then Daciana as Elder and lastly, their comarré. Kosmina was inside already and would be nearby to take Lilith when Tatiana gave her the sign. She had no intention of keeping her daughter in front of the ogling nobility all evening.
The noise from the assembled crowd fell to a whispered hush as they walked through. The ballroom was enormous, as was the ballroom in her own estate, and tonight it was at capacity. Perhaps a thousand vampires. Perhaps more. She lifted her chin a little higher and kept a firm grip on Lilith, one hand curled around her body, the other on her head.
The dais had been set with a long banquet table. Syler’s elder, Edwin, was already in the chair to Syler’s left. He rose as they approached and greeted Tatiana with a short bow. She nodded in return. She didn’t know much about Edwin, but he seemed a levelheaded sort.
Lord Syler stood beside Edwin at the first of the large center chairs, while Tatiana stood beside the second. Octavian and Daciana filled in the next two spaces. The comarré settled into a row of seats at the very back of the dais where Syler’s and Edwin’s were already in attendance.