House of Comarré Omnibus, page 170
part #0.50 of House of Comarré Series
Red leather, worked into beautiful patterns and burnished with black so that the leather took on an almost antique look. It reminded her of some of the outfits she’d seen Mortalis in. She ran her hand over the skins. Super soft but so very different from the kind of clothing she was used to. She shook her head. “Oh, Fi,” she whispered. “You silly girl.”
Reluctantly she undressed and put the pants on. They clung to her form, but were surprisingly flexible and fit over her swelling belly as if they’d been measured for her yesterday. She shrugged. Fi said they’d been custom made. The top looked more like an engineering project in the back, straps crisscrossing her shoulders and lower back in an intricate pattern. The front was a solid piece. Almost like a breastplate, and it too fit like it had been molded to her body.
She tugged the laces tight at the back of the top, tying them off before looking at herself in the mirror.
A warrior stared back at her. A gold-gilded, red-leather-clad warrior. “Holy mother.”
“You like it?” Fi called.
“I… I don’t know. It’s different. And it shows a lot of signum.” And it was too tight to hide the one thing she didn’t want Tatiana to know about. She turned sideways to see exactly how pregnant she looked in the outfit.
Oddly, her stomach was perfectly flat. She ran her hands down over her belly. She could feel the curve of it. Why couldn’t she see it?
She opened the bathroom door. “Fi, why—”
“Holy crap, that’s freaking awesome.” Fi bounced on her knees on the bed. “You look like you’re going to kill someone. Like you’ve already killed someone. A lot of someones.”
Chrysabelle held up her hands. “Take a breath. Why can’t I see my stomach in this?” She turned sideways and studied her reflection in the bedroom mirror. “Look. Nothing shows, but I can feel it. So strange.”
Pure delight gleamed in Fi’s eyes. “Not really that strange when you consider who made it.”
Chrysabelle glanced over at her. “Who?”
Looking extremely self-satisfied, Fi laid down on the bed, propped on one elbow on her side. “The same fae that makes all of Mortalis’s leathers. Nyssa hooked me up with him.” Her gaze went to Chrysabelle’s stomach. “The reason you can’t see your belly is fae magic, plain and simple. I figured it would come in handy in case you needed to hide the pregnancy for these next few months.”
“Or just from Tatiana.” Chrysabelle’s hands coasted over her abdomen. “Amazing.”
“So what do you think?” Fi asked. “Are you going to wear it to face down Tatiana for the last time? I know I’d be afraid of you if you came after me in that outfit.”
“Why red? I know I’ve been trying to wear more color, but red?”
A satisfied gleam sparked in Fi’s eyes. “Red means stop. It’s a warning of danger. It’s the color of blood. There were a lot of reasons I chose that color.” She crossed her arms. “So are you going to wear it?”
Chrysabelle took another long, hard look at herself. “Believe it or not, yes.”
The front door slammed. “Chrys, where are you?” Damian called out.
“In my bedroom,” she answered.
He walked in. “Are you ready to—holy mother, what do you have on?”
Chrysabelle planted her hands on her hips. “My Tatiana-killing outfit.” Fi snickered at that. “Am I ready to what? Open the portal? Yes.”
He stared open-mouthed another second, then shook his head. “That looks like a Tatiana-killing outfit.”
“Fi’s choice. She did well, didn’t she?” With a wink at Fi, Chrysabelle continued. “How was the penthouse? Are you going to move in there?”
“It’s nice, but not my style. If it’s okay with you, I’ll stay here a little bit longer.”
She frowned at him. “What’s okay with me is if you don’t leave at all. I really don’t want you to go.”
“You’re sure? I just thought with things about to change the way they are, that… I don’t know. You’d want your own space.”
“Damian, the space I want has you in it.”
He nodded and smiled. “Then I’ll stay.”
“Good. Thank you.” She rubbed her forehead. “I’m glad that’s settled. One less thing to worry about, especially since I really need to open that portal and get to the Garden.”
Fi hopped off the bed. “That’s my cue to leave. I told Doc I wouldn’t be long.” She gave Chrysabelle a hug. “Get it done and bring Mal home.”
Chrysabelle hugged her back. “Will do.”
Fi waved to Damian as she left. “See you later, D.”
Chrysabelle shot her brother a look. “You ready?”
“Absolutely. Are you? Do you have everything you need? Are you sure you don’t want me with you?”
“I’d love to have you with me, but I’d rather have you here protecting the portal.” And out of harm’s way.
“Understood. I know with our training you can handle yourself. I just can’t help but worry about my sister.” He smiled. “Give her hell, Chrys.” He laughed. “Or at least send her there.”
Chrysabelle returned his smile. “That’s exactly what I intend to do.”
Chapter Thirty-seven
Doc nodded to Creek after Remo was seated. “Show him the pictures.”
Creek tapped the screen of his phone, and then held it out for Remo to see.
He studied the picture for a long second before his angry gaze rose to meet Doc’s. “You are having me followed? On what grounds?”
Doc fixed his gaze on Remo and held it there. One way or another, Remo was going to tell the truth. “I’m not having you followed. Creek took those while on surveillance for another matter.”
“So.” Remo shrugged. “What is it supposed to prove, other than I often take walks through the streets?” He sat back. “Is this the council meeting? If so, I fail to see what a photo of me out walking has to do with anything.”
“Those photos were taken after I chased you out of Fritz’s apartment.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Remo laughed nervously. “Who is Fritz?”
“You know who he is. He’s the council member you replaced. The one you’re trying to frame as Heaven’s murderer.”
Remo started to stand, but Creek put a hand on his chest and pushed him back into his chair. “Don’t be rude. Your pride leader’s talking to you.”
“Get your hand off me. I’m done with this,” Remo snarled.
Doc rapped his knuckles on the desktop. “You leave and you’re done with this pride, you get me?”
Remo shut up.
Doc continued. “What this proves is that you’re not the innocent you make yourself out to be.”
Creek set the phone down on Doc’s desk. “I saw you in that alley in your animal form. You had four scratches on your back.”
“Do you have pictures of them also?” Remo asked.
“No,” Creek answered.
“His word that he saw them is good enough,” Doc said. “Because I know where those scratches came from. I put them there when I chased you out of Fritz’s apartment.”
Remo had the nerve to look bored. “I said I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Doc took a breath and tried to remain calm, tried to pull the frustration from his voice. “Look, all I really want to know is why you did it? Why you’d kill your sister? I can’t make it work in my head.”
Remo’s face didn’t change. “I loved my sister and I resent the implication that I would hurt her.”
“Why’d you frame Fritz? What does that get you?”
Remo sighed and stood. “I believe the time has come for me to consult with my father on this.” He moved toward the door.
Doc decided to call his bluff. He leaped over the desk and blocked Remo’s path. “You’re right. Maybe we should call your father. Maybe he’s the one behind all this.” Yellow flickered in Remo’s eyes like a flame, then went out. Doc pushed harder. “That’s more likely, isn’t it? You wouldn’t have the brains to think up something like this. Or the connections to make it happen. No, this definitely wasn’t something you’re capable of, because killing a family member? That would take stones bigger than what you’re carrying around. Rodrigo Silva–sized stones.”
Remo’s lip curled. “My father wouldn’t have the guts.”
“You’re the one who wouldn’t have the guts.” Doc leaned in until they were almost nose to nose. “You couldn’t even get this position without him.”
Remo’s eyes went gold and he snapped his jaw, baring his teeth. “I should have killed you too.”
He swung, but Doc grabbed his arm and threw him against the wall. Remo staggered back, swinging again. This time Doc caught Remo by the waist, took him to the ground, and held him there. “Why’d you kill her? Why?”
Beneath Doc’s grasp, Remo snarled and fought. “To push you and your useless human wife out of power, you stupid Mané.”
Doc jerked him to his feet. “I don’t know what the hell you just called me, but I’m sure it wasn’t good.” He shoved Remo up against the wall. “How does getting me out of power help you?”
Remo snarled. “Fritz was going to call for fresh blood to be voted in.”
“Fresh blood?” Doc stared at the murderer in his grasp. “As in you?”
“Yes. On the strength of my family name and with the sympathy of my sister’s death, every vote would have been mine. I would have taken over this pride and run it the right way. Restored the power it had under Sinjin and doubled it.”
Doc’s lip curled. “Under Sinjin, this pride was being punished for his whims.”
“And now it’s better that the pride is run by a street hood like you?”
Heat built in Doc’s bones but he was in no danger of losing control. He’d won this. “Considering you laid the plans that killed your own flesh and blood, I don’t think you’re in any position to be insulting your pride leader.”
“You’re not my pride leader.” Remo spat the words out. “You’re a pretender and that’s all you’ll ever be.”
“If Fi hadn’t given you that vial of sand, how were you going to make all this happen?” Doc forced a smile. “Because honestly, you don’t strike me as smart enough to have made this work otherwise.”
Remo snapped, but Doc held him back. “I would have planted the tainted sand, then had my sister’s body exhumed and reexamined, but your stupid wife saved me the trouble.”
New warmth crackled along Doc’s nerves. He leaned his full body weight onto his forearms, pressing into Remo so hard that the other shifter’s breath went ragged with effort. Then he put his mouth next to Remo’s ear. “Do you know what they do to pretty boys like you in prison?” Doc shook his head. “Bad, bad things.”
“Damn straight,” Creek said.
Shaking with the effort of controlling his fiery temper, Doc dropped Remo, stepped back, and called for the police chief. “Vernadetto, come get this piece of garbage.”
Vernadetto and his officers charged out of the other room.
“Was that enough?” Doc asked.
Vernadetto nodded as two of the officers cuffed a struggling Remo. They went to the ground with him, but Vernadetto had been smart enough to bring varcolai officers. They could handle Remo. “With Creek’s pictures and testimony, yes. Plus, I’m guessing if we search Remo’s quarters, we’ll find the evidence he intended to plant.”
“You need a warrant for that?”
Vernadetto shook his head. “Not if you give us permission.”
“Done.”
Vernadetto smiled. “I’ll have Barasa and Omur released within the hour.”
“Thank you.” Doc stared at the man who’d created so much chaos in his and Fi’s life. “One more thing.”
“What’s that?” Vernadetto asked.
Doc walked over to where Remo now stood between two officers, hands cuffed behind him. Doc punched him in the gut, lifting him off the floor. Remo doubled over, gagging in pain.
“That was for trying to frame Fi.” He nodded to the officers. “Get that disgusting animal out of here.”
Chrysabelle kneeled on the bathroom floor, the pouch containing the gold pipette in one hand and the scroll in the other. She glanced up at Damian. “After I open this portal, it must remain untouched. If the circle is broken, the portal will close and Mal and I will be trapped there. Also, some sound may filter through, but unless I call your name, stay on this side.”
He’d gone to retrieve his sacre while she prepared and now wore it sheathed across his body. He nodded, resting his hand on the leather strap that crossed his chest. “No one will touch this circle.”
“All right. I’m going to begin.” As he came around to her side, she closed her eyes and bent her head. Holy mother, give me strength to accomplish this task. Guide Malkolm as well, and help him do and say all the right things. And please, protect this child I’m carrying.
She opened her eyes and removed the thin gold pipette from the pouch with a steady hand that belied her trembling nerves. No matter how many times she’d done this, it was never easy.
Hopefully, this time would be the last. After this, she and Mal would be able to live a peaceful life. With that thought and a deep breath, she lifted the pipette with the small, tapered end facing her. She inhaled and forced the thought of the pain out of her head, and then she wrapped her left hand over her right and plunged the pipette into her chest.
To his credit, Damian didn’t flinch.
The stabbing pain sucked the breath from her body, but she steadied herself with purpose. This was a small price to pay for a life without Tatiana. Index finger over the pipette’s open end, she slid it from her chest. Blood trickled from the wound and trailed down beneath her leathers.
Using the pipette like a fountain pen and her blood for ink, she traced the portal onto the marble. Circle finished, she copied the signum from the edges of the torn page. When she was done, she sat back. Just as before when she’d drawn the portal for the Aurelian, the blood began to spread inward, filling the circle until a perfect, shimmering circle of blood sat before her.
The surface rippled like it had been touched by a breeze. A flash of golden light gleamed across the blood and the heady perfume of flowers rose up from it. Without question, she knew the scent came from the Garden. The portal was open.
She stood, tucked the map through the strap of one of the sacres crossing her chest, and stepped through.
“Lilith, please.”
After Tatiana’s third attempt to bring Lilith to them, Mal retired to the couch. From there, he watched her, his amusement growing in time with Tatiana’s frustration, but he finally decided to put an end to it. “How many more times are you going to call her?”
Hands fisted at her sides, she glared at him. “You have a better idea?”
“Yes.” He stood and freed a little of the beast so that it spilled into his voice. “Lilith.” The sound came out of him like a thousand voices speaking at once. “Now.”
The darkness swelled, shadows leaking into the center of the room from the corners until they coalesced into a familiar shape. She stepped out of the gloom, arms crossed, anger contorting her face. “What?”
Mal approached her. “Your mother’s been calling you.”
She eyed him warily. “So?”
“When she calls, you come.” Part of him couldn’t believe he was speaking to this monster this way and the other part of him couldn’t believe it was working.
Lilith sniffed. “She’s mad at me.”
“No, she’s not. In fact, she’s got something very special planned for you.”
A little of the pout disappeared from her bottom lip. “What?”
“Not until you apologize.” He pointed back at Tatiana. “Now.”
“Sorry,” she mumbled.
He leaned in, the beast still in his voice. “Like you mean it or that special thing goes away.”
She pulled away from him, shrinking toward Tatiana. “I’m sorry for killing Octavian without asking.”
Surreal didn’t begin to cover this. “That’s better,” Mal said.
Tatiana’s smile was shaky, but otherwise convincing. “Thank you, Lilith.”
Lilith grinned and pressed her hands together in front of her chest. “What’s the special thing?”
Tatiana moved closer to Mal. Was she that afraid of Lilith or trying to present a more unified front? “My darling, Malkolm and I have decided to take you to the most beautiful place on earth. The Garden of Eden. Won’t that be exciting?”
Lilith looked doubtful. “Why? What’s exciting about it?”
Mal wanted to roll his eyes, but didn’t. Tatiana wasn’t selling this very well. He sighed. “Because your mother has missed so much time with you, she wants to make up for that by allowing you to choose a very special present from the Garden. All the animals there are tame, so you can pick anything you like as a pet.”
Tatiana smiled like Mal had just come up with the best idea ever. Which, clearly, he had. “That’s right. Any animal you like. You pick it and we’ll bring it back here to live with us.”
Lilith’s eyes brightened. “You mean after that we’re all going to live here together?”
“Yes,” Tatiana answered. “You’ll stay here with us from then on.”
She squeezed her hands together. “And I can have any animal I like?”
“Any one at all, my darling. I used to have a cobra. I might get another one while we’re there.”
“No,” Lilith shouted. “Only I get a present.”
Tatiana stiffened and she held her hands up as she laughed unconvincingly. “All right, my sweet, only you get a present.”
If he thought he’d have a chance, Mal would have killed them both right there. A more irritating pair he couldn’t imagine. “Go rest now, Lilith. We’ll call you in just a short time to join us, but we have some final preparations to make before we can leave.” They’d already decided that Lilith shouldn’t see the portal being drawn. If anything went wrong, that wasn’t information she needed to possess.
“You promise not long? I hate waiting.”
Tatiana nodded. “We promise. Not long at all.”
