Kristen Painter - Forbidden Blood

Was he from the rest of the nobility?

“There are those among us who grow weary of eternity.

Those who lack the will to face the sun. I provide a gentler alternative. No pain, just one last, final daysleep.”

“But it’s still breaking the rule all vampires live by.”

“Thou shall not kill your brethren.” He nodded. “With this information, Arnaud could cause me to become anathema. Or worse.”

“So you either do what he tells you to do—”

“At your expense,” Dominic interjected.

“Or lose everything.”

He nodded. “Now you understand my dilemma.”

“I do. And I thank you for sharing it with me. I will not betray that trust. And I believe that you are worthy of trusting as well”

She canted her head at him. “You are unlike any vampire I have ever known.”

He smiled broadly. “Imagine what you’ll think of me in a few more days.” He stood and held out his hand to her. “It’s late.

“I’ve kept you up too long. I’ll show you to your room.”

She took his hand and let him help her up, but then pointed to the untouched goblet of blood, now congealed. “I’m afraid I’ve ruined your dinner. Catarina will not be pleased.”

“Catarina will never know.” He pushed both chairs in before offering her his arm.

She looped her arm through the crook of his elbow, every moment becoming more surreal. “Are you like this with all your guests?”

“Guests?”

“Like what?” he asked as they headed down the hall

“So… accommodating.”

“I never have guests, but if I did and they were as beautiful and charming as you, I guess I would be.”

“There you go again.” She tried not to focus on the way his hip subtly brushed hers, how the breadth of his body accentuated the slenderness of hers. How being this close amplified how very male he was. “Being accommodating.”

He stopped and the first thought was that he would try to kiss her again and how this time she might not refuse him. “Your room.”

“What?” She blinked, trying to parse out what he’d said.

He released her arm and opened the door before them.

“Your room. If anything isn’t to your liking, please let me know.”

She didn’t take her gaze from his face. “I’m sure it’s fine.”

“Until this evening, then.” And with that, he was gone.

“Sciocco,” Dominic muttered to himself as he entered his suite.

He’d been a fool in more ways than one this morning. He’d let Marissa’s beauty and intelligence sway him into revealing far more than was prudent. He’d let his desires get the best of him.

He’d been without wiling companionship for so long that the smallest encouragement from her and he’d become a blathering loon with the libido of a schoolboy.

He’d even been so distracted he’d ignored an entire goblet of blood. Now he would face the coming night hungry. And that meant he’d be even more vulnerable to Marissa’s charms.

He threw his suit jacket onto a chair. His valet rushed forward to retrieve it. Dominic waved the man off. “Leave it until this evening. I wish to be alone.”

“Yes, my lord.” The man ducked out.

Impatient with the buttons of his shirt, Dominic tore it off and added it to the pile. The rest of his clothes followed He tugged on a pair of silk pajama pants, then headed for his bed. He stopped as he passed a floor-length mirror. The gold backing meant he’d see whatever face he wished, human or vampire.

Tonight, both sides had betrayed him.

He stared at his reflection, scowling. “You chose this life. And now one woman makes you question it? A woman who belongs to another? A woman who could be your undoing? She would laugh if she knew your thoughts.” Or would she? Marissa made it plain her life with Arnaud was less than ideal. He growled at his image. “Travel and lack of blood has muddled your brain.”

He stalked to the bed, got under the linens, and stared into the silk canopy draped from its four posters. How was he going to appease Arnaud without hurting Marissa? Nothing he’d done in the past gave him any answers. Even alchemy had its limitations.

His choices in this were narrow. Do as Arnaud commanded, or spare Marissa. Both had consequences. If Dominic succeeded in this task for Arnaud, the man would never leave him alone. Nor would any other vampire who heard of it.

Spending his life turning vampires into daywalkers held no appeal. He knew his kind could be monsters. He still had familia in the world, generations removed, but blood was blood.

He felt duty bound to protect them from what he’d become as much as he felt duty bound to protect Marissa from harm.

But sparing her meant his days as nobility would end. Arnaud did not make empty threats. He’d expose Dominic without compunction. Once that happened, Dominic would have little compunction. Once that happened, Dominic would have little time to flee, leaving behind everything he’d worked so hard for.

Or worse, if they captured him, they’d turn him to ash.

No matter how much life was behind him, he wasn’t ready to give up his future so quickly. Not when he’d just remembered how enjoyable the company of the right female could be.

Daysleep closed in as the potion he’d taken wore off.

Perhaps the twilight would bring him an answer. But even as his eyes closed, he knew what lay ahead would change his life forever.

Evening brought him no solutions, so as he did most nights, he secluded himself in his laboratory and went to work while he awaited Marissa’s arrival. She didn’t keep him waiting long.

His head lifted from his tools at her entrance. “Buona sera. I trust you slept well?”

She nodded and greeted him with a weak smile. “As well as I could knowing what I’m here for.” She closed the door behind her and leaned against it. “I don’t blame you for it, you know.

You are as much a pawn in this game as I am.”

“I appreciate your understanding. You would be well within your rights to be cross with me.”

She laughed, a sad sound very different from the one he’d first heard on the plane. “I am a comarré. I have very few rights.”

He put his things down and moved away from his He put his things down and moved away from his workbench. There was little he could say that would make her feel better. Instead, he fell back on his heritage. “Would you care for an espresso? I don’t drink it, but I still enjoy the smell” He smiled. “That must seem foolish to you.”

“No, not at all” She came toward him, her gaze flitting from the overflowing shelves to the stuffed-until-they-could-barely-close cabinets. His laboratory must look like a junk shop to her.

“I imagine there are a great many things you must miss. Thank you for the offer of espresso, but I’m still full from breakfast. I’d rather we just get on with whatever it is you intend to do.” She raised her brows as she leaned against his workbench and gave him an intimately appraising look. “What do you intend to do?

“Did you come up with a plan?”

“At the moment, the only plan I can think of is trying to introduce my existing daywalking serum into your bloodstream.

“There will be testing required, but it should give Arnaud the desired effect. It won’t last, of course, so the next time he attempts to breach the day, he’ll be in for a shock.”

She frowned. “He’ll be furious with you.”

He shrugged. “I’ve already told him what he wants is impossible. If he calls me back, I’ll simply tell him I’ve done everything I can.”

“And then he’ll turn you in to the Council of Dominus.”