Dimitri adjusted his position in the chair and blinked. Apparently they were going to have a civil conversation before the man killed him. “There isn’t a damned thing I can do to change it,” he said. “It’s done. I’ve settled a dowry on her?—”
“She doesn’t need a bloody damned dowry from you,” Chas said. “And there certainly isn’t anything you can do. If you were a mortal, I’d have you at the altar tomorrow because I know at least you’d never hurt her. At any rate, I don’t want you to touch her again.”
Dimitri gave a bitter laugh. “There is no chance of that.”
“Very well. The sad thing is, I believe you, Dimitri.” Chas shoved the stake back into his inside pocket. “I came for another reason, besides to kill you.”
“But you haven’t killed me,” Dimitri said flatly. “Damn you.”
“No, and I don’t think I will. It’s clear killing’s too easy a way out for you, Corvindale. Aside from that, I might be in need of you in the future. You’ll owe me.”
“Why are you here?”
“I’m going to visit Sonia, in Scotland. I’m going to see if she’ll use her Sight to tell me about Moldavi so we can stop him for good. Narcise won’t be free until he’s dead.”
Dimitri felt a stirring of interest. “Sonia has a different skill than Angelica. She might do it. She might be of help.”
“But she won’t use it,” Chas said. “I’m hoping to convince her that it’s worthwhile.”
Dimitri sat up, gave his head a little shake to rid himself of the fogginess. “Narcise is going with you?”
“Yes.” Woodmore looked at him, seemed ready to say something, then stopped. “We leave in the morning. I might not be back for Maia’s wedding.”
Maia’s wedding.He’d been afraid, initially, something would have happened to cancel it altogether, but Dimitri knew it had been rescheduled for two weeks from now. Not soon enough. But at least it was going forward. At least soon she would be out of his hands. Out of his reach.
“Does she know this?”
“No. That’s part of what you owe me, Corvindale. You can deliver the news…and take my place, walking her down the aisle. Giving her away.”
“I’ll go to blasted Scotland, you stay here,” Dimitri suggested.
Chas’s response was a laugh as bitter as Dimitri’s. “No, you’ll stay here and make certain my sister is wed without a bloody damned hint of scandal. If you have to force Bradington down the aisle, if you have to enthrall all of theton,you make certain it happens. That it’s the happiest day of her life, damn you. You owe me, Corvindale. You broke my trust, you put your damnedvampirehands on my sister when she was under your care. And your fangs. You’re worse than Voss. You damned well owe me. If we didn’t have a history, if I didn’t oweyou,you would be dead by now.”
No one had ever spoken to Dimitri in that way and lived to tell about it. But this time, he allowed it. Because Chas had the right.
“I’ll see to it. Gladly,” he added. He couldn’t wait to wash his hands of Maia Woodmore.
17
THE LION IS BEARDED IN HIS DEN
Maia sat up, suddenly wide awake.
She’d been dreaming. Or perhaps she hadn’t.
The world was dark, for there was a new moon tonight and the stars were cloaked in clouds and fog. She could barely discern the shapes of her dressing table and the chair in the corner.
Lingering in her mind was a memory…a dream or reality, she wasn’t certain. She was in a chamber furnished with great luxury. There were men there, and a woman who was tall and broad and sported a bit of a mustache. Although the place was richly appointed, Maia feltwrong.It was wrong. Horrible and evil.
She shook her head, trying to clear her mind, trying to focus. Hands grabbing at her, lascivious smiles, the clink of glasses as drinks were poured…Mr. Virgil was there. Smiling. Laughing heartily.
Her heart stopped. Mr. Virgil.
Maia got out of bed as if to escape the images, her heart pounding. She didn’t like this. She didn’t like this at all, the feelings crawling over her. The ugliness, dark memories that began to pour into her mind.
And then something changed in the memory…there was a burst of energy, something dark and fast. Glowing red eyes. Lashing out, violence, and suddenly she was caught up in it…
And then she was safe. Away from it. In a carriage.
