“I was getting tired of not breaking this.” He set the sword back on the rack. His heart did not beat, but his lungs did heave to go along with the exercise. Vampires did not need to breathe, but human bodies continued to work as they were designed to, even without need. He took a breath and controlled what in a human would have been signs of exertion.
Dominic stared at the sword in his hand, and some of the sorrow settled back on him again. “What was the point of coming here?”
Kendrick picked up his coat. “Seducing you into coming with me so that maybe some night, you’ll be willing to use something more substantial than that pig sticker.”And so maybe I will not lose you to the dark as I am losing other vampires.
Dominic raised an eyebrow. “You mean stand there while you try to hack me in two with a broadsword or stab me with a spear? No, thank you.”
Kendrick tilted his head. “There’s a thought. Do you think any smith in this cesspit of a city could make a decent spear?”
“Save me from your barbaric instincts.”
“Maybe next time, I’ll convince Etienne to show up.”
“Maybe pigs will fly,” Dominic drawled.
Kendrick laughed and clapped his hat on his head. “Really, old friend—I need allies. Your help would be invaluable. Right now, the only ones I can count on are Etienne and Addie—as well as a mysterious correspondent.”
Dominic raised an eyebrow in inquiry. Kendrick explained about his note-leaver.
“A woman, you say?”
“Addie believes so. I have searched for her for a few days now, but no progress yet.”
“You have a secret admirer. How quaint.” Dominic half-smiled. “Well, there hasn’t been a London Master of Vampires whom I’ve respected in centuries. I suppose I shouldn’t squander you.”
Kendrick led the way to the exit. “I appreciate that. Now, I’d better get back to the Ossuary before any more would-be assassins miss me.”
Dominic stopped in the doorway. “You’re staying in the Ossuary?”
Kendrick turned to look back at him. “Where else would I stay?”
“Rupert had a house. He inherited it from the previous master.”
“See, this is why I need you. A house—where?”
“Mayfair. There’s a tunnel that leads from the Ossuary to the house.”
“Convenient.”
“Something else, Kendrick,” Dominic said. “Do you remember before you left for the Continent, you stored some belongings with me?”
“Yes, but I assumed they’d be in Cornwall.”
“No. We brought everything with us because…” He sighed. “Because it didn’t seem likely we’d be allowed back anytime soon. Your trunks are in the attic. You’re welcome to get them whenever you like.” He slanted a look at Kendrick. “Now that you have a house to put them in.”
Kendrick clapped him on the shoulder. “Incentive to search out the mysterious dwelling. Thank you, old friend.”
A mysterious dwelling. A mysterious note leaver. Mysterious assassination plots. To think I believed ruling the Ossuary would be simple.
ChapterSix
“Now, Peter, tell me what letter this is,” Genevieve instructed, wiping baby Mary’s mouth and hands free of gruel.
Peter, a dark-haired boy of seven, squinted dubiously at the slate she had propped up on the table. “G,” he finally decided.
“Good. Tell me some words that start with ‘g.’”
Peter sighed deeply.
