‘You got it, bro.’ Doc rubbed his hands together in overacted glee.

The comarré didn’t budge. ‘If you’re trying to scare me, it won’t work. I don’t frighten easily.’

The tough act was hot, he’d give her that. ‘What’s your name?’

‘Anna.’

She lies. He closed his eyes for a moment. He didn’t need the voices telling him what he already knew. ‘You scared pretty easily in that alley, Anna. I could taste the fear coming off you.’ Should’ve tasted more.

She crossed her arms. ‘I thought you were trying to kill me.’

He gestured with the sword. ‘And you don’t feel that way now because … ?’

She smirked. ‘How’s your shoulder?’

Doc failed to stop a laugh. It came out a snort. Fi elbowed him in the ribs, but since she’d returned to ghost form, her arm went right through him. Unfortunately.

‘Did Jonas really send you?’

‘Yes.’

Damn Sweets. What was he thinking? ‘What for? And how did you come by that blade? Just knowing what you are raises a multitude of questions.’

Doc raised his hand. ‘We back to that comarré thing again?’

Anna, or whatever her real name was, ignored Doc.

‘Jonas said you could help. And I could say the same thing for you, vampire. Besides those impossible markings you wear, your being here’ – she glanced around, clearly unimpressed – ‘raises a few questions as well. Where’s your luxury? Your display of wealth? Your servants? If this ghost and this varcolai are the best you could do, then I pity you.’

‘I could be fringe,’ Mal said. If only his life were that simple.

Anna didn’t look convinced. ‘Fringe can’t shift their faces.’

Fi shot forward. ‘I’m no one’s servant.’ She jerked a thumb at Mal. ‘Especially not his.’

‘Don’t get too close,’ Doc mumbled, waving the ghost back and staring hard at Anna. ‘How’d you know I’m varcolai?’

Anna slanted her eyes at him. ‘You smell like a shifter.’

Doc growled softly.

‘Enough.’ Mal shot him a visual dagger before looking at Anna again. Her glow was impossible to ignore. Worse still, the pulse at her neck beckoned. Drain her. Quiet her. He shifted his gaze. ‘I have my reasons for being here. What are yours?’

She kept her blood red lips firmly shut.

‘Storage container.’ He kicked his feet up onto the desk, leaned back, and picked up the book he’d been about to read earlier. The movement sent fireworks through his field of vision.

Doc jumped to his feet. ‘Let’s bounce, princess.’ He grabbed Anna’s arm and yanked her up.

‘I knew Jonas was no good. Mortal.’ She filled the word with the same disgust Mal felt toward the being responsible for his curse.

‘But you are one.’ Couldn’t hurt to remind her. Couldn’t hurt to drain her.

‘What?’ Doc looked at Anna a little harder. ‘Princess is mortal?’

‘Sure,’ she said, staring Mal down. ‘As much as the vampire used to be.’

Doc jerked her once. ‘Chill with “the vampire.” He has a name—’

‘Doc, storage container, now.’ The last thing she needed to know was who he was. Comarré knew their history, or were supposed to. He wasn’t sure of anything about them based on this one. Unless she was some sort of renegade.

‘Wait.’ His feet went back to the floor. If she was renegade, there might be someone after her. He stood, digging the point of the sword into the desk for support.

‘Tie her to the chair. If she fights, knock her out. Then run the perimeter. Make sure Anna came alone.’

‘Shouldn’t one of us check her for weapons?’ Fi asked. ‘She seems to have a serious stash of them.’

‘I’ll take care of that when I get back, just get her tied up.’ He made it to the downstairs fridge without passing out. Seemed like a good sign. He drained the last quart of pig’s blood, hating every drop and wishing with each swallow it was the blood of the woman upstairs. Take her. Drain her. He’d never tasted comarré blood, but he’d heard stories. It wasn’t just nourishment; it was power, prestige, protection. If you could afford it.

He headed back up feeling marginally better. Doc and Fi waited at the door.

‘She’s trussed like a Sunday goose,’ Fi said.

Perfect for the eating.

Doc winked at Fi. ‘Yeah, Fi’s pretty good with the knots.’

‘Doc, you sweep the ship. Fi, haunt the incoming streets. Look for any strange vehicles, scents, beings – anything out of the ordinary. Report only if you find something. Otherwise, I’ll let you know when I’m done with her.’

They nodded and took off. He gave up on hiding his true face – after all, she’d seen it already. Not masking it would help him conserve some energy. With that, he pushed through the door and locked it behind him. Anna’s arms and legs were tied to those of the chair.

She sneered at him, all blonde rage, pale anger, and shimmering glow. Her pulse boiled through him. ‘Does this make you feel strong and powerful, vampire? Binding a gentle comarré like some great enemy?’

‘Considering you’ve sunk two blades into me, gentle left the picture a long time ago.’ He kneeled in front of her, putting them at eye level. Time to see what else she might be hiding, starting from the ankles.