His hands reached out for her, but he made no move to come closer. “I am so sorry. I shouldn’t have let the raptor touch me. I should have fought.” Anger and humiliation razed shadows across his face. He turned so she couldn’t see his eyes. “That damned thing got the best of me.”

Mortalis tucked his blade away. “There was nothing you could have done. And I’m the one who should be apologizing to you. I knew what that fae was capable of; I just never guessed what he’d go after.”

“Put your sacre away, Damian.” Emotion made it hard for her to say more. “I’m just glad you’re back, Mal. So… glad.”

He looked at her again, squinted, and pointed to her forehead. “Please tell me I didn’t do that.”

Her fingers went to the scratch near her hairline. “The raptor did.”

Mal’s jaw clenched and he slanted his eyes at Mortalis. “You brought that thing back? After what it did to me?”

“No.” She held her hand out. “I went after it. I… killed it. I had no other choice.”

Mortalis nodded softly. “That’s why she wasn’t here when you arrived. And why your emotions returned to you.” He looked proudly at Chrysabelle. “She did the impossible. To save you.”

Dominic’s patience had stretched to a new definition of thin. Katsumi’s murder, much like Maris’s, stirred a fire in him that could only be quenched by another death. He stared at his nephew as he entered the office. “What have you found out?”

Luciano settled into the chair across from him. “The mayor knows more than she is saying, but not much I think.”

“She lied to you? You are her sire.”

“And she is also Americano.” He said the word with disdain. “She knows nothing of the old ways. Nothing of respect.” He crossed one leg over the other, his pant leg pulling back to reveal a sheath of slim throwing daggers. “Do you know this new vampire that works for her? I spoke with the staff and he was definitely here with her that night.”

Dominic waved his hand, one of his rings throwing flashes of red. “I don’t know many of the fringe.”

“He’s not fringe. Not with that face and those eyes.” Luciano nodded. “Definitely noble, and I could sense him before I stepped off the elevator, so not Paole either.”

“What’s his name?”

“She called him Octavian and I confirmed with both the server and the croupier who took care of them that night. Octavian Petrescu.”

Dominic stared at Luciano but saw only memories. “Brown hair and eyes, medium build. No age on him. Sired less than a year, probably.”

“Si, that could be him.”

Dominic swore. “He works for Tatiana. Porca troia.” He rested both elbows on the desk and steepled his fingers. “I want him brought in alive, and then I want word sent to her that her errand boy has been discovered. If she wants him back, she can come and get him herself. Otherwise, I will kill him.”

Luciano’s mouth bunched to one side. “Do you think she’ll come? After all, she’s not known for her compassion toward her fellow brethren.”

“I saw them together at the Dominus ball. She loves him. She’ll come. And when she does, I will kill both of them to make up for the deaths they have dealt me.” He nodded slowly. “I must prepare my workroom. These deaths…” He smiled. It was good to have something new to focus on. “They will not be fast or merciful.”

Luciano didn’t get up. “Zio, there is another thing…”

Dominic settled back in his chair. When Luciano called him uncle, chances were good the next thing that followed would not be. “Si?”

“The other night, when I was leaving blood for Malkolm, I ran into someone.” A rare sliver of fear ran through Luciano’s eyes.

“And?”

“He claims to be Kubai Mata.” Luciano laughed, but it seemed forced. “Of course, I know they do not exist, but still, who would make such a—”

“They do exist. His name is Creek. He hasn’t been an issue for me, and from what Mortalis tells me, he’s fairly levelheaded. I doubt you’ll see him much. He tends to watch the fringe more. Now, go, I have work—”

“It’s just that…” Luciano paused as if still absorbing the knowledge that the KM were real. “He knows I’m responsible for siring the mayor. He said he had orders to kill me, but because of what I was doing for Chrysabelle in helping to keep Malkolm sedated, he would let me go. I was thinking, perhaps I should strike first—”

“No.” Dominic shook his head. “You cannot kill him. His grandmother is not a woman I wish to upset, nor will I make an enemy of the Kubai Mata.” He shooed Luciano away. “Out, find this Octavian and bring him to me. My need to avenge these deaths will not go unmet.”

Chapter Twenty-eight

You killed the raptor? By yourself?” Mal stared in amazement at the beautiful woman across from him. The voices had retreated into a sullen, pouting mass, making them easy to ignore, especially with Chrysabelle standing in front of him. Her glow was more brilliant than he’d ever seen it and it wasn’t just because he’d been away from her so long. She gleamed like she was lit from within.

She put her hands on her hips. “Is this the part where you scold me? I got a little scratch; that was it. A small price to pay for the return of your emotions.”