Blood Rights

Doc grimaced. ‘I agree, I hate that crap.’ He picked up the stone. ‘This what I think it is?’

Chrysabelle tied the pouch and tucked it away in her bag. ‘What do you think it is?’

‘Some fat pink ice.’ He turned the gem in his fingers, holding it up to the light. Fi was blissfully silent, mesmerized by the sparkle.

‘You’re right. Fancy Intense Pink. Not quite two and a half carats. It was a gift from my patron. Cost him nearly two million almost seventy years ago. Get as much as you can.’

Fi’s mouth dropped open. ‘Two mil? He must have been filthy rich.’

Chrysabelle laughed joylessly. ‘That’s nothing compared to what he paid for my blood rights.’

Both Fi and Doc looked at her expectantly. She shook her head. ‘Please, I don’t wish to discuss him anymore.’

Doc rolled the diamond around on his palm. It glittered against his dark skin. ‘Why you trust me with this?’

‘Trust is earned, right? We have to start somewhere.’ She lifted her hands in a gesture of surrender. ‘I’m not used to this life enough yet, I know that. I like to live well, but I guess that makes me soft. I just need time to adjust.’ She half-smiled and lifted a shoulder. ‘Buy whatever else you need with what’s left over, all right?’ She plucked at her borrowed T-shirt. ‘Although I could use some new clothes too.’

Fi stuck her hand up like schoolgirl. ‘I can buy those. I’m good at clothes.’

‘I thought you couldn’t get more than six blocks away from Mal?’

‘I have a feeling this permanent corporeal state will change that. If not, I’ll send Doc.’

Chrysabelle nodded. ‘Okay, that would be wonderful. I’ll have to measure myself, all I know are comarré sizes. I’ll make a list for you.’ White clothing shouldn’t be too hard to come by in this warm locale. ‘I think I’ll go for a walk around the deck, if that’s okay with both of you.’

‘No can do.’ Doc shook his head as he pocketed the gem. ‘Sorry, but you outside is a bad idea. Especially with Mal counting sheep.’

She sighed. ‘I really can take care of myself.’

‘Really?’ Doc raised a brow. ‘Then why’d you come to him in the first place?’

‘I meant physically.’ Chrysabelle pushed her plate away. ‘I’m done, thank you.’ She stood, testing her weight on her broken foot. Barely a twinge. She bent and picked up her bag. And realized she had nowhere to go. ‘It’s occurred to me I don’t actually have a room on the Titanic.’

Doc tried not to smile. ‘Shouldn’t have kicked that door down, GI Jane.’

‘Thanks for the reminder. I need to add shoes to the list. Something sturdy.’ She slung the bag over her shoulder and stared at him expectantly.

‘What?’ Doc asked.

‘Is there a room I can use or should I just pick one out? I’d like one without all the locks. On the outside. Inside locks I’m okay with.’

Doc dipped his napkin in his water and wiped his mouth with it, then stood. Chrysabelle chalked up the extra cleanliness to his feline bloodlines. ‘Follow me. There’s a bunch of empty cabins you can pick from.’

Fi jumped up. ‘I’m coming too. I don’t want her too close to ours in case she snores.’

‘I don’t snore but I’m happy to have a little space.’ Except maybe from Mal. Despite his contribution to her losing her blood rights, she couldn’t help but feel some comfort in the fact that he’d done what he thought best and taken care of her afterward.

The three of them walked down the hall, Doc in front, Fi behind. Chrysabelle decided to subtly test the waters.

‘So … what’s Mal’s story?’

‘What do you mean?’ Doc asked.

‘Where’s he from, what Family is he, that sort of thing.’

Fi snorted. ‘You mean how’d he get those names all over him?’

So much for subtle. ‘Yes, that too.’

Doc shook his head. ‘He’ll spill his info when he wants, if he wants.’

Which is exactly what Chrysabelle had assumed.

‘He’s anathema, you know,’ Fi added, like that was news. Chrysabelle looked over her shoulder and laughed. ‘You don’t say? Living here with you two? I thought perhaps he was preparing to ascend to Dominus any day now.’

Fi’s brow wrinkled. ‘Dominus?’

‘Big-time head vampire,’ Doc explained. Chrysabelle let it go. She was in no mood to give a primer in vampire politics. Instead, she changed the subject.

‘Why do you stay, shifter? Did your pride kick you out?’

‘As a matter of fact, they did. Plus Mal and Fi saved my life. You got a problem with varcolai?’

Obviously, he knew what nobles thought of his kind and must think she felt that way too. Which she didn’t. ‘Not at all, I was just wonder—’

Mal burst through a door ahead of them. One hand held a crossbow, the other a pair of mismatched swords. A leather strap of throwing stars crossed his chest. He tossed the crossbow to Doc. ‘We’ve got company.’

Doc tipped his head and listened for a second, then nodded. ‘Not sure how I missed that.’

Chrysabelle inhaled. The new vampire’s scent was faint but present. And somehow familiar. Nothos maybe, if it was covering its scent with something else. ‘We missed it by talking.’