She dropped his body as it went to ash, and then she turned to Tatiana, gore covering her mouth and chin. Her lower lip trembled. The white had returned to her eyes. “Was that wrong? Are you mad at me again?”
Tatiana looked like she’d gone into shock. She stood there, staring at the space Octavian had just occupied. Her eyes weren’t even silver, just hollow and round. “I…” She moved her mouth but no words came out.
Lilith howled, covering her face with her hands. “You are mad!” The light shifted with her wails, as if retreating from her. Shadows broke free from the corners of the room and surrounded Lilith in darkness. When they cleared, she was gone.
Tatiana swayed toward Mal, her body collapsing. Mal grabbed her before she hit the ground. Her head lolled back. She was out cold.
“Was that… creature my granddaughter?” the mayor whispered.
“Yes,” Mal answered. “What are you doing here? Never mind; you need to get out of here. Do you have a car outside?”
She nodded, arms wrapped around herself. “So you’re not dead and my granddaughter is a psychotic vampire. You have some explaining to do.”
“Later. Have the driver take you back to whatever hangar your plane is parked in and then get on it and go the hell home. Tell no one you came here, what you saw, or anything about me being here. Understand?”
Again, she nodded. Tatiana moaned softly.
“Now,” he told the mayor. “Go while you still can.”
“This isn’t over,” she hissed, but she slipped out the door and disappeared into the night. As soon as he heard the car drive away, he yelled for help. “Kosmina!”
Before long, the head of staff came running. “What’s wrong?” She gasped when she saw Tatiana in his arms. “What’s happened to my lady?”
“Octavian was here.” He gestured toward the ash. “But as you can see, Lilith took care of that.” And if Lilith was that quick to act, Tatiana was right. She had to be dealt with. He could only imagine what she’d do if she found out there was another vampire child on the way.
Chrysabelle found a spot in the recesses of the wine cellar and settled in. The stacks of crates and barrels hid her completely from anyone approaching. Now all she had to do was wait. She lay down, tucking one arm beneath her head as a pillow. Cold seeped up through the stone floor, making her wish Mal would hurry.
A low whistle opened her eyes. She sighed in frustration. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep.
Again, the whistle broke the deep silence of the wine cellar. She pushed to her feet, her body aching a little from lying on the cold ground. Mal had fed from her on the plane, strengthening her with the exchange, but the truth was, being pregnant was using up her reserves faster than normal. She whistled back, soft and low.
“Chrysabelle?” Mal’s voice came from farther away.
She slipped out from behind the barrels as he came around the stack of bottles in front of them. She smiled and held her arms out. “I’m so glad you’re here. I need you to kiss me.”
Without a word, he pulled her into his arms, bent his head, and covered her mouth with his.
Long seconds passed before she broke away. “Thank you. That’s already helping.”
He gave her a strange look. “Glad to know I can be of service.”
She poked him. “I was a little low on energy. Much better now.” And she was. One kiss and she felt revitalized. “What’s going on up there?”
“A lot. I’ve met Lilith. Tatiana wasn’t lying. She’s a nightmare from hell. The mayor and Octavian showed up—”
“Holy mother.”
“Indeed. Lilith figured out who he was. Apparently Tatiana told her that Octavian had betrayed them and was the reason she was taken away from Tatiana, so Lilith bit his head off. Literally.” Mal grimaced. “Damn, it was nasty. I do not want to go like that.”
This was so not good. “How did Tatiana take all this?”
“She passed out. Shock, I guess.”
“Did Lola pass out too? I don’t like that she knows you’re alive now. Hopefully she won’t try to kill you again.”
“I saved her life, so she owes me. After Tatiana passed out, I told the mayor to go back home as fast as she could. She didn’t argue, although she expects an explanation. I think seeing what her grandchild has become may have changed her mind about wanting custody of her.”
Chrysabelle almost laughed, but then she imagined how devastating that realization must have been for Lola. Family seemed to mean a lot to her. Something Chrysabelle understood. “Where’s Tatiana now? Does she suspect anything’s changed?”
“She’s resting and I promise, she has no idea I’m not on her side.” He took Chrysabelle by the arms, staring into her eyes. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m fine.” Tired, but still fine. “Anything else?”
“Yes. The ancients met with Tatiana and told her how to deal with Lilith. She’s got to eat from the Tree of Life—”
“In the Garden of Eden.” Chrysabelle pulled the page from her inside pocket and held it up. “Except I was told Tatiana had to eat from it. I don’t know how we’re going to get her to go through the portal, though.”
He took the map and studied it. “Looks the same as Tatiana’s. You won’t have to worry about getting her through your portal. She was given instructions for opening her own. She and I will go through that way with Lilith.” He stared at her page a little harder. “Who gave you the info about the tree?”