Read Online Bad Blood by Kristen Painter - Free Book Online
Authors: Kristen Painter
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“Welcome. Please sit.”
Daciana, his wife, curtsied with her palms upright, a move that instantly won her some favor. Marriage among the nobility wasn’t unheard of, but that didn’t mean Tatiana saw any good reason for it. Perhaps these two had simply clung to the old ways. If that was true, they should be very respectful and easily malleable.
Laurent held the chair for his wife, then sat beside her. “Very kind of you to invite us, Lady Tatiana. I know how busy you must be with your pending promotion.”
“Not so busy to attend to my house.” She glanced at Octavian. “Perhaps our guests would like wine.”
He looked horrified for a moment, obviously unhappy he’d yet to make the offer himself. “Of course, let me take care of that.” He leaped to his feet and set about pouring two more glasses.
Tatiana decided to test her guests. “Octavian is newly turned.” His previous position as head of her staff waswell known. How Laurent and Daciana received him would tell much.
Daciana accepted a glass of wine from Octavian as Laurent spoke. “How marvelous for you, Octavian. To have Tatiana as your sire is quite an honor.”
Daciana set her glass down without drinking and looked at her husband. “We should throw a party for him.” She smiled and turned back to Tatiana. “Wouldn’t that be wonderful? There hasn’t been a debut party in years. I’m going to do it.” Her smile faltered, her gaze flicking from Laurent to Tatiana, seeking approval. “That is, if you haven’t already planned something.”
Tatiana smiled. “I think it would be rather appropriate for the House of Tepes’s newly appointed Elder to host a debut party for my first turned.”
Daciana’s eyes lit up like silver sparklers. The woman was far too emotional in Tatiana’s estimation, but if she could scatter, she’d be perfect. “Are you saying…” She squeezed Laurent’s arm.
Laurent bowed his head but failed to hide the pride on his face. When he lifted his eyes to Tatiana’s, he had regained his composure. “I am honored.”
She leaned back in her chair and shrugged. “It is your right. You are eldest in the house.”
“Even so, I know exceptions have been made.” He straightened. “I understand that I will not truly be Elder until the council proclaims you Dominus, but I will strive to fulfill that position to the best of my abilities regardless.”
Tatiana held back a grimace. Gah. The pair of them were like eager little puppies. “Wonderful. It just so happens that there is a matter I need attended to.”
“Of course.” Laurent nodded, already agreeing to Tatiana’s request. Excellent. Well-trained puppies made the best lapdogs. “Whatever I can do, just name it.”
Tatiana swirled the wine in her glass before sipping it. She savored the dark tannic red as it eddied past her fangs and tongue. At last she swallowed. “Are you capable of the job of Elder? Of the ruthlessness sometimes necessary? Can you dispatch justice when need be?”
Laurent puffed out his chest, his eyes going half silver. “I am Tepes born. I am completely capable.”
“Good.” Tatiana set her glass down. “Can both of you scatter?”
“Of course,” Laurent answered before Daciana could say anything.
Tatiana leaned forward. “What do you scatter into, Daciana?”
“Wasps, my lady.”
The plan was complete, then. Tatiana sat back. “I need you to go to New Florida and retrieve something for me.”
“I would be honored,” Laurent said.
“As would I,” Daciana added softly.
“Wonderful.” Except that Daciana was a little too meek for Tatiana’s liking. It was what it was. With that morsel of information tucked away, she set out her plan, knowing full well that before this pair set foot on Southern Union soil, Tatiana was going to get to know Laurent’s bride a great deal better.
So much better, no one would be able to tell them apart.
Chapter Six
M ayor.” Creek got off the couch
Daciana, his wife, curtsied with her palms upright, a move that instantly won her some favor. Marriage among the nobility wasn’t unheard of, but that didn’t mean Tatiana saw any good reason for it. Perhaps these two had simply clung to the old ways. If that was true, they should be very respectful and easily malleable.
Laurent held the chair for his wife, then sat beside her. “Very kind of you to invite us, Lady Tatiana. I know how busy you must be with your pending promotion.”
“Not so busy to attend to my house.” She glanced at Octavian. “Perhaps our guests would like wine.”
He looked horrified for a moment, obviously unhappy he’d yet to make the offer himself. “Of course, let me take care of that.” He leaped to his feet and set about pouring two more glasses.
Tatiana decided to test her guests. “Octavian is newly turned.” His previous position as head of her staff waswell known. How Laurent and Daciana received him would tell much.
Daciana accepted a glass of wine from Octavian as Laurent spoke. “How marvelous for you, Octavian. To have Tatiana as your sire is quite an honor.”
Daciana set her glass down without drinking and looked at her husband. “We should throw a party for him.” She smiled and turned back to Tatiana. “Wouldn’t that be wonderful? There hasn’t been a debut party in years. I’m going to do it.” Her smile faltered, her gaze flicking from Laurent to Tatiana, seeking approval. “That is, if you haven’t already planned something.”
Tatiana smiled. “I think it would be rather appropriate for the House of Tepes’s newly appointed Elder to host a debut party for my first turned.”
Daciana’s eyes lit up like silver sparklers. The woman was far too emotional in Tatiana’s estimation, but if she could scatter, she’d be perfect. “Are you saying…” She squeezed Laurent’s arm.
Laurent bowed his head but failed to hide the pride on his face. When he lifted his eyes to Tatiana’s, he had regained his composure. “I am honored.”
She leaned back in her chair and shrugged. “It is your right. You are eldest in the house.”
“Even so, I know exceptions have been made.” He straightened. “I understand that I will not truly be Elder until the council proclaims you Dominus, but I will strive to fulfill that position to the best of my abilities regardless.”
Tatiana held back a grimace. Gah. The pair of them were like eager little puppies. “Wonderful. It just so happens that there is a matter I need attended to.”
“Of course.” Laurent nodded, already agreeing to Tatiana’s request. Excellent. Well-trained puppies made the best lapdogs. “Whatever I can do, just name it.”
Tatiana swirled the wine in her glass before sipping it. She savored the dark tannic red as it eddied past her fangs and tongue. At last she swallowed. “Are you capable of the job of Elder? Of the ruthlessness sometimes necessary? Can you dispatch justice when need be?”
Laurent puffed out his chest, his eyes going half silver. “I am Tepes born. I am completely capable.”
“Good.” Tatiana set her glass down. “Can both of you scatter?”
“Of course,” Laurent answered before Daciana could say anything.
Tatiana leaned forward. “What do you scatter into, Daciana?”
“Wasps, my lady.”
The plan was complete, then. Tatiana sat back. “I need you to go to New Florida and retrieve something for me.”
“I would be honored,” Laurent said.
“As would I,” Daciana added softly.
“Wonderful.” Except that Daciana was a little too meek for Tatiana’s liking. It was what it was. With that morsel of information tucked away, she set out her plan, knowing full well that before this pair set foot on Southern Union soil, Tatiana was going to get to know Laurent’s bride a great deal better.
So much better, no one would be able to tell them apart.
Chapter Six
M ayor.” Creek got off the couch
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