“Maybe your timewalking will be enough to satisfy questions about the blood vow, but only the blackest of magics—or infidelity—can explain this pregnancy,” Baldwin said, relishing his brother’s discomfort. “The children cannot be yours, Matthew.”
“Diana is carrying my children,” Matthew said, his eyes dangerously dark.
“Impossible,” Baldwin stated flatly.
“True,” Matthew retorted.
“If so, they’ll be the most hated—and the most hunted—children the world has ever known.
Creatures will be baying for their blood. And yours,” Baldwin said.
I registered Matthew’s sudden departure from my side at the same moment that I heard Baldwin’s chair break. When the blur of movement ceased, Matthew stood behind his brother with his arm locked around Baldwin’s throat, pressing a knife into the skin over his brother’s heart.
Verin looked down at her boot in amazement and found nothing but an empty scabbard. She swore.
“You may be head of the family, Baldwin, but never forget that I am its assassin,” Matthew growled.
“Assassin?” I tried to hide my confusion as another hidden side of Matthew was brought to light.
Scientist. Vampire. Warrior. Spy. Prince. Assassin.
Matthew had told me he was a killer—repeatedly—but I had always considered this part and parcel of being a vampire. I knew he’d killed in self-defense, in battle, and to survive. I’d never dreamed that Matthew committed murder at his family’s behest.
“Surely you knew this?” Verin asked in a voice tinged with malice, her cold eyes studying me closely. “If Matthew weren’t so good at it, one of us would have put him down long ago.”
“We all have a role in this family, Verin.” Matthew’s voice dripped with bitterness. “Does Ernst know yours—how it begins between soft sheets and a man’s thighs?”
Verin moved like lightning, her fingers bent into lethal claws as she went for Matthew.
Vampires were fast, but magic was faster.
I pushed Verin against a wall with a blast of witchwind, keeping her away from my husband and Baldwin long enough for Matthew to exact some promise from his brother and release him.
“Thank you, ma lionne.” It was Matthew’s usual endearment when I’d done something brave—or incredibly stupid. He handed me Verin’s knife. “Hold on to this.”
Matthew lifted Verin to her feet while Gallowglass moved closer to stand at my elbow.
“Well, well,” Verin murmured when she was standing upright again. “I see why Atta was drawn to your wife, but I wouldn’t have thought you had the stones for such a woman, Matthew.”
“Things change,” Matthew said shortly.
“Apparently.” Verin gave me an appraising look.
“You’ll be keeping your promise to Granddad, then?” Gallowglass asked Verin.
“We’ll see,” she said cautiously. “I have months to decide.”
“Time will pass, but nothing will change.” Baldwin looked at me with barely concealed loathing.
“Recognizing Matthew’s wife will have catastrophic consequences, Verin.”
“I honored Atta’s wishes while he lived,” Verin said. “I cannot ignore them now that he is dead.”
“We must take comfort from the fact that the Congregation is already looking for Matthew and his mate,” Baldwin said. “Who knows? They may both be dead before December.”