Page 144 of To Catch A Rogue

"But they were supposed to be regular bullets," he said, the words draining into the buzzing.

Sergey's friend had been closer to Sergey than the others, and knelt at his side, pressing his fingers to the pulse in his throat.

Long moments ticked out as the entire court seemingly held its breath.

The man looked up, directly at Obsidian, his face filled with horror. "He's dead."

* * *

The manor housewas as still as a crypt, but it had been the last time they'd broken in, so Charlie didn't presume it was entirely empty.

Same stink. Same creaking floorboards. He kept his pistol in his hand, just in case, and he was carrying exploding rounds that Jack had doctored in London.

Nikolai's lip curled. "Upyr reek."

"Smells like a corpse in the hot sun for a week."

They crept along the passages as Nikolai’s men examined each and every room, moving like a team of shadows. The glint of moonlight reflected back off Chiyoh’s katana as she silently directed them.

Charlie and Nikolai paused at the next intersection of hallways, waiting for the all clear.

"You are my sister's man?" Nikolai murmured.

Hell. He hadn't really been expecting this conversation, but Blade was three doors away with Lark, so Charlie found himself unexpectedly alone with the man who led the Black Wolves.

"I’m going to marry her one day, yes."

"Does she know this?"

"I’ve told her several times, so it should hopefully be sinking in."

Nikolai gave him a long, slow look. "You are not the man I would expect Irina to choose."

"Why? No aristocrats in my bloodlines? No princely blood running through his veins? You’d be surprised, but your sister wants to be loved. Not bartered off to the highest bidder, in case you were thinking about it. Besides, you don’t get a say."

"I suppose you think you do?"

"No." Charlie shrugged. "I can ask, but it is and always will be Lark’s choice. And I’m not afraid of her answer. I know her in a way you never will."

The glare was almost the same, hazel eyes narrowing thinly in anI will cut youkind of way.

"Sorry, Prince, but I’ve been dealing with your sister for eight years. You’re going to have to try harder than that to intimidate me. You look very scary, I’m sure, but she’smean."

The faintest of smiles flashed across Nikolai’s mouth, there and then gone again. Would wonders never cease?

"I think I begin to understand now." Nikolai pulled something out of his pocket and snapped it open. A locket, by the look of it. He handed it to Charlie. "When this is all over, give her this. Tell her I'm sorry I can't be what she wants me to be, but maybe this will make up for it."

Charlie glanced at the portrait inside, and then snapped his head up sharply. "Is this—?"

"My maternal grandfather," Nikolai replied. "Irina and I share different mothers, so it's highly likely she's never seen his portrait before."

Hell. "Did you kn—"

Claws skittered over the timber floorboards, and an instant chill prickled down his spine. Charlie shoved the locket inside the pocket of his waistcoat and reached for his pistol. He was packing Firebolt bullets; the second they struck the target, the two chemicals inside them would mix, and the result was a fist-sized hole punched through a vampire. Honoria made them in her spare time, and she’d packed an entire tray of them in Blade’s belongings.

"Ready?" he mouthed at Nikolai.

The prince tipped his head to Charlie.