Winterly (Dark Creatures Book 1), стр. 30
He knew he ought to forget her and return to Winterthurse before he did something stupid—he always felt more himself there. London suffocated him. This house and all Victoria’s garish baubles suffocated him. His bloody guests suffocated him. Not that Gabriel had been invited. Unwanted guests, all of them.
He had no sooner finished the thought when the door opened to admit the very people he had come to the library to escape. His jaw tightened, his canines snapping together audibly. Until her scent faded from his nostrils, his fangs would not retract.
“This damned city smells like hell,” Arminius was saying as he entered. “Even my clothes reek of brimstone!”
Marbod turned up his nose in agreement. “I shall be glad to leave it.”
“And when exactly shall that be?” Markus did not strain himself to hide his choler. They knew he was eager for Gabriel to return to his mountain fastness.
Gabriel joined him at the window, hands clasped behind his back and face raised to the moon. It was he that answered. “We will go when matters are in hand.”
“You might as well stay till the Solstice Ball,” said Victoria, inspecting her fangs in the mirror.
Markus shot her a glare. To Gabriel he said, “You question my competence? Rather dull of you.”
“I question your wisdom and your motives.” Gabriel turned to face him with a narrowed look. “And I’m curious about this new dalliance of yours. It is unlike you to play with your food.”
Markus spared him a sidelong glance. “Don’t be tedious, you know she’s not the sort of sport I enjoy.”
“There is more than one way to assuage a hunger.”
Victoria gave a sigh. “Do close the drapes, gentlemen, I have a complexion to consider.”
Nicholas chuckled. “Is the moon too bright for you, Tory?”
Gabriel ignored them. “What most intrigues me is why you felt compelled to bestow such a gift tonight. Care to explain?”
“When have I ever cared to explain myself to you?”
“Markus…” Gabriel’s tone had become menacing.
“I am not,” said Winterly through his fangs, “and have never been answerable to you.”
“You are interfering again. As you did in Alexandria. Have you considered the ramifications?”
With a look of boredom, Markus said, “Have you considered a vow of silence? You really ought to.”
“I shall do so when you consider a vow of celibacy. “
Markus chuckled.
“This is not a game,” said Gabriel.
“All life is a game and I intend to enjoy it. At all events, what else am I to do in aeternum? Shall I lock myself away in some necropolis the way you do, brooding in the same stupid manner you have for millennia?”
“All games have rules and you have already broken a cardinal law.”
Markus met Gabriel’s glare with a measured look. There was no vindicable reason to give because he himself did not yet fully understand his actions. “Nevertheless it is done.”
“What are your intentions with the girl?”
“Never you mind.” He was cursed tired of that question.
Nicholas scratched his jaw, thoughtful. “You don’t think she’s…”
“You could bite her,” said Victoria. “Just a little nibble ought to tell you one way or the other what she is or isn’t. Lord knows I’m tempted to nibble on Milli.”
“Or,” said Marbod, “you can look for the mark.”
“She isn’t the grail.” Markus pinched the bridge of his nose.
“You don’t know that.” Gabriel’s voice was beginning to make his ears bleed. “You could have had the sister instead of throwing an axe in an old wound and disturbing a pit of vipers.”
“Yes,” said Victoria, “Milli can at least boast of some slight pretension to beauty.”
“She’s a simpleton,” Markus said with a sneer. “Let Malach have Milli.”
“Or Nicki.” Victoria sniggered. “He seemed quite besotted.”
Surprised at being thus singled out, Nicholas looked a question at his father.
But Marbod shook his head. “He’s too young yet for matrimony.”
The boy threw up his hands. “I’m three hundred years old, Father!”
“Too young,” said Gabriel.
Victoria left the looking glass with a sympathetic click of her tongue and sashayed over to Nicholas. “Don’t worry, Nicki,” she said, trailing her finger down his arm as she came up behind him. “When you’re older I shall teach you exactly what to do with a woman.”
Nicholas swatted her hand away. “Thank you, no, I don’t care to have that viperous mouth of yours on my flesh.”
“You might like it…” She ignored his growl of denial and folded herself into an armchair. “Well, simpleton or not, I for one quite enjoy the younger Rose. Inquisitive little thing, isn’t she? Vanus, I hope you noticed her uncle’s veins when she asked about the organs. They nearly popped right out of his head, I’m certain of it.”
“Would that they had,” said the doctor, licking his lips. “I enjoy the fat ones.”
“Speaking of organs,” said Markus, “Any newsworthy deaths today?”
Vanus shrugged. “There was a body pulled from the Thames this morning, but the heart was accounted for, my lord.”
“Just a suicide,” said Troilus.
Markus steepled his fingers. “Seems the spider has had his fill for the moment. One does wonder at his lack of circumspection.”
“Perhaps we ought to pay their coven a little visit?” said Gabriel, nodding to the doctors. “Send your sawbones to teach them a lesson in etiquette.”
“No, send William.” Markus glanced at Marbod. “By the by, where is he?”
Marbod exchanged a look with Armi. “Still moody. I thought it best to keep him from your delicate Roses tonight.”
Markus gave a curt nod and then leveled an expectant glare at Gabriel.
With a reluctant grunt, Gabriel turned to Marbod. “William will act as emissary once he’s recovered.”
“He’s hardly a diplomat,” said Marbod. “I’ll go. We don’t need anymore axes thrown.”
“You and I would not get through the door. Let the boy go, it is after all to the purpose if he makes known our…displeasure. Nicholas may