Free Desire by Blood by Melissa Schroeder Page A

not speak to me in that tone, Nicodemus Alexander Blackburn.”
    He heard a snort from Malik. Every Blackburn knew he was in
trouble when Adelaide Blackburn used all of your given names.
    “I just wish you had sent a messenger, but it is moot now.
You need to be here for the wedding.”
    His father laid a hand on his mother’s fist. “Yes, son, tell
us about this woman you are marrying.”
    He should not be embarrassed. Their kind was well known for
their sexual needs, and it was never a taboo subject in his house. It was
respected as part of their makeup. But…this was somehow different. There was a
part of him that was still appalled by the way he had acted the night before.
    “Your son lost his head over a Carrier, a Made tried to
interrupt him, and the Carrier was compromised,” Malik said with relish. Nico
could tell from the expression on his face Malik was enjoying this way too
much. “Now your son must marry.”
    “Thank you for your description,” he said from behind
clenched teeth.
    Malik’s grin widened. “No problem.”
    “Who is this Carrier? Do we know her family?” his father
asked.
    “No. Well, we do know them, or know of them. The Earl of
Collingsworth’s daughter.”
    His father frowned. “I did not know they were Borns.”
    “I am not sure they know either. Truth of the matter, the
rumor is that my soon-to-be wife is…a bastard.”
    His mother nodded in understanding. “Of course. That would
explain why she did not know. Her mother died in childbirth, if I remember. I
really did not like her father, so it is a good thing she is not blood related
to the man.”
    “Rightly so,” his father commented.
    Once again, Nico was happy that his family was not
considered aristocracy in the human world. They did not care that Cordelia did
not know who her father was. In fact, for the most part, his family shunned
most aristocracy. They dealt with them in their world, but other than Gray’s
family, they avoided any personal entanglements.
    “When do we get to meet her?” his mother asked.
    Of course she would not ask him “if” she could meet her, but
“when.” Yes, she was going to be his wife, but most mothers would not be so
forceful. They were not Adelaide Blackburn.
    “I am sure I can arrange a meeting tomorrow.”
    “You are not going out tonight?” his mother asked.
    “No. We spent the day with a Made.”
    That brought silence in the room. Again most people would
not include their mother in dealings such at this, but it was different in his
family. They were ruled by democracy, and his mother had amazing insight. Most
Carriers did, but unfortunately, the majority of their male Borns ignored it.
    “He survived?” she asked.
    “Yes. Thanks to Malik and Gray.”
    His father glanced at Malik. “We are again in your debt.”
    Malik said nothing, but nodded his head in his father’s
direction.
    “Do you think he will survive?” his mother asked.
    “He has a good chance. He seemed recovered from the Blood
Lust, although he was very weak, as if he’d been sick.”
    “At least there is that.” She patted her hair. “Now, on to
your Cordelia. You are sure she is a Carrier?”
    “Of course.”
    “I am not happy with the situation because we do not know a
thing of her bloodlines,” his father said.
    “That has never been important to you before this.”
    His father shook his head. “Her background is usually not
all that important. The situation now is very serious, though. With the new
wave of attacks, we need to make sure she is not being thrown in your path.”
    “I assure you that is not the case, and even if it is,
anyone concocting such an idiotic plot should know it would not work. I have
better control than to fall for a woman trying to infiltrate our
investigation.”
    He heard a snort from Malik, but he ignored it.
    “True, but tell me, is she your kind of woman?” his father
asked.
    “I have one?”
    “Don’t be cheeky. What your father is trying to discern