Cerulean Sins by Laurell K. Hamilton Read Free Book Online Page A

him hide his scars from me. I found him beautiful, scars and all, but he never quite believed me. I think he thought the attraction was part Jean-Claude’s memories in my head, and part pity. There was no pity, but I couldn’t deny Jean-Claude’s memories. I was Jean-Claude’s human servant, and that gave me all kinds of interesting side benefits. One of those benefits was getting glimpses of Jean-Claude’s memories.
    I remembered Asher’s skin like cool silk on my fingertips, every inch of him flawless. But it was Jean-Claude’s fingers that had done the touching, not mine. The fact that I remembered the touch of Asher’s skin so stronglythat even now, I had the urge to reach for his hand, just to see if the memory was real, was just one of those odd things I had to live with. Even if Jean-Claude had been in the car, he wouldn’t have touched Asher either. It had been centuries since they’d been part of a ménage à trois with Julianna, Asher’s human servant. Julianna had been burned as a witch by the same people that had used holy water to cleanse Asher’s evil. Jean-Claude had been able to save Asher, but he’d been too late for Julianna. Neither of the men had forgiven Jean-Claude for his tardiness.
    â€œIf Musette broke the law, can’t we punish her, or kick her out of our territory?” I was at the edge of the cemetery now, watching for nonexistent traffic.
    â€œIf it were another master vampire come so rudely, then we would be within our rights to slay her, but it is Musette. As you are Bolverk for the werewolves, so Musette is Belle’s . . .” He seemed to be searching for the word. “I do not know the word in English, but in French, Musette is the bourreau . She is our bogeyman, Anita, and she has been such for over six hundred years.”
    â€œFine,” I said, “she’s scary, I accept that, but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s invaded our lands. If we let her get away with it, she’ll try for more.”
    â€œAnita, it is more than that. She is the . . .” he seemed to grope for a word again. That he was forgetting this many English words spoke to how frightened he was. “The vaisseau —why can I not think of the English for it?”
    â€œYou’re upset.”
    â€œI am frightened,” he said, “but Belle Morte has made Musette her vessel. To harm Musette is to harm Belle.”
    â€œLiterally?” I asked, as I turned onto Mackenzie.
    â€œ Non , it is more like a courtesy than magic. She has given Musette her seal, her ring of office, which means Musette in effect speaks for Belle, we are forced to treat her as we would treat Belle Morte herself. This was most unexpected.”
    â€œWhat difference does this vaisseau make?” I asked. We were stuck at the light on Watson, staring at the McDonald’s and the Union Planters Bank.
    â€œIf Musette were not Belle’s vessel, then we could punish her for coming early and breaking off negotiations. But if we punish her now, then it would mean that we would do the same to Belle if she came here.”
    â€œSo? Why wouldn’t we punish Belle for entering our territory so rudely, as you put it?”
    Asher looked at me then, but I couldn’t hold eye contact because the light had finally changed. “You do not understand what you are saying, Anita.”
    â€œExplain it to me then.”
    â€œBelle is our sourdre de sang , our fountainhead. She is our bloodline. We cannot harm her.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    He looked at me full face, letting his hair fall back so that his whole face showed at last. I think he was too shocked at my question to worry about hiding himself.
    â€œIt is not done, that is all.”
    â€œWhat is not done? Defending your territory against all encroachers?”
    â€œAttacking the head of your line, your sourdre de sang , your fountain of blood, it