Raven turned and saw her sister scratching and pummeling the soldier who held her.
The soldier cursed, but he would not strike her. Instead, he dropped her.
Cara fell roughly to the floor and kicked at his feet, cursing loudly in English. “You bastard! Don’t touch me!”
The vampyre growled, baring his teeth.
“Cara, stop!” Raven limped toward her, but was surpassed by Borek, who placed his hand on the other vampyre’s chest, propelling him backward.
“Enough,” he commanded in Italian.
The angry vampyre spat a curse at Cara and moved away.
She peered up at Raven and Borek, brushing her long, blond hair away from her face. “Raven? What are you doing here?”
“Get control of her.” Borek gave Raven a thunderous look.
Raven was about to challenge Borek, knowing that William was watching, but a door slammed at the front of the hall.
All eyes moved to the beautiful vampyre who floated across the floor to the throne, where she seated herself, adjusting her flowing azure silk dress.
“Simonetta,” Raven whispered, eyes wide.
In front of her sat the personification of Venus from Botticelli’s painting. Raven recognized the face and eyes immediately, as well the long, flaxen hair that fell to her hips.
As a vampyre, La Bella Simonetta was even more exquisite than she’d been in life. Raven felt her very legs shake in the muse’s presence.
Cara tugged on Raven’s sleeve. “Where are we? Where’s Dan?”
“Quiet.” Raven helped her sister to her feet and drew her to the back wall. “We’re in danger here. Keep quiet. I’ll explain later.”
Cara muttered to herself, but was interrupted by a loud, musical voice.
“This is unexpected.” The princess turned cool blue eyes on the Florentines.
The Prince gave an exaggerated bow. “You cannot condemn me for wishing to gaze on your beauty once again, La Bella.”
The female vampyre’s rosy lips turned up into a smile. “You flatter me.”
“I apologize for interrupting your day. I trust my couriers delivered their message?”
“They did.” She fussed with her robes, losing eye contact with the Prince. “My captain was sent out on patrol before the couriers arrived.”
“A thousand apologies.” He bowed once again. “Perhaps the patrol had something to do with the Umbrian army that stands on the border of Tuscany?”
The princess fixed her gaze on his face. “I heard rumors of your demise at the hands of our old friend Machiavelli.”
“Those rumors were exaggerated.”
“Indeed.” Her clear, light eyes moved over the Florentine soldiers, coming to rest on Cara and Raven. “I don’t suppose the humans are a gift?”
“I’m afraid not, princess. These are the humans spoken of by my couriers.”
Simonetta regarded him shrewdly. “Since when does Florence give gifts to the Curia?”
“With respect, princess, since when does Umbria threaten to invade Tuscany?” The Prince’s tone grew sharp.
She was quiet for an instant and then laughed, the musical sound echoing in the large chamber.
“Who’s that?” Cara whispered, holding tightly to her sister’s arm.
“That’s the Princess of Umbria.” Raven strained to hear the exchange ensuing between the two heads of state.
Cara frowned. “I didn’t know Umbria had a princess.”
Raven silenced her sister with a look.
“I assembled my army at the border simply as a precaution. As you know, Machiavelli and I have not been on the best of terms. Now that I see my closest ally is prince once again, I shall order the troops to withdraw.”
The Prince nodded. “Thank you.”
“With respect to your couriers, I prefer to be given the opportunity to respond to a request, rather than having my acquiescence assumed.” The princess frowned.
“Of course.” The Prince adopted a contrite expression. “A thousand apologies.”
“Your apologies are noted, but not yet accepted.” She smiled. “Let us retire privately, where we may discuss the matter further.”
She stood, and everyone bowed.
Simonetta lifted her voice. “The Prince and I have private business to attend to. We shall return, in time.”
“If I may, princess.” The Prince stepped forward.
She nodded imperially.
“I regret I must trespass on your hospitality. My soldiers were set upon by hunters. They need food and other amenities, as do the humans.”
Simonetta lifted her hand. “Julius, see to it that the humans have what they require, and give them a room in which to rest. The Florentines are to be given sustenance, but they are to remain in this chamber until we return.”
“Allow me to post my own captain and his second outside the humans’ door,” the Prince pressed. “I would also appreciate it if you would detain Stefan of Montréal, the former physician of Florence. He is not to be trusted.”
The physician sputtered his protest, but Simonetta was already nodding at her guards. Two of them walked over to Stefan and dragged him from the hall amidst his loud pleas for clemency.
The princess ignored his cries, extending her hand to the Prince.
He kissed it before placing it in his grasp. He and the princess exited through a side door.
Cara exhaled her relief. “Now what?”
Raven didn’t hear her question. She was too busy staring after William, who’d left without a backward glance. He’d been so solicitous with the princess, so attentive.
She’d never seen him behave that way before.
Simonetta must be more powerful than she thought.
Julius, the Umbrian captain, interrupted her musings. “This way.” He gestured to the door behind them.
Raven and Cara had no choice but to follow, with Borek and another Florentine at their sides.
Chapter Twelve
“ARE YOU TRYING to get me killed?” Aoibhe’s hands went to her hips as she discovered her lover reclining on her bed.
Ibarra smiled and rolled to his side. “Is that any way to greet an important ally? I seem to recall saving your life.”
“As I saved yours, Basque. We are even.” She bent to pick up his discarded clothes from the floor.
“Get dressed and get out.” She tossed the clothes in his face. “There’s a hunting party after you. If someone traces your scent here, the Prince will kill me.”
“You didn’t know I was here until you entered the room.” Ibarra rested his chin on an upturned hand. “The Prince has barricaded himself in his impenetrable fortress. Not even he has spies in every corner of the city.”
Aoibhe moved to the windows and drew the curtains. “Don’t be a fool. You were head of security. You know some of the humans are in his service.”
Ibarra waited until he had her full attention before removing the sheet from his body. “Very well, I’ll leave. But I’d like to know how the Prince survived the last of the Medici and Machiavelli in a single evening.”
Aoibhe leaned wearily against one of the bed posts. “Many of the brethren are loyal to him. Gregor rallied his supporters and came to his aid. When it looked as if the tide might shift, the army sided with the Prince.”
Ibarra swung his legs over the side of the bed. “There are whispers the Curia has taken an interest in Florence.”
Aoibhe lifted her long red hair. “The Prince sent his pet to them as a peace offering. Apparently, they want her.”
“Is that envy I see on your face?”
She turned away, fussing with the skirt of her long, crimson dress. “I envy nothing, save the throne of Florence.”
“Then I shall have to secure it for you. Come, Aoibhe.” His tone gentled, and he exten
ded his hand to her. “We have the entire day to enjoy ourselves. Love me a little.”
Ibarra’s body was aroused; it was obvious. But the expression on his face belied another, perhaps deeper, desire.
Aoibhe stared, her dark eyes calculating.
She unfastened her dress and pulled it over her head, dropping it onto a chair.
Chapter Thirteen
“YOU’RE CRAZY.” Cara rounded on her sister as they entered a lavishly decorated room located off one of the many serpentine passages in Perugia’s underworld.
The room itself was rectangular, furnished with a large, plush sofa and several high-backed armchairs. An open door on one end revealed a bedroom. A corresponding door in the opposite wall revealed a bathroom.
Exhausted mentally and physically, Raven collapsed on the sofa, cradling her injured arm. Bruises had blossomed on her pale skin, and the flesh beneath was tender.
She grabbed a fur throw and wrapped it around herself. Damp coolness radiated from the stone walls, and her teeth chattered. “I’m telling the truth. They’re all vampyres.”