Wayren shrugged, and her smile continued to warm the rest of the room. She seemed clearly pleased with the turn of events. “He has knowledge of the vampires that even you don’t have, Max, and he’ll be around long after you and Victoria and your children. I’m certain he’ll find some way to be of assistance to the Venators. ”
“Never fear, Pesaro,” drawled Sebastian. “I’ll be taking myself off to America in short order. I doubt that I’ll be here when the child comes. ”
Victoria glared at him, knowing that Sebastian had purposely chosen to drop that piece of information at this moment as a last one-upmanship to Max.
How did he know she hadn’t told him yet? Likely because Sebastian knew that if Max were aware she carried a child, he’d have become much more protective of her.
He grinned at her, in his Sebastian way, still making warm flutters in her stomach. And that was when the realization struck her. Really struck her.
Sebastian was gone. For all intents and purposes, he was gone.
He had given his life for her, and for Giulia, and taken on a more dangerous, challenging task than she and Max would ever do. She’d had only a short while of fighting such deep cravings, such instinctual needs, the deep potential for evil that vampire blood had brought.
How could Sebastian think to live years, decades… perhaps longer… without giving in to those base instincts?
Their eyes met, and he allowed only a flare of glow to color his, as if to remind her of what they’d shared… and what they could still share, if she were willing. One last bit of that devilish side of him.
Victoria made a decision at that moment. “I’ll send someone with you, Sebastian. Someone to stay with you, at least… at least for a while. ”
He gave a wry smile. “My own Tutela member?”
She understood his attempt at humor and let it pass. “A Venator protector. You’re still a Venator, Sebastian. You wear the vis . ”
“I do. And will. Though I don’t know if it will be enough. ” Sadness graced his eyes, and Victoria felt her heart pang.
Let him be strong.
“And the ring,” Wayren said. “The ring you wear is there to give you strength, as well. ”
Michalas returned at that moment, and Sebastian looked over at him as though drawn by a string. His nostrils flared as though to scent blood on the air, and even Victoria could smell the faint rust. “Come with me,” said Michalas.
Sebastian nodded, murmuring something about preferring venison blood to that of beef, and Victoria was glad that he wouldn’t have to feed on whatever animal Michalas had found in front of the rest of them.
Then a thought struck her, and she looked at Michalas, then glanced meaningfully at Wayren. The angel nodded. Yes, he would be a good person to send with Sebastian, as odd as that might seem for a Venatorial task.
Sebastian left the room, and a silence fell over the chamber. Victoria felt the sharp sting of a tear and, annoyed with herself, dashed it away. She looked up to find Brim easing out of the room, and Wayren following him in a smooth glide.
When she glanced at Max, she saw why.
His face was thunderous.
“Are we going to fight now?” she asked impudently.
“Tell me… just tell me that you didn’t know. ”
“Max,” she said patiently, “I am not going to sit back for nine-rather, eight… perhaps seven-months and do nothing. ”
She heard the grinding of his teeth from where she stood, several feet away. She narrowed her eyes in delight. Max speechless?
“This is going to be an ongoing argument, isn’t it?” he said at last.
“Max, really. I’m not like other women. ”
He snorted. “Is that so?” Then he was across the room, pulling her into his arms. “I am delighted. But there’s one thing you’ll need to understand. ”
She looked up at him. “I’m sure you’re going to tell me. ”
“The child will have Gardella blood. But it will also have my name. Do you understand?”