The Raven (The Florentine 1)

Aoibhe approached Niccolò, who was already seated. “Are there problems with the patrols?”

“Not at all. Everything is proceeding according to plan.” Niccolò’s tone was not friendly.

Aoibhe clapped slowly. “Eager to keep your head, Nick?”

“It’s attached to my body.”

“For now,” she muttered.

“Perché la fortuna è donna, et è necessario, volendola tenere sotto, batterla et urtarla,” Niccolò stated, his dark eyes taunting her.

She scowled and took a threatening step forward. “Five hundred years later and you’re still spouting that ridiculous drivel? I’ll show you what it is to be beaten, you ridiculous cretin.”

“Aoibhe.” Lorenzo spoke sharply. “Stop antagonizing Sir Machiavelli.” She opened her mouth to protest, but at that moment Max entered the room, followed by Gregor.

Aoibhe reluctantly took her seat, but not before hurling a few insults in Niccolò’s direction.

“This meeting of the Consilium will come to order.” Lorenzo tapped his staff on the floor.

The Consilium members stood as the Prince entered the room.

As soon as they saw the young woman beside him, a series of growls left their throats. All six vampyres inhaled her heady scent, turning with hunger in her direction.

Chapter Thirty

It was all Raven could do to keep moving. Her leg was troubling her but she refused to limp. She walked slowly, navigating the stone floor in her high heels like a cat mincing across a hot surface.

William had hold of her arm, but his proximity did nothing to stave off her fear. She heard animalistic snarls and growls. They seemed to surround her, echoing in a large space.

For one desperate moment, she wondered if William had escorted her to her death.

As he led her forward, she glimpsed a chair to her right and two pairs of feet encased in men’s shoes. William positioned her in front of them, next to a series of steps.

When his hand fell away, she had to fight the urge to reach after it.

Her heart beat furiously as she worried he’d abandoned her.

She could feel eyes burning into her back. She sensed the closeness of the two men behind her.

She closed her eyes beneath her blindfold, willing herself not to show any reaction.

“A situation has arisen that requires our attention.” William’s commanding Italian broke into Raven’s musings, and her head moved in the direction of his voice. “First, I have an announcement.

“I have taken a pet.” He paused, as if gesturing in her direction. “No one is to speak to her, approach her, or touch her. This announcement is to be made to the plebs, as well, and it admits no exception.”

Raven heard movement to her left.

“Forgive me, my prince. It pains me to remind you that human beings are not permitted in the underworld, with the exception of Teatro, unless they are part of the catering.” The man’s voice was respectful but firm.

“Yes, Niccolò, I am well aware of the rules since I am the one who established them.” William’s tone was cool.

It took Raven off guard, for Lucia and Ambrogio had referred to him as a lord. Now he was addressed as a prince.

She had to stifle a verbal reaction, her mind racing.

William continued. “As you can see, precautions have been taken. I’d like it noted that this visit would not have been necessary if it weren’t for Maximilian.”

A chorus of murmurs filled Raven’s ears.

“Maximilian approached my pet, spoke to her, and tried to take her. I am also told that Aoibhe spoke to her as well.” William’s voice was glacial.

“With apologies, my lord. I had no idea she was yours.” A woman’s voice, young and attractive, sounded to Raven’s ear like music. She recognized the voice from the night before.

“Am I to assume the pet will always be in your company, Prince?” a younger man asked.

“It pleases me to give her a measure of liberty, Lorenzo. I am busy with the affairs of state and cannot fornicate all the time.”

A few chuckles sounded.

Raven felt her face grow hot.

“But she will wear your mark?” Lorenzo asked.

“Of course. To avoid misunderstanding, I am also presenting her with this.”

Raven heard footsteps approach.

“Kneel,” William commanded, his voice about a foot from her face.

She made a show of reaching out blindly in front of her, before dropping to her knees. The stone beneath her was hard and damp.

He lifted her right hand and slipped something cool over her wrist.

From under her blindfold Raven could see that it was a bracelet, fashioned from three intertwined strands of gold. A carved gold lily was affixed to the center of the bracelet.

Raven noticed that the lily matched the carving on William’s cuff links.

“As long as she wears the symbol of the principality, she’s mine. Anyone who interferes with what is mine shall be destroyed.” William paused, as if for effect. “Remember Ibarra’s fate.”

His hand slipped over hers, the smallest, most unobtrusive touch, before disappearing. In it, Raven found comfort.

He must be worried about me.

“You may stand,” his voice commanded.

Raven stood carefully. She heard William walk away.

“You cannot claim another master’s pet.”

Raven recognized the low, gravelly voice as that of the man who’d attacked Bruno. She felt a shiver travel up and down her spine at the realization that he was standing just behind her.

She fought the urge to cringe away from him.

“Explain yourself,” Lorenzo barked.

“I came across this little one last night. She has two bloods in her, in addition to her own. Someone else has been keeping her.”

“Silence,” William growled.

The room grew quiet. Raven strained her ears for any sound.

“There were two others, yes. I destroyed them.” William sounded impatient.

“She had a talisman. How were you able to take a pet who had a charm?”

Murmurs sounded in the great hall.

“I was fortunate, Maximilian, that you separated my pet from her talisman, allowing me to claim her. Since I destroyed her previous masters, she belongs to me. Unless you’d rather challenge me for her.” William waited, but only for an instant, before lifting his voice to address the group. “Does anyone else have an objection? There are enough swords on the wall to dispatch all of you.”

Silence filled the chamber.

“Come now, don’t waste time. I’d like to put this matter to rest so I can enjoy my new pet.”

When no one responded, William continued. “I find your attitude troubling, Maximilian. This will be the last time you trouble me.”

Raven heard movement behind her but she didn’t know what it was.

“Since there are no further questions, we shall proceed. Gregor, escort my

pet to the side chamber. Bar the door and stand guard outside. Anyone who approaches the chamber is to be destroyed. Do you understand?”

“Yes, my lord.”

Raven felt someone move to her side and lightly grasp her elbow. He turned her around and accompanied her for several steps before they exited through a door.

She heard the scraping of something and the opening of another door. Gregor escorted her forward a few steps, placing her hand on the back of a chair.

He withdrew, leaving her in total darkness.

She heard the door close and something heavy fall into place. It was only then that she allowed fear to overtake her.

Chapter Thirty-one

“I received a message this afternoon from the human intelligence network. A group of hunters were sighted outside the city this morning.” Inside the council chamber, the Consilium murmured their reaction to the Prince’s announcement.

“The network intercepted them as they tried to enter the city. They were interrogated and destroyed. Unfortunately, it appears they were part of a larger party, some of whom entered the city on the other side.”

“Were they members of the Curia, my lord?” Niccolò asked.

“No.”

The Council members breathed a collective sigh of relief.

The Prince lifted his hands.

“Those who were part of the human patrols today have been destroyed for their failure. I have also dispatched their leadership. They have been replaced and I am assured by the head of the network that this lapse will not happen again.

“With hunters in the city, everyone is at risk. Lorenzo, make sure word goes out to the plebs.

“Niccolò, take Max, Aoibhe, and your best patrols and search the city, going building to building. I want the hunters destroyed, but reserve two. I will interrogate them personally.”

Lorenzo and Niccolò bowed their acquiescence.

“Prince, a missive has arrived by courier from the Princess of Umbria.” Lorenzo produced an old-fashioned envelope, sealed with wax, from under his robe.

The Prince cracked the seal and opened the letter. After he’d perused its contents, he nodded at the council.

“The Princess sends her greetings. She reports all is well and that our alliance is intact.” He stuffed the letter back into the envelope and placed it in the inner pocket of his jacket, ignoring the quizzical gazes he received.