The Raven (The Florentine 1)

William moved closer to her. “Ferals kill; they don’t maim. If one attacked you, you’d be dead in seconds. After that, it would feed from you. Vampyres prefer their food alive.”

“Strangely, I don’t find that comforting.”

He pulled her into his side and lowered his voice.

“Take comfort in the knowledge that you are under the protection of the most powerful vampyre in the kingdom of Italy, with the exception of the Roman.”

Raven opened her eyes. “Who’s the Roman?”

“The Roman is the ruler of the principality of Rome. Since ancient times, the Roman was also considered to be the king of the principalities that now make up Italy.”

“He’s more powerful than you?”

“Much.”

Raven blew out a loud breath. “Where does your power come from?”

He tugged at a lock of her hair.

“Not so fast, Delilah. I’m not about to reveal all my secrets.”

“I didn’t know vampyres went to Sunday school.”

William’s smile faded.

“The less said on that subject the better. Not that my training protected me.”

Raven felt his anger. It seemed to seep out of his skin, filling the car. But it wasn’t directed at her.

“Lucia packed up your belongings at the villa and Ambrogio has transferred them to your flat. If anything was missed, tell him and he will deliver it to you.”

“The things at the villa aren’t mine. I arrived only with this.” She pointed to the knapsack that sat on the floor.

“The clothes were bought for you.”

“You didn’t need to do that.” Her cheeks pinked in embarrassment. “Some of them won’t fit.”

“Weight loss is an unfortunate side effect of ingesting vampyre blood. You’ll be back to your healthy weight soon enough.”

Raven’s mouth dropped open.

She was going to protest, or at least ask him to clarify what he’d said, but he’d already continued speaking.

“Ambrogio had to remove the relic from your flat before you returned.”

Raven’s attention shifted immediately.

“You took it back, remember? It was in my knapsack when Bruno was attacked.”

“I placed another in your flat the night I returned you.”

“I didn’t see it.”

“It was hidden under your bed. I had no intention of seeing you again. I left a relic to protect you.”

Raven gave him a searching look.

“That was very . . . good of you. Why are you taking it back?”

“The others will be curious about you. They’ll find your apartment. The relic must be gone by then. And I won’t be returning the one I gave you before.”

“But why?”

“You’re supposed to be my pet. Relics deter my kind.” He spoke abruptly.

“They don’t deter you.”

William gave her a look that was dangerous, if not cold, and she found herself inching away from him.

“You don’t need to worry about me telling tales.”

He glared his warning. “I hope for your sake that’s true.”

“A vampyre’s pet wouldn’t have relics because they would deter her vampyre.”

“Exactly.”

“What about Maximilian? He knew I had a relic in my knapsack. I’m sure of it.”

“Don’t worry about Max.” William’s voice was clipped.

“So your brethren don’t know that relics have no effect on you.” She looked at William with new eyes. “Why do you keep it secret? Don’t you want them to know how powerful you are?”

“Power is at its most powerful when it is concealed.” His face, like his tone, grew dark.

“Okay,” she whispered.

“Are you going to be sick?”

“No.”

William turned his attention to the driver. “Luka, we can proceed.”

Silence filled the car as they crossed the Arno. William placed his palms on his knees, tapping his fingers against the wool.

Raven was seized with the impression he was anxious or impatient about something.

As they approached Piazza Santo Spirito and Raven’s apartment, he spoke.

“I promised to help the boy and I will do so until he recovers. I will also endeavor to ease the suffering of your neighbor.”

“Thank you.”

“The depth of your concern for your fellow human beings took me by surprise.” He paused, his gaze suddenly fixed on one of the buildings. “I am not usually surprised.”

His remark didn’t seem to require a response, so Raven didn’t answer. She leaned forward to pick up her knapsack and settled it on her lap.

Luka parked the car near Raven’s building and immediately got out. He closed the door and stood behind the car, his posture alert.

“I realize that your willingness to stay with me was based on your wish to help your friends. But it is my hope that you—” William stopped, his voice filled with longing.

“What do you hope?” She tried to make eye contact.

“Nothing.” He kept his gaze fixed on the street. “I hope for nothing because hope is vain.”

Raven toyed with her knapsack. “Despair is the absence of hope.”

“Don’t presume to lecture me on despair,” he snapped.

Raven twisted her fingers.

“I’m sorry,” she said meekly.

He turned, placing his hand under her chin. “You are the only ray of hope I’ve seen since 1274. You’re the only one who has caused my heart to beat again.”

For a moment, Raven saw something much deeper than physical desire in his eyes. She didn’t know what it was, but she saw it and felt it, shimmering in the air between them.

All at once, he covered her mouth with his own, his tongue tracing the seam of her lips.

She opened to him.

William swept the knapsack aside, tugging her into his arms.

His tongue pushed past her lips, sliding against her own. His hand moved to her neck.

In a few swift movements, he undid the knotted silk at her throat. Then his lips were on her neck.

Raven’s eyes shot open.

He nipped at her skin before laving it with his tongue. Over and over he repeated the sequence as Raven’s heart sped in her chest.

She shifted her legs as heat flared in her middle and lower down. Tentatively, she touched his hair, pushing back the strands with her fingers. Still his lips moved against her throat.

He drew some flesh into his mouth and sucked.

Raven gasped.

William’s mouth gentled. He kissed the tender spot

on her neck, his tongue fluttering lightly over the skin.

He pressed a few small kisses to the indentation at the base of her throat before brushing his lips across hers.

“Was that a bite?” she whispered.

William moved back. “No.”

She touched her neck. The skin wasn’t broken.

She examined her hand. There wasn’t any blood.

He bent to retrieve her scarf, which had fallen to her feet. He placed it in her lap.

“I would never feed from you unless you offered yourself.”

“Isn’t that what vampyres do?”

“Don’t tempt me.” His voice grew cold.

“I don’t understand you.” She shook her head.

“What’s not to understand?”

“How you can be so harsh and kiss like that.”

William’s face broke into a smile and he placed his arm around her.

“I predate the advent of psychology, Cassita. I can’t offer that kind of self-analysis.”

Raven tentatively rested her head on his shoulder and was rewarded when his other arm wrapped around her waist.

“I know you’re dangerous,” she confessed. “But I know without doubt that I’m alive because of you and for that I’m grateful.”

“Gratitude is a start,” he mused.

“Bruno’s grandmother was kind to me when I first came to Florence. Thank you for helping her and for saving Bruno.”

William nodded against her hair.

She placed her hand on his chest, near his heart.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course. I don’t promise to answer, but you can ask.”

“When we were with your people, I heard someone mention something about a mark. What was that about?”

“If you were my pet, I’d have fed from you by now.” He gestured to her neck. “They’d see more than just a bruise. From now on, you’ll need to cover your neck whenever you’re in public.”

“I can do that. I like scarves.”

“You can keep this one. Lucia can buy another.”

Raven lifted her head. “Won’t she want it back?”

“Not if I tell her not to.”

Raven decided not to argue with him. She’d see that Lucia’s scarf was returned later on.