The Shadow (The Florentine 2)

“Thank you, Professor.” She shook his hand.

After that exchange, Raven’s smile returned, even though it was somewhat smaller than before.

The black Mercedes waited behind the Uffizi, alongside a few other luxury vehicles. Raven was just exiting the gallery with Gina and Patrick when she saw the car. She stopped short.

“What is it?” Patrick eyed her reaction with concern.

“My boyfriend is here.” She gave her friends an apologetic smile. “I haven’t seen him all week. Go ahead without me. I might meet you later.”

“We can wait,” Patrick offered, his eyes narrowing at the Mercedes.

“Give Raven time with her boyfriend.” Gina tugged on his hand. “Raven, we can meet you there.”

“Thanks.” She gave Gina an appreciative look.

“Bring him with you,” Patrick called over his shoulder.

As her friends walked in the direction of the bar, Raven made her way over to the car. She opened the door and climbed in, closing the door carefully behind her.

Chapter Thirty-nine

“I’m surprised to see you. I haven’t spoken to you since Monday night.” Raven clutched her knapsack, making no move toward him.

William turned to address the driver. “To the villa, Luka.”

“Wait.” Raven fidgeted with her knapsack. “My friends are going for drinks to celebrate the completion of the restoration project. I’m going with them.”

William blinked. “Very well.”

“That’s it?” She frowned. “That’s all you have to say?”

William adjusted his cuff links, avoiding her censorious look. “You wish to be with your friends. I understand. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

“But you won’t see me,” she protested. “Tomorrow night is the gala celebrating the restoration. I have to go.”

William’s eyes met hers. “Then I’ll see you afterward. Ring Ambrogio and let him know when to send the car. I’ll meet you at the villa.”

Raven turned to look out the darkly tinted window.

“I’m luggage,” she muttered.

“What’s that?” William’s tone was sharp.

“I’m something to be picked up and dropped off.” She lifted her knapsack to her shoulder and placed her hand on the door. “I haven’t seen you all week, after—after . . .” She faltered, suddenly fighting tears.

“Luka, get out of the car.” William’s tone was low and commanding.

The large man exited the vehicle and closed his door, affording the couple some privacy.

Without a word, William picked Raven up and placed her sideways on his lap, tossing her knapsack to the floor. He ran his thumbs under her eyes, gathering the moisture.

“What am I to do with you?” he whispered.

“Nothing, because I’m leaving.” She tried to move off his lap, but he placed an arm around her waist.

“Luka will drive you to meet your friends, after you explain the tears.” He dried her eyes again.

“If I have to explain it, then we have more trouble than I thought.”

William winced.

When it became clear he was waiting for her to speak, she huffed. “I swear, you are the most infuriating male I’ve ever encountered. Why are you avoiding me?”

William passed his hand over her hair. “Affairs of state have taken more than their share of my attention. I know I promised to see to it you had access to a swimming pool for your leg, but I haven’t had time. I shall have Ambrogio arrange it.”

“I don’t care about swimming! What I care about is you and how you’re treating me.”

William appeared confused. “How I am treating you?”

“When we spoke Monday night, you were cold to me.”

“I am cold.” He pressed his palm to her cheek.

“William.” Her tone was anguished. “When we’re apart, I miss you. I want to be with you. I want to talk to you. And when you’re cold, it hurts.”

Realization seemed to dawn on his expression. He pulled her against his chest, enveloping her in his arms. “My enemies will pay for every one of those tears.”

“I don’t want revenge. I just want you.”

His lips found her forehead and he held them there. “I love you a great deal. I’m sure it’s cruel of me to love you at all since we can’t have a normal life. Yet, I can’t bring myself to stop.”

“I know you worry about the city. But I worry about you. Please, don’t shut me out.”

“There are things in motion that I should tell you about. But not tonight.” His nose brushed the side of hers. “Dry your tears, Cassita. I regret every one.”

She wiped at her face and kissed him, looping her arms around his neck.

“We’ll take you to your friends. Tomorrow night, we shall be together.”

She smiled and the change was reflected on William’s face as his expression eased.

“I am not an easy being to love, Cassita. But I swear my sins of omission are in reality sins of love. I’m trying to protect you and the city. I’m failing.”

“I’m sorry about the city. I don’t understand what it would be like to be responsible for so many people.” She touched his face, tracing his knitted eyebrows and proud mouth. “I just wish we had more time together.”

He kissed the side of her hand. “However did I come to be the slave of so magnanimous a lady?”

Without giving the opportunity for Raven to reply, William knocked on the ceiling of the car. Luka opened the door and slipped into the driver’s seat. Soon the Mercedes was wending its way from the gallery and down the street.

Chapter Forty

William carried in his pocket the means to save his city. The procedure was simple enough—deliver Raven to the Curia and Florence would be spared.

He’d spent centuries protecting his principality. He’d devoted his entire vampyric existence to it, constantly striving to ensure his citizens enjoyed an easy, comfortable life, secure in the knowledge the Curia would never march through their streets the way they’d done in Prague and Paris and Budapest.

He’d never allowed anyone to come between him and the city he loved, which was why he’d always been alone.

Then a wounded lark had flown across his sky and changed it. Forever.

As the first rays of sunrise illuminated the city streets, William exited one of the secret doors that led to the underground near Santa Maria Novella Station. He was disguised as a tourist, in sunglasses and a Panama hat, a cloth doused in an old vampyre’s blood pinned to his shirt. If anyone were to track him, he hoped they’d be confused.

He ignored the headache and discomfort he felt the moment he stepped on holy ground, entering the church of Santa Maria Novella and moving swiftly and almost invisibly to the Spanish Chapel. He approached the famous fresco and bowed his respect.

“Hail, Brother.” He greeted the image of his teacher in Latin, as had been their custom when he was alive. As ever, the saint stared at him impassively.

“It has been some time since I’ve visited. You’re looking well.” William tore his eyes from the painted wall and began to pace. “I find myself in some difficulty, which is why I have returned.

“Your Church has taken an interest in my city. There are rumors of war. I find it difficult to believe such conflicts fail to disturb your rest, since you clearly taught the clergy should be pacifists.”

William paused. “Yes, I know. They battle against principalities and powers, and the forces of darkness. I’ve resigned myself to the darkness. But there’s someone close to me who has not.

“There’s a woman.” William watched his teacher closely, fancying that, just perhaps, the visage had changed. “A young woman, very lovely. Brave and generous and fierce. The stuff of poetry and dreams.

“You’ll laugh at this, old friend. The woman loves me.”

The image’s eyes seemed to burn into his. The Prince continued his pacing. “She was the protégée of one of the Curia’s

priests. He’s demanded I deliver her to him in exchange for peace.”

William straightened and crossed to the fresco, facing it.

“If I accede to his demand, I save my city but I lose her. I’ll break her heart and the Curia will break her spirit. If I keep her, the Curia will come. They’ll kill as many of us as they can, including me. So you see, old friend, no matter what I choose, I will lose her.

“What would be worse, to lose her voluntarily but know she will be protected by my enemy? Or to keep her, knowing the war will eventually separate us?”