“I wonder who shall be the first to give way,” Kritanu murmured into Eustacia’s ear. He stood behind her, arms wrapped around her waist, and rumbled a chuckle against her back.
They’d been enjoying the sea evening from a high deck near the stern of the ship when Victoria positioned herself at the railing below. When Sebastian joined her moments later, Kritanu and Eustacia could have moved on, but didn’t.
Thus they had been privy not so much to the actual verbal exchange between the two young people, but enough of their activity to discern what was occurring.
“I certainly hope Victoria has enough sense not to make an impulsive decision, or one ruled by desires instead of reason,” Eustacia replied. But she had seen the way her niece sighed and leaned into Sebastian, and how she’d drawn deep, shaky breaths after he’d left. When she thought no one would see.
“I’m certain she wouldn’t do something so imprudent. Gardella women are certainly not known for their impulsiveness when it comes to matters of the heart.”
Eustacia could not contain a smile. “What a shrewish strega I’ve become.Age is getting to me and becoming too heavy a burden. I have forgotten what it is like to be young and tempted by a young, handsome man.”
“A young, handsome man nearly eight years your junior.” He was laughing behind her and pressed a kiss to her ear. “Oh, how you fought your attraction to me. I was too young, much too young, and I was only a Comitator, a mere trainer—not even a Venator—so I was beneath your notice.”
“I was furious when Wayren sent you to me! As if you, at seventeen, knew more about fighting vampires than I, a chosen Venator, who had been vis bullaed for nearly four years, since I was twenty. Of course, I had no idea how much I would learn from a Comitator.” She half turned to look at him, and he adjusted to her side so they leaned on the railing, looking at each other. They were exactly the same height: his golden, compact body and her slender one that stooped just slightly with age.
“I know it. And I was stunned by your beauty and put off by your rudeness, your cheeky attitude, and your abhorrent fighting skills.”
“I never tire of hearing you reminisce about my stunning beauty.”
“And I never tire of hearing you claim that, thanks to Wayren’s insistence I train you, your life was saved numerous times.”
They smiled at each other, companionable and comfortable in the night and with their memories. Though her joints throbbed more than usual, and despite the fact that she was apprehensive about returning to Roma, Eustacia would not have wished herself back to those younger years.
“Your niece is just as beautiful and talented and stubborn as you were. It’s no wonder Vioget looks at her the way he does.”
“I don’t know all that has transpired between them; I fear it is more than I would like, and I hope there is no lasting attachment there.”
“You do not wholly trust him.”
“No. I cannot. He can be a valuable ally. And, yes, he already has proven himself helpful to us. But I cannot take him at face value, for he plays whatever role it suits him to play, whenever he wishes. And he plays it well. He will say and do whatever he must to get what he wants.”
“And what is it that he wants?”
“That is what disturbs me the most, Kritanu. I do not know. I do not know what is truly in his heart.”
“Perhaps you are feeling a bit chary about your own intuition because of Max’s disappearance. You trusted him implicitly.”
“Trust. I still do and will until my grave. He is either dead, or…Well, I do not care to think on it. I was able to learn nothing about him or his whereabouts in Venezia; I can only hope we shall find him in Roma.”
“If not, then you fear the prophecy will come to pass.”
She nodded once. “As our mystic Rosamund wrote: ‘The golden age of the Venator shall end at the foot of Roma.’ If Nedas does indeed loose the full power of Akvan’s Obelisk, I fear this battle in Roma will be the end of us all.”
+ 13 +
A Wager is Made
* * *
After her interlude with Sebastian, Victoria stubbornly stayed away from all areas of the ship’s deck when the stars and moon were out, confining her strolls to sunlit ones.
It was odd seeing him every day, including during those daytime walks around and between the masts and other objects fixed to the deck. She was used to having him appear unexpectedly—not being seated across from her at a meal. He acted as though he barely knew her, politely bowing and calling her Mrs. Withers whenever they came in contact, and spreading his charm evenly among the four other females on the ship. The captain’s wife and her sisters were duly charmed.
Victoria preferred him at a distance. It was easier to retain thoughts of Phillip and how much she’d loved him and how recently she’d been widowed when she saw Sebastian only in passing.
But the fact was, she had thought of Sebastian, and quite often. It was hard to banish the reminder of his muscular body pressing her against the rail, and near impossible to forget the kisses they’d shared—particularly when his sensual mouth was curved in that welcoming smile whenever she walked into the room. His intentions were clear to her, at least; she hoped Aunt Eustacia hadn’t read them as well.
And the fact was, Victoria did wonder what would be the harm in giving in to what they both wanted. He’d made it clear he had no interest in anything other than a mutually beneficial dalliance, which was all she wanted, or could allow herself to engage in, anyway. And there was no possibility of a baby to result from any liaison she might wish to embark upon, as Victoria had been provided a medicinal potion when she was married to Phillip to prevent pregnancy. It was an old tradition of the Gardellas—for no one, least of all Victoria, wished to have a Venator carrying a child.