The physician sputtered his protest, but Simonetta was already nodding at her guards. Two of them walked over to Stefan and dragged him from the hall amidst his loud pleas for clemency.#p#分页标题#e#
The princess ignored his cries, extending her hand to the Prince.
He kissed it before placing it in his grasp. He and the princess exited through a side door.
Cara exhaled her relief. “Now what?”
Raven didn’t hear her question. She was too busy staring after William, who’d left without a backward glance. He’d been so solicitous with the princess, so attentive.
She’d never seen him behave that way before.
Simonetta must be more powerful than she thought.
Julius, the Umbrian captain, interrupted her musings. “This way.” He gestured to the door behind them.
Raven and Cara had no choice but to follow, with Borek and another Florentine at their sides.
Chapter Twelve
“ARE YOU TRYING to get me killed?” Aoibhe’s hands went to her hips as she discovered her lover reclining on her bed.
Ibarra smiled and rolled to his side. “Is that any way to greet an important ally? I seem to recall saving your life.”
“As I saved yours, Basque. We are even.” She bent to pick up his discarded clothes from the floor.
“Get dressed and get out.” She tossed the clothes in his face. “There’s a hunting party after you. If someone traces your scent here, the Prince will kill me.”
“You didn’t know I was here until you entered the room.” Ibarra rested his chin on an upturned hand. “The Prince has barricaded himself in his impenetrable fortress. Not even he has spies in every corner of the city.”
Aoibhe moved to the windows and drew the curtains. “Don’t be a fool. You were head of security. You know some of the humans are in his service.”
Ibarra waited until he had her full attention before removing the sheet from his body. “Very well, I’ll leave. But I’d like to know how the Prince survived the last of the Medici and Machiavelli in a single evening.”
Aoibhe leaned wearily against one of the bed posts. “Many of the brethren are loyal to him. Gregor rallied his supporters and came to his aid. When it looked as if the tide might shift, the army sided with the Prince.”
Ibarra swung his legs over the side of the bed. “There are whispers the Curia has taken an interest in Florence.”
Aoibhe lifted her long red hair. “The Prince sent his pet to them as a peace offering. Apparently, they want her.”
“Is that envy I see on your face?”
She turned away, fussing with the skirt of her long, crimson dress. “I envy nothing, save the throne of Florence.”
“Then I shall have to secure it for you. Come, Aoibhe.” His tone gentled, and he extended his hand to her. “We have the entire day to enjoy ourselves. Love me a little.”
Ibarra’s body was aroused; it was obvious. But the expression on his face belied another, perhaps deeper, desire.
Aoibhe stared, her dark eyes calculating.
She unfastened her dress and pulled it over her head, dropping it onto a chair.
Chapter Thirteen
“YOU’RE CRAZY.” Cara rounded on her sister as they entered a lavishly decorated room located off one of the many serpentine passages in Perugia’s underworld.
The room itself was rectangular, furnished with a large, plush sofa and several high-backed armchairs. An open door on one end revealed a bedroom. A corresponding door in the opposite wall revealed a bathroom.
Exhausted mentally and physically, Raven collapsed on the sofa, cradling her injured arm. Bruises had blossomed on her pale skin, and the flesh beneath was tender.#p#分页标题#e#
She grabbed a fur throw and wrapped it around herself. Damp coolness radiated from the stone walls, and her teeth chattered. “I’m telling the truth. They’re all vampyres.”
“I knew it.” Cara came closer. “When you called me about David, I knew you were cracking up. You’ve been carrying that shit so long you finally broke.”
“If I was going to break, I would have done it a long time ago.” Raven looked up at her sister. “Have you seen what they can do? Have you noticed how strong they are?”
Cara plopped down on the sofa. “It’s a fricking Renaissance fair, complete with toy swords. Where’s Dan? Don’t tell me they tried to recruit him. He used to do community theater.”
“He’s in Florence. When you came to my apartment, a vampyre attacked us. We were brought here, and Dan was left behind.”
Cara turned to face her. “Is he hurt?”
Raven hesitated. “I don’t know. He was knocked unconscious.”