“No.” Raven swallowed hard. “I need to do it. Just—just give me time to figure out how.”
William winced. “I failed to protect you both. I am sorry.
“But we don’t have much time. The Curia will have heard about the attempted coup. I need to prevent them from marching on my city.”
“How?”
“By asking for the support of the one person the Curia won’t wage war against.”
“Who’s that?” Raven asked.
“The Roman.”
Raven passed a hand over her eyes. “What about Cara?”
“The sooner she returns to America, the better.” William turned to Cara and switched to English. “We are going to Rome.”
Cara rushed forward. “I need to go back to Florence to find my fiancé. I don’t have time to go to Rome.”
“We are leaving now.” William’s tone brooked no argument.
Cara gave her sister a challenging look.
“We can’t travel back to Florence by ourselves; William needs to go to Rome.” Raven stood unsteadily.
The Prince wrapped his arm around Raven’s waist, since she was without her cane, and helped her to the door. Cara followed them into the hall.
As they moved down one of the darkened passages, he spoke to Raven again in Italian. “I don’t think the boy suffered.”
Raven peered back at her sister, who eyed the two of them curiously. Her heart sank.
“He was good to her. She loved him.”
William gazed down at her in distress. “You mourn him.”
“I do. He was her world. She’ll be devastated.”
“What are you saying to each other? What’s going on?” Cara crowded them.
William ignored her, still speaking Italian to Raven. “If your priest is as good as you say, he could help your sister return to America.”
Raven tripped over her feet, stumbling in the darkness.
William lifted her into his arms.
“I can walk,” she protested in English.
“We are in haste, and you’re without your cane.” William increased his pace down the dark corridor.
“She’s not an invalid.” Cara trotted after them. “And I’m still waiting for someone to explain what’s going on.”
“Just a minute, Cara.” Raven turned to William, addressing him in Italian. “You want to hand my sister over to the Curia?”
William stopped, his expression dark. “I was hoping we could make arrangements to take her to your priest. If what you believe about him is correct, he will protect her. While she’s with the Curia, she won’t be prey to vampyres.”
Raven searched his eyes. “But you told me they erase memories.”
William continued walking. “They erase memories having to do with vampyres.”
“But what about—”
“Your priest wants both of you. I’m more than willing to deliver your sister, but he won’t be satisfied with that. I need to ask the Roman to support my decision to keep you.”
Raven drew a shaky breath. “What if the Roman refuses?”
“Then it will be up to you.”
“I won’t leave you.”
William’s expression was grim. “If we lose the Roman’s support, nothing will prevent the Curia from marching on Florence.”
Raven grabbed his shoulder. “Then we run away. We go somewhere they can’t find us.”
“You are a lark that deserves to be free. Not a fugitive.”
Raven placed her hands on his cheeks, forcing him to look at her. “I want to stay with you. No matter what.”
He searched her eyes. “I cannot abandon my city. I’ve seen the devastation of Prague. I can’t allow that to happen to Florence.”
“No one wants a war. There has to be a way to avoid it.”
“I wish I could believe that.” William captured her lips with his.
“Okay, if you guys would stop kissing, we could get this show on the road.” Cara sounded impatient. “And speak English.”
“William is doing his best to protect us. I need to talk to you.” Raven paused, struggling with the weight of the news about Dan.
At that moment, an Umbrian soldier materialized through one of the doorways.
William snarled, and the soldier made a hasty retreat.
Cara scowled at her sister. “Your boyfriend is an animal.”
Raven sighed. “You have no idea.”
Chapter Eighteen
“CARA.” Raven took her sister’s hand. “There’s something—”
“You really think they’re vampyres?” Cara interrupted, scanning the supernatural figures that stood several feet away.
The detachment had taken a short rest just outside of Rome, so the sisters could speak privately. Earlier, William had dispatched one of the soldiers for Florence, ordering him to notify Gregor that the Umbrian army stood on the border. The soldier was also instructed to conceal William’s whereabouts.
“Yes, I do.” Raven sandwiched her sister’s hand between both of hers. “Cara, I—”
“They look human. Obviously when they picked us up and started running, I realized they weren’t. They can’t all be Olympic sprinters.” Cara looked at her sister curiously. “How exactly does one become a vampyre?”
Raven’s gaze flickered to William, who was engaged in an intense conversation with the others.
“He explained it to me once. Dark magic is involved, but it’s like transubstantiation.”
“Good grief. As if anyone can understand that.” Cara flopped on her back underneath a tree. “You say your boyfriend is the one who kidnapped David?”
“Yes, I explained that already. Cara, you need to listen to me. I—”
“Why would he care about David?”
Raven moved closer, lowering her voice so the soldiers wouldn’t hear. “He loves me. I told him what happened to my leg, and he was angry. He said he’d give me justice.”
Cara’s eyebrows shot up. “Is he a vigilante or something?”
“Something like that.” Raven rubbed her forehead distractedly. “Didn’t you hear about what happened to David? Mom said it made the news in Miami.”
“You talked to Mom?”
“I was worried about you. You weren’t answering the landline at your house, so I called Mom. She said David’s arrest in California made the news.”
“I don’t remember.” Cara closed her eyes for a few seconds. “It must be lack of sleep. And I have a splitting headache.”
Raven touched her sister’s face, smoothing the hair back from her forehead. She knew Cara’s loss of memory was related to ingesting Aoibhe’s blood. But she didn’t have the heart to tell her.
She changed the subject. “I wanted you to make the decision about what to do with David. After we fought, I told William to send David back to California. He was arrested and led the police to a pedophile ring.”
“Back to California?” Cara rolled to her side. “So David was here? In Italy?”
“Yes.”
“That must have scared the crap out of him.” Cara paused, running her hand along the grass. “If I’d asked for a different outcome, what would you have done?”
“I would have given it to you.”
“Anything?”
“Anything,” Raven spoke without hesitation.
“Why?”
“Because I love you. Because you’re my sister.”
The words hung in the air between them.
At length, Cara broke the silence. “I wonder if I would have behaved the same way if I were the older sister.”
“Of course.”
“Not of course.” Cara flipped her long, blond hair behind her shoulder. “Most people only worry about themselves. You’ve always worried about everyone else.”
Raven avoided her eyes.
Cara continued. “I’ve always known that if I was in trouble, you’d help me. Apart from Dan, you’re the only person I trust.”
“Thank you.” Raven’s voice cracked, her eyes filling with tears.
“Don’t cry, sweetie.” Cara smiled and touched her sister’s face. “I’m sorry I flipped out on you. Dan is sorry, too. That’s why we came to see you. I don’t understand why your vampyre boyfriend won’t let us go back to Florence to help Dan.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. William had news.”
Cara sat up. “Of Dan? Is he okay?”
“He was badly injured.”
“I know that.” Cara dusted grass off her clothes. “That’s why I need to get to him.”
“Cara, Dan’s injuries were really severe. When the ambulance arrived, they tried to revive him and—”
Cara interrupted. “Said who?”
“William. That’s what he was telling me in Italian, back in Perugia. I’m so sorry.” Raven shook her head.
“No.” Cara stood, placing her hands on her hips. “It must be a mistake.”
“I wish it were.” A tear fell on Raven’s cheek.
Before Raven could rise from the ground, William was at her side. “Cassita?”
“You don’t know him.” Cara whirled on William. “You don’t know what he looks like. You could be mistaken.”
William offered Raven his hand and helped her to her feet. “I never met him, but my sources are reliable. His body was found in Raven’s apartment building.”
“I don’t believe that. I would have felt something. I would have known.” Cara looked around wildly. “We have to go back. No one knows him there. He’s probably in the hospital, unconscious.”
“Cara, listen to me.” Raven tried to put her arms around her sister, but she pushed her away.
“We have to go back.” Cara grabbed William’s arm. “We have to go now!”
Raven inhaled loudly at the sight of her sister grabbing the Prince of Florence.
William merely inclined his head to look at Cara’s hand, wrapped around his bicep. His expression was illegible.
“Cara, let go,” Raven whispered.
“She’s grieving.” William spoke Italian, and his eyes sought Raven’s. “Am I going to have to use mind control?”
“She’s been through enough,” Raven replied, also in Italian.
“If she becomes hysterical, I shall have no choice.”
Cara pulled on William’s arm. “I want to go back to Florence. I want to see my fiancé. Please.”
William regarded her for a long moment. His expression softened. “You are correct; I didn’t see the body. And of course, you weren’t there to identify him.”
“See?” Cara released William’s arm and gave her sister a hopeful look. “It’s mistaken identity.”
“I can take you to your priest in Rome,” William offered. “He can contact the Florence police and make enquiries. It’s too far to travel to Florence tonight. Others of my kind might attack us, and there are hunters who would like nothing more than to kill us—all of us, including you and your sister.”
Cara’s eyebrows crinkled. “Is Italy really that dangerous?”
The Prince ignored her question. “Our best course of action for you and your fiancé is to depart for Rome immediately.”
“William,” Raven’s voice was a plea.
“Let her have her denial,” he responded in Italian. “The truth will confront her soon enough.”
Cara dusted off her jeans again. “The sooner we get to Rome, the sooner we can see Father Kavanaugh and head back to Florence. Let’s go.”
Raven turned her back on her sister, furiously wiping away another tear.
“Cassita.” William placed his lips to her cheek. “Trust me to treat your sister with care.”
She nodded, stifling a sniffle.
William lifted his voice to address the detachment. “We depart for Rome. From now until we return to Florence, assume all your words will be heard by our enemies. Say nothing that will compromise our purpose.” His eyes fixed on the women as he switched to English. “That includes you, as well. Say nothing of your priest. Say nothing of your fiancé.”
He lifted a distressed Raven into his arms and led the detachment toward Rome.
Chapter Nineteen
“WE HAVE ARRIVED.” The Prince halted the detachment just outside the city.
“Cassita,” he said gently.
Raven jolted awake, and he placed her on her feet.
Borek deposited Cara next to her, and the two women leaned on one another, blinking away sleep.
Cara squinted at the lights of the city, visible in the distance. “We aren’t at the Vatican.”
Raven shushed her. “We need to make a stop first.”
“A stop?” Cara looked around. “Why?”
“Silence.” William’s tone was a commanding whisper.
“Would you like me to act as courier, my Lord?” Borek bowed.
The Prince turned his face downwind. “They know we’re here. They’ve been tracking us the past seven miles.”
“Why aren’t we at the Vatican?” Cara approached William with two quick steps. “I thought we were going to see Father Kavanaugh.”
The Prince wrapped his hand around her neck, forcing her to look at him. “Silence. You will stay silent until I give you permission to speak. I am your master now.”
Cara’s eyes glazed over, and she closed her mouth.
“No!” Raven cried, limping toward her sister.
As if on cue, an armed company of soldiers materialized from the direction the Prince faced. They encircled the Florentines completely.
The Prince released Cara and placed her and Raven behind him.
Raven tucked her sister into her side and murmured comfortingly in her ear. But before she could demand that William release the mind control, the leader of the company of soldiers stepped forward, sword drawn.
“This is the border of the principality of Rome. You’re trespassing.”
The Prince arched an eyebrow.
Raven noticed a slight shift in the leader’s expression when William didn’t respond.
The leader examined him with narrowed eyes.
“Since we are standing outside the border of the principality, we are not trespassing.” The Prince’s gaze moved to some invisible line that lay to his right.
“State your business,” the leader snapped, brandishing his weapon.
The Prince rumbled, deep in his chest. “I am the Prince of Florence.”
The leader’s frown deepened.
The Prince lifted his arm to display the signet ring he wore on his right hand.
“Beg pardon, your highness.” The leader inclined his head slightly. “We had no notice of your arrival.”
“Unfortunately, it appears my couriers were killed before they arrived. Hunters.
“I am accompanied by my personal guard, along with two pets. I’m here to speak with Lieutenant Cato on urgent business.” The Prince gestured toward the leader. “And you are?”
“Captain Gaius.” His gaze moved from Florentine to Florentine, as if measuring their threat. “It’s almost sunrise. Lieutenant Cato will not be receiving guests at this hour.”
“Then we shall wait until a more reasonable hour, inside the palace.”
Gaius scanned the detachment once again. “I can’t escort you to the palace without approval of the lieutenant.”
The Prince appeared irritated. “Then I shall escort myself. If you’re old enough to be captain of a company, Gaius, you’re old enough to know of my loyalty. I sent an emissary to speak with the lieutenant only recently. Now I have decided to speak with him myself.”
“I meant
no disrespect, your highness, but I must obey orders.”
“The location of the Roman palace isn’t a secret to me. Escort us to the Forum and allow us to wait while you secure approval. But be advised I will not be caught out of doors after sunrise.” The Prince’s tone held a warning.
Gaius hesitated.
He turned and barked an order to one of his soldiers, who took off at high speed.
Gaius replaced his sword in its scabbard. “We shall escort you to the Forum, your highness, while my courier sends word to the lieutenant. But your detachment must disarm.”
“No.”
The leader stared into the Prince’s eyes, and his own eyes grew unfocused.
He broke eye contact abruptly and turned on his heel. “This way.”
“Jedi mind tricks,” Raven muttered as the Roman soldiers began to march toward the city.
“Look sharp,” the Prince whispered to his soldiers as they followed the Romans. “Keep hold of your weapons, but be discreet.”
Raven contemplated arguing with William about what he’d just done to Cara, but elected to wait. They were in a precarious position, one she would not worsen by drawing attention to herself.
William gestured to Borek to carry her, while one of the other soldiers carried her sister.
When the Czech lifted her over his shoulder and strode after the Prince’s departing back, Raven couldn’t help but feel punished.
Cara hadn’t uttered a sound since the Prince had silenced her.
The Roman guard led them on a circuitous route through the city. Finally, they arrived at the Forum, stopping under the arch of Septimius Severus.
Gaius addressed the Prince. “We will await word from the lieutenant here. If the lieutenant tarries, there’s a hiding place nearby.”
The Prince stared over the captain’s shoulder at the Palatine Hill. He nodded imperially.
Sunrise was fast approaching, and the landscape was changing. No one would risk being destroyed by the sun’s rays.
Mercifully, the captain’s courier returned quickly.
He whispered a few words in the captain’s ear and stood back.
The captain bowed. “Lieutenant Cato welcomes the Prince of Florence and offers greetings and hospitality. We shall escort you into the palace. But the pets must be blindfolded.”