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“What happened in the dream?” Giguhl asked.
“He didn’t say anything, so I assume it was just a reminder that he was watching me.”
“Sabina, please tell me you’re taking this seriously,” Erron said, his tone sober. “You can’t dick around with the gods.”
“I know,” I said defensively. “He knows I have more pressing matters right now. I should have a few days to make progress with Tristan before Asclepius gets his panties in a twist.”
Erron blew out a breath. “Seriously. The last thing we need is a pissed-off god smiting you before we catch Cain.”
“Anyway, I just wanted to let you know. The vamp’s name is Nyx. I figure if we don’t run into any local vamps, we can go ask Dicky if he’s heard of her.”
Adam nodded resolutely. “Sounds like a plan. In the meantime, let’s pray this statue offers up something useful.”
We decided to walk to the statue instead of flashing over. Pasquino wasn’t too far from the hotel and we didn’t want to just magically appear in the middle of what might be a crowded square.
It was a beautiful, clear night in Rome. The cloudless night made the air crisp and chilly. Giguhl had balked about being back in the canvas tote, but I told him it was either that or he had to don a sweater and booties. His thin kitty skin couldn’t handle low temperatures, nor, I reminded him, could his bald testicles. That shut him right up.
As we walked, we chatted about the possibility that this statue thing would pan out.
“What else do we have to go on?” Erron asked reasonably.
“It’s true. Still, I wish I knew why Tristan was being so cagey about all this,” Adam said.
“He’s probably just being cautious,” Erron said. “He’s in as much, if not more, danger as us right now.”
“If he’s even alive,” I said in a hushed tone.
Adam shot me a look. “Let’s not admit defeat before we have reason to.”
“I know. It’s just… we have to be prepared for anything.”
We all fell silent as we pondered what that “anything” might be. Gods knew that statement was inviting trouble. The universe had a way of throwing complications the size of buses into our plans.
We’d turned right down a darkened street when foreboding hissed its cold breath down my neck. At the same instant, my left shoulder blade flared with a burning sensation. I held out a hand to stop the males.
Adam looked at me. “What’s wrong?”
“Trouble.” No sooner had the word left my mouth than a dozen vampires emerged from the shadows. Judging from the flashing fangs and feral expressions, this wasn’t a Roman welcome committee.
I dropped the bag and fell back into my fighting stance. The gun in my hand appeared as if summoned, but in reality I’d drawn it on instinct. After months of not shooting anyone, it’s amazing how quickly the automatic draw had come back to me. Erron swung his arms together, gathering his power into a tight ball of energy. Adam chanted under his breath, calling up his own powers. Giguhl crouched at my feet waiting for permission to shift.
As we stood our ground, my stomach dipped and adrenaline surged through my veins. The band of vampires moved first, advancing like a bloodthirsty phalanx.
I was just about to give the order to attack when a loud male voice shouted, “Basta!”
The vamps stilled.
A male in a sleek Italian suit pushed through the pack. His deep red hair was slicked back and his skin was as pale as alabaster, telling me this one was older than the rest. He spread his arms to indicate he held no weapons. “Buona notte, Signorina Kane. Si prega di perdonare I miei amici.”
“No parlo Italiano, ass**le.” I kept the gun trained on his forehead.
He nodded. “Forgive my friends, Miss Kane. We mean you no harm.”
I snorted. “I’m not sure how you do things in Italy, but where I come from, we don’t flash fangs at people we want to be friends with.”
“I apologize for their… aggressive greeting. Now, you will come with us, yes?”
I laughed. “Not f**king likely.”
“Please don’t make this more difficult than is necessary.”
“You made it difficult when you showed up with the twelve angry apostles,” Adam observed in an acidic tone.
The vampire dipped his head to acknowledge our concern. “We were informed that you might have some… reservations about accompanying us.”
I cocked the gun. “Your source was correct.”
“Who sent you?” Erron said. The bolt of magic glowed ominously between his cupped palms.
“A mutual friend.”
“You’re gonna have to start being a little more specific if you don’t want this gun to start barking,” I warned.
Italian Suit’s eyebrows slammed down like he had trouble following my English. But he must have gotten the gist. “It is too dangerous to say her name on the streets during these troubled times. However, I can tell you that my mistress, Donna Chiara Rossi, is playing host to an esteemed vampire of your acquaintance.” He paused for dramatic effect. “Very esteemed.”
I tried to figure out who he could be referring to. All of the esteemed vampires I’d known were now dead—Lavinia, Tanith… Oh shit! “Wait, do you mean Per—”
The Italian cut off the name I was about to say with a tsking sound. “I believe we understand each other.”
“Hold on.” I held up a finger and dragged Adam away for a confab. Erron was close enough to hear us but kept his magic trained on the vamps. “I think we should go with them.”
His eyebrows brushed his hairline. “What? Two seconds ago you were ready to cause an international incident.”
I leaned in closer, my volume barely above a whisper. “Persephone sent them.”
His eyes widened as the implications hit him. Persephone had disappeared four nights earlier from the mage compound near Sleepy Hollow. As the last surviving Domina, she was now the sole leader of the vampire race. However, since she earned that title because the last leader, Tanith Severinus, exploded all over the unsigned peace treaty, she obviously had a few reservations about taking over.
“The plot thickens,” Adam said. “What’s our play?”
“Do you trust me?” I asked.
A crease formed between his brows. “Yes, but—”
I held up a hand. “No buts. Just follow my lead and do what I say.” When he didn’t continue to argue, I turned back to the Italian vampire contingent. “Okay, we’ll go with you. But the first sign of aggression and I’ll reduce the Roman vampire population by thirteen. Got it?”
