“It’s still early,” he added. “There’s nothing yet to do.”
“That’s not the point, and you know it.”
He pressed his lips together. “Roberto is… not like Nico. He is powerful. If he were to—”
“We agreed we would do thistogether. Didn’t we?”
“We agreed that even for a warrior like you, this may be too great a challenge.”
“Not as a warrior, as a witch.” Her eyes flashed. “I have magic now.”
Antoine reached for her hand, wishing the audience for this didn’t include Belle. Cally let him take it, though her posture was stiff. “I have never doubted your strength,mon amour.But your witchcraft is still in its infancy.”
“I can cast a spell that keeps him asleep. You could—”
“Not if he’s awake you can’t, and I would need to be awake too.”
“Eve and I are working through the books. There are spells thatcouldmake a difference.”
“Would you need to be near to cast them?”
She hesitated. “Yes.”
Antoine gave her hand a squeeze. “I want you safe, and being near Roberto isnotsafe. Please,ma chérie, leave this to me. I could not bear the thought of anything happening to you.”
“And what of something happening toyou?” she shot back. “I spent threeweekslying alone in our bed, not knowing if you would ever return to me. Unable to breathe because…” She flicked her eyes toward Noah and Belle, then clenched her jaw.
“I’m not going to take risks,” he told her.
Belle scoffed, the sound sharp and clear, and they both tensed.
Antoine met Cally’s gaze. “Let’s talk later.”
“Fine,” she said, biting off the word. “But we’re not done.”
He nodded. “I know.”
She gave him another look, then turned on her heel, her short robe bouncing with the movement. He watched her walk out, the door closing firmly behind her, then let slip a sigh. Noah was right; he should’ve told her. But then she would want to be involved, and that was a sure way to get her killed. No, this way was better.
“You let both chattel and thrall talk to you as if they were your equals,” Belle observed, but her tone lacked the disdain he’d expected, and instead reflected her curiosity.
“She is my equal,” Antoine said, leaning on the desk, his gaze on the map. Why was Belle here? Had she come to somehow… learn? That seemed unlikely. Had he missed a cue? But he’d been distracted by Cally.
Noah cleared his throat. “Uh, we were talking about getting some more thralls.”
They’d covered that already. But if Noah was still pushing, maybe he had a point.
“Keep Diego and Scott here at the house,” Antoine replied, resigned. “I will consider recruiting some more.”
A soft chime sounded from the desk intercom, and he pressed the button irritably. “What is it, Marcel?”
“I apologize for disturbing you, sir, but there are visitors here.” His voice was carefully neutral. “Two vampires await you in the living room.”
“You let them in?”
“They carry a message from the Curia, sir. Your orders were—”
“Yes, I recall.” Antoine cut him off, knowing the new vampires would hear. “Very well. I’ll be down shortly.”
