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The Prince looked incredulous. “After betraying the principality that protected you for so many years, you beg for an honorable death?”
“I beg for nothing. I was loyal.” Ibarra pushed the soldier aside. “It was Lorenzo and Niccolò who betrayed you and made me a scapegoat.”
“You failed in your duties as head of security and were executed accordingly. Now, because Aoibhe returned your head, I must have you executed again.” The Prince laid heavy emphasis on the last word. “You brought the Curia here with your anarchic act. You will endure their wrath. And Aoibhe of Hibernia, who betrayed the principality in assisting you, will join you.”
The Prince nodded at the soldiers amidst Aoibhe’s loud and vocal protests. “We had an agreement! You gave me your word!”
The Prince’s voice was thunderous. “You betrayed me by allying yourself with a traitor.”
A solider took hold of Ibarra’s arm, and Ibarra pushed him aside. “You know what they will do to us. You’d deliver us to our enemies to be tortured?”
“Killing a policeman and hanging him in a public square attracted the attention of the Curia. You live by the sword, you must be prepared to die by the sword.” The Prince’s gray eyes glittered.
“I captured the Venetian who tried to end your life. I served Florence with honor!”
“Save your curriculum vitae for the Curia inquisition.”
Ibarra snarled and ran toward Raven, teeth bared.
In a movement so swift it was a blur, the Prince blocked Ibarra’s path. He swung his right arm and struck Ibarra in the chest.
Ibarra went flying backward, several feet in the air, until he came crashing to the stone floor near the entrance to the chamber. He lay on the floor, unmoving.
“The next one who attempts to touch my pet will be destroyed.” The Prince turned his threatening gaze on Aoibhe, who appeared ready to strike. “I am an old one, son of the Roman himself. I have strength and abilities you can only imagine. Oppose me at your peril.”
Silence filled the council chamber at the Prince’s revelation; the soldiers gazed at him in shock.
He adjusted his robe and regained his throne. “Take the traitors to the holding cells and await further instructions.”
“This is a mistake!” Aoibhe shouted. “If the Curia is here, you need my help!”
“Get her out of my sight.”
“I’ve served you for years! This is my payment? You’re going to turn me over to the black robes?”
Two soldiers approached, and a struggle ensued. She felled them both and disarmed a third, wielding his sword.
“I’ve waited years for my chance at the throne!” She shook with anger. “Fight me yourself, you coward.”
The Prince lifted a dagger from his belt and hurled it through the air. It struck Aoibhe’s hand.
She howled and dropped her sword.
“Take them away.” The Prince looked at the traitors in disgust. “Keep close watch on both of them.”
Four soldiers pinned Aoibhe’s arms to her sides, even as black blood welled up around the dagger sticking out of her hand.
Another soldier helped the Basque to his feet and led him, limping, to the door.
Raven twisted her hands in her lap, visibly shaken. Her green eyes were active, watching the soldiers’ retreating backs before coming to rest on the Prince’s face.
He placed his cool hand over hers. “Are you all right?”
She managed a quick nod.
“I am sorry it took me so long to get to your side.” William’s expression was blank, as if he were concealing something. “When you were in the tunnels, did he touch you?”
“No,” Raven croaked.
She cleared her throat before continuing. “He threatened me, but we were interrupted by the vampyres fleeing the Curia.”
“You should not have been placed at risk. I never expected they would attack the villa.”
“Father Kavanaugh called me on my cell phone right before the trespassers came onto your property. He must have been tracing the SIM card.”
“Is the device with you now?”
“No. Lucia gave me another.” She withdrew the phone from her pocket.
“If your priest was behind the incursion, it was probably a small group of soldiers intent on liberating you.”
“He doesn’t understand I’ve been liberated already,” Raven remarked. “He refuses to listen to me and to what I want.”
William squeezed her hand. “Although the experience is not one I would have wished for, it’s a preferable scenario to an invasion. Since the priest failed, he and his men will probably retreat. I will make arrangements to hand Aoibhe and Ibarra over officially.”
Raven shivered, far from comforted by his analysis.
A guard entered the council chamber and strode up the aisle. “A member of the security team requests an audience, my Lord.”
“Show him or her in.” The Prince released Raven’s hand.
The guard bowed and returned to the door, opening it and escorting a young vampyre into the chamber. The two figures marched up the aisle.
The young vampyre was dressed casually in a white shirt and jeans. He looked to be no more than twenty.
The Prince waved him closer.
“Pardon, my Lord.” The young one bowed jerkily. “I am Emiliano, from the security team. I just delivered a message to Lord Gregor, and he sent me to you.”
“I know who you are. What is the message?”
“Our s-spies in Rome—” the young vampyre stuttered. “Our spies in Rome sent an urgent message warning us that Curia soldiers are on their way.”
“Is this report in reference to the eleven men who have already entered the city?”
“No, my Lord. This is a report of a massive movement of troops from Rome.”
The Prince sat forward. “Are the sources reliable?”
“We checked with more than one. There are civilian reports as well.”
The Prince’s hand curled into a fist. “How many?”
“At least three centuries.”
“Sard.”
Emiliano ducked his head, wringing his hands in front of him.
“How long before they arrive?”
“We are tracking their movements, but we expect them in less than three hours.”
“Send word to the Princess of Umbria, warning her of the incursion. Ask that she send Umbrian troops to the border in support of our alliance.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“Send a message to Venice, ordering them to send supporting troops as soon as possible. And send a message to Ambrogio at my residence, ordering him to initiate the Geneva protocol. Find Gregor. I need to speak with him. Now.”
Emiliano bowed once again and ran at top speed to the door, far in advance of the soldier who was supposed to be escorting him. Both vampyres disappeared into the corridor.
“Soldiers?” Raven whispered.
The Prince nodded tersely. “Your priest must have been attempting to rescue you before the invasion.”
“Does this mean war?”
The Prince looked grim. “The Curia wouldn’t send three hundred soldiers from Rome unless they were intent on war.”
“What will we do?”
“We have the support of the Roman. I’ll send an urgent message asking for reinforcements. Hopefully, the Umbrians and the Venetians will send soldiers as well.”
Raven met his gaze and offered a sympathetic look, but the paleness of her complexion belied her calm.
“If the Curia fear the Roman, why would they provoke him?”
“I don’t know.” William was pensive. “Perhaps this is a show of force in order to motivate the signing of a new treaty. Vampyres are supposed to keep their existence hidden. Ibarra flouted the treaty.”
He touched her hand, and she gripped him tightly.
“Pardon, my Lord.” Gregor announced his arrival, bowing just as he entered the chamber.
“Gregor, I’ve just spoken with Emiliano. I want you to send an urgent message to the Roman, asking him to send reinforcements immediately.”
“Yes, my Lord.” Gregor eyed Raven as he approached the throne. “But I have news you should hear.”
“Proceed.”
“This news would be better spoken in your private ear.”
“You may speak freely.”
