He was nearly as tall as Dante, but unlike my husband, he carried himself like the world existed only to serve him. Darkness clung to his every move, shadows shifting along the edges of his lean form like a mantle of power. His face was carved with the kind of dangerous beauty that didn’t soften with age; it grew sharper.
Every regal feature was deliberate, like a blade honed to perfection.
And his eyes—almost silver. Calculating. Endless.
He was old. Older than even my uncle. Power emanated outward from him in pounding waves, echoing through my blood, forcing me down, down, down, to my knees.
A true Ancient, then, a thousand years old or more, even though he didn’t look a day over fifty, with the slightest touch of silver at his widow’s peak. Cold, consuming power scraped against my skin like sharpened knives, and he watched my face, expecting me to flinch.
I didn’t.
Dark magic.It had to be.
The rumors were true, then.
Another vampire stopped at the doorway. Broad and tall, he had long pale hair and eyes that glinted green. His gazenarrowed on the soldiers hands, banded around my arms, but he didn’t come any further.
“Stay there, Romulus. This shall only take a moment,” Blackwood commanded and the male dipped his head.
Giovanni’s smile was a thin line of jealousy masked as respect. “Emberline,” he said, as if introducing guests at a dinner party. “Allow me to present Lord Blackwood. From Rome.”
“Well, this is a lucky coincidence,” I said, my tone bored. “You saved me a trip. I was just about to tell my uncle a story. You may want to hear what I have to say.”
Of course, I’d known all about Blackwood’s secret meeting tonight, penciled in on the calendar lying on the desk and just the lucky break we needed tonight.
Giovanni’s eyes narrowed, confusion flickering in their depths before hardening into suspicion. Blackwood, on the other hand, showed his first hint of real emotion, a cruel, fang-ey smile filled with curiosity.
“I remember you.” He approached, and the soldiers holding me prisoner trembled. “You negotiated a trade agreement with your father several years back. I remember being quite,”—his voice dropped as he looked at my boobs—“impressedby your knowledge.”
In an ode to my excellent self-control, I refrained from rolling my eyes.
He should have been impressed. I’d studied trade routes and shipping capacities for months before that meeting. I’d known the details of Blackwood’s operations better than he did, but I’d walked away from that meeting knowing we’d made a deal with the devil.
Blackwood towered over me, and this close, blood hierarchy sent my heart racing, my knees weakening as if they were made of butter.Gods, he was powerful.
“I remember you, too.” I tipped my head back to take in his face. “You had the entire trade committee eating out of the palm of your hand in minutes. I’d never seen anything so masterful.”
Pure pleasure flashed in his eyes, male ego satisfied.
Check and mate, motherfucker.
Giovanni didn’t like where this was going, not one bit. “My niece was just leaving,” he pushed close enough, Blackwood couldn’t ignore him. “You and I have much to discuss…Cesare.”
Blackwood’s silver eyes snapped to my uncle, mouth tight with distaste.
“I don’t wish to burden you with family problems. I’m afraid these past weeks spent with the Dominicos have… been a bad influence on Emberline. Nothing that cannot be put to rights,” Giovanni hurried to add.
“You’re wrong, Uncle.” I lifted my chin. “In fact, I’m thinking quite clearly these days.”
Giovanni’s fingers tightened on the edge of the desk. “Take my niece to the…”
“Please enlighten us with this story of yours, Signora Dominico,” Blackwood interrupted, watching me avidly. “I do enjoy a good family drama. Suchrivetingentertainment.”
“Trust me, you will like thisverymuch.” I smiled. “My uncle does not have the Basin.”
Silence swamped the room, and the soldier’s sweaty hands slipped against my skin. Giovanni mopped at his brow before he barked out a weak laugh.
“Oh, Emberline,”—he shook his head as if I was delusional—“you’ve gone to such lengths to impress Lord Blackwood, but I’m afraid I must prove to him how pathetic your efforts have been.” He turned to the elder vampire. “I apologize for my niece’s behavior; she is young and foolish.”
