Page 108 of Trapped By the Blood Ruby

“That my sire used it to gain power over other vampires. This was long before the Supernatural Council was formed. Back when our world was lawless and creatures did whatever they wanted. The powerful ruled. Anyway, it was stolen from our family vault. The journal that described it—my father’s journal—is also missing. If someone’s using it against vampire families now, they know exactly what they’re doing. This isn’t random.”

Chills raced down my spine. That couldn’t be a coincidence. But if someone had stolen it from him, wouldn’t that mean that someone in his family had betrayed him?

“Wouldn’t it be ironic,” he added, almost as if reading my mind, “if the thing that built this family up became the thing that destroyed it?”

His phone rang and I blinked. He pulled it from his pocket and chuckled. “Well, well. Bastian Croft. We were just talking about you.” A pause. “Yes. Hmm.” Another pause. “She’s positive?” He scrubbed a hand over his face. I tried to read his expression, hunting for answers. “That’s what I was afraid of. Have her email it over. I’ll get the money wired to your account this afternoon.” A longer pause. “No, this is… I feared as much. Thank you.”

He hung up and slipped the phone back into his pocket. His fingers drummed against his knee. He didn’t look at me, simply stared out the window. His eyes were distant, thoughtful.

I took advantage of the moment to study him. To see this rare glimpse of him, aloof and distant. As if he was entirely comfortable around me.

His eyes sharpened. “Vittorio?”

Seconds later, Vittorio appeared with Cinnamon clutched in his arms. “Sire?”

“Ah, there she is.” Laurent opened his arms wide as Vittorio deposited the golden fluff ball onto Laurent’s lap. My ovaries surged into overdrive. Seeing this powerful, dangerous man being gentle with something so small and innocent did things to my heart I wasn’t ready to examine. Crap. I blinked, forcing my gaze to fix on my sheet music. It didn’t work. I went right back to looking at Laurent and Cinnamon.

“I’m ordering our retreat, Vittorio.” He sounded tired as he said this. “Reach out to Paolo and Catina. Inform them that we will arrive Friday.”

“But, sire, the season isn’t due to start for another three weeks. You wish to arrive early?”

“I want my family safe, behind the walls of the estate. An early arrival will give us the upper hand.”

“You do not intend to spend the season in the townhouse, then?”

“Not entirely, I think.” Laurent’s eyes darted toward me. He stroked Cinna’s head, then lifted her and kissed her nose. My insides melted. “What do you think, Cinna?” he cooed. “You will like Italy, yes? The grounds will have all sorts of curiosities for you.”

My mind screeched to a halt as my thoughts caught up. Did he expect me to go with him? Or was he planning to go away without me? Both scenarios had my stomach squirming.

“Very well, sire. I’ll let Catina know to have everything prepared before our arrival.”

“Good. Inform our family of the situation. Even our youngest.” His jaw was set. “I will fix this.”

“There hasn’t been a full house in Anoth Fortress in…centuries. Since the gathering of⁠—“

“Vittorio, I am aware.”

“And what of Miss Shaw?” Vittorio glanced at me. “With so many of our children and grand children…”

“Vittorio. Now, please.”

“Yes, sire.” He disappeared.

“Laurie?”

“Yes, little flower?” His eyes flicked toward me before he cuddled Cinnamon some more. I felt an invisible tug to go and sit beside them, but I resisted.

“I can’t leave. I can’t go to…to Italy. I start my program on September first.”

“I am aware, but this is more important. We will make it work,” he assured me, as if that’s all there was to it.

“Make it work?!” Panic began to set in. Was this how it started? He gave me pretty promises only to renege at the earliest convenience.

“Can you not work with your advisor remotely? Until the end of the season?”

“Season? I don’t get what you mean.”

“The vampire season. It begins in August and runs through December. It is a time of reunion for vampire kind. We return to our homeland and reconnect. Not just my family, but others. There are gatherings between the heads of each house, matters of business conducted. We are the ruling body for our kind. Beyond the business aspects, there are parties, balls, that sort of thing. Much of it is a spectacle. Houses flaunt their wealth and power and status. But more importantly,” he continued, his voice growing serious, “it’s where alliances are forged and enemies are identified. I need to know who’s behind this before they strike again.”