Page 178 of Devoted

“I will spend my blood, my strength, and everything I have to bring this Dynasty back to what it was when it was founded.” I caught Emilia’s eyes, then Severin’s, and finally, Emberline’s, her fingers tightening on the table edge, her bottom lip trembling.

“By blood and by right, I am Don of the D’Immortali Dynasty.” I took my brother’s knife—the one he’d loaned me when I was too young to even have such a thing—and dragged the blade across my palm, then slapped my bleeding palm down onto the table.

“As my council, I swear this oath to each of you. I will not stop until our enemies are dead… or I am. If this victory costs me every piece of myself, then the cost will have been worth it, and if we lose, then I will go to the Underworld knowing I gave everything I had.”

“We accept your pledge, Don Gabriel.” Emilia dipped her head, then Severin and the others followed suit. I swallowed down my fears, my failures, and the fact I didn’t know if this would be enough to save us.

But four hundred miles north, Emberline’s brother would spend another night fighting a war inside his own skull against a foe he would never defeat. In Venice, vampires were being smuggled out under the cover of night, so they didn’t end up as Giovanni’s pawns.

And somewhere in Rome, Cesare Blackwood was already plotting his return.

Then Emberline was in front of me, threading her fingers through my hair, wrapping a cloth around my bleeding hand. Without even trying, I already knew our hearts were beating at the same pace.

“You won’t be doing any of this alone, Gabriel.” She smiled up at me softly. “We’ll be beside you, every minute and every day. No matter where this leads.”

I dipped my head, letting Ember tangle her fingers tighter, drawing her against me until our hearts slowly fell into rhythm.

I would keep my promise and be worthy of this title. I would avenge every vampire Giovanni had carved off the world before I stopped him, and while I didn’t know yet what the cost would be…

However high, I would pay the price.