“Cut the shit, DaPonti.” The King suddenly growled as his eyes flashed a sun-hot gold at Quinn. “I know of your Dark Haven’s reputation for making the finest cordials, coffee, wines, and chocolates in all of Europe. Your smug Vampire’s attitude is not required here, nor is trade for your specialties. I have invited you and your Dark Fae ward here to breakfast this morning for one reason and one reason only. Because I wish to assess whether you and she, and indeed, your entire Vampiric Lineage, are worth even listening to. So far, you’re not doing well.”
While the King had been as blunt as Ariana expected with Quinn’s subtle barbs, her eyebrows rose to learn that Quinn’s Vampires made some of the finest delicacies in the Twilight Realm. Being expert chocolatiers and winemakers certainly fit Quinn’s opulent tastes, and made sense as an ongoing income stream. But clearly, the Summer Fae King didn’t care as he stared Quinn down with his terrible gold eyes.
And Quinn stared calmly back.
“King Bellari.” Quinn spoke succinctly then, as he wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Let us be blunt rather than elegant. I have no need of your Summer Fae to support my Vampire’s livelihood; indeed your gross ignorance of everything we are and your belligerent attitude towards us make me more than inclined to have nothing to do with you. However, we live in the same city, and it makes sense to me to maintain the Treaty established between us six hundred years ago at my insistence to my late Sire. That said, I have made my presence known in your Court today, despite how you have treated both myself, Ariana, and your own son these past weeks, because I have a business proposal for you.”
“You insult me in my Throne Hall in front of all my nobles and you think I would listen to a business proposal, Valerio?” The Summer Fae King snorted now as he used Quinn’s original Fae name, though his fiery gold eyes held something other than utter disdain now – interest.
“I know you are a man who respects bold moves, Archivolio.” Quinn spoke with a dark intensity as he stared the King down. “And me coming here today and publicly insulting you with my caustic tongue as everyone watched, was a bold move. You and I both know the Fae rumor mill is now wagging about my impertinence… a situation that happened becauseyouinvitedmehere today.”
“So you manipulate my populace in order to gain favor for your proposal.” The King sat back in his throne-like chair, tapping his thigh with one finger as he stared Quinn down.
“You already offered me an audience. Which means I already have your favor – I have something you want.” Quinn smiled subtly now, his gaze brutal as it pierced the Summer Fae King. “But I have not come here to gloat. I have come to actually present my proposal, if you would hear it.”
“State yours.” The King spoke succinctly to Quinn now as they watched each other like a mongoose and a cobra facing off. “And then I shall state mine.”
“Very well.” Quinn nodded. “My proposal is simply this: give me your support to attain a seat upon the Vampire Council of Rome… and I will return your Summer Fae homelands in that same fair city, which you were kicked out of six hundred years ago.”
As Quinn spoke, Ariana saw the Summer Fae King stiffen. A hundred different emotions cascaded across his face in an instant, as Quinn watched deviously like he knew them all. Ariana could practically feel their history simmer between the two men as Lucca looked on with a deep alertness now, taking in the tense standoff between his father and Quinn. It was clear Archivolio and Prince Valerio Incendari had hated each other even back when Quinn was still Fae. At last, the King settled back against his throne-like chair as his regal gaze pinned Quinn.
Vicious, but listening.
“What you speak of is High Treason against your Vampire Council.” The King spoke now as he watched Quinn with both derision and curiosity. “If my Summer Fae were returned to Rome, the powerful relics that reside there would allow us to wage war against the Vampires again, which your Council does not want. I could bring down your Vampire Council, DaPonti. But before I finished my task, I would report you to them, and they would put your entire Dark Haven, including you, to death for colluding with me.”
“Your understanding of Vampire law is accurate.” Quinn spoke mildly, though his dark eyes flashed. “But they would also put myDark Faeto death if you betrayed me. And then she would never be in your clutches, to use her power as you wish to. Or am I wrong about why we’re here?”
Ariana saw the Summer Fae King’s gold eyelashes flicker then. As she inhaled, the King’s gaze moved to her. As they watched each other, Ariana suddenly saw need in those eyes; Lucca had been right, the King wanted Ariana on his side to bolster his flagging reputation among his people.
“I do not need your Dark Fae to achieve my aims, DaPonti.” The King spoke bluntly then, even though everyone at the table knew it was a lie.
“Perhaps not.” Quinn answered peaceably, though his dark eyes shone. “But would not ruling your Summer Fae be far easier with Ariana on loan to help you? If they got to know her, got to respect her… and she spoke of supporting you as passionately as she chastised you in front of your Darkwatch three weeks ago. It has harmed your reputation, hasn’t it, my King? Even though they were Darkwatch warriors, they couldn’t help but speak of it afterwards. And it started the Fae rumor-mill churning… in a way you do not want.”
“You bastard.” The King breathed now as he stared Quinn down with utter hatred. “You recall Summer Fae culture well.”
“I do.” Quinn nodded. “For once my own reputation was similarly tarnished by our incalculable rumors. But the fact is that Summer Fae are the biggest gossips in the Twilight Realm, and that hearsay often sways them more passionately than firsthand experience. Having Ariana spread kind words for you with her Dark Fae powers would go far. And her powers are young still. Imagine what she might be able to do for you in a month or a year… with a single bolstering word or elegant turn of phrase.”
“I have killed Dark Fae for less.” The King spoke bluntly as he glanced to Ariana. “It was why I decimated their citadels after the War, so they could not trickle their diabolical lies into the ears of my Summer Fae and tear us apart from within. What’s to say she would not do the same at your behest?”
“My King.” Quinn spoke cordially now in answer. “What reason would I have to instruct Ariana to defame you? For doing so would damage my aims of joining our forces to re-take Rome.”
“About that.” The King spoke as he looked back to Quinn. “If I am able to re-take Rome from whatever influence you think you can provide, your Council would still kill you. How would you prevent that eventuality?”
“Allow me to worry about the finer details of my own situation.” Quinn spoke succinctly now as he laced his long white fingers in his lap. “For now, all we need is to build trust between the Vampires of Florence and the Summer Fae. This can be done by a gradual re-opening of relations between our peoples in the city, as was enjoyed in the past. And to facilitate the smoothness of that re-opening, I would propose that Ariana be given on loan, to move amongst the Summer Fae in the city and become accepted by them, seeding words of trust with her magics. This could be done with excursions whenever I do not need her at the Dark Haven, escorted by one of your own. Your son the Prince, perhaps?”
And as it all came together for Ariana, of how Quinn had manipulated everything today to their advantage, she saw the Summer Fae King fall into their trap. Cocking his head, Archivolio glanced between Lucca and Ariana now as a deeply thoughtful look took his eagle-gold eyes. Ariana could practically feel it as he decided that his plan to get Lucca to woo Ariana was his best option at getting her under his thumb. Giving a sudden huff, the King rose from the table, and taking their cue, the group stood. With one last look at Ariana, the King pinned Quinn in his fierce, eagle-sharp gaze.
And then smiled – a coldly calculated smile at last.
“Barone DaPonti. Very well. Prepare your Dark Fae to enjoy sojourns among my Summer Fae in the city twice weekly, escorted by Prince Lucca. She will receive instructions on what kinds of phrases to use with her magics to support my reign, in addition to building trust among our peoples with whatever words you deem appropriate. I will re-draft the edict of the Forbidden Lineages with a temporary truce between the Summer Fae and the Vampires of Florence. It will expire on Samhain in October, and at that time, we shall assess our efforts. Have her ready for her first meeting with Lucca tomorrow. And we shall see what the rest of the summer brings.”
“Indeed.” Quinn smiled with elegance now as he inclined his head to the Summer Fae King and Ariana followed suit. But as she caught Lucca’s gaze before being escorted from the hall, she saw a deep worry in him.
As if this pact was somehow dangerous to Ariana now – in a way he had not previously anticipated.
CHAPTER 10 – BLOOD
Quinn was elated as they took the carriage back to the Florence Hotel after their meeting with the Summer Fae King. As they reached the Hotel, Ariana felt his mind already whirling down dozens of plans for the coming weeks, now that they’d gained permission for her to move freely about the Summer Fae populace with Lucca. At her apartment, Quinn left her with a rare kiss on the lips as he dismissed her to do cataloguing, the Meeting of the Havens pre-party tonight not something she should attend with her Vampire powers on the rise. It left Ariana beaming at their triumph; and as Quinn departed with his dark eyes shining, she was not able to contain her cascades of dark rainbows.
