"I can't give you something I don't own," Cosimo said firmly.
"The hell you can't,stregoni. I know what kind of power you have and what you can do. This one here has enough magic to make her comply if you don't have the stomach for it," Renata said, reaching out to stroke Yelena's braid. "Such a pretty, strange thing, aren't you?"
Marcella's hand caught Renata's before she could touch Yelena, and the curse fizzled as it hit Marcella's protections.
"Don't you fuckingdaretouch her," she snarled, her magic rising up, ready to lash out.
Renata only laughed in her face before leaning in closer to whisper harshly, "Why bother when they are going to hand you over? You are worth nothing to these people. You are a means to an end, just like you are to me. Maybe if you comply this time around, we won't have to fight. You can rule with us, like you were meant to."
Marcella shoved her away. "Let's go, Cosimo. This meeting is over."
"You aren't going anywhere until we talk privately. You owe me that," Carlo said, trying to get to her. Cosimo stepped between them. "Get the fuck out of my way. This is between me and my wife and isn't any of your business."
Marcella suddenly had Valentine's arm around her shoulders. Cosimo waited until she was securely held with the Greatdrakes men surrounding her, before turning back to Carlo.
"Everything you just said was wrong." Cosimo's tone was as cold as a blade. "Everything to do with Marcellaismy business. She owes younothing, and she is certainly not your fucking wife."
They were almost through the door when Renata called out, "Think about my offer, Cosimo. That piece of cunt isn't worth your sister's life, and you will never find Maria without me."
The door slammed behind them, and Marcella wished with all her heart that she could burn it to the ground behind them.
21
Cosimo was familiar with the phrase 'incandescent with rage,' but he hadn't experienced it until that moment. He was almost blinded by his need to go back into the restaurant and tear everyone apart, limb by limb.
It had taken all his willpower to remain civil during the entire interaction. That brief meeting that made him admire Marcella even more.
How had she tolerated them for so many years without slitting their throats? He had only stopped himself because he had all his sons in his head during the meeting, telling him it would make it worse for Marcella if he followed through on any of his murderous thoughts.
Marcella walked ahead of him, still flanked on all sides by his sons, with him taking up the rear of the group. He needed to protect her back. He couldn't get too close to her when he was like this, or he would crush her to him and never let her go.
Those horrible fucking people. How dare they try to smother Marcella's beautiful light? How dare they insult her from the way she looked to how she acted in bed? Cosimo's fingers hadburned with his need to release his claws and use them to slice off Carlo's manhood and stuff it down his throat.
Cosimo hadn't said a word the whole walk back to the hotel. He needed to see Marcella safely inside before he could think about what to do next.
This was not how he planned the night to go. He'd known the meeting would be a trial, but afterward he meant to keep his promise to Marcella and ask her whether or not she was open to him courting her. He could see he had confused her that day by being more open about his growing feelings. When he briefly touched her mind, he caught a flicker of desire for him before she locked it down.
Worse still, he hadsmelledher desire. His dragon senses were integrating since their agreement in the field the day before, and he could smell her arousal in the car and that evening when she saw him in a suit.
Gods, his self-control had been tested with that dress. Tight, burgundy velvet that had shown off every soft, luscious curve of hers. He wanted to drag her back into his room and make her scream his name for hours.
Now, Carlo and Renata had fucked his plans to hell.
They aren't going to drop this, Valentine said, slipping into Cosimo's mind.They might wait a few days to let you think it over, but they will try to take her at some point. Bas read Renata's mind, and if they get their hands on Marcella again, they will kill her slowly, like the girl at the hotel.
I know. We will get her safely inside before we talk about it. I don't want her more upset or scared than what she already is, Cosimo replied, and Valentine wisely got out of his head.
Cosimo had wondered what his sister had done to piss off the witches in the area, and now he realized she probably only had to arrive in town.
She was a wild and beautiful creature, full of intelligence and cheekiness. If all thestregheback then had been as vain and jealous as Renata, then Maria wouldn't have had to do a damn thing.
No one spoke on the elevator ride up to the floor they currently occupied. Valentine and Yelena would already be making plans for increasing their wards, and Apollo would be doing an inventory on poison antidotes as a precaution against whatever they ate while they were in the city. Gods only knew who Renata had on her staff. His other children would prepare for a fight because it always seemed to come to a fight.
"I'm sorry and embarrassed you all had to witness that," Marcella said finally. "I think I made everything worse by bringing you along."
"I doubt that. Those people are bloody awful," Charlotte said, putting an arm around Marcella.
"I wouldn't have stopped at only drugging them when I left, that's for damn sure. A bit of classic Aqua Tofana would have gone down nicely," Apollo added, his golden eyes flashing. "I could whip up a batch if you like."
