She is a fast learner. She thrives on chaos and will take it into her stride, he tried to reassure himself.
Marcella was silent and thoughtful on the drive back to Forli. It had been an eventful morning, and Cosimo didn't particularly like the idea of having to deal with Renata on the same day.
It had to be done, and it wasn't as if Marcella couldn't handle it. Her magic was pulsing around her, and she was doing nothing to hide it.
Cosimo was so proud of her that it made his heart ache. He didn't know how to say that to her. She had taken the 'friend' comment poorly, and he didn't blame her.
He didn't want to declare that she was hisgirlfriend, because that sounded too childish.Partnerwas too established, andmatewas out of the question until he thought she would be receptive to the idea.
Most of all, Cosimo didn't want to put her in any category that she didn't want to be in. The dragon part of him wanted to bind her to them forever, and trying to let her set the pace of how fast they were moving was one of the hardest things he had ever done.
Mine. That is what we call her, his dragon growled possessively.
We have found Maria. Now we only need to deal with Renata and find the grimoires. Then we can focus on making her ours, Cosimo tried to reassure his dragon. It was easier than fighting with it.
It was afternoon when they arrived back in Forli. They were still dressed in hiking gear, but it didn't matter. Marcella was just as stunning in jeans and muddy boots as she was in heels and red velvet.
"We aren't going to let anything happen to you," Cosimo told her.
"I know. You focus on trying to keep your temper when you see Carlo," she teased lightly.
"I can't promise that. I have thought of an excellent plan for the finger I already took, and if he isn't civil, I will add his tongue to my collection," Cosimo replied. He took her hand, the first time he had dared all afternoon, and kissed it. He inhaled her scent and placed another kiss on the hot pulse of her inner wrist.
"You are distracting me," she scolded, but was smiling at him, and that was what counted. He hated the thought of her being mad at him.
"We are being watched," Valentine said from the back seat. "I have twostregheon the roofs of the buildings flanking us and three more on the balcony above the restaurant. I couldalways throw the restaurant into Dorcha. They could keep the alchemist's company."
"Not without my father's shade," Marcella said and got out of the car.
"No matter what happens, get her out if I can't," Cosimo told his children.
"I'll level this whole place if they try to hurt her," Yelena declared. "But I don't think she is going to need our help at all."
"Neither do I." Cosimo got out and joined Marcella on the footpath. Her magic was curled about her, making her skin glow with an inner light. "Have I told you how beautiful you look today?"
"Charmer." Marcella laughed softly, the husky sound making him think of silk sheets and very little clothes. Gods, he couldn't wait to get her out of here.
Two men guarded the door of the restaurant, a low-level hum of magic coming off them. Nothing for any of them to worry about. As soon as Marcella got close enough that her aura touched them, both men's eyes went wide with awe and fear.
Cosimo wanted to laugh at them, but this was Marcella's moment, not his.
"Let me in," she commanded, the flare of her charisma magic sending a light sparkle of gold in her aura.
Cosimo wondered if anyone else could see it like magicians could. They certainly felt it because the two men nearly fell all over themselves in a rush to unlock the restaurant doors for her. They kept their eyes downcast as Marcella moved past them, Cosimo, Valentine, and Yelena close behind.
Renata and Carlo sat at a table near the bar, a laptop and paperwork around them.
"You don't have the manners to even call first? Typical," Renata complained without looking up. Carlo's face had bright purple bruises blooming around both eyes and jaw. His handwas wrapped in a bandage. He stared at Marcella, unable to look away. Cosimo fought the urge to blind him for even daring to glance her way.
"Give me back my father's shade," Marcella said, her voice steady and neutral.
Renata finally looked up at her. "Took you long enough to figure it out."
"I won't ask again, Renata. I have had enough of this. He fell in love with someone else. Get over it already," Marcella said.
"Your mother ruined everything, and then you only made it worse. I want you all to suffer the way I have. I want that magician next to you to pay for hurting my boy," Renata replied, rising to her feet.
"What about Juliette and all the others you have cursed? What about their suffering?" Marcella demanded, her magic building around her.
