Nico joins me on the balcony. “Bello, still wearing my favorite outfit I see.”
I grin and stretch, this time purely for his benefit. “It is my favorite outfit, too.”
He laughs and walks into our room, rummaging around in drawers before rejoining me. “You wear it beautifully.” He tosses a pair of linen pants at me. “But please, do not scandalize Emilio again. The poor man might not survive it this time, and he will be here momentarily with food.”
I sigh dramatically and pull on the loose-fitting pants, cinching the string at the waist. “Why is the naked body so scandalous?”
Nico steps behind me and pulls me into a hug. “Humor me please. I do not want to give him a heart attack. He is old.” He brushes his hand down my side. “And the sight of your beautiful body is enough to make anyone’s heart race.”
I lean against him. “True. Fine. I’ll do this for you. But when he is gone, I’m taking them off again.”
Chuckling, he kisses my hair. “I have no doubt about that. You would go out in public without clothing if you would not be arrested.”
“Who says I haven’t?” I squeeze his arm and push away when there’s a knock at the door.
He rolls his eyes and laughs as he strolls back into the bedroom, opening the door and taking the tray from Emilio. “Let me get that. It looks heavy.”
Emilio follows Nico onto the patio and arranges the food on the table. He’s mid-fifties, very fit, right-handed, black, wavy hair going gray at the temples, blue eyes, sharp features, no weapons. He appears to be focused on arranging the food, but he’s taking in everything. “Do you require anything else?”
“No. But thank you.” Emilio bows to Nico and gives me a respectful nod. As soon as he’s out the door, I loosen the drawstring at my waist and let the pants drop to the ground. Nico shakes his head, but his eyes wander appreciatively. “My gorgeous Bello. Sit. Eat.” We stuff ourselves full of eggs, roasted meats, and fruit, and when we’re done, I sprawl in the chair and yawn. Nico stands and holds out his hand. “Come, Bello. Time for a nap.”
I rise from my chair and take his hand. “Definitely.”
We re-enter the bedroom, and I crawl onto the high four-poster bed, resting my head on Nico’s shoulder, and in moments I’m asleep.
Chapter 18
A History Unlocked
Nico pulls me against his chest, tucking my head under his chin. “I will miss you, Bello. Please be careful while I am gone.”
I tighten my arms around him. “I will. If you’re really going to be back soon, then I’ll wait here. If it’s going to take longer than a few days, I’ll contact Kenji and see if they have anything for me to do.” I hate goodbyes. I’m not good at them, and I practically fuss over Nico like a mother hen. “Watch for bandits. Keep your knives close. Don’t forget your training.” I turn my face up, and he devours my lips in a searing kiss. Sighing, I lean into him. “Are you sure you have to go right now?”
Nico squeezes me and grins. “Do not start. You know I would stay if I could.” He kisses me again and steps into the translocation circle. “I will speak with you tonight through the mirror and hopefully be able to tell you how long I will be gone. Stay safe, Bello.” He grasps the moonstone around his neck, and the magic surges right before he disappears.
Being here without Nico makes me melancholy, and it grates on my nerves. In no mood to be cooped up inside, I wander into the garden to indulge in my favorite pastime—figuring out what happened to his mother.
My initial inspection of the garden when I first arrived confirmed that many of the plants are medicinal and found in most household gardens throughout Amagi. But, like the plants at the Panah City house, many of those growing here are poisonous. And there are too many varieties for it to be a coincidence. As far as I’m concerned, it confirms that Nico’s mother was poisoned. Most likely by her own plants. But I still have no proof. Sitting on a stone bench in a shady area, I ponder possible next moves and almost miss the approaching footsteps.
I reach for my daggers, but it’s Emilio who rounds the corner. His expression is serious, and for a moment, I wonder if something has happened to Nico. Before I can ask, Emilio gives me a slight bow. “Please excuse me.” I sheath my knives, sit down again, and wait for whatever it is he’s going to say. To my utter shock, he draws his blade from his belt, bends on one knee, and lowers his head, offering the weapon to me on open palms. “Master Zayd, I offer you the support of House Durov.”
I thrust to my feet and stare at him as if he’s grown three heads. Durov? There are Shades in the Shabah from House Durov—all low in rank and long-time supporters of Lorenzo Medina’s political ambitions. If Emilio is making this pledge,hemust be part of the Shabah. And if that’s the case, he must have known exactly who I was all along.
“Of course, you will require proof.” Emilio pulls aside his collar, revealing the small onyx sigil of the Guild over his left clavicle. Heispart of the Brotherhood, and he hadn’t turned me in, even though the reward would have been staggering, especially after Cosimo’s death. My brain flies through options and possibilities as fast as lightning.
I pin him with my gaze, adding a command spell to my words. “By whose authority do you make this offer?”
Emilio doesn’t struggle against the compulsion. “Nikita Durov himself.”
I have no idea who that is, but file the information away and take the offered weapon. “I accept your services and those of your House, but I’m no longer part of the Brotherhood. You’re pledging yourself and your House solely to me if you wish to continue. Though I have no clue why you’d want to do that. The Durovs have supported Lorenzo Medina for decades.” Emilio stands, and I return his knife, hilt first.
“May I speak plainly, Master Zayd?” I nod. “There are too many coincidences surrounding recent events and your reappearance in Amagi. Since your return, there was a break-in at the Vault, though no one could determine whether anything was taken. Guild Master Cosimo was murdered—the method was poison, though the type remains as much a mystery as who administered it. Both of these occurrences indicate that a Specter was most likely involved. And on the very night of Cosimo’s death, you fled here.”
Giving nothing away, I wait expectantly until Emilio continues. “Assassinating a guild master is quite anaccomplishment and would gain someone immense respect and power within the Brotherhood. But assassinating the Onyx Guild’s guild master goes against our tenets. So the very act itself is a double-edged sword.” I still say nothing and let him finish. “Nikita Durov and I believe you are the person who accomplished these feats.”
“Does Durov believe that because you planted the seed in his mind?”
He doesn’t answer the question. “The Onyx Guild has yet to name a new guild master. The infighting is vicious. No one can gain the majority vote.” His lips curve into a devious smile. “If word gets out that you have returned, there will be speculation that you are the one who has eliminated Master Vitorio. Nikita Durov and I believe this is not the time to make that announcement. Not yet.”
