“Sorry to disappoint,” Emberline’s tone was cool. “We’re still very much alive.”
“The night is still young,” he sing-songed, then clapped his hands. “Come, come. Let us get on with the evening. We have traditions to observe; you know how these people are.”
The way he saidtraditionsmade the back of my neck prickle, and that was before two servants stepped forward. One stopped at my side. The other moved to Emberline’s, and I remembered what happened at Emilia’s island.
“We will stay together this evening,” I told him, myfingers tightening around her arm. Here in Demente territory, I wasn’t about to let my wife out of my sight for a second.
“Ah, but that would ruin my fun.” Rocco’s fangs glinted. “Men to the war room for serious talk, women to the ballroom for gossip and drinks. Old superstition. You understand.”
“Rocco…” I warned in a low voice, temper pricking.
Emberline’s hand squeezed my arm, cutting me off. “I’ll be fine,” she patted my hand. “You go ahead, do yourmanlythings.”
Her eyes met mine, the message as clear as if she spoke straight into my head.This is the plan, Dante.Play along, see what he wants.
I fucking hated every minute of this, but she was right. Emberline was more adept at navigating these minefields than I was. If anything, I should be following her lead, except… letting her out of my sight felt like a betrayal of some sort.
Her hand slid off my arm, every instinct wanting to drag her away from this awful place and these dangerous creatures, take her home, where she’d be safe.
“Try not to stab anyone before dessert,” she instructed, her cool smile warning me to behave.
Rocco chuckled. “I’ll take excellent care of your husband, Emberline. I promise not to lose him in the catacombs.”
“Honestly,” she shot back, as the servant slid her wrap off her shoulders, “I’m more worried about you, Rocco. Do watch your back down there.”
I caught one last glimpse of the creamy expanse of my wife’s bare shoulders, the drape of sapphires around the base of her slender throat, before a chuckling Rocco led medown a side hall lit by iron sconces, the air thick with limestone and magic and old blood.
The war room was exactly what I expected—too much and not enough at the same time.
High ceilings, thick, exposed beams, old maps of the city and the lagoon carved into the massive table for show. Weapons were mounted decoratively—ancient swords, axes, guns polished to a shine—because nothing says welcome like the constant reminder that someone could kill you with ten different objects within arm’s reach.
And…fucking hell.
Marcello stood at one end of the table, hands braced on the edge, waiting.
Severin Draconi leaned against a stone pillar nearby, bald head gleaming, deceptively relaxed. Luca occupied the opposite end of the table, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, draped in DiRavello blue, cold disdain, and a surly glare. Emilia DiSangue was there as well, a glass of red wine in her hand that matched her dress.
Rocco walked in behind me, cane tapping on the stone. Bruno took up a post near the door.
I stood with my back to the flaming fireplace, the heat licking my body, and darkness stirred at my center.
“Now that the entertainment has arrived,” Rocco sounded delighted, “we shall begin.”
Marcello’s dark gaze sliced across the room and landed on me like a blade. “You’re late,” he accused. “I hope this is not a sign of what’s to come once you steal away my title.” He looked paler than usual, but it could have been the lighting.
Behind our sire, Gabriel’s lips pinched tight, hands clasped behind his back.
“I didn’t realize tonight’s party had such a tight schedule.”I checked my nonexistent watch. “Perhaps you’re simply early…Father.”
Severin’s mouth twitched. Luca didn’t bother hiding his wide-eyed smirk.
Marcello’s jaw barely moved. “We’re here to discuss a real problem affecting the Dynasty, not your poor sense of timing.”
“Fortunately, we can do both.” I gave my father a grin sure to send him over the edge. “I’m talented that way.”
Rocco tapped his cane against the map. “Our mutual problem is named Volkov.”
Okay, so the map wasn’t just for show.
