Giovanni sliced his palm with a shallow, economical cut. Thick, dark blood welled up, far slower than mine, before he bowed his head and held his hand over the Basin.
“I, Giovanni DiRavello,” he intoned, “consigliere to the DiRavello family, swear my life and loyalty to Don Marcello Dominico. I swear to uphold the Compact, to counsel my bloodline in accordance with its laws, and to accept judgment should I betray it. Let my blood bear witness to my oath.”
The runes along the Basin’s rim stuttered, a constellation of tiny sparks traveling around the edge of the bowl until dimming, the magic tasting his offering and finding it acceptable—for now.
Because liars bleed red like everyone else.
The quote hit me out of nowhere, Uncle Gio’s eyes meeting mine, and in them… nothing but pity.
Fear became a slippery thing, something I couldn’t grasp, couldn’t stop, sliding through my veins as my brain came up with a hundred different explanations for why he was here, all of them terrible.
Wondering if he was about to betray me, like he’d betrayed so many others.
“Your oath is accepted,” Marcello’s lip rose. “Now speak your piece.”
Giovanni lifted his head, well-practiced grief etched in every line of his round face.
“I come only as a servant of reconciliation,” he stated softly. “My brother’s death has torn our family apart. My niece is deep in mourning. In her sorrow, she has done something… rash. Understandable, perhaps. But ill-advised.”
“Careful, Uncle,” I hissed, my voice thin as glass. “I might get offended that you’re speaking about me as if I’m not even here.” My eyes were fixed on his fingers, waiting for one of his messages, something to tell me he was on my side because right now, I felt like he’d thrown me to the wolves.
He shot me a sorrowful look. “Emberline, I speak only truth. Your temper burns fiercely, but it has once again gotten you into trouble. None of us blames you for seeking justice. But now is the time for a truce.” He swept a hand toward the Basin, the predators surrounding us. “Before you ruin the entire Dynasty in your grief.”
“Well,” I shot him a sharp glare. “If that’s what it takes.”
But some of my panic faded. Hidden between his words was a message—Trouble. Truce. Ruin. His fingers, tapping out a message on his thigh, spelled out the rest.Danger. Enemies closing in. No escape.
Whatever Don Marcello was plotting, I was in danger, and he was here to extricate me.
How, I didn’t know, but at least I wasn’t in this alone.
Giovanni sighed, as if I’d just proven his point. “Don Marcello, we owe our lives to this Dynasty. My brother believed in the order you brought to our world. I would see that belief honored, not twisted into cause for rebellion.”
“No one has spoken of rebellion,” Marcello’s voice was harsh. “Only of our laws, and your niece was well within her rights to accuse who shebelievesis her sire’s killer. And the accused have the right to defend themselves. That is our justice.”
“And yet you don’t hear what they say, do you?” Giovanni pressed gently, something wicked lurking behind his viper’s smile. “Whispers are already spreading at tonight’s banquet. They say you are vulnerable. That the Compact no longer binds us together as it once did.”
Gabriel stiffened, his gaze finding Nico’s, then Severin’s. All three males were suddenly alert, all hint of amusement gone, the air in the room turning dangerous.
I drummed my fingers on the table before me, sending my own message.If you’ve come to rescue me, Uncle, you’re doing a piss-poor job of it.
Marcello’s cold gaze never left Giovanni. “Make your point.”
Giovanni smiled, small and humble. “I am a man of the cloth now,” he prevaricated. “I have come to believe that bloodshed is not always the answer to conflict, no matter how satisfying it may feel in the moment.” His eyes flicked to me, full of reproach. “Sometimes, the answer is unity.”
“Unity,” Gabriel repeated, each syllable flat.
“Yes.” Giovanni spread his hands. “A Pentarch’s eldest child just accused the Don of murder. No matter how this case is resolved, families will be divided over the outcome, perhaps for centuries. But such a scandal resolved correctly…” He paused, letting the words hang. “It could strengthen us. Bind us together permanently.”
I clenched my fists.
For the past week, we’d explored every fucking possible option for vengeance, and every time, Uncle Gio had advised that invoking the Right had the fewest ramifications. Now he was making me out to be the fall guy for…whatever in the fuck he was about to do next.
I snuck a glance at Gabriel. Jaw clenched tight enough to pop that vein throbbing in his forehead, eyes burning as he glared at my uncle.
I know how you feel, stronzo.My entire body shook with impotent fury, sweat tracing my backbone as I searched for a way out. This was a trap, I just… couldn’t see it. Not yet.
“Enough with the vague hints,” Severin rumbled from the corner. “What are you suggesting, monk?”
