“He’s more than that and you know it,” I grit out.
His dark eyes spark as if he just remembered something. Then he swallows hard. “I empathize with your plea, Cheryl, I truly do. But I don’t have the ability to turn anyone, not anymore.”
The ring of truth in his statement finally sinks in, and my stomach bottoms out. He can’t make vampires, because he’s been cursed. I drop his arm and step back. Tears roll freely down my cheeks, freezing almost immediately.
“What about your uncle?”
He shakes his head. He’s been cursed too. I hug my middle, feeling defeated. “Did that bitch curse everyone in the king’s household?”
“No, not everyone.”
“Then—”
“They won’t do it, Cheryl. No one is allowed to make vampires without the king’s consent. To do so would be treason.”
There’s a huge lump in my throat now, and my heart has shriveled into nothing. “So that’s it? Karl is condemned to live a miserable and lonely life forever?”
“Not if he doesn’t want to be.”
“So your solution is for him to die.” I laugh in derision. “You know what, I’m glad the Nightingale queen cursed your family. You’re all vile and deserve nothing but pain.”
Lucca’s friendly expression turns murderous in the blink of an eye. His gaze is crimson now, his fangs on full display.
“Begone before I take you away from Karl sooner rather than later.”
As angry as I am, I’m not stupid enough to engage in battle with Lucca. He would end me. And if I die now, what will happen to Karl?
Six
RONAN
ITALY, 1521
When Lucca doesn’t return to the castle with Dean, I go after him. He can handle himself, but it isn’t safe to be in the woods alone. I wouldn’t put it past Tatiana or her demented son Boone to attack us near King Raphael’s fortress. If there’s a spy in our midst, they know Lucca has a preferred spot to train in the forest.
Halfway there, I see Lucca’s silhouette coming toward me. The wind isn’t blowing in my direction, but I recognize the way he moves.
“Where have you been?” I ask.
“Same place as always. There’s no reason to fret.”
“I don’t fret. But you know it isn’t prudent to—” I catch a scent I never thought I’d sense again, and my heart seems to freeze. “You’ve met with Cheryl.”
“Yes.” Lucca walks past me without making eye contact.
“What did she want?” I keep pace with him, but all I want is to grab his arm and force him to stop so I can look into his eyes.
“I’d rather not talk about it.”
Hell. If he doesn’t want to discuss the reason for Cheryl’s visit, I won’t be able to force it out of him. So I gamble on a hunch. “She came to ask you to turn her into a vampire, didn’t she?”
Lucca stops abruptly and turns to me with his eyebrows pinched together. “Has she approached you about it as well?”
“She never asked me to turn her, but she was curious about it. It was a long time ago.”
Lucca looks into the distance, his shoulders slumping a bit. “I do feel for her and Karl, but even if Uncle Raphael hadn’t forbidden me to attempt to change her, I wouldn’t dare now.”
“Because of the curse?”
