She didn’t miss the hairs that lifted on Emil’s neck as they made their way through the crowd. Still, his face was impassive and his stride was purposeful. Many of the vampires they passed seemed to want his attention, but didn’t feel confident enough to approach him. He acknowledged the crowd with a polite nod, though he did not stop his steady pace. Beatrice smiled. She had chosen a good leader for Rome.

As long as putting him in power didn’t get them all killed.

They arrived in the main hall, which was teeming with vampires. Glittering lights dripped from the ceiling and the rich colors of fall decorated the room. Red and orange dresses were everywhere along with purple, green, and gold decorations. The human servers carried flutes of champagne and tiny hors d’oeuvres as they moved through the crowd. Other humans held up wrists that Beatrice saw more than one vampire take advantage of as they mingled. A thought suddenly struck her.

“You know, all she’d have to do is dose up her donors, and she’d have everyone here under her thumb. Think about it, Emil. None of the younger immortals drink from anyone live unless it’s here.”

She could tell he’d never considered the possibility. “My god, you’re right.”

Beatrice heard Lucien say, “This is ridiculous. All this ridiculous protocol. Have we become humans after all?”

Lucien pushed them both back and strode toward the front of the room.

“Lucien!”

He didn’t stop. The crowd parted and she could see Livia seated in another richly draped chaise at the front of the room. Lorenzo was beside her, along with Matilda, Bomeni, and a scowling vampire Beatrice did not recognize.

Livia rose as Lucien approached.

“Lucien,” she said, clearly shocked, but trying to cover it. “What a wonderful surprise to—”

“Shut up, Livia.”

Livia didn’t just shut up; the whole room did. If there had been a record playing somewhere, Beatrice imagined it would have made a screeching noise. Lucien raised a hand and pointed toward Lorenzo as he sat at her side.

“Did your errand boy tell you he’s given out samples of your great discovery?”

Livia’s face was blank, and Beatrice suspected she hadn’t known, after all. No matter, Lucien was still speaking, but he had turned to address the crowd.

“Oh yes, my friends, I have tried this elixir she calls a miracle! Lorenzo gave it to cure a human under my aegis. Then he told me of its other benefits.” His eyes swept the room and Beatrice could tell the ancient vampire had the attention of all in the room. “I drank from her. I drank from her over a year ago. Do you know what it has done to me? Shall I tell you, or perhaps I should just wait here with Livia until I fall into a coma and do not wake?”

The muttering began to circulate around the room. Livia stood, doing her best to keep the peace.

“Lucien, my old friend. Whatever are you talking about?” Her laugh was brittle. “If you have received something purported to be my elixir, I apologize, and I will make sure the finest healers see to you, but this cure has been tested, my friends!” Her gaze swung away from Lucien to the crowd that surrounded her, trying to reassure them. “This is not some magic potion; this is science. A breakthrough of historic significance…”

Beatrice’s eyes drifted as Livia started her sales pitch again. She searched through the crowd to examine those who surrounded the water vampire. There was security, definitely. A lot of that. And her three partners stood next to her. None of them looked shocked in the least. All their faces were very carefully blank.

She continued to scan the room. In addition to the tiered fountains that dotted it, a discreet channel of water had been built since the last time she had visited. To most, it would have looked like a very beautiful water feature, but Beatrice knew what it really was: a weapon. Luckily, it was a weapon for more than just Livia. She stepped closer to Lucien and the wary vampires of Livia’s court kept their distance.

“Livia!” Lucien was shouting over her. “Stop your speeches and listen! I’m willing to believe that you may not have realized how harmful this all was, but for the good of your people, you must stop this madness now. Admit that this elixir is harmful. Stop the production until more research can be done. What kind of leader are you if you cannot look past your own self-interest to the good of Rome? To the common good of our kind?”

Beatrice noticed a flicker on the edge of the crowd. Tenzin. Her ancient friend nodded toward her and Beatrice slowly relaxed. She glanced at Emil and noticed that he was subtly making eye contact with a number of other vampires in the room who she guessed were his allies. There were more than she had expected.

Livia’s eyes narrowed. “Lucien, perhaps you are ill. Or at least ill-informed. Apparently, your association with…” Livia looked toward Beatrice with a blatant sneer. “Less than trustworthy immortals has influenced your usually clear head.”

“It’s not Beatrice or Giovanni who have clouded my mind, Livia. That was done by this poison you are trying to convince—”

“Stop your lies!” she exploded. “Your reputation for questionable connections has long haunted you. You are no longer welcome in my home.”

“I am not leaving until I am heard!”

“Guards, escort the vampire, Lucien Thrax, out of my home, along with his detestable companion. Emil, I cannot believe you even offered them an introduction here.”

Silent vampires stepped forward and laid their hands on Lucien’s shoulders, pushing him toward the doors. Beatrice saw him blink and stumble once.