“You forced him to help you with amnis, Giovanni! He was only a human.”

Giovanni laughed. “I did no such thing. Lorenzo knew of my father’s cruelty. As did you. Andros’s own sire had cut him off. It was only the rest of the world my father fooled.”

“Andros was not cruel.” She addressed the crowd. “He was a great immortal and my beloved mate. Let me kill this rebellious child who has admitted to taking him from us.”

“Niccolo Andros had no more use for you than he did for his money purse, Livia. You were a tool. Nothing more. We both know it.”

She screamed. “Liar!”

He narrowed his eyes and a smile curled the corner of his lip. “Perhaps you were deceived by him. Perhaps he fooled you, as well. Did Andros keep his secrets from you, as he did from us all?”

“Foolish child, Andros was my mate. We had no secrets from each other.”

She had stepped into the trap with such ease that Giovanni had to force himself not to grin. His face was a picture of sympathetic understanding. “There is no shame in being the victim of deception, Livia.”

“I knew him better than you ever did.”

Perhaps not even Livia knew the truth. She had created her own history, and Giovanni would not fight it. In the end, it did not matter; she would burn with the rest of his enemies. “Then, my dear, you will not be surprised by our guests! Emil?” He turned back to the old Roman, who was watching the exchange with a guarded expression. “I would like to invite to the court three of our most ancient brethren.” Giovanni angled his shoulders toward the door a second before they flew open. A few of the younger vampires rushed toward the open doors, only to be thrown back by a strong wind as Ziri flew into the hall.

The ancient wind vampire carried Giovanni’s grand-sire, who looked around the room with a slow blink. Giovanni had fed Kato his blood before they left Arosh’s mountain fortress, and the effects were immediately evident. The old water vampire was less aggressive and seemed to already have more awareness of his surroundings. Though he still did not speak, he seemed to exhibit a growing recognition of Giovanni and Arosh. He had even allowed Carwyn to remain in his presence.

The fire vampire strode into the room with a lazy gait and looked around in amusement. He ignored the whispers that began as he entered, and the crowd parted for him. He calmly walked through the circle of fire and came to stand beside Giovanni as Ziri landed behind him and set Kato on his feet.

Arosh looked around the room; then he nodded at Emil Conti and narrowed his eyes at Livia. His deep voice filled the silent hall when he finally spoke. “So, this is Andreas’s woman who calls herself the leader of Rome?” He curled his lip. “We shall see.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Castello Furio, Rome

November 2012

At the mention of Andros’s name, the massive vampire next to Beatrice bared her fangs and hissed. She looked up with wide eyes. This had to be Kato. He looked like the statue of Neptune that ruled over the Trevi fountain in the center of Rome. His hair flowed over his shoulders. His beard was long and curling, and he wore only a loose pair of pants. She clutched Giovanni’s hand, but he calmly pressed her fingers between his own.

Despite everything, the blood in her veins sang. He is back. He was near! Her mate was next to her again, and her heart sped in delight and anticipation even as she looked at the frighteningly powerful immortal that towered over her.

The water in the air clung to Kato’s skin. She could even feel it wick away from her as she stood next to him. The delicate skin of her lips cracked, causing blood to spring up. She shivered, and a small breath escaped her, but as soon as Kato heard her small gasp, he turned his eyes to Beatrice, and they softened. His fangs disappeared, and he lifted a large hand to touch her cheek. Her skin immediately plumped with moisture again.

“Gio?” she whispered.

“It’s fine, Tesoro. He won’t hurt you. He smells his blood in you. Remember, you are of his line.”

“Isn’t Livia, too?”

At the mention of Livia’s name, Kato’s eyes swung back toward the front of the room and he bared his fangs again. Ziri placed a hand on the giant’s shoulder, and Kato calmed. Beatrice clutched Giovanni’s hand in hers, determined not to be separated from him. She heard the long-haired vampire with the crackling energy address the crowd.

“I am Arosh. The vampires of Rome know who I am. I need no permission to speak to this hall.”

Livia, as if sensing the situation slipping out of her control cried out, “This is my hall! And I do not—”

She was cut off as a sharp spear of fire shot out of Arosh’s fingers. Livia pulled a guard in front of her, who immediately turned to ash.

“Shut up, woman. I am speaking.”

Beatrice might have imagined the slight shake in Emil’s voice, but she didn’t think so. Still, Emil stepped forward with an outstretched arm that didn’t tremble once. Beatrice was impressed.

He said, “Though you need no permission, my lord, I would welcome you to my city. We had heard of your demise, but I am very pleased to hear that the rumors were false.”

Arosh waved a careless hand. “My thanks, Roman. I have come to your city in return for a favor granted by Giovanni Vecchio, the son of Andreas, sired of Kato.”

The low chatter began as Kato’s name moved around the room. This was the ancient king of the Mediterranean, she realized. As soon as he had stepped into the room, many of the vampires had probably recognized him. All of them had thought their legendary king was dead. And though he definitely wasn’t dead, there was something wrong with him. As powerful as he was, his amnis, when he had touched her, had felt very wrong.