“Like Italy? During the Renaissance when Gio was born.”

Lucien leaned forward, his eyes lit. “Exactly. Giovanni probably had no idea at the time, but Renaissance Florence was teeming with vampires. Ziri was there. Even I was there for a time, though I’m not very fond of cities.”

“That’s interesting. Any other times?”

He folded his hands and relaxed, a wistful smile crossing his face. “Hmm, Greece, for a time. Baghdad, before the libraries burned, of course. Egypt, on and off for centuries. India in the fifth century. I am quite fond of Russia, but not many are.”

“Rome?”

“Yes and no. Some, like Andros, were attracted to Rome during the Republic and later, of course, but it was not my favorite time. It was wonderful during the Renaissance. Japan in the sixteenth century. The American colonies during the Revolution.”

“What about the times of conflict? Wars? Do vampires like wars?”

He shook his head. “Not usually. We’re very self-interested, and wars are not interesting. Plus, we’ve all seen so many of them that they become repetitive, I suppose.”

She shook her head. “Lucien, you’re one interesting guy.”

He shrugged. “I am, and I am not. I like talking about the past more than most immortals. I don’t mind reminiscing. Most older vampires won’t.”

“I’ve noticed that. Both Carwyn and Tenzin don’t talk about the past. They hardly even mention it.”

“It’s survival. You’ll probably become the same way, after a time. Dwelling in the past can be very depressing. You should always be looking ahead.” He smiled. “Look forward. Where is the next great idea or invention? That is what makes immortal life interesting.”

“And family. Friends.”

He nodded. “Yes, those are the most important. It has always been so. And it will remain. Another constant.”

“Constant… right.” She bit her lip and tried not to let the overwhelming loneliness envelop her.

“You are thinking about your mate.”

“Of course.”

“He is your constant. As, I’m sure, you are for him.”

“I hope so.”

Lucien grinned. “He was always so formal and distant, your Giovanni. I never knew him very well, but he was always so…”

“What?”

He grimaced. “Polite.”

Beatrice burst out laughing. “Yes, he is.”

Lucien laughed along and shook his head. “But irritatingly so. It was like he was saying, ‘Nice to meet you’ and ‘You’re beneath my notice’ all at the same time.”

“You can’t accuse him of being a humble man, no.”

“That’s good.” Lucien nodded. “Good. That means that he’ll be fine. Even if she tortures him, he’ll be fine. He is above her.”

Beatrice fell silent. “Yes, I suppose so.”

“I have no doubt he’s dealt with worse.”

Thinking of some of the more horrible stories she’d managed to pry out of him, and some of the other things that Beatrice had inferred, she had to agree. “Yes, he has.”

Lucien only nodded. “He’ll be fine.”

Beatrice smiled when she heard Carwyn barrel into the house. He walked into the kitchen to bark at Ben about doing his homework, charm a plate of food from Angela, and then she heard him stomp up the stairs.

“Ah! There’s my favorite girl. Oh, and, Beatrice, you’re here, too.”

Lucien chuckled and flipped up a surprisingly modern hand gesture at the noisy vampire. Carwyn put a plate of food on the library table and started eating. “So, what did I miss while I was meeting with the bathrobes?”

“How did the meeting go?”

“Fine. Great, actually.” He grinned and took a drink from the bottle of beer he’d brought.

“Yeah?”

“Yes. I’m feeling like a new vampire. Fangs are sharper. Growl is scarier. And still, just as good-looking. Watch out, Livia.”

Beatrice and Lucien exchanged amused looks.

“What’s gotten into you, Father?”

For some reason, that question made Carwyn burst into laughter. Finally, he calmed down and said, “Enough about me. What kind of mischief can we make? I feel like causing some trouble.”

“Well, Ziri and Emil went to the castle to make sure that Giovanni is healthy and being kept safe. Beatrice and I were reminiscing about history and talking about how polite her husband is. And then you interrupted us.”

Carwyn darted over to them both and smacked the backs of their heads.

“Hey!”

“What kind of evening fun is that? You two are boring.”

She stuck out a foot and tripped him before could make it back to the table. “Well, some of us are trying to be patient and not kill anything.”

“Oh ho!” Carwyn grinned from the ground. “I know what you need, B.”

“What?”

He cocked an eyebrow and smirked.

She rolled her eyes. “Other than that.”

Lucien and Carwyn both laughed. Beatrice started for the door, only to feel Carwyn tackle her from behind. He picked her up and ran down the stairs.

“What are you doing? Put me down!”

“Nope. Your husband isn’t around for you to shag. You’re being a good girl and not killing things. So…” He opened a door she hadn’t been through before and tossed her down the stairs. She bounced and tumbled until she came to a small landing.