Part 20 (2/2)

Brovik shook his head. ”You bluff badly.”

I was p.i.s.sed now. ”I'm not your property!”

”Oh yes, you are. I've invested a lot in you, but rest a.s.sured my dear, you're worth more in the long haul. I'm sure Brovik has more work for us.”

They just looked at one another, so much baggage there, each maneuvering to get his way. I looked at them both, sick and apprehensive, wondering just how much I'd be called upon to do in pursuit of the cause, before I had what I I wanted most. wanted most.

THIRTEEN.

Two weeks later, a boat picked up Ethan from our dock to take us to Capri. Brovik had given me a blood red satin gown for the occasion, and I wore the rubies Ethan had given me our first year together. Ethan, in evening clothes, leaned against the rail, thinking of all the nice things his twenty thousand would buy, no doubt.

Sunset bled over the horizon, scarlet and purple, reflected in the bay's smooth mirror. I looked north. What Kurt was doing? The boat pulled up to Gaius's dock and we were helped ash.o.r.e, and up a steep stairway, by burly male slaves, Ethan referred to as dogs dogs.

Red veins spread over the black marble, Renaissance palazzo palazzo, like blood-filled capillaries. Well-dressed vampires strolled through verdant gardens, all Gaius's blood.

I asked Ethan how he could keep such an establishment without suspicion.

He shrugged. ”Anyone this rich can buy all the anonymity he wants.”

Heads turned. I clung to Ethan's arm, ignoring speculative murmurs. What appeared to be a teenaged girl approached, her green eyes complimented by the emeralds she wore. Her nubile curves were outlined in green silk. s.h.i.+ning auburn hair cascaded down her bared back.

Ethan's face warmed. ”Lisette, enchantee ”Lisette, enchantee.”

A slender white hand reached out for him to kiss. She surprised me by embracing me and kissing my cheeks. ”Quelle charmante! We wondered when Ethan would share his treasure.” We wondered when Ethan would share his treasure.”

A surprising wave of desire rose up over me as she caressed my cheek. You'd have to be made of stone not to want her.

”Where is Gaius?” Ethan asked.

She tilted her head. ”In the gallery. He has some new picture he wants to show you. Go. I'll take good care of Mia.” She took my arm. ”Come meet Guilietta. She's terrible, terrible, cherie cherie, I warn you.”

We strolled across the garden arm and arm, Lisette chattering and fussing over my gown and jewelry. I half heard what she was saying. As we took our turn about, murmurs of derision rose.

I took stock of Gaius's alphas alphas and their households and their households. The alphas were all cut from the same cloth, and I didn't think much of the tailor. Their women flitted about the gardens, gilded b.u.t.terflies in fine materials of every color, glittering with jewels on their b.r.e.a.s.t.s, hair, fingers and ears, laughter tinkling like broken crystal on the wind. Most ranged from p.u.b.escence to my mortal age in appearance, a few were little girls, their blithe faces belying the horror underlying this masquerade. The alphas were all cut from the same cloth, and I didn't think much of the tailor. Their women flitted about the gardens, gilded b.u.t.terflies in fine materials of every color, glittering with jewels on their b.r.e.a.s.t.s, hair, fingers and ears, laughter tinkling like broken crystal on the wind. Most ranged from p.u.b.escence to my mortal age in appearance, a few were little girls, their blithe faces belying the horror underlying this masquerade.

Their masters were mostly on the tall side. Even in times when such height was rare they managed to find the tallest, strongest males to add to the ranks. But in the shadows hovered males with the shape of boys, with eyes that had seen too much. Hatred burned in those glittering orbs, rage at being trapped forever in this state. I knew only Diego's Arturo, a dark-haired, doe-eyed, teenaged-formed beauty, who served gla.s.ses of warmed blood from a silver tray.

Lisette led me up to the terrace where a cool blonde held court with a circle of male admirers. Guilietta was easily the tallest woman there, willowy, with a smooth cornet of silvery blonde held high on a long neck- Grace Kelly with a really bad att.i.tude. Violet eyes fell on me. ”Who is this?”

”Ethan's Mia.”

She gave me the once over, a hard little smile tightening luscious lips. ”Not so much to look at, is she?”

I could have raked my nails over that perfect white face, but diplomacy was the word, so I bit my tongue. But oh, if I ever get the chance...

Lisette laughed. ”Our lord differs with your opinion.”

The men laughed, but Guilietta was nonplused. ”After three hundred years in his favor, she's no threat to me. Lisette flatters herself because she's managed to keep her head longer than the rest.”

”I think she's delicious.” Lisette surprised me by wrapping her arms around me and kissing me on the mouth as the men gawked.

Gaius came up the steps, just as Lisette drew away, leaving me breathless. The alphas scattered, as their lord bent to kiss my hand. ”My Little Pomegranate Blossom. Gulietta? Where are your manners? Kiss your new sister.”

”This American b.i.t.c.h brings nothing but trouble! Mark my words.” She glided away, midnight blue skirts rustling behind.

Gaius watched her departure, chuckling. ”So pa.s.sionate. I never know whether she'll pull a dagger.” He drew Lisette to him. ”You aren't the jealous type, are you Kitten?” Gaius's hands caressed her bare shoulders. ”You two must become better acquainted. Our amus.e.m.e.nts are so much more exquisite. Kitten, go tell Dirk I wish to speak with him.”

She gave me a come-hither look as she slipped away. Gaius offered his arm, leading me to a vantage point overlooking the bay. ”Tiberius lived on this island once. Far from the oppressive elements of Rome- free to seek his pleasures.”

The emperor's pleasures included s.e.xually abusing kids. He called them his ”minnows”, and when he tired of them he'd throw them off the cliff behind his palace.

Gaius turned my right hand palm up, tracing veins in my wrist with his fingers. ”The same blood made us Mia; your mortal clan goes back to Etruscan times. Dirk has served me well. To avoid trouble with Ethan, I sent him away, but he did as I bid, on the promise I would obtain you for him. However, you won't be merely an ornament for his bedchamber. I have particular need of your skills.”

Two of the Alphas he'd dismissed had been joined by a third and they glared silently at us across the terrace. ”Your Alphas seem unimpressed.”

He smiled slowly, drawing my hand up to his lips and kissing the upturned palm. ”They underestimate you. In my hands you can be a Messalina. But don't underestimate Dirk. He is is a brute, but his savagery will survive the coming trials, with enough left over to make you behave. There will be bloodshed in years to come.” He looked grimly out to the bay. ”Time is catching up with us. The mortal world grows close to unraveling our mystery. Brovik believes the downfall of the ancients is inevitable. The a brute, but his savagery will survive the coming trials, with enough left over to make you behave. There will be bloodshed in years to come.” He looked grimly out to the bay. ”Time is catching up with us. The mortal world grows close to unraveling our mystery. Brovik believes the downfall of the ancients is inevitable. The Ragnorak Ragnorak, twilight of the G.o.ds, he calls it.”

”That's too poetic for Brovik. It's much more in Ethan's line.”

”There's a valued place for you in my house. I won't let Dirk do you harm- aside from his peccadilloes. He'll cause pain, but nothing you won't survive. It means too much to him to possess you.”

On cue, Dirk lurched up the stairs, in impeccable eveningwear, his sandy hair slicked back, sporting a white orchid in his lapel. Evidently, he'd spent some time in exile polis.h.i.+ng. On his finger glittered a ring shaped as the she-wolf and twins, set with diamonds, very different than the plain gold Brovik had given. Dirk bowed and kissed my hand. I recoiled. ”Good evening Mia, how lovely you look.”

Gaius laughed out loud. ”You won't win her that way. Her value is she has no delusions about men's flatteries. It will serve you better to curse her. She hates you, poor fool. If you weren't so cruel yourself I'd worry. How you'll torment each other.” Gaius laughed again. ”She'll take your head someday. I'll put money on it.”

Dirk scowled, more like himself. ”You find this amusing?”

”When you've lived as long as I, you'll welcome any novelty.”

”I'll make make her love me.” her love me.”

Gaius laughed again. ”Now, there's another wager I'll take. Don't be a fool. Ask Mia about the durability of true love.”

”She has no choice.” Dirk liked that idea. ”No choice at all. Oh, that really irks her to hear that. I'll remind her every night.”

”Enough. I wanted you both to hear this. I'm making you second, to fill the place left when Enrico was killed.”

Dirk was delighted. ”The others will hate it!”

”I can depend on your loyalty. The others I'm not so certain of. But don't think because I'm giving her to you that she won't be expected to work. I have plans for her and want no interference from you. Understood?”

”Fine.”

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