“So you took Kato away and asked Ziri and Saba to tell the world you had killed each other.”

“The last thing I wanted was Andreas to come back and try to assassinate his father. I wanted to give Kato time. I believed, in my arrogance, that no affliction could weaken my friend for long. After all, he had been as strong as I was! Surely, he would heal.”

Carwyn said, “But he didn’t.”

Arosh cocked his head and stared at the fire. “No, he didn’t. I brought him here. I made sure he was safe and left him in Samson’s care along with a few trusted humans. When I went back to my home in Persia—this was after the word had spread that we had killed each other—” His eyes lifted to Giovanni’s. “My home, particularly my library, had been ransacked.”

Giovanni closed his eyes and clenched his hands in anger. “And that is how the book came to my father.”

Arosh nodded. “Saba left Jabir’s manuscript and notes in my library. I doubt your father had any idea what he took. Maybe he discovered it. Maybe he didn’t. He was always a bright child, however detestable his character was.”

Giovanni slumped back, exhausted by the revelations. Had his father known? Did it even matter? The damage had been done. The poison had already spread, and Arosh was staring at him.

“So now, Giovanni, son of Andreas, you will ask me for your favor again, and I will tell you what you must give me in exchange.”

Giovanni leaned forward and stared through the fire to meet the ancient immortal’s gaze. “Arosh, will you expose this truth, and my grand-sire, to stop this evil from spreading? Will you take Kato to Rome and show the immortal world the true price of this ‘cure?’”

Arosh’s gaze was guarded. “You ask me to expose my closest friend, Giovanni Vecchio. You ask me to show the world what he has become. To show them his weakness?”

“To stop this? Yes. I ask you to expose the dangerous secret that you, Kato, Saba, and Ziri hid.”

He could feel the heat from the other vampire roll from across the room. “Why do you not kill this vampire and take the city? Destroy the book. Destroy those who know of it. Why should I expose my friend to scrutiny? To spare you the inconvenience of battle? I fought many battles I didn’t choose because I had to. What makes you above me?”

The flames threatened to burst from his collar, and it was Carwyn who answered while Giovanni fought to maintain his control. “This elixir, Arosh, this secret, has been released into the world! Who knows whom Livia has told? Who knows if there have been copies of the book or the formula made? We don’t need to just stop the elixir, we need to tell the world the truth. Enough secrets! Expose the danger. That is the only way it will be stopped.”

Giovanni managed to push back his own anger as he rose to his feet. “You have warned us of the dangerous fire of pride. This secret that you and your friends created has remained hidden for too long. Others have been hurt. Killed. Saba’s own child has fallen ill from it. Do not let your pride blind you to what must be done to stop this.”

Arosh gave him a long, measuring look before he rose. “You are asking this of me?”

His heart gave a quick beat. “I am.”

“Then you know what I will want in return.”

“Yes.”

“Your blood, Giovanni, son of Andreas. Your blood to heal your grand-sire. For as long as he needs it. Your blood and the blood of your children. The blood of any and all of Kato’s line.” His eyes flared, and he stepped through the fire toward Giovanni. “Promise me your blood, and I will grant you your request.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Residenza di Spada, Rome

November 2012

Beatrice had spent most of the day in the bath. The house was quiet. Lucien was sleeping. Gavin and Jean were due back any night with the truck that held the ELIXIR shipment, but it was anyone’s guess when they would actually show. Dez remained in the hospital on bed rest per her doctor’s orders, so Ben and Matt spent their days there and Beatrice wandered the halls of Giovanni’s house with little to do.

She had kept away from Livia, letting Emil take the lead as more and more vampires flooded into Rome. News of the Roman noblewoman’s startling announcement had quickly spread through Europe, and the Roman court was suddenly the most active in the Old World. Most European leaders had either sent delegations to Rome to investigate Livia’s claims, or had issued statements praising her. Emil Conti could no longer pretend to be impartial. The lone voice of dissent, he had come out weeks before with a strong public statement, warning those who would listen about the unknown dangers of any formula that claimed to cure bloodlust.

Distinct lines were being drawn and, unfortunately for Beatrice, the personal grievance of a young American vampire received little notice to the major players of the European immortal community, no matter what her connections were.

She dabbed at her face with a towel as she walked back into the bedroom and saw Giovanni stretched out on the bed. He reached an arm out as she walked toward him.

“Come. Lay down and try to rest, Tesoro.”

She blinked back tears and dropped the towel before she went to lay next to him. “That’s it. I’ve finally lost it, haven’t I? I’m hallucinating.”

He tucked her into his side and wrapped a warm arm around her.

“Hush. You’re dreaming.”

“Thanks for trying to make me feel better, but I don’t really sleep anymore.” She closed her eyes, resigned to the illusion if it let her imagine he was next to her again. “I haven’t slept at all since you’ve been gone. It’s okay. I’m okay with being crazy.”