“So, Tenzin, what do you want? We all know your power, but you are in my court now, not an island in the sea. You know I will not release your friend, and you cannot have Lorenzo. There is obviously some investigation to be done in this matter, which I trust you will allow me to pursue. I’m a very fair person. Are you?”
“Not particularly.”
Beatrice heard a few laughs in the crowd. One of them, she was almost certain, belonged to Emil Conti. Tenzin continued watching Livia with cold, calculating eyes.
“You know what I want, Livia. I want Giovanni Vecchio returned to his wife, the daughter of my mate. I want the head of the vampire on your left. I’ve considered killing you, as well, but I’m willing to let you live as long as you meet my demands.”
“I could kill Giovanni with a snap of my fingers.” Livia raised a hand and Beatrice could not stop the snarl that left her lips. Livia smirked. “But I won’t, of course. Some of us aren’t barbarians.”
“And some of us are.” Tenzin stepped closer and pointed at Lorenzo. “He exists at my pleasure. I could kill him quite easily; I’m sure you know this. If any harm comes to my friend, I will.”
“As I said, I’m not—”
“And if that is not enough incentive to keep Giovanni Vecchio safe...” Tenzin again raised a swirling wind that lifted her in the air as she faced the Roman immortals. She lifted her arms, raising her bloody sword. “Vampires of Rome, I am the only child of Zhuang Guo, warrior king of the ancient steppes. I am the daughter of the Northern Wind. It has been many years since the hordes from the East have descended on your land, but make no mistake, we can and will raise them again.”
Faster than the eye could follow, Tenzin darted down to twist the neck from the guard who stood next to Livia, splattering blood across her purple gown. A group of guards rushed toward them, but Beatrice raised her swords, twisting them in a razor-sharp whirl until they fell back.
Tenzin snatched the head of the guard and flew to the top of the room, then dropped to the ground in a crouch and tossed the guard’s head at Livia’s feet. Then she stood up, smearing the blood across her cheek as she tucked her hair behind her ear.
“Make no mistake, Roman. I am not civilized. Giovanni Vecchio remains safe, or I will call the Golden Horde. And remember, no ancient power remains to guard your Eastern gate.”
Then Tenzin grasped Beatrice’s arm, and the two vampires flew from the room in a rush of wind.
A few miles outside of Rome, they suddenly dropped to the ground. Beatrice looked around at the small, deserted piazza with a fountain in the middle. Judging by the position of the moon, it was probably around ten o’clock.
Tenzin pointed toward the fountain. “Wash up. You don’t want to scare Dez or Ben. And you did well back there.”
“You know, I always thought you were scary, but if I were Livia, I’d be metaphorically shitting my pants right now.” Beatrice walked over and began washing. She was grateful for the deserted fountain and the moment to gather her thoughts. She took a calming breath and lay as much of her body in the water as she could, wrapping herself in the soft comfort of her element. Tenzin sat on the stone ledge.
After a few silent minutes, Beatrice spoke. “How did you leave him alive?”
She saw Tenzin look up at the moon. “I can be patient.”
“You’ll kill him soon enough.”
“Or you will.”
Beatrice shook her head. “He killed your mate. If it was Gio—”
“My girl, he killed your father. Your sire.” Tenzin blinked a few times. “If you have your opportunity, take it. I will not be angry.”
“Are you sure?”
Tenzin stood and held a hand out to Beatrice, lifting her out of the water. “There are more important things than my vengeance. That is why I could leave him alive. That is why you will kill him one day.”
Beatrice frowned. “But, Tenzin—”
“Come, we need to get back to Rome. Lucien will be awake now. You need to talk to him.”
Giovanni heard her approach. Livia swept into the room and shoved the guard back that tried to follow her. She paced, and he could see the water in the air drawn to her as her amnis swirled.
For a moment, Giovanni felt fear. He had not fed and was still weak from the injuries she had inflicted on him earlier in the night. But he braced himself against the stone pillar and remained silent, watching her stomp around the room.
Suddenly, Livia turned to him and screamed at the top of her lungs. Then she flew at him, stabbing him in the gut with a dagger she pulled from her bodice. She kicked his knees and slapped his face. She loosed her rage on Giovanni as he stood utterly still, not understanding what had caused the usually composed vampire to lose her temper.
Livia stabbed him over and over, until his leather jerkin hung in bloody strips, and he began to blink, lightheaded from the blood loss. Still, he said not a word and barely flinched, determined not to give her the reaction he knew she was looking for.
“Say something!” she screamed in his face, her fangs cutting her lips. He felt a spatter of her blood touch his face and she eyed his neck.
She paused, then a sick smile twisted her lips. She sprung on him and tried to latch onto his neck to drink, but Giovanni raised his arms and batted her away, throwing her as far across the room as his weakened body would allow.
He said only one word. “No.”
Livia stood again and screamed, stamping her foot. Giovanni began to think she would finally kill him, but as soon as he thought it, she took a deep breath, pushed the mangled hair from her face, and looked at him with her typical look of contempt. Then she turned her nose up and walked from the room.