Page 28 of Dancing with Daggers

"Be quick," Corven said and smiled. "And Ares? Don't wear white. I'll be turning you into a full vampire afterward, and I know how you don't like things to be messy."

Ares nodded and hurried out of the room. He took the stairs, running down the flights as fast as possible. He slammed on the door to the seventh floor and knocked on Zia's door. He didn't know what he would say to her; his anger and hurt were turning his mind to fire. When no one replied to the knocking, Ares kicked in the door.

The apartment was silent and empty. Not a scrap of Zia remained except the faint whiff of her perfume to mark that she had existed at all.

It was all just a job to her. The cold numbness returned in a wave, and Ares went to his apartment. He didn't look at the bed that was still rumpled and smelled like her. He didn't look at the dishes in the sink left over from their late-night dinner.

Ares changed his suit, combed his hair, and went downstairs to meet Corven.

"I don't think I've seen you in shock like this for decades, Ares," Corven said from his chair opposite him. He poured a bourbon and passed it to him. "Have a celebratory drink. You won. If you had told me about all your extra doings over the years, this would have been settled a lot faster. You are going to be an excellent vampire, Ares. I'm glad it was you."

"Thank you, Corven. I appreciate that, and I'll do my best to keep the Volso family strong," Ares answered, the cold still in his voice.

Corven gave him a piercing look. "You know, a woman like Lucrezia is a rare asset to have. A good patriarch always sees value in such tools and knows how to wield them. Don't be bitter that she fooled you all. That's her gift. Now, get focused. You have more to worry about than Lucrezia out-foxing you right now."

Ares didn't know if that was true. Since Corven rescued him, Ares had spent his entire life working towards proving himself to him. He wanted to show that a boy from the slums could be the head of a powerful house. He had wanted to turn into a full vampire and rule his own empire.

Everything Ares had always wanted was to be laid at his feet. The moment of his victory had finally come, and he didn't feel like he had won anything at all.

20

Zia walked the streets of Florence and stared in wonder at the beautiful white, green, and red facade of the Santa Maria del Fiore. After a month, it was a novelty to see it every single day as she explored the city she had always wanted to live in.

A part of her knew she should be looking for another job, but for the first time ever, she didn't feel like working. She had enough money in the bank, and it wasn't like she had to pay rent.

It was dark when Zia walked up the steps to her apartment on the Via Dei Medici. She marveled that such a magnificent place was hers. It was a beautiful apartment with two floors, stunning views, and elegant antique furniture. There was no minimalist silver and black to be seen. She had spent her time off feathering her nest with pretty things she bought on her walks and going through all the books that Corven had kept there.

It was during her second week in Florence that the large package had been delivered with a note from Corven himself.

Dear Lucrezia,

This was delivered to the Volso building for you, and I thought it would make a lovely addition to your new apartment. Above the fireplace, perhaps.

Kindest affections

Corven Volso.

Zia had opened the layers upon layers of protective wrapping and found the painting of the gothic mansion on the misty moor that she had liked at the auction. It came with a folio of authenticity papers and congratulations for winning the auction. Zia had put it above the fireplace with tears in her eyes.

Corven had nothing to do with the painting. It was Ares. He had won her the painting that she had liked. He had gotten Corven to send it with a note, not himself. Weeks later, it still hurt.

Zia knew she deserved it. She had thought it best to leave Inferno as quickly as possible. It had taken everything she had to be professional at that last meeting. The look on Ares's face, like he had just had his insides ripped out of him, would haunt her forever.

‘I'm sorry’ didn't seem appropriate or enough at the time. He wouldn't believe anything she said anyway. Ares would see it as a betrayal, and there was no way she could live with that.

Zia had let her personal feelings and desires get in the way of her job, and now she was paying the price for it. She had wondered more than once if she should go back to Inferno and face him. She didn't do it. Ares was busy enough. He was freshly turned and anointed Blood Lord. He had what he wanted. She had what she wanted. So why didn't it feel like winning?

Zia's phone buzzed on the counter, and she managed to smile when she saw the number. "Hey, Asteria."

"I'm just calling to make sure that you've showered today. Gone out? Eaten something?" Asteria fired off.

"Yes, yes, and yes. Why? Do you think I'm incapable of looking after myself now?" Zia asked. She pulled out a bottle of wine from her kitchen cabinet and poured herself a glass.

"I know you're capable, but I'm worried about you, Zia. You haven't been the same since that last job," Asteria replied.

"I can say the same for you. You went and got turned when I was on that job. Now you're like a vampire queen," Zia teased, knowing it would make Asteria cringe in horror.

"Shut up. This isn't about me and Mercury. Though speaking of, I need you to come home to Inferno next weekend."

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