“Nothing.” I had four brothers and if I was going to ask one of them for advice regarding a female, Sebastian would be last on that list. “Maybe we should hunt down our mother before she burns the place down.”
His lip curled with distaste. “Do we have to?”
“Don’t worry about your mother,” a deep voice interrupted.
I turned to find our father. He looked exhausted, as if his thousands of years had caught up with him in just one night.
“She’s under control,” he said. He grimly eyed the bottle of wine in Sebastian’s hand. Then he turned his attention to the nearly empty whisky in my hand.
I passed the rest to him.
“Thanks.” He downed the remaining Scotch.
I lowered my voice. “What should we do now?”
We’d been called to Venice for two reasons: to assist in Thea’s rescue and attend our mother’s coronation. I suspected Sabine cared more about the latter. Now that neither reason still existed, I wondered if it was time to leave.
So, why did I feel the urge to stay?
“Keep a low profile.” Dominic rubbed his temples. “Keep our eyes open. Something feels off.”
“You mean earthquakes and lightning strikes and raising people from the dead isn’t normal?” Sebastian smirked. To his credit, it looked a little forced. Maybe he was more rattled than he was letting on.
“We came to secure the Rio Oscuro and rescue Thea,” I reminded him, doing my best to ignore the pull I felt to this place. “It might be better if we don’t hang around.”
“We tend to get in trouble,” Sebastian agreed.
“Then be on your best behavior, boys.” Dominic’s throat slid, his gaze scanning the room like someone might be watching. “Every vampire faction is in this city. I think it’s best if we stay.”
“Sticking around when my enemies are in town is how I got kicked out of Glasgow,” Sebastian said, “and I’m still not allowed in most of Scotland. And I liked Scotland.”
None of us were allowed in Scotland. Not unless we wanted to start a war with the werewolves.
“Why don’t you find your brother?” our father suggested to him.
Sebastian hitched a finger at me. “I already did.”
“Your other brother.”
“Which one?” he asked, feigning innocence.
“Any of them,” Dominic said through gritted teeth.
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed, but he shoved a hand through his shaggy blond hair. Instead of arguing, he leaned over the bar and swiped another bottle of rosé.
“I’m sure somebody in this city is up for a good time,” he grumbled.
Dominic shook his head. “Not too good of a time.”
Neither of us spoke until he was gone.
“Was there a reason you dismissed him?” I asked. “Other than the fact he’s annoying?”
He sighed and nodded once. “Rumors are swirling.”
“Two creatures came back from the dead.” I lifted a brow. “That’s not surprising.”
“It’s not just that. Magic has awoken.”