Page 21 of Hunters and Prey

Chapter 12

Tom put his rusty Italian to good use, wandering the streets of Rome, marveling at the beautiful city's history. Viola remained with him while the others had gone to plead with their goddess. She would have preferred to remain at the hotel room, where he was safe and preferably cocooned in bubble wrap, but he made use of his pout and his high cheekbones.

"Please? I've never visited Rome. We can do a Colosseum tour, and come right back."

She'd sighed and conceded.

It had been worth it. Tom couldn't quite comprehend the grandeur of the edifice in front of him.

He tried to imagine the high walls covered in white marble and the floor paved white.

"You know, there's a city off the coast that still remains as beautiful as it was during the golden days of Rome. I've never been, but I'm old enough to know about it. Dale, I think they called it."

Tom realized how little he knew of the world. "Tell me more," he asked. "Not just about Rome, or Dale. What else are you hiding from regulars?"

Viola had many tales. Fae, and warlocks, and aliens, and portals taking you to a different planet, a different world. The part of him that needed distractions, that couldn't focus in the present, was dormant, silent. He listened without saying a thing, hanging on her every word.

When she paused, he said, "I want to see it all. The other worlds. Dale. Fae."

Viola snorted.

"Trust me, you do not want to see a fae. They're as cruel as they're beautiful."

"Aren't all beauties cruel in their own ways?" said a singsong voice that made his blood turn to ice.

Viola was entirely frozen in place, eyes wide on a woman who couldn't be possible.

Her gold skin glowed like it had an inner light. Her amber eyes were too still, and unblinking. She was so stunning looking at her was painful, but Tom couldn't look away; it would have felt like turning his back on a pouncing, starving lion.

Viola fell to one knee. When he could move, Tom imitated her.

"Your Grace. We did not expect you."

She laughed, a sound pure and fierce.

"Indeed. You expect me to be home, where your charming companions will ask for my attention before the eyes and ears of a thousand immortals. I thought this matter deserved a bit of privacy."

Her eyes were fixed on Tom. Although he kept his face down, and his gaze on her feet, he felt them. They burned and froze him all at once.

"Come. Let us find some privacy."

To their confusion, the woman led them to an ice cream parlor. Everyone left the moment she entered it, except for a woman behind the counter.

She ordered a gelato, and invited them to do the same. Once they were served, the woman bowed low, left the store, and locked the doors behind her.

She wrapped her mouth around a spoonful of pistachio gelato and moaned. Finding both Viola and Tom immobile, the woman sighed.

"Well, eat! Wasting gelato is a sin against all the gods, me included."

So she was the goddess. Tom hadn't doubted it, but hearing it confirmed somehow made things worse.

"Your Grace…"

"Come on, Viola. After all these years, Ariadne will do."

Ariadne. A beautiful name that seemed too sweet and too modern for her.

He tried a spoon of ice cream. His eyes widened.

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