Aithne grinned, her body relaxing more. “I almost think Viktor would be happier if I was content to just stay home and offer advice.”
“No, he wouldn’t. Chase, despite his grumbling and the hard time he’s probably giving Viktor right now, admits that he’s glad that I stand up to him,” Violca replied with a smile. “The Fates, my mother always said, bring us what we need. They need a strong woman to stand by their side. A weak one will only give them one more thing to worry about.”
Quiet for a moment, Aithne appeared to be deep in thought. “I believe your mother’s right. The Fates may be bitchy, but they’re smart.”
Violca couldn’t help but laugh at that statement. According to Viktor and Chase it was the Fates prophecy to Dmitri that started all this. It put her and her sisters’ lives in danger and also caused a rift between Viktor and Dmitri, ultimately dividing the dragons. Thanks to the help of the hunters, it even started to divide the other supernatural communities.
It was a long drive to the location. Violca fell asleep for part of the ride. She offered to drive and wasn’t surprised when Aithne turned her down.
“Lazzaro is going to try and push your buttons when he meets you,” Aithne said. “He’s going to flirt, he’ll be inappropriate, but I don’t think he’ll try anything. He needs you to lift the curse. Well, you or one of your sisters. He knows that in order for that to happen he’ll need to have you on his side.”
Violca nodded. From everything she’d learned about him, he liked to keep people off balance. She wondered if he was really as cocky as everyone made him out to be, or if it was his way of seeing how people would react. Keeping people on their toes was a great way to get an honest answer.
When they pulled up to the restaurant, Violca got out and looked around. The area was beautiful. The sun low in the sky covered the area in a lovely shade of pink and orange. Aithne had explained to Violca the advantages of the location and turning in a slow circle, she had to agree with her. This restaurant had a view from every direction. They could see, and be seen, for miles. Knowing that Viktor and Chase were parked two miles up the road was reassuring.
“I arranged for us to have a private party room upstairs,” Aithne said. “The balcony will give the guys a clear view into the room.”
Nodding, Violca followed Aithne inside. The look the teenage hostess gave them caused Violca to chuckle. Her brown eyes widened as she looked Aithne over. Dressed Aithne looked like she was dressed for a spy movie.
“Hello, I believe you have a reservation for me. The name is Aithne.”
“Yes, I have you right here. It’s for three is that correct?” She asked frowning when she noticed where it was located.
Aithne confirmed and Violca almost chuckled at the bored tone her friend used. The girl bobbed her and asked them to follow her as she led them to the stairs that would take them upstairs.
When they got to the top of the stairs the hostess led them down a hall opening a door at the stop of the stairs. The room was rustic luxury. The furniture was made of a rich mahogany wood glazed and polished until the light shone off it. There were couches aligned against the wall and a mural of a family of beers playing near the lake painted on the wall. Violca noticed that there was a small bar set up for them, stocked with several bottles of expensive vintage scotch.
Violca opened the glass door and stood out on the balcony listening to Aithne giving the hostess instructions and telling her to charge the credit card on file. Looking up the road, she tried to make out where Chase and Viktor were hiding. Aithne came up behind her and pointed to a clearing. “Chase is watching from over there.”
“I’m sometimes jealous that they have all these enhanced abilities.” Violca squinted and Aithne laughed.
“From what I heard,” Aithne said with a smile, “you banished a demon named Micah that was beating Chase and Scott. You aren’t without your own set of skills.” Violca gave her friend a smile at her encouraging words as they walked back inside the room.
The light in the room changed to different shades of pink as the sun continued to set. The wait staff came in, bringing trays of food that Aithne had ordered and setting them up on warmers. The smell of the beef wellington filled the air. The soft click of the door let Violca know they had left. Violca turned her attention outside as she watched a BMW with darkly tinted windows pull up to the restaurant.
TEN
CHASE WATCHED as a woman walked out onto the balcony. The distance was too far to make out her features, but her long, dark hair let him know it was Violca. Viktor also looked on as Aithne joined her. When they both went back inside, they left the blinds open for them.
“Aithne tells me Violca’s been trying to find a way to incorporate some of the traditions of both the witches and the dragons into the wedding ceremony,” Viktor said, leaning against the SUV.
“She is. It would be almost impossible to do it all. Apparently both our ancestors loved long ceremonies.” Chase shook his head. The simplest and most binding part was already done. They’d exchanged blood and exchanged the vows that bound them together. This ceremony was for her sister and their friends. It was also for them alone, a ceremony to proclaim to everyone how much he loved her and that she would always be his.
“How long do you think until Lazzaro arrives?” Viktor asked as they watched an SUV drive down the main road.
“My guess, shortly after sundown,” Chase said as he picked up a pair of binoculars. Looking across the lake, he saw several guards they had posted. After checking on them, he scanned the area and noticed movement in the brush, signaling that the wolves that Lazzaro sent were starting to arrive and get into their own positions.
Lazzaro wouldn’t send his human guards here. Most likely it was the clan of werewolves that worked for him. They would keep their distance from the dragons. Werewolves were strong, but one on one it would be almost impossible for a werewolf to overpower a dragon.
“I take it Lazzaro’s guards have started to show?” Viktor asked, looking down the hill.
Following his gaze, Chase saw two figures down below. “Yeah, so I’ve noticed.”
Lazzaro’s guards stayed close enough that they both could watch each other. Chase chose to take the fact that they didn’t engage them to be a sign that they were under strict orders from Lazzaro not to. Chase found himself wondering how the Vampire King was able to come by such loyal guards.
As the last waves of sunlight faded, his body tensed as a silver BMW with very dark tinted windows drove up to the restaurant. Would Lazzaro be alone? The driver’s door opened and all six and half feet of Lazzaro slowly stepped out. Even with his back to them, Lazzaro’s shoulder-length blond hair gave him away. Lazzaro waved at them as he headed into the restaurant.
“Asshole,” Viktor mumbled. Chase chuckled. His friend’s words mimicked his thoughts exactly.
Violca heard the door open and turned to see the hostess accompanied by a man so tall he had to hunch to walk through the doorway. Lazzaro’s suit was tailored perfectly to his body, and Violca had funny feeling he was deceptively strong. His blond hair was shoulder length, his eyes a light icy blue. He gave the hostess a flirty smile, making her blush. The hostess gave him one last look before closing the door behind her.
Lazzaro’s flirty smile quickly turned into a predatory one. “Violca, it’s a pleasure to meet you, my dear,” he said, his icy blue eyes raking her body.
With one quick step, he was in front of her. He took her hand bent, and brushed his lips against the back of it. Violca found herself smiling despite herself. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lazzaro. I’ve heard so many interesting things about you.”
He winked and looked over at Aithne. “I’m sure my feisty one had nothing but nice things to say about me.”
Aithne gave him a big, fake smile. “Oh come on, who doesn’t have nice things to say about the vampire who kidnapped her sister in order to blackmail her into kidnapping a dragon? Just because he didn’t want to do it himself.”
The smile on Lazzaro’s face told her he took no offense at her words. “Aw, my feisty one, look how well everything worked out for you. After all, you’re mated to the Dragon King, and are best friends with the witches who hold the fate of us all in their hands.”
Lazzaro walked behind the bar and picked out three decanters. He poured them each a drink, handing one to Aithne and one to Violca. “Let us enjoy dinner as we talk. I hate talking business on an empty stomach.”
“I didn’t know vampires ate food,” Violca said curiously.
Lazzaro chuckled, his eyes going to her neck. “It’s not our first choice, but I’m going to assume your mate is watching and would be very upset if I were to attempt to see if you taste as good as you smell.”
“If you don’t step back, I will slit your throat before you even get your teeth into her,” Aithne said, her voice hard. Violca saw him smirk as he picked up the lids to the food set out for them. They each made their plates and sat down at the table.
“Violca, my dear, I was rather surprised when Aithne called to set up this meeting. I’m even more surprised your mate agreed to let you come without him.”
Lazzaro glanced toward the glass doors, then his eyes narrowed. Violca wondered if he was able to see Chase and Viktor. “Chase told me you wanted my help to break the daylight curse that my ancestors supposedly put on your people.”
Lazzaro watched her taking a sip of his scotch and waited for her to continue as he took a bite of his food. Clearing her throat, she continued, “I can’t promise anything. But I’ve been going through my mother’s family journal and haven’t found anything yet that mentions anything about a daylight curse.”
Lazzaro leaned back in his chair, he put his fingertips together while penetrating her with his cold blue eyes. Violca fought the urge to keep from fidgeting under his gaze. It was Aithne, calmly sitting next to her, that helped give Violca courage she wouldn’t normally have. “So you brought me here to let me know you’re considering helping me and breaking the curse. Should I ask why the beautiful Earth Witch would take the time to help me?”
Violca smiled at him. She knew he would ask her why. “Because I think a truce between our people would help us both. We both have issues with the Orion Hunters, who are becoming a bigger and bigger threat for all of our people.”
“Not to mention the wayward prince, who is trying to get close to you and your beautiful sisters.” Lazzaro pointed out.
“True, but I also hear that there are those who wish to see you overthrown and revert back to the old ways. That your people have also been suffering and that some of your people think it’s because you are trying to mainstream them,” Violca said, watching his face to gauge his reaction.
“You’ve done your homework,” Lazzaro said with a grin, giving Aithne a glance before looking back at her. “I’m flattered, but I have my people under control.”
Aithne let out a snort and rolled her eyes. “I don’t mean to imply that you didn’t. Maybe I’m just wasting your time. Maybe I’ll never learn how to break the daylight curse of your people, but I’m willing to try.”
“So even though you might never be able to give me what I want, you want a truce and my help to keep your family safe?”
Violca knew he was trying to get a response from her but he didn’t detect any actual malice. He was just trying to see what buttons he could push. “You’re right. I can’t guarantee you’ll get what you want. But I can guarantee if you don’t agree to the truce, you’ll never get mine or my sisters’ help.”
The sound of his laughter filled the air. Violca took a bite of her food as she watched him. For the first time since he walked into the room, he looked relaxed. Lazzaro picked up his glass and raised it to her. “To my violet-eyed witch, may this be the start of a beautiful friendship.”
Violca arched an eyebrow and raised her glass to both of them before taking a sip. “You have my word; I will fight by your side as long as I have your word that you will do everything in your power to help free my people from this curse.”
“I promise I will do anything I can to help your people.”
Lazzaro looked over at Aithne and gave her a knowing grin. “You’ve been quiet, my feisty one. Was this your idea?”
Aithne made a face at him before shaking her head. “Not at all. I told her you weren’t worth it.”
His hand went to his heart and he chuckled. “You wound me, my redheaded temptress. I kept my word and didn’t lay one hand on your dear sister.”
Aithne shrugged, and Violca bit her lip to keep from laughing. “You shouldn’t have kidnapped her in the first place.”
Chuckling, he dismissed her words altogether. Lazzaro got up from the table, poured himself another drink and leaned against the bar. “I’m assuming both your mates are okay with this or we wouldn’t be here and they wouldn’t be watching us from that lookout point over there.”
“Okay is stretching it, but they both trust my judgment and know that I will put my family and people above everything.”
Lazzaro raised his glass to her and smiled. For the first time Violca saw his smile reflected in his eyes. “Your mate is truly lucky to be blessed with a woman who is both smart and beautiful. I’m not sure which will be more fun, spending time with you lovely ladies, or irritating Viktor and Chase.”
Violca rolled her eyes as he chuckled. Lazzaro finished off his scotch before walking over toward her and taking her hand. HE bent from the waist and brushed his lips against her hand. “I believe your mates have had enough standing outside and watching. I’ll be contacting you soon. In the meantime, feel free to contact me anytime if you need me for anything.” He shot Aithne a flirty grin. “It’s always a pleasure to see you.”
With that, he left Violca and Aithne staring at the door. Violca smiled as she looked at her friend, “Well, that went better than I expected.”
Aithne frowned. “Let’s just hope it stays that way.”
ELEVEN
WITH THE WEDDING just weeks away, Chase wasn’t surprised to find Violca down in the ballroom with the decorators that Kassandra recommended. Coming up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close, smiling when she leaned against him. “You’re very sexy when you’re giving orders.”
She turned to look up at him, a smile on her lips, “I’ll have to remember that when I have you alone tonight.”
Chas loved the way her violet-colored eyes darkened with desire. “Can’t wait.” He continued to hold her, “What can I do to help?”
Quietly she turned in his arms. The smile she gave him made him a little wary of what she was about to ask. “I actually only need one tiny favor.”
Chase narrowed his eyes, he wasn’t going to like whatever she was about to ask of him. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”
Violca flashed him a very sweet, innocent smile. “I don’t know why you would think that, Chase. I just need you to pick up a few items I need to help me with some research.”
Frowning, he knew that there had to be a catch to her request. He raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue. “Lazzaro has two books for me that he thinks might help me break his family curse. Journals that belonged to my ancestor and his. I was hoping you could go get them for me while dropping off an official wedding invitation.”
“I thought you already invited him and that he was going to grace us with his presence during the reception,” Chase said. He saw Violca give him a look telling him that she expected him to behave.
“I did, but he still should receive a formal invite from us. I also wanted you to pick up the books because he thinks someone is trying to sabotage his effort to break the curse in order to ruin his credibility.”
He smiled down at her and wondered if she knew that he would do anything she asked of him, as long as she always looked at him like that. Holding her a little more tightly, he brushed his lips against hers. “Fine, I’ll go to Lazzaro’s and personally give him an invitation to the weddi
ng and pick up these books you want.”
She beamed up at him, leaning up to kiss him gently while smiling. “Apparently the vampire that had a run-in with one of my ancestors had kept a journal and had stolen one of hers. He found them both and thought maybe they could help me. He said, if anything, my ancestor’s journal has some spells that I might enjoy.”
“When I am supposed to go get them?” Chase asked, brushing her hair back.
“Would tomorrow be okay?”
He nodded, looking over her shoulder as he saw one of the decorators waiting by a table. “I think someone is patiently waiting for your attention.” Violca looked over her shoulder and sighed. “Do you need my help for any of the wedding stuff?”
She shook her head. “No, but would you mind getting Angyalka and Sari from school today so I can finish here?”
“I can definitely do that. But if you need any help let me know, okay?” She nodded, and he gave her a quick kiss before heading back up the stairs. The house was quiet since all the girls were in class. He had an hour before he had to leave to get the girls from school and he wanted to talk to Viktor before he left.
Chase knocked on Viktor’s office door, and waited until he heard Viktor call out to enter. He wasn’t at all surprised at all to see him on his computer. “E-mails?”
Viktor sat back in his chair. “Lazzaro sent me an e-mail with some information about some of the artifacts that have been stolen over the past few years. I’ve been trying to figure out if there’s a connection between them.”
“Any luck?” Chase asked, curious about why the hunters and Dmitri had both started stealing from supernaturals.
Viktor shook his head and let out a slow breath. “No, most of the pieces don’t seem to have a great deal of value except to the family that they originally belonged to.
“So Lazzaro has been helpful?” Chase asked, grudgingly.
Shadows and Stars Page 29