Cara MIA - By Book One of the Immortyl Revolution - By Denise Verrico Page 0,65
had seen too much. Hatred burned in those glittering orbs, rage at being trapped forever in this state. I knew only Diego’s Arturo, a dark-haired, doe-eyed, teenaged-formed beauty, who served glasses of warmed blood from a silver tray.
Lisette led me up to the terrace where a cool blonde held court with a circle of male admirers. Guilietta was easily the tallest woman there, willowy, with a smooth cornet of silvery blonde held high on a long neck— Grace Kelly with a really bad attitude. Violet eyes fell on me. “Who is this?”
“Ethan’s Mia.”
She gave me the once over, a hard little smile tightening luscious lips. “Not so much to look at, is she?”
I could have raked my nails over that perfect white face, but diplomacy was the word, so I bit my tongue. But oh, if I ever get the chance…
Lisette laughed. “Our lord differs with your opinion.”
The men laughed, but Guilietta was nonplused. “After three hundred years in his favor, she’s no threat to me. Lisette flatters herself because she’s managed to keep her head longer than the rest.”
“I think she’s delicious.” Lisette surprised me by wrapping her arms around me and kissing me on the mouth as the men gawked.
Gaius came up the steps, just as Lisette drew away, leaving me breathless. The alphas scattered, as their lord bent to kiss my hand. “My Little Pomegranate Blossom. Gulietta? Where are your manners? Kiss your new sister.”
“This American bitch brings nothing but trouble! Mark my words.” She glided away, midnight blue skirts rustling behind.
Gaius watched her departure, chuckling. “So passionate. I never know whether she’ll pull a dagger.” He drew Lisette to him. “You aren’t the jealous type, are you Kitten?” Gaius’s hands caressed her bare shoulders. “You two must become better acquainted. Our amusements are so much more exquisite. Kitten, go tell Dirk I wish to speak with him.”
She gave me a come-hither look as she slipped away. Gaius offered his arm, leading me to a vantage point overlooking the bay. “Tiberius lived on this island once. Far from the oppressive elements of Rome— free to seek his pleasures.”
The emperor’s pleasures included sexually abusing kids. He called them his “minnows”, and when he tired of them he’d throw them off the cliff behind his palace.
Gaius turned my right hand palm up, tracing veins in my wrist with his fingers. “The same blood made us Mia; your mortal clan goes back to Etruscan times. Dirk has served me well. To avoid trouble with Ethan, I sent him away, but he did as I bid, on the promise I would obtain you for him. However, you won’t be merely an ornament for his bedchamber. I have particular need of your skills.”
Two of the Alphas he’d dismissed had been joined by a third and they glared silently at us across the terrace. “Your Alphas seem unimpressed.”
He smiled slowly, drawing my hand up to his lips and kissing the upturned palm. “They underestimate you. In my hands you can be a Messalina. But don’t underestimate Dirk. He is a brute, but his savagery will survive the coming trials, with enough left over to make you behave. There will be bloodshed in years to come.” He looked grimly out to the bay. “Time is catching up with us. The mortal world grows close to unraveling our mystery. Brovik believes the downfall of the ancients is inevitable. The Ragnorak, twilight of the Gods, he calls it.”
“That’s too poetic for Brovik. It’s much more in Ethan’s line.”
“There’s a valued place for you in my house. I won’t let Dirk do you harm— aside from his peccadilloes. He’ll cause pain, but nothing you won’t survive. It means too much to him to possess you.”
On cue, Dirk lurched up the stairs, in impeccable eveningwear, his sandy hair slicked back, sporting a white orchid in his lapel. Evidently, he’d spent some time in exile polishing. On his finger glittered a ring shaped as the she-wolf and twins, set with diamonds, very different than the plain gold Brovik had given. Dirk bowed and kissed my hand. I recoiled. “Good evening Mia, how lovely you look.”
Gaius laughed out loud. “You won’t win her that way. Her value is she has no delusions about men’s flatteries. It will serve you better to curse her. She hates you, poor fool. If you weren’t so cruel yourself I’d worry. How you’ll torment each other.” Gaius laughed again. “She’ll take your head someday. I’ll put money on it.”