But the bay, restless waves breaking on the rocks, the smell of salt and iodine, the shimmering silver ribbon of moonlight over its surface, completed the romantic picture.

Our respite ended a few nights after our arrival when a boat roared up to our dock. I lay drowsy in Ethan’s arms, annoyed by the sudden interruption to our erotic evening ritual. Ethan raised himself from my body, placing his fingers to my lips. “Get dressed.”

I gawked at him until it dawned on me why he was behaving in this fashion. “Who is it?”

“Gaius Lupus, elder of these parts. I telegrammed before we sailed seeking permission to stay in his territory. Not a word until he addresses you, understand? Eyes averted— I know you find it difficult but a little feigned modesty is in order.”

He put on his robe and went downstairs to answer the door.

Dressing hastily, I galloped down the steps to join Ethan and our visitor below. Freezing mid-way, I caught eyes so black you couldn’t tell iris from pupil. His dark hair was touched with silver and nose aquiline. Words flowed olive oil smooth from his full lips, “Che bella.”

Ethan glared as I slowed my descent to a dignified glide. Taking my hand, he presented me to our guest. “Gaius, this is my Mia.”

Luckily he introduced me in English. It would have been ridiculous in Italian. Mia mia. Gaius took my hand and raised it to his lips. He wasn’t quite Ethan’s stature but nearly six feet. He resembled a man of fifty, carrying himself with an air of soldierly authority, utterly relaxed but the smile oozing all over his face was very creepy— like moray eels in the bay. No tiny movements in the facial muscles, no shifting of weight from foot to foot as a human being would do. He barely seemed to breathe. Only his heartbeat gave him away as a living being. Where Ethan’s composed arrogance still smacked of humanity, Gaius was one of the legendary walking dead.

The ancient’s smile broadened as his eyes took stock of me. Ignoring Ethan’s warning, I met his gaze, determined not to show fear.

“Interesting.” A glimmer of emotion flickered when he spoke, “You’ve secrets in your eyes, child. What are you hiding, eh? She has the look of the Neapolitans.”

Ethan spoke for me. “Her mortal father was a Disantini.”

Gaius’s mouthed twitched with suppressed laughter. “If I’d known the Disantini to produce such a girl, I’d have taken her myself. Their women are uniformly hideous— but the youngest son immigrated to America, over some affair with a servant, actually insisted on marrying her. Threw away his fortune. Ah well, there’s no fortune left to speak of. This is the child? Dear boy, the Disantini have a reputation for ruthlessness. What sort of mischief can we expect from this little pomegranate blossom?” He sank down regally in one of the heavy old chairs. “My old friend Brovik recently passed through asking after you. I told him I’d not seen you since before the war. Now you arrive on my doorstep with this girl. There will be no trouble?”

Who was Brovik? Was this Ethan’s progenitor?

Ethan’s hackles rose ever so slightly. “No.” He put his arm around me. “I’m here for pleasure.”

“Apparently so.” Gaius’s fingers drummed on the chair’s arm. Smooth slightly golden skin covered his be-ringed hands, the backs covered in fine black, spidery hair. “Bring Mia to the palazzo. The girls are always glad to see you.” Gaius leaned forward to me. “How did one of the wicked Disantini come to be among us, via America, no less? Speak up, little one. Are you a very she-devil, as your predecessors— or a romantic fool like your father?”

The old pervert’s attitude irritated the shit out of me. If I opened my big mouth I’d regret it, but still Ethan prompted me.

“Mia, my dearest, answer Lord Gaius.”

Gaius waited. I looked first at Ethan then to him.

“Is she stupid?”

Vitriol bubbled up to the surface. “The fuck I will.”

Ethan turned purplish. “Mia! Apologize at once!”

“Apologize, my ass! I don’t care if he’s the lord-high demon of Hades.”

Gaius blinked, I must have shocked him, but then he began to laugh, very hard. “Dear boy, you’ve no idea what you’ve gotten into.”

“I’ve a fair idea.”

“Proud and passionate,” Gaius leaned forward, his hungry smile revealing fangs, a grinning Disney wolf. “What will the Northman say?”

“The Northman? Ethan, you have some explaining to do.”

“Mia, upstairs, now!” Ethan commanded in a dangerously low tone. “I do apologize for her rudeness.”