Raven regarded him, a centuries-old vampyre with untold powers and the wisdom of ages. “No one who looked at you would ever think you weak.”
“No one who looked at me when you were absent, perhaps. But we are attached, you and I. It must be plain to those around us, despite how hard I’ve tried to hide it.”
Raven dug in the gravel again.
“I have made an error,” William said at length.
Now Raven looked at him. “What do you mean?”
“You are unhappy.”
“I’m not used to staying in one spot all the time. I like to go out.”
William passed a hand over his mouth. “A lark who is caged is never as beautiful as a lark who is free. I said that to you once. Now I’ve caged you.”
“There must be some way for me to leave the villa and still be safe. You’re the Prince of a secure kingdom. You have the support of the Roman.”
He lowered his voice. “I have many fears as well.”
Raven lifted her hands in exasperation. “Share them. Let’s be afraid together. But don’t shut me out, and please, please don’t keep me in a cage.”
William looked around quickly before venturing into the sun.
His movement was so quick, Raven gasped when she saw him standing beside her.
Tenderly, he touched her cheek. “My greatest fear is that I can’t protect you.”
She grabbed his wrist. “I’m afraid I’ll lose you. Or the Curia will come and take you away.”
“I am fighting so that won’t happen.”
“Then let me fight at your side, William, not inside your villa. When I told you I was afraid of being destroyed by love, you told me my fears were shared. Your fears are shared, too. I’m terrified of losing you or having someone take away my memories of you.” A cry of anguish escaped from her chest. “I love you, knowing it may destroy me. Love me as I am—disabled, mortal, and breakable—for as long as you can.”
“I do,” he whispered. “I will.”
“Then take me with you.”
William’s expression grew conflicted.
She frowned. “I don’t mean to Consilium meetings. I don’t ever want to go to one of those again. But I’d like to go to the Opificio. The Pitti Palace. I used to volunteer at the orphanage. Can I do that again?”
William looked at her gravely. “Is it important to you?”
“Very much. I like working with children. I have to do something useful for society and not just sit around being waited on all the time.”
“You can contribute to society by being who you are.”
“That isn’t enough.”
“I disagree. But you also contribute by preserving great works of art.”
Frustrated, she shook her head.
“If you wish to volunteer, I’ll assign someone to go with you,” William offered. “We lost the other security guards.”
Raven remembered Maximilian attacking Marco and Luka. They’d died trying to protect her. “Thank you.”
“Tonight, when I meet with the Consilium, will you stay here?”
“Of course.” She gathered up her art supplies. “I know the sun is making you uncomfortable. Let’s stand in the shade.”
William took her by the elbow and helped her to her feet. He escorted her back to the trellis.
He took the supplies from her hand, along with her cane, and put them on a nearby table. He gathered her hands in his and placed them over his heart.
Raven was distracted momentarily by the strange silence underneath her palms. And then, his heart thumped.
“I—” William frowned. “I have thought many times of the price I would pay for love. But I should have been thinking of the price you’d have to pay.”
“I knew when I lost my father my life would never be sweetness and light,” Raven said. “Mostly, I’m sad for my sister. Having to stay here by myself for hours on end makes it worse because I can’t stop worrying about everything.”
William’s eyebrows drew together. “I should have realized. I am sorry. I should have dealt with Maximilian when I had the chance.”
“No one knows the future. I certainly don’t blame you for what he did to Dan.”
William wrapped himself around her.
Raven’s grip on him tightened as she drew comfort from his nearness. “This is what we have to hold on to.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
“DANIEL WAS A GOOD MAN.”
Father Kavanaugh looked down into the blue eyes of Raven and Cara’s mother, Linda. He nodded but made no movement to shake her hand or embrace her.
“Why didn’t Raven come with you?”
Father started at her question. His hand went into his pocket and closed on the relic he carried. “Raven is recovering from the attack. She isn’t well enough to travel.”
Linda gave him a pained look. “Do you think she will come home?”
“I can’t answer that.”
“But you are close to her,” Linda pressed. “She trusts you. Maybe you could talk to her about coming home? She could stay with us. We have plenty of room.”
“Mrs. Shannon, I can’t repair your relationship with your daughter. Only you and Raven can do that.”
“But my family is in shambles.” Linda placed her hand on his arm. “We need your help.”
On instinct, Father pulled his arm away. “Your family was in shambles a long time ago, Mrs. Shannon.”