“As you are here, I assume you received my communication regarding the gold.”
“I did.”
“The Norman tarì are mine.” Alfonso’s eyes burned. “Whatever rumors you might have heard, any knowledge of them should be given to me. Withholding information that might lead to their return would be very unwise.”
“I have long welcomed,” Tenzin said quietly, “the opportunity to assist my… friends in the retrieval of valuable possessions, should those possessions be lost or misplaced.” She raised her voice enough for the other immortals to hear it. “But be careful, son of Kato. I do not respond well to bullying.”
❂
GOOD Lord, some vampires were stupid, no matter how long they lived. Ben repressed the urge shake his head. Who heard the litany of titles Tenzin carried—the Scourge of the Naiman Khanlig? What was that about?—and then proceeded to threaten the Scourge?
Tenzin was quietly schooling Alfonso, so Ben made mental notes about the Neapolitan court. Lucky for him, most of these vampires were traditional and completely ignored the human in their midst.
Filomena, he noted, did not. In fact, she was watching him more than she was Tenzin. And the slight curve at the corner of her gorgeous mouth told him she’d like to get to know Tenzin’s “yoga instructor” a little more.
Ben returned her smile with a wink.
Filomena’s eyebrows rose, but she did not look displeased.
Tenzin was speaking in a lower voice to Alfonso. The two leaned together, engaged in a private conversation. Alfonso scowled, but Ben didn’t get the impression he was displeased.
Filomena sidled up to him. “He always looks like that.”
“How? Pissed?”
Filomena clearly didn’t understand the American slang.
Ben quickly said, “Sorry. I mean angry.”
“Ah.” She nodded. “Yes, Alfonso nearly always looks angry. And he often is. But I believe he and your pupil are merely negotiating some arrangement regarding the coins she’s heard rumors of.”
Ben was confused. “My pupil?”
Filomena cocked her head. “You are her yoga instructor, are you not? I admit, I did not know that a warrior such as Tenzin was so spiritually inclined, but I find it inspiring that she is so. She must be very devout to bring you with her, even across oceans.”
“Right.” Ben tried to look very solemn. “Well, I’m kind of her… spiritual advisor too.”
“Of course.”
“So you find Tenzin inspiring, huh?”
She blinked. “She is one of the most ancient of our race. A woman of tremendous power and influence.”
“And you?”
“I’m young.” Her mouth curled into a smile. “But not so young as you.”
Filomena’s eyes traveled across his chest and up his neck while she let the edge of her fangs peek from her bottom lip.
It was the vampire version of a proposition, and Ben’s body responded with enthusiasm.
“Will you be remaining in Naples?” she asked.
I will be now.
Ben forced himself to remember his role. “That depends on Tenzin, of course.”
Filomena glanced at Tenzin and Alfonso, who were still locked in conversation. “And you do not belong to her?”
Hell no.
He put his solemn face back on. “I hope you understand that I take my spiritual commitments very seriously. I could never involve myself with someone under my instruction.”
Her fangs dropped lower. “I have heard that those who practice the eastern arts exhibit great flexibility and vigor.”
Ben didn’t even hear Tenzin approach until she interrupted.
“Yes,” she said. “Ben is very vigorous. Shall we go?”
He blinked. “What? I… Yes. I mean, if you’re done with your conversation with Alfonso. Then yes.”
She looked amused. “I am. Filomena, your master said you could see us out. The front door this time, please.”
Filomena glanced over Ben’s shoulder and nodded at whoever was behind him. Ben was assuming Alfonso, but he didn’t turn to look. Yoga instructors wouldn’t be that curious, would they?
“Of course,” she said, bowing a little as she motioned down a hall that was opposite the way they’d entered. “If you would follow me, my lady.”
“No bowing, please. And call me Tenzin.”
“I would be honored to do so.”
Ben fell in step behind them as Filomena led them down another stone hallway and up a set of torchlit stairs. Within moments, they were exiting through the front of a dimly lit nightclub. Vampire and human patrons turned to glance at them, then quickly looked away.
Once they were out of the building, Ben looked around and realized they were close to his hotel on Piazza Bellini.
“Convenient,” he muttered, looking around at the young people gathered across the street. Naples was alive with humans and more than a few vampires. The sound of music and smell of tobacco filled the air. Ben saw paint-spattered artists and earnest students. Young men with slicked-back hair and girls in snug cocktail dresses.
Tenzin and Filomena were all business.
“I’ll make contact when I locate the item,” Tenzin said. “I would estimate three weeks, but I cannot say for certain. This will require a trip to Switzerland, you understand?”
“Of course,” Filomena said. “We all understand the Swiss are… complicated. If he grows impatient, I will remind him of your words.”