“William, I—” Raven was interrupted by William’s lips, which touched hers reverently.
As if a flame had been ignited he began to kiss her deeply, urgently, his hands cupping the back of her head.
“What have they done to you?” he murmured, his thumb tracing the twist in her hair.
She spoke against his mouth. “I thought it would look nice.”
“You’re lovely, but lovelier, I think, naked and with your hair streaming down.” He kissed her again, this time exploring her cheek, and jaw, and neck. When he began nibbling at her throat, she placed a palm to his chest. “Stop.”
“Why?” He continued his ministrations, his hand sliding between her legs to trace the edge of her panties.
“Something is wrong.”
William lifted his head, but he kept his hand where it was, angling it so he was cupping her over her underwear.
“What is wrong?”
She shook her head. “Not with me. With you.”
She plucked his hand from between her legs and cast it aside.
He tried to move closer but she kept him at bay with a hand over his heart. “This week you were distant and cold. Now you’re all over me. What’s happening?”
“Excuse me. I didn’t think I needed a reason to touch you.”
He withdrew immediately and adjusted his trousers, turning from her to tug on the cuffs of his shirt. His gold cuff links, which bore the symbol of Florence, glittered as he moved.
Instinctively, she touched her bracelet.
“William,” she breathed, her face crumpling. She turned away from him and wrapped her arms around her chest.
“There’s no avoiding it,” he mumbled. “I have to tell her.”
He wound an arm around her waist, resting his forehead on her shoulder, and heaved a great, shuddering sigh.
“I am undone.” His words were muffled against her dress.
“How?”
When he didn’t reply, she turned and touched his head. “I’m right here. Talk to me, William.”
He lifted his face, his expression tortured. “It will be a long conversation.”
“I don’t have anywhere else to go.” She scratched at his scalp.
“What about the celebration? You should be with your friends.”
“I am with a friend, I think.” She gave him a searching look.
“Then it’s best we leave.” He picked up her purse and her cane and extended his hand.
She took his hand, hopping inelegantly from the table. Without further explanation, William accompanied her out into the corridor and down one of the side staircases.
Once they reached the outside, he lifted her into his arms and began to run, gaining enough speed to scale a nearby building and ascend to the roof. From rooftop to rooftop he leapt, while Raven kept her eyes tightly shut. A few minutes later, he landed on a terrace on top of one of the structures near the Duomo.
He placed Raven on her feet.
“I don’t dare step on holy ground, not when the night has so many spies.”
She nodded her understanding. “Please tell me what’s wrong.”
William crossed to the edge of the roof and placed his hand on the stone battlement. He was quiet for a moment as he gazed out over the city he loved.
“I received a letter from your priest.”
Raven’s heart leapt into her throat. “What? Why?”
“Because you are with me. Did you really think he’d let you go? If he didn’t give you back to your mother the night he found you and your sister, why would he allow you to stay with a demon?”
“You aren’t a demon.” Raven’s tone was fierce. “He’s misguided. He thinks he has to save me. He wrote to me this week and asked me to come to Rome to work on one of the restoration projects in the Vatican.”
William turned his head. “It’s a ruse.”
That pricked Raven’s pride.
“Perhaps.” She shrugged.
“To you he offers the promise of a prestigious project. To me, he offers peace. If I deliver you to him, he will persuade the Curia to stay away.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Because he loves you. Because he’s afraid for you. He thinks I’ll kill you, or worse, I’ll make you like me.”
The Prince gazed out over the city again, his body tense.
“Father told me he spoke with Cara. I’m grateful for that.”
“I’m glad for you, if it’s true.”
Raven stiffened. “He’s never lied to me. What did you tell him?”
William leaned heavily on the battlement. “I haven’t replied. That, in itself, is a kind of answer, but I doubt he’ll act preemptively. . . . I have been trying to figure out what I’m going to do.”
“What you’re going to do?” Raven repeated.
He continued to look out over the skyline. “Yes.”
“What about me? Shouldn’t I have some say about what happens to me?”
William’s eyes cut to hers. “I am responsible for my city and for you.”
She limped toward him. “I didn’t ask you to take on that responsibility.”
“You asked me to love you,” he said, reproaching her. “How can I love you if I don’t ensure your safety?”
Raven shut her mouth abruptly.
William ground his teeth. “The Vatican is the safest city on earth, at least from vampyres.”