“Perhaps. But these human beings belong to the Curia.”
Silence rang out in the large room.
“You lie.” Lorenzo clenched his fist.
William turned to Raven, who was standing next to him. “In the jacket’s inner pocket on the left is a letter. Hand it to me.”
Raven did what she was told, rummaging in the jacket she was wearing and retrieving a folded piece of paper. William took the letter with the hand that was wrapped around Cara’s back as he cradled her.
“This message was sent to me by a priest of the Curia. He has known these humans since they were children. He threatens war if they are not delivered safely to him in Rome.”
Lorenzo signaled to one of the soldiers, and he took the letter from William’s hand, delivering it to his master.
Lorenzo scanned the letter. “He mentions one human, not two.”
“They are sisters.” William lifted Cara slightly. “This one just arrived to accompany the other back to Rome. But you know this already, since you sent Max to capture my pet.”
“Your pet is a security risk. Isn’t that correct, Stefan of Montréal?”
The French Canadian had been standing off to the side in the shadows. He moved forward now, bowing nervously before the throne.
“By the Prince—ah—I mean the former prince’s admission, his pet has psychiatric problems that caused him great concern.”
“That’s not true,” Raven whispered.
William shook his head at her. She gave him a wounded look and averted her eyes.
“I spoke with Stefan about the fragility of her mind,” William admitted. “But that is an ancillary issue. The Curia wants her and her sister. Immediately.”
“The letter is dated several days back.” Lorenzo tossed the paper to the ground. “Are you telling me you refused?”
“No. My servants were supposed to deliver them this very night. Unfortunately, you interfered.” William’s tone was stunningly indifferent.
Raven inhaled loudly, eyes wide. She examined William, trying to determine how much of his presentation was artifice and how much was truth. He’d promised he wouldn’t leave her. He’d promised they wouldn’t be separated.
Under her scrutiny, William stood statue still, his eyes fixed on the traitor.
“I suppose my ascension to the throne was dreadfully inconvenient for your pet.” Lorenzo sneered. “Max operated on my orders. I needed some way to ensure we had your attention.
“You made an agreement with the Curia but since you are no longer prince, that agreement is void,” Lorenzo continued. “I shall dispatch a messenger to the Vatican, inform them of the change in power, and reopen negotiations.”
“Do so at your peril and at the peril of the city.” William’s tone grew ominous. “The Curia wants the humans. They avoided Florence for centuries, knowing I was a worthy adversary, but they threatened me with war in order to force compliance. With what shall they threaten you?”
Lorenzo’s expression twisted. “I am the one who will be making threats!”
“Then your reign will be the shortest in Florentine history.” William spoke evenly. “Honor your ancestors and the house of Medici by protecting the city. Deliver the humans safely to the Curia and avoid a war.”
Raven placed her hand on William’s arm, cautioning him. She was terrified the traitor was going to agree with his words.
Lorenzo glanced between the couple. “This is the pet you killed three men for some months ago. You healed her with your blood and have been protecting her ever since. How do I know this is not a ploy to spare her life?”
“Are you not familiar with the fate of Prague? Who would choose a pet over annihilation?” William’s expression remained impassive.
Lorenzo’s dark eyes fixed on Raven. She withdrew her arm, unable to hide her distress.
“Perhaps the letter is a forgery,” Lorenzo observed.
“The priest who wrote to me visited her some time ago. His presence was confirmed by security.”
“He may be a member of the Curia, but he isn’t a high-ranking one. His attempt at persuading his superiors to invade us may fail.”
“Not even you are foolish enough to take that kind of risk,” William said.
“I am the Prince of Florence!” Lorenzo snapped. “You will address me with respect!”
William scoffed. “What respect should I have for a lieutenant who betrays his prince? For a petty thief who stole from me and sold my treasures to humans? You sold secrets to the Venetians and colluded with them to have me assassinated on Florentine soil. You let hunters into the city, allowing them to maim and kill, so you could gain the throne.”
William turned to make eye contact with the soldiers, one by one. “Do you wish to serve a prince who is so quick to sacrifice his citizens at every turn? Do you not know what happened to the principality of Prague? If the Curia marches on Florence, all of you will die.”
“Enough!” Lorenzo hammered his fist on the armrest. “You did not deserve to be prince of this great city. I am a prince by birth; you are merely a foreigner.”
William spat on the ground. “You were a bastard at birth in the sixteeth century and only a distant cousin to the reigning Medici. Your father barely acknowledged you, and then only because your mother’s family threatened him with violence.”
“Those are lies!”
“I’ve been Prince of Florence since the fourteenth century. I knew the true Medici and what they thought of you. You cannot whitewash your history to me.”