by Lowe, Anna
Ismerelda stuck up her nose. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Arturo tut-tutted, then patted Fiorina’s arm. “First, you tried manipulating this innocent girl. Now, you’ve attacked Venice’s Fire Maiden. The first we’ve been blessed with in generations.” He pointed to Cara.
She gulped and looked around. All those shifters, staring at her reverently. All her friends — Tony, Fiorina, Rocco — regarding her in a whole new way. And Arturo, speaking with so much conviction, she was tempted to believe him. But how was that possible?
“Fire Maiden.” One of the men bowed even more deeply.
The others followed suit — including Rocco, Fiorina, and Arturo. Even Tony dropped to a knee.
Would you cut that out? she muttered.
He peeked up with a grin, then bowed his head again.
I can’t seem to help it. His voice had a hint of a chuckle.
But Cara wasn’t amused. More like confused. No way was she a Fire Maiden. There had to be some mistake. Right?
Chapter Twenty-Two
“But…but…” Cara stammered as she, Tony, and Arturo made their way down the street in Venice, heading for the Palazzo Rigoni.
A day and a half had passed since the confrontation on Torcello, and she was still reeling from it all. Ismerelda was in custody with the Guardians, who’d arrived shortly after the action had wound down. Most importantly, Fiorina was safe.
Cara gulped. Fiorina was safe, but she wasn’t a Fire Maiden. That had been her — Cara — all along. She still hadn’t quite processed it all.
Arturo patted her hand. “See?” He pointed to the winged lion etched into a wall. “Reminders of your family tree are everywhere. You just didn’t recognize them.”
That was for sure. Her great-grandmother had never, ever hinted that she had royal blood. All she’d ever mentioned was fleeing Venice with her true love in the dark days leading up to World War II.
Apparently, her great-grandmother had left out a few details. Lots of details, in fact.
Arturo’s cane tapped the stone pavement as they moved slowly along. “For centuries, Venice was an independent city-state. That is why we have our own Fire Maiden, while Rome has another, as do other regions of Italy. Even after the unification of Italy, we remained a world apart. But then, Mussolini came along and tried to reel us in — literally, with that eyesore of a causeway.” He made a curt gesture toward the mainland. “Mussolini knew he couldn’t defeat the Guardians outright, but if he were to get his hands on our Fire Maiden…”
His pause filled in the gaps.
“I only met your great-grandmother once, when I was a boy. But the stories persisted long after she left. Oh, what a scandal that was.” Arturo chuckled. “The noble lioness who fell in love with her bodyguard, a dragon shifter from an especially ferocious clan. Apparently, she tamed his wild heart in no time.” Then his face grew more serious. “Giacomo himself came from the most noble of dragon families who went all the way back to the earliest days of Venice.”
Cara couldn’t believe it. Her great-grandfather Jack came from nobility, too?
“Those were the days of legends, when the ruling lion clans first interbred with dragons from Queen Liviana’s line,” Arturo went on. “That mix manifested itself in their rarest — and most powerful — offspring. Winged lions.”
Cara took a deep breath. All that made sense. It was basic genetics — her great-grandparents were both related to the great Queen Liviana through different family lines, and by mating, they’d passed their royal genes on to their children, who’d passed them on to their children, who’d passed them on to…
“Me?” Cara whispered, shaking her head.
In truth, her ancestry was only one part of what she had to come to grips with. The other was that feeling of power that had washed over her during the fight. All that energy. All that emotion…
All the certainty, her lioness murmured.
Yes, that was it. The realization of who she was, and what destiny intended for her. Something bigger than anything she’d ever imagined.
Arturo patted her hand. “Yes, you. Living proof that Violeta and Giacomo didn’t die fleeing Italy, as we’d been led to believe.”
Cara shook her head. “No. They had some close calls, but they made it to North America and started a whole new life.”
“A secret life,” Arturo mused. “And who could blame them?”
His question hung in the air as he paused to wipe his brow. Then he walked on, leaning on Cara’s arm.
“But all my siblings are dragons,” she said. “I’m the only lion born in generations.”
Arturo nodded. “That’s the way it’s always been. The gift often skipped generations — many generations. Enough to make the truth seem like a legend. But that only concentrated more power in the next winged royal to come along.”
As they crossed a bridge over a small canal, Cara gazed out toward the lagoon. Power? Royalty? What if she didn’t want any such thing? She already pined for the simple, anonymous life she’d never fully appreciated. One she felt sure was about to change.
But when Tony put a hand on her shoulder, a spark of the power she’d wielded the previous day coursed through her veins.
We can do it, her lioness grinned slyly. Especially with our mate at our side.
She blushed. At her side wasn’t the only place Tony had spent the previous night. He’d been over her. Behind her. Even under her, when they switched to cowgirl style.
In me. Her lioness gave a sultry purr.
Cara did her best to lock those memories away — for now. Arturo was far more perceptive than he let on, and she had a meeting to focus on.
Spotting the palace ahead, she squeezed Tony’s hand nervously. Here we go.
“Don’t worry,” he assured her. “We’ll be with you every step of the way.”
Arturo snorted. “As if she needs us. You yourself told me how fiercely she fought.”
Tony’s smile was a mile wide, but Cara didn’t share his confidence. “I hope we’re done with fighting. And I’m grateful for a few extra bodyguards. You never know.”
Tony and Arturo flanked her as she ascended the palace stairs, and for the first time, she knew how Fiorina must have felt when entering for the first time. Overwhelmed. Awed — by invisible enemies and by her own family history — something she hadn’t even been aware of until now.
“Cara!”
A butler opened the ornate double doors, but it was Fiorina who bounded through them and into a tight hug. The kind that went on a long time with little sways from side to side that said, We did it. It’s over.
Nearly over. Cara drew away, managing a weak grin.
Fiorina forced her usual brave smile. No, wait. Cara studied her more closely. That smile was genuine. And, wow. Fiorina looked taller. Happier. More confident. As if a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
…and transferred to mine, Cara couldn’t help thinking.
Her, the true Fire Maiden.
Much as the thought scared her, it felt right at the same time. As if she’d finally found her true path in life.
Destiny, her lioness murmured.
She nodded slowly. Yes, destiny. The good kind that brought a person to exactly the right place and time to accomplish what they were meant to do.
Or so she hoped.
Tony touched her back, and she warmed. It had to be destiny. And yes, she could trust it for a change.
And we can trust our own moves in that game of chess, her lioness purred proudly.
Taking a deep breath, Cara braced herself, preparing to face whatever came next.
Luckily, that was Rocco, who paced up behind Fiorina and shook hands with Tony. Like Fiorina, he’d done a lot of growing up over the past few days. And as for being in the right place at the right time — the shine in his eyes when he looked at Fiorina gave it all away. He’d found his place in life, too.
Then Theo came striding down the street, as tall and imposing as
ever. Pedestrians scattered, giving him a wide berth. Well, the men did. Most of the women turned their heads, and one even whispered, Bellissimo.
Cara hid a smile. That may be, but she only had eyes for her mate.
“Yassas,” he called in greeting. “Is everyone ready?”
Theo had spent the night on his yacht, ready to defend Fiorina in Venice or Cara out on the island with Tony and Arturo. Thankfully, the night had passed without incident, and everyone was reunited now.
Not entirely without incident. Cara’s inner lioness lashed her tail, filling her mind with sultry memories of her night with Tony.
“Ready,” Cara murmured.
Theo smacked Tony on the shoulder. “You too, little Nino?”
Tony growled by way of reply, giving Cara a grin that lasted halfway up the grand staircase of the palace. Then it slowly faded as they approached the Guardians’ council room. When she stepped into the vast chamber, dozens of heads turned, but her eyes narrowed on one face.
Ismerelda, her lioness growled.
Ismerelda scowled as if Cara was on trial and not the other way around.
Watch it, lady, Cara nearly snarled. You’re the traitor, and your ill deeds have finally been exposed.
Or so she hoped. Had the Guardians come to the same conclusion?
Ercole, the head of the Guardians, rapped his knuckles on a table, calling everyone to order.
“Allora. Lions and lionesses, ladies and gentlemen. Dragons, wolves, and other allies…”
Theo rolled his eyes and whispered, “Is that the pecking order around here?”
Tony sighed and gave a begrudging nod.
“…we are here to bring light to the events of the past days,” Ercole continued.
Rocco glared at Ismerelda, thumping one fist into the other in a gesture that said, I can’t wait.
Ismerelda glared back. “Yes. Let’s. I demand justice.”
“You demand justice?” Cara sputtered.
Ismerelda stuck up her nose. “I have done no wrong, and yet I am maliciously accused.”
There was no way Cara was going to let the woman get away with that poor, innocent me act. “How about sending your men to kill Tony — and kill me? How about threatening Fiorina?”
“I never threatened Fiorina.” Ismerelda’s voice dripped with disdain.
“Never?” Arturo’s voice dropped to a dangerous growl.
Ismerelda’s eyes glowed with indignation. “Never. She’s my own niece. Practically my own flesh and blood.”
Arturo hooted. “Your sister’s flesh and blood. Your sister, who stole away the man you loved.”
Theo raised his eyebrows, and whispers fluttered through those gathered — Guardians and other members of Venice’s elite shifter class. Especially the older generation, who must have recalled that long-forgotten scandal.
My beloved Maria caught wind of that no-good Ismerelda years ago, Arturo had explained the previous evening. A woman always searching for some way to get ahead. She even chased after Tony’s father for a short time — that is, before Fabricio fell into her sights. Not that your father had eyes for anyone but your mother, Arturo assured him.
Tony’s eyes had gone wide at that. Meno male — thank goodness.
Fiorina stared at her aunt. “You were in love with my father?”
“Now, now,” Ercole growled. “I’ll do the questioning here.”
Ismerelda rolled her eyes, ignoring him. “Every young woman in Venice was in love with Fabricio.”
Faint sighs broke out among the older women, backing her words.
“So dashing… So handsome…” Ismerelda’s tone became wistful.
“So rich. So powerful,” Arturo growled.
Cara was glad Fiorina’s mother had left Venice a few days earlier. All the bad memories — and now this family drama.
Then it hit her. Amalia had been conflicted about leaving, because she wanted to support her daughter. She’d only left when Ismerelda promised to watch over Fiorina.
She’s been watching over her, all right, Cara’s lioness snarled.
Ismerelda shrugged at Arturo’s words. “Every woman in Venice would agree Fabricio was a fine catch.”
A ripple of nods went through the older ladies in the crowd.
“A fine catch for your sister, you mean,” Arturo pointed out.
Ismerelda’s cheeks turned bright red.
Cara glanced at Tony. They hadn’t gotten around to discussing anything other than her own family history the previous evening. This was a whole new angle she knew nothing about. What was Arturo getting at?
Slowly, it dawned on her. A jilted, jealous sister… An inside job…
Tony nodded slowly. Dating decades back.
Slowly, his meaning dawned on her. It must have registered with Fiorina too, because she drew back, repulsed.
“Zia. What did you do?”
Ismerelda rolled her eyes. “Don’t let them fill your mind with nonsense, darling. I would never do anything to hurt you.”
Not as long as Fiorina was in a position of power, Cara figured.
“What about hurting Fabricio?” Arturo demanded. “What about arranging for his death?”
Ismerelda pointed at Tony. “That was him.”
Arturo shook his head. “You wanted the world to believe it was him. But your own niece testified otherwise.”
Ismerelda dismissed the notion with a flick of her fingers. “She’s so young. So impressionable.”
“Exactly my point,” Arturo said.
Ercole opened his mouth to speak, but Arturo steamrolled on.
“You were jealous of your sister. Angry at Fabricio for choosing her over you. Jealous enough to take action.”
A shocked hush fell over those gathered. Everyone stared at Ismerelda as if to ask, Could it really be?
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Ismerelda huffed. “My hands are clean.”
Arturo shook his head. “Tiberio might have done the dirty work for you. But it was you who arranged it all. You knew when most of the guards were off duty, and you arranged for the remaining guards to leave too. You knew how to get Tiberio in.”
“Why would I do that?”
“For revenge. For your own power. That’s why you hired Caselli — to do the dirty work back then and to help you finish things off now.”
Ismerelda folded her arms. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh yes, you do,” Tony growled.
“Why would I do such a preposterous thing?”
“For the same reasons you seek to control Fiorina now,” Arturo barked.
Ismerelda crossed her arms. “Ridiculous.”
Cara couldn’t hold her tongue any longer. “What about ‘Fiorina needs me to guide her’? What about, ‘It’s this woman who’s ruining everything’?”
“You are ruining everything,” Ismerelda snapped. “Giving her bad thoughts…”
“Encouraging her to think for herself,” Cara retorted.
Ismerelda’s eyes glowed with fury. “Who are you to interfere? You’re a nobody.”
Arturo shook his finger at her. “This woman is a Fire Maiden. The Fire Maiden. Even you can see that.”
A handful of Ismerelda’s men were handcuffed over on one side of the room, and one of them whispered reverently, “A winged lion. The first in generations.”
“Fire Maiden,” another mumbled.
Cara’s throat went dry. Earlier that day, she’d shifted a few times just to double-check. Each time, wings had formed as part of her shift. Apparently, now that she’d released that part of herself, there was no hiding it any longer.
And frankly, the more she’d felt the wind tickle her feathers, the more she actually enjoyed her wings. The same way she’d learned to accept her height and wide shoulders, she could accept her wings. Why fight who she was?
So, that part was okay. But being a Fire Maiden… That had huge implications she hadn’t been ready to face. But there was no ignoring them now.
She looked over those gathered. Working with these old-fashioned, small-minded shifters didn’t really appeal. But staying in Venice…
She looked out a window and over the red tile roofs of the city. Venice was a mess in so many ways, but she loved the place. There was no way she could turn her back on the city of her dreams.
Then she smiled at Tony. There was no way she would turn her back on the brave, honest man she loved either. Then her grin broadened. The same went for Arturo and Fiorina, who felt like family. Even Rocco felt like a younger brother after all they’d been through. And as for Theo…
She nearly laughed aloud. Even the big, imposing dragon shifter felt like family, in a brother-in-law kind of way.
Theo tilted his head in a question, but Arturo spoke first.
“Only lions of the purest Venetian bloodlines have wings. This young woman is a direct descendant of the great Queen Liviana.”
“That’s impossible,” Ismerelda sniffed.
“As impossible as you arranging for your own brother-in-law’s death?” Arturo shook his head, then turned to Cara. “Tell her what you told me about your great-grandmother.”
She took a deep breath and repeated her words to everyone gathered in that gilded hall. “My great-grandmother, Violeta, left Venice with Giacomo, the dragon bodyguard who became her mate.”
A ripple of recognition went through the crowd.
“Violeta… The Violeta?” someone whispered in wonder.
“Giacomo…” another started.
Arturo nodded. “Giacomo Fiamatti, from the mighty Torcinetto clan.”
Theo’s chin jerked up, telling Cara that name was recognized as far away as Greece.
Ismerelda’s lips wobbled. “No. It can’t be. The Fire Maiden and her consort died in the war.”
Arturo snorted. “They wanted everyone to believe that, given Mussolini’s interest in Violeta’s potential power. Much like your misplaced interest in Fiorina.”
Arturo shot the young woman an apologetic look, and she smiled back. “I’ve always said I’m not a Fire Maiden. And that’s fine with me.” Then she looked at her aunt, and all the humor drained from her voice. “But the rest is not fine. How could you?”
Ismerelda balled her hands into fists. “I’ve only ever defended your best interests. Everything I’ve done was for you and for Venice.”
