“So, chances are good that she has a box of ELIXIR now.”

He nodded. “I would work from that assumption.”

A voice spoke from the hallway. “I’m going to Castello Furio.” Beatrice and Jean turned to see Lucien enter the library. He was paler than normal and appeared exhausted, but his voice was strong.

“Lucien, you can’t.”

“Yes, Beatrice, I can. I am no longer waiting for my mother. I don’t know when, or even if, she will show up. And I am through hiding the truth of my illness.”

Jean stood and held an arm out. Though Lucien was still strong, he often seemed to have strange sensitivities to light or sound. His balance was no longer reliable because the strange fugues that took him could hit at any time. Jean helped him to a chair and gave him his own glass of wine.

“My friend, may I send for some blood?”

The earth vampire only shrugged. “I am not hungry.”

He was never hungry.

Beatrice reached out a hand. “Lucien, please—”

“It’s been a year. I took the elixir a year ago and this is what it has done to me. I have lived thousands of years, and it is defeating me.” He shook his head. “I will probably die anyway; what use is my pride? My reputation? If any of my enemies wanted to take advantage of this to harm me, they will anyway.”

“Lucien, you know that we will take care of you, no matter what.” As much as she tried, Beatrice couldn’t help but feel like part of this was her father’s fault. If Stephen hadn’t shown interest in the manuscript, would it have drifted into obscurity? Would Lorenzo have damaged or destroyed it, ridding the world of its evil? It was useless speculation that still haunted her.

Lucien shook his head. “No. Enough. I spoke to Emil to let him know I am in town, and he told me the clamor of praise grows around her every day. The enthusiasm is boundless. I need to tell people the truth of what has happened to me.”

“Did Emil put you up to this?”

Lucien scoffed. “I’m not that far out of my own mind, Beatrice. I can make decisions for myself.”

Jean said, “Hold, my friend. We are only concerned that you may be endangering your—”

“I’m dying, Jean!” He clenched his jaw. “I am dying, and she would offer up this poison as a cure. Our kind must know the truth. Beatrice, take me to her. Take me to court. I will speak before I die. While I still have a voice, I will tell the truth.”

Beatrice couldn’t ignore him. “Okay, Lucien. If that’s what you want, I’ll take you.” She could see Jean begin to protest, so she held up her hand. “It’s his choice. Can you and Gavin guard the boxes of elixir until we get back and decide what to do with them?”

Jean nodded. “Of course. Should one of us stay here at the house with your humans?”

She nodded. “If you could. I don’t trust anyone in this city right now. Matt and Dez are at the hospital, and I’m pretty sure of the security there, but the house is too big to be left without at least one of us here.”

“I’ll let Gavin know. We won’t leave the residence unguarded.”

“Thanks, Jean. Now.” She rose and walked toward the door. “I better call a car if we’re going to make it there with enough time for some ass-kicking. Lucien, you need anything before we go?”

He took a deep breath, and she noticed that he looked peaceful for the first time in weeks. “Nope. Just point me in the direction of the asses. I may pass out, but I’ll try to get a few kicks in before I do.”

Beatrice wanted to laugh, but it stuck in her throat.

This wasn’t going to end well.

It took over an hour to reach the castle. When they pulled through the lavish gates, she noticed the number of uniformed drivers and luxury cars that crowded the lawn. Beatrice got out of the car and debated wearing her shuang gou. Unfortunately, there was no way she could carry the weapons inconspicuously. She tucked a few daggers into her boot and put the rest of her weapons away.

“Look at them all,” Lucien murmured as he looked around. “This is insane.”

“Well, Gio did say she loved it when people came to her.”

“He’s right.”

“He usually is. It’s very annoying.”

Lucien chuckled. “Let’s make sure we have an introduction. Do you think the party’s inside?”

“In this weather?” She looked around at the damp mist that was falling. “Yeah, they’re inside.”

“Does she still have that grand hall where she likes to sit like a queen?”

“Yup.”

“Lovely.”

They stopped inside the gates of the castle grounds and flagged down a servant. They asked for someone to give their names to Emil Conti while they waited under the watchful and plentiful eyes of Livia’s guards.

“When did she get so much security?” Lucien asked.

Beatrice looked around. Her back itched where her swords would usually hang, and she twisted her leg to the side, taking comfort in the solid press of metal against her ankle. “She really started piling them on after Lorenzo showed up and she arrested Gio.”

He frowned. “Where is she getting them? These do not look like young vampires.” He trailed off, muttering as she watched for a sign of Emil. Within a few minutes, she spotted a blur crossing the grounds and Emil stood before them. He nodded toward Lucien and bent to greet Beatrice with a kiss. He did not look pleased.