“You may have mentioned him.”

“Do we need to make adjustments?” Did Giovanni need Matt to fly out?

“It’s not anything I’m not equipped to handle. Things seem secure on our end. I just wanted to let you know.”

“Thanks. I’ll take appropriate precautions.” Realistically, if Lorenzo was in China, it was unlikely that he or his associates would target Giovanni’s family in Southern California. Still, it never hurt to be cautious.

“Thank you, Kirby. Please give my regards to everyone.”

Giovanni wanted to talk to both Ben and Caspar, but it wasn’t smart to advertise his human attachments. They were simply too vulnerable. Sending greetings through Matt was the best he could do.

“I will,” Matt said. “Take care, and say hi to B for me.”

“I will.”

He hung up and immediately called Carwyn in Ireland. The priest was staying with Deirdre and helping the widow cope with losing her mate. He was also looking through Ioan’s library in the hopes that it would reveal some sort of clue why he was targeted.

Lorenzo’s child had confessed that his master had tortured Ioan while questioning him about vampire blood types, and Giovanni wondered whether Ioan had somehow stumbled into the mystery of the elixir, or whether there was some other reason Lorenzo had wanted the information from the doctor.

“Carwyn?”

The tricky delay caused him to talk over the priest when he answered, “Hello?”

“Carwyn, it’s me.”

“Gio, are you there?”

He frowned. “Yes, it’s me.”

“Are you calling from Penglai?”

“Yes.”

There was a crackling pause. “When did they get a phone? Also, the connection is horrid.”

Giovanni chuckled. “I’ll let them know. It’s fairly recent.”

“Have the finally put bathrooms in that crazy palace?”

“Yes, even showers.”

“Will wonders never cease?” He heard Carwyn laugh. “And how’s the ancient and drafty one? Has she killed anyone yet?”

“Not yet, but we haven’t been here that long.”

“She’s got time, then. Excellent. Is the food still awful?”

“Even you would have trouble eating it.”

Carwyn laughed again. “And has her dad been there?”

“Stephen is here, Father.”

There was a long silence on the line. Carwyn was one of the few people that knew how much finding her father had meant to Beatrice. His voice was slightly hoarse when he spoke again. Or, it might have just been the connection.

“How is she?”

“Well. She was shocked, of course, but they’re catching up. It’s… good.”

“And he’s safe?”

If Stephen had been exchanging blood with Tenzin for some time, it would explain the strange level of energy from the young vampire. Simply ingesting a little of Tenzin’s ancient blood would strengthen Stephen immeasurably. If the point of the blood exchange had been to make him stronger than Lorenzo, it was most likely already accomplished. The young vampire was no longer holding back, and the strength of his amnis had been evident from across the room that night.

Giovanni had to laugh. “Oh, yes. I think Stephen is very safe.”

“What do you mean ‘very?’”

“He and Tenzin are mated.”

There was nothing but silence on the other line.

“Um…” Carwyn finally sputtered. “Well, that’s… what? Tenzin and…”

“Stephen, yes. They’re mated.” It was probably common knowledge on the island within minutes of the revelation, so Giovanni had no qualms revealing it over the phone.

“Has she… I mean, has Tenzin ever taken a mate?”

“Not that I know of.”

“That is very… interesting.”

“I thought so, too.” Giovanni heard shouting in the background. What was his old friend up to?

“Well, on that very interesting note, I should probably go. It’s nightfall here, and I have much to do tonight. Lots of news, but it can wait.”

“Anything vital?”

“No, it can wait. If you need to contact me, I might be in Scotland visiting the boys for a bit. So try there if I’m not here.”

“Are you sure everything’s fine?” Giovanni heard a crash.

“Oh, nothing I can’t handle. Give my best to B.”

“I will. And hello to Deirdre and the boys, too.”

“Goodbye, my friend.”

Giovanni ended the call and hung his head. He took a deep breath. Something odd was going on with Carwyn. Stephen and Tenzin were essentially married by ancient tradition. His son had arrived with an unexpected and very powerful ally. It was too much. He thought he had escaped this life three hundred years before. He did not relish returning to the wily manipulations of politics or the constant danger and tension he found himself embroiled in.

He just wanted Beatrice.

So, he left the library and sped down the hall, waving at Baojia as he unlocked their room and entered. He heard the vampire slip away, and Giovanni locked the reinforced door behind him, leaning against it for a moment as he listened to her soft breathing while she slept.

He smiled and crept silently into the room, gazing at her as her chest rose and fell. The tension had left her face, except for her eyebrows, which were slightly furrowed. He undressed and slid behind her, grateful that she hadn’t worn nightclothes so he could feel the warmth of her skin against his own. He wrapped his arms around her waist, cradling her against his body and taking comfort in her scent and the soft beat of her heart.