chapter THIRTY-SEVEN
Vittorio scheduled dinner with Clavius the following evening. “I have told him about you during our training sessions, and he will know about last night. It is long past time that I introduce you to him. He can be quite intimidating, but do not let him make you feel small.”
“I don’t go well for intimidation. In case you forgot, Bryn warned me about you, and look where that got us.”
“I hope you do not have the same reaction to Clavius,” he said grinning.
“Clavius who?” I said, kissing Vittorio. “What do I wear to a meeting like this?”
“You should look stunning, yet unassuming, considering some of the members’ fears. I believe the corset you wore the night we met will be perfect.”
“And how do I act around this guy?” My stomach flip flopped.
“Treat him as you would any other authority figure, with respect and deference, but there is no special protocol for this situation.”
“Why haven’t you introduced me sooner?”
“We have been busy with your training, and Clavius has not been as on top of matters as he once was. Not since Aerin died. But things are getting out of control. He must step up and control his coven.”
A leader who no longer cared…that was a scary thought.
Dinner was at an expensive fondue restaurant on Delmar, a trendy area of town with the street lined with boutique shops, restaurants and bars for several blocks. When we arrived at the restaurant, Clavius was waiting for us. With light red hair and clear, pale skin, he looked no older than twenty-five, though if he was older than Vittorio, he must have been closer to forty-five.
He looked me up and down with piercing ice-blue eyes.
I slammed my shields into place, blocking his power from probing me, and instantly felt safer.
“So it is true. You are very powerful,” Clavius said.
“How can you tell so soon?” I asked
“You have much to learn.” He studied me, and I froze.
Vittorio came to my rescue. “Clavius, I would like to introduce you to my love, Elena.”
Clavius took my hand from Vittorio and chastely kissed the back of it. “A pleasure to finally meet the woman who has stolen my Guardia’s heart. I did not think it was possible.”
“And I am pleased to meet the man who has taught my love all he knows,” I said.
Clavius chuckled. “I cannot claim to have taught him everything he knows. He learned much before he came to me.”
I did not expect Clavius to be humble, and assumed it was an act. “I’m sorry to hear about Aerin,” I said. “I understand how it feels to lose someone you love.” I didn’t plan to tell Clavius my whole story, but I felt a sort of bond with people who lost someone close to them because of violence. It’s nice to meet someone who understands what one has gone through.
“Thank you for your sympathies,” he said, and I sensed it was sincere.
I nodded, then waited out an awkward silence. Under Clavius’ scrutiny, those moments seemed endless, and felt like a test of some sort.
“Shall we sit?” Clavius finally asked, looking pleased.
The hostess immediately brought us to a corner booth toward the back of the restaurant. It provided privacy, and I suspected it had been planned.
Clavius ordered a bottle of wine for us, then we reviewed the menu in silence. I had never been able to afford to eat at the restaurant, but had heard about it. Meals consisted of salad, cheese fondue, meat fondue, and chocolate fondue for dessert. I let Vittorio order a meal for the two of us, and iced tea for me.
“Tell me, Elena, how did you manage to steal Vittorio’s heart? Many women have tried over the years, but no one has succeeded,” Clavius asked after we ordered and the waitress took our menus.
“I honestly don’t know, but he has stolen mine as completely, which is just as strange. I’m not the type of girl to be swept off her feet by a pretty face.”
“Vittorio tells me he suspects your power has something to do with it.”
“Maybe,” I said, unwilling to commit to the answer.
Clavius remained silent and raised an eyebrow at me.
“I don’t understand it enough to know.” That was true, and I didn’t want to say too much. Clavius made me uncomfortable for a reason I couldn’t quite pin down. I wanted to squirm in my seat like a school girl being reprimanded by the principal, but forced myself to remain still.
“Interesting.”
I reached for Vittorio’s hand under the table, desperate for any encouragement I could get. He squeezed it, and whispered in my mind, You are doing well, mio amore. Relax.
I tried. Over the salad and cheese course, Clavius made small talk. I was beginning to relax just a little, but felt no more comfortable.
When the meat course came out - they brought pots of boiling broth and bite sized pieces of meat you were to cook in the pots yourself - Clavius got down to business. “So, Elena, Elizabeth tells me she fears you will try to usurp her position in the coven.”
“She’s wrong. I don’t want anyone’s position. I don’t even know the ways of your religion.” I was offended that so many people thought I was so power hungry. Why couldn’t they understand I just wanted to be left alone?
“Yet you have power, and Vittorio has offered to teach you our ways.” He speared a piece of meat and set the long fork carefully in the pot of broth.
“Yes, but I don’t know if I will even want to join the coven.”
“But you are very powerful,” he insisted.
“If I could give up my power, I would.”
Clavius’ eyebrows raised and his eyes widened. “Really?”
“Yes. I’ve always believed in the possibility of magic, and sometimes wished to experience it myself, but now that I have, I would take that wish back. This is all a bit overwhelming. I’d rather keep to myself than have all this going on.” I poked at a piece of meat, but had little appetite left.
“Yet Elizabeth fears you.” His eyes never left mine.
“I can’t help it if she’s insecure. I tried to tell her I don’t want her position, but she wouldn’t listen to me.”
“And your display of power against her made her even more fearful of you.” Clavius pulled his fork from the pot and dipped his now cooked piece of meat into some sort of sauce.
“That was not my intention. I was only trying to protect myself.” I took a sip of tea, my throat suddenly dry.
“And look how it backfired,” Clavius said, spearing another piece of meat with his fork.
Vittorio was silent through this exchange, slowly eating while watching us. He squeezed my leg in reassurance.
“Are you saying you don’t believe me?” I asked Clavius.
“I don’t know what I believe. I do not know you well enough to make a decision on my beliefs about this.”
“Clavius, you can believe Elena. I did not choose to love her so that I could bring her into the coven to take anyone’s position. I did not choose to love her at all. My heart left me no choice in the matter. I love her for who she is, not because of her power,” he said, putting his arm around my shoulders and kissing me on the cheek.
“But you said you thought her power had something to do with your love,” Clavius said. It was not a question.
“Yes, I believe it is why I was initially drawn to her so strongly, but even if she had no power, I would still love her. She is a beautiful woman in every way and has no ill intent toward anyone. You can trust her, as I trust her.”
Clavius studied Vittorio. “I can see you believe what you say. But that does not mean Elena has not fooled you of her intentions. Men are often deceived by beautiful women, besotted by their looks.”
“I do not believe that I am, Clavius.”
“Hmm.” Clavius chewed his food thoughtfully for several minutes. “Very well. I will tell Elizabeth she has nothing to worry about. Do not prove me wrong.” Clavius looked at me as he said the last part.
“I won’t. I promise, I want nothing more than Vittorio’s love.” Relief that he finally believed me allowed me to relax just a little.
Clavius made more small talk over dessert, and I hoped I responded in the appropriate manner to his questions.
I took a deep breath of clean night air when we left the restaurant. A weight lifted from my shoulders now that Clavius was gone.
I sighed, sinking into the soft, comforting leather of Vittorio’s Ferrari.