Sensual Danger (Venice Vampyr #4)

Oriana knew that her happiness wouldn’t last if she didn’t remove one last obstacle. Nico had told her that her machine would have to be destroyed, but in her heart she knew it wouldn’t be enough. The Guardians already knew about the machine. And they knew who she was; otherwise they wouldn’t have sent the two thugs after her to steal the apparatus from her. Even if she destroyed it now, Nico’s enemies wouldn’t give up. They would eventually catch her and force her to replicate it—unless they could be convinced that she was a fraud.

She contemplated telling her husband about her plan, but dismissed the idea quickly, remembering what he’d told her before falling asleep.

You’ll never get anywhere close to a Guardian again.

He would stop her, and Oriana knew she was the only one who could execute her deception. It was better if Nico didn’t find out about it. She’d heard his protectiveness shine through his words. He would only stop her. No, this was something she had to do on her own.

During daytime, while her husband slept deeply, she snuck downstairs, but found her laboratory locked. It didn’t take much to realize who had locked it and taken the key. It didn’t matter: after losing the key once before and not finding it for several days, she’d tried out all other keys in the house and discovered that the key to the cook’s pantry fit the lock to her secret laboratory. Nico wouldn’t be able to keep her from her machine.

Before she went to the kitchen to retrieve the key, she looked for the footman, finding him in the parlor tending to the fireplace. He rose when he heard her enter.

“Signora.” He bowed briefly.

She closed the door behind her and addressed him quietly, not wanting to be overheard. “I need you to arrange a meeting with the group who was interested in my apparatus. It’s of the utmost importance.”

“B-but signora.” His eyes darted to the door, and he shifted nervously. “You’re not to leave the house, and c-c-considering what happened, Signore Angelotti would n-n-not w-want me to—”

She cut him off with a hand movement and a glare. “Never mind that now. Do as I tell you! Arrange the meeting. For today.”

He sighed. “And w-what do you want me to tell them why you want to m-m-meet them?” Giuseppe asked, his voice sounding resigned.

“Tell them I want to demonstrate the machine to them.”

Her servant’s eyes widened. “They will try to steal it from you. We have to a-a-arm ourselves.”

Oriana shook her head. “You’re not coming with me.” She had to do this on her own. Besides, Giuseppe hadn’t been much help the last time. It was better if he stayed at home and made certain that Nico wouldn’t follow her. She wanted him nowhere near a Guardian. It would only expose him.

“B-but—”

“Do it! And not a word about this to my husband. Or I’ll make certain you’ll never find another position in Venice.” She hated threatening him, and she’d never follow through with her threat of course, but she needed his compliance.

Shock registered on the footman’s face, but he nodded in agreement.

“Good.” Oriana turned on her heels.

After retrieving the key, she let herself into her laboratory and went to work. She prepared two vials, each with a different chemical component and tested the machine. Her heart pounded so loudly, she was worried Nico would be able to hear it from the bedchamber.

Then the waiting began.

***

Nico had slept like a log. It was still daylight outside when he stirred and reached for Oriana, only to find her side of the bed empty. He shot up to a sitting position. Her scent still clung to the sheets. He looked around the room, but the bedchamber was empty. Maybe she had gone downstairs to eat. After all, he’d exhausted her the night before, and she had to be hungry. He too needed to replenish, and the thought of gorging himself on the blood coming from the thick vein on Oriana’s neck made his fangs lengthen. How long he would be able to hold back his hunger for her until she made a decision, he wasn’t sure. He could only hope that she would realize soon that she had nothing to fear from his bite. After all, she was making love to him with the full knowledge of what he was. It wouldn’t take long until she would accept every part of him.

Smiling contently, he rose and dressed quickly.

He walked downstairs, listening for any sounds in the house. From the kitchen he heard the cook going about her work. Other than that it was quiet.

Nico opened the door to the dining room and peered inside, but it was empty. There were no signs or smells that would indicate that Oriana had been there and eaten a meal in the last few hours.