Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 121854 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121854 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
“No mother should have to bury her child.” Her voice was a rasp. “But I had to not only bury my child, but go to the funeral of the lovely sprite of a woman he intended to ask to be his wife.” She swallowed. “Tani—that’s what everyone called her—wasn’t interested in being a vampire, was too attuned to the seasons of the world to want to alter her place in it. He knew she’d die while he lived on…but she was the one for him.”
A long breath shuddered through lungs that couldn’t bear the pressure. “At least he was young enough to sire children, he told me. He’d have a piece of his love in their children and their children’s children long after she was gone from this world.
“I think, if he’d met her before he was Made, he would’ve never applied. He was a lively boy, but his sadness over the idea of losing her one day…he was distraught when my husband died.” She ran her hand over the cardigan, playing with a button. “Marco understood grief in a way I never wanted for my boy. I could see he was already bracing himself for Tani’s loss.”
Walking away from the photos after another harsh inhale, Giulia took a seat on the sofa. “I should’ve asked you to sit. I’m sorry. Please.”
None of her furniture was suitable for angelic wings, so Illium perched on the arm of an armchair, while Aodhan chose to do the same on the sofa opposing Giulia’s. “Wings,” he said gently when she looked from one to the other.
“Oh,” she said. “I never thought.” A lopsided smile. “Never thought to have two of the Seven in my living room. Marco would’ve asked me for every detail, would’ve told his friends—and they’re not bums, like I’m sure Gino told you.” An exasperated shake of the head. “One’s in grad school and the other just got out of a young marriage and is putting his life back together. Gino has some old-fashioned ideas, but he’s got a good heart.”
She rubbed at her eyes again, but it was as if she’d cried so much, her body had nothing left to give. “When I began to make noise about Marco and Tani’s deaths, I didn’t expect anyone to pay attention, much less two of the archangel’s closest angels.” A penetrating look this time, one with a serrated edge to it. “Is it because the archangel knows something?”
Aodhan shook his head. “Raphael would never protect anyone who harmed a young vampire. Quite apart from it being a matter of honor, it’s a matter of maintaining vampiric discipline in the city.” He decided to be blunt with Giulia because she seemed the kind of woman who’d appreciate plain talking.
“Vampires who believe they can be killed with impunity before they’ve even completed their term of service will no longer be willing to behave. No city wants to have bloodlust-ridden young vampires wreaking havoc. Yes, angelkind can control them, but the damage to the ecosystem of the city would be significant—not to mention the time cost to the Tower and the Guild.”
The dark veil of Giulia’s grief seemed to retreat under a crisp understanding. “Yes, yes, that makes sense to me. You don’t want an angel to go around breaking the rules any more than you do the vampires.”
“You see why it’s important we end this here, for practical reasons. But for me, this is personal. I want justice for these two innocent lives.”
Giulia was silent for a long time, her eyes locked with Aodhan’s, as if searching for the truth of him. “Tell me what I can do to help,” she said at last.
“Navarro informed the Tower that he returned all of Marco’s belongings to you.”
“Yes.” Giulia’s nod was jerky. “He has been very kind—when I first went to plead with his people, and they told me he was injured, I thought he was brushing me off. I tried to investigate on my own, but I didn’t even know where to start.”
She twisted the tissue in her hand. “Then one day, the phone rings and it’s Navarro. I only found out later that he was still healing when he called me, that he’d taken a near-killing blow in the war. I could tell he didn’t believe me, but he said he’d pass on my concerns to the Tower’s investigative team. That you’re here tells me he kept his word.”
“Navarro told you no lies,” Aodhan confirmed. “He took it straight to Dmitri, who handed the file to a fire investigator for a first look, then to us after the investigator determined it likely to be arson.”
Giulia’s exhale was jagged.
“Do you have the items the unwanted suitor gifted Marco?” Illium asked. “Small or big. A letter, a card, an actual physical item, all of it will be useful.”