Page 35 of Depths of Desire (The Emerald Dagger Mafia #3)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

I stand completely still, staring out to the darkness through the French doors which lead to the balcony.

The silk curtain brushes my bare legs like a lover’s caress.

Except my lover isn’t here. Nico’s been gone for at least an hour, and the longer I wait, the more hollow I feel.

I thought after the wedding—after everything—that we’d be closer.

That we’d start trusting each other. That he’d tell me what was going on instead of disappearing into the night without a word.

I also didn’t expect him to leave me—on our wedding night, no less—to chase after another woman.

I wrap my arms around myself, my breath clouding the glass as I exhale.

More the fool am I. This… this is exactly what I feared.

What I expected, if I’m honest. Promises whispered in candlelight that vanish with the dawn.

I spin away from the view and head upstairs, every step echoing louder than it should in this oversize, empty house.

I’ve spent an hour wallowing. Useless. Weak.

I should’ve run the moment he left. I open the closet—and of course, more clothes have magically appeared.

I don’t even bother checking the labels anymore.

Everything will fit perfectly. Another reminder that none of this is real.

Or maybe it's too real. This life I never wanted but somehow walked straight into. Willingly.

Shaking my head, I strip off the robe. Nico’s scent clings to my skin like a bruise I can’t wash away.

The shower is hot and fast. I scrub hard, like I can erase him—his touch, his voice, the way he looked at me when he said I was his.

I fight the tears that want to flow when I think about how I opened myself up to him emotionally.

Not in so many words, but in my soul. In my thoughts, I claimed him as mine, while he only claimed my body.

That was all I was to him. And if he was going to be forced to spend a lifetime with me, then he’d probably be damned if he didn’t get a little physical relief.

Tears burned the back of my eyes and I shoved the thoughts away to focus on what I could do.

I tie my hair in a low bun and add just a swipe of mascara and lip tint. Carson—or someone—has clearly raided my life because all my favorite brands are lined up neatly like I’ve lived here forever. It should be comforting.

It isn’t.

I slip into black pants and a knit top, the color a match to my mood. Butter-soft loafers slide on next. I’m pulling myself together. One step at a time. That’s when I hear voices. Sharp. Demanding.

“Nico, you can’t ignore us forever.”

The door flies open. Renzo storms in like he owns the air, and Luca is right behind him, cool as ever. They both freeze when they see me. I don’t flinch. Defiantly, I stare right back. Shit. Whatever this is, it isn’t good.

“Where is he?” Renzo barks, heading straight for the bathroom like he expects Nico to be hiding in the tub.

“I have no idea. He left over an hour ago.”

Luca narrows his eyes. “Where was he going?”

I bite out, “He told me he was going to find someone named Esme. I don’t know who she is, or why she matters, or where he went. Maybe ask Carson. Maybe he knows something. I sure as hell don’t.” My tone was sharp and bitter.

Renzo growls something low and furious. Then he glances at Luca. Something passes between them—silent, sharp, definite.

My mouth drops. “Oh, my God. Are you all telepathic?”

Renzo gives a single, tight nod.

“For fuck’s sake. Is there anything you can’t do? It’s beyond annoying.” Nico wasn’t exaggerating about the “certain skills” thing.

Renzo flashes me a quick, unapologetic grin that disappears as fast as it arrived, replaced by hard lines and urgency.

Luca returns from wherever he vanished. “Carson doesn’t know where he went.”

Renzo checks his watch. “We’re late already.” His gaze cuts to me. “Are you ready to go?”

“Go where?” I ask, already bracing for the answer I won’t like.

“The vampire Council has summoned us to a meeting. Malrick has filed a formal complaint. You’re expected to appear.”

I scoff. “Well, Nico’s not around, so I guess the meeting’s off.”

“No,” Luca says calmly, but firmly. “The meeting happens with or without him. Your presence is required.”

I take a step back. “Like hell it is. I’m not a vampire, so their summons means fuck all to me.

I’m not walking into that place without Nico.

Who’s going to fight for me? You? Malrick will win, and I’ll be dragged off like a prize cow.

” I stamp my foot like a bratty teen and find I don’t give a shit about the attitude. “I’m not going.”

Renzo’s voice turns to steel. “ We will fight for you. But you have to show up. If you don’t, the entire Valdici name takes the hit. And I won’t allow that.”

I want to scream. I want to tear something apart the way I’m being torn apart. This wasn’t supposed to be my life. But I hesitated. I trusted him. And now, I’m stuck.

“Wait,” I say, suddenly hopeful. “Can’t you just reach him? Telepathically or whatever?”

“We’ve been trying,” Luca says with a grimace. “We thought he was just… distracted.”

“Because it was his wedding night,” Renzo finishes.

I grind my teeth. Yeah. Well, apparently that wasn’t the issue.

Renzo gestures toward the door. “We have to go.”

I want to argue more, continue to stamp my foot and throw a tantrum, But the look on Renzo’s face shuts down my rebellious streak. I move.

In the foyer, Carson is waiting like he sensed the disturbance in the force. Of course he is.

“If you see Nico, tell him to reach out immediately,” Renzo orders.

“Of course, sir.”

“And if you hear anything?—”

“I’ll let you know, sir.”

We step outside. No car. “Where are we going?” I ask. “And how the hell are we getting there?”

Luca grins. Too broadly. “We’re going to the magickal realm. Hold on tight so I don’t drop you.”

“Drop me?” I repeat, incredulous. “What the hell are you—” Before I can finish, Luca grabs me and takes off.

Literally. We leave the ground. “What the fuck!” I scream, clinging to him with everything I have.

I’ve been weightless before, in Nico’s arms, but this isn’t anything like that magical experience. This terrifies me.

He just laughs—actually laughs—and keeps flying.

We soar above the treetops, the wind slicing past us in cold ribbons.

The sky is too close. My stomach twists.

This isn’t natural. None of this is. I squeeze my eyes shut, but that only makes it worse.

I force them open and fix on the horizon.

Just breathe. Don’t throw up. Don’t scream again.

To be safe, I tighten my grip around Luca’s shoulders.

After what feels like forever, we land outside a small restaurant. I stagger, heart pounding. My legs barely hold me up. “I don’t feel so?—”

Luca’s expression cuts me off. Grim. Focused.

“What?” I demand.

“We still can’t reach Nico. The council session is about to begin. We’re running out of time.”

I swallow the nausea and the panic. I follow them inside. A woman greets us in French, but Renzo shakes his head. “Down to your wine cellar.”

She frowns, suspicious, but the bartender intervenes smoothly. “This way.”

The woman mutters under her breath, " Pourquoi les gens vont à la cave à vin? Que se passe-t-il?”

“Private party,” the bartender replies in English. “They’re guests.”

We descend into a wine cellar that smells of old earth and aged power. Luca grabs an unmarked bottle. Renzo takes my hand—and then my world shatters.

Flying. Falling. Spinning. Every cell in my body rebels. I scream. And then it stops. I’m trembling as my feet hit a cobblestone sidewalk. And then my brain registers everything.

Creatures everywhere. Real ones. Unmasked.

A fairy flits past, wings iridescent and fluttering like dragonfly silk.

A hulking, horned beast walks by wearing a Gucci blazer.

A woman with skin like obsidian and hair made of living flame eyes me with faint amusement.

There are no rules here. No normal. It’s a kaleidoscope of magic and madness and beauty and terror.

And color—so much color it feels like my eyes are bleeding it in. My lungs won’t work. My vision tunnels.

“Luna,” Renzo says sharply, but I can’t respond.

Am I seeing the actual creatures behind the auras I’ve been able to see all my life? Is this a byproduct of the curse of my birth? Just one more bone to pick with my mother, damn her. It’s too much. I shut my eyes, trying not to pass out. My knees give, just slightly.

“Fuck,” Renzo growls. That’s the last thing I hear.

When I open my eyes again, we’re inside a small room with stone walls, thick with age and authority. It feels like a castle. Like something ancient is watching. I press a hand to the cold wall to steady myself. Where the hell am I? And how the hell do I survive this without Nico?

“S-sorry,” I mumble. “It’s all just so…overwhelming.”

Luca nods and offers me a chair. I sit down gratefully.

“This is what’s going to happen,” Renzo starts.

Luca shoots him a look, but Renzo ignores him.

“We don’t have time to be gentle. In about five minutes, we’re going to walk into that room and face the council.

There are five vampire kings on the council.

They will hear testimony from Malrick and his representative, and then testimony from our side.

Then they will vote on the outcome. It’s not unlike a human courtroom except there are five judges and no jury.

” Renzo, who had been standing over me, finally takes a seat in the chair in front of me.

“You need to prepare yourself. Your parents will be witnesses for Malrick.”

The room swims in my vision. My stomach drops to my knees and my queasiness comes back with a roar. I close my eyes, but it just makes things worse. I open them again and put a hand to my mouth.

Luca puts a garbage can close to me. “Just in case,” he says, but not without pity.

I clear my throat. “Will…will the kings ask me questions?”

“It’s a possibility. It’s hard to tell. There aren’t the same set of rules for these things as in human court so it’s hard to know exactly what will happen.

I will represent you and Nico. Luca will sit with us in support and so will my father.

We are not without power in this setting and I believe that will be taken into account.

If it was only Malrick and he had no witnesses, I think it would be dismissed. ”

“But…my parents.” The two people I should have been able to count on to protect me. Parents who would throw me away. There was a special place in hell for them. Does it make me a bad daughter that I personally want to send them there? Probably, but I was beyond giving a fuck.

Renzo hesitates but nods. “Yes, your parents.”

There was a loud banging on the door. Luca answered it and murmured something to whoever was outside. Then he shut the door and nodded at Renzo.

“It’s time,” Renzo says as he stands. He offers a hand to help me out of my seat. “I’m sorry my brother is not here to help you through this. I truly am. I will make sure he understands how unacceptable that is.”

I nod mostly because my mouth has gone completely dry, making a verbal reply impossible.

Luca opens the door, and I follow Renzo out into the hallway and then into the council’s chamber.

My heart is hammering against my rib cage.

If I could run, I would. But there’s no way my legs will hold me. I’m having a hard enough time walking.

I can’t believe I have to go through with this.

Vampire kings, magickal creatures…it’s all so far beyond real that I have no words left.

And the fact that Nico left me to face this on my own.

Left me to go find some other woman while I’m forced to fend for myself…

I’m not sure there’s enough forgiveness in the world to get me over this one.