Page 42 of Depths of Desire (The Emerald Dagger Mafia #3)

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

I burst out of the chamber. Luca, Renzo, and their father are back talking with some of the vampire kings, but I can’t stay. I have to get out of there. I don’t want to see my parents.

Julien approaches me in the hallway. “Are you okay?”

I don’t say a word. I have no words. All I want is Nico. Mia and Pippa would be good too. Anyone who can offer comfort.

Julien takes my arm and pushes open a door, dragging me inside the small room with him. It’s the room we were in earlier. He eases me into a chair and then rests his butt on the table. “I know you’re not okay. That was brutal.”

I just nod because if I start to talk, I won’t be able to stop the sobs building in my throat. This isn’t the moment for that. I may not like my parents much, nor the life I had growing up, but I do know how to keep a stiff upper lip because of it.

I take a deep breath and then exhale before meeting Julien’s gaze.

“I’m okay.” He cocks an eyebrow. “Okay, I’m not really, but I will be.

Now isn’t the moment. I can break down when I’m home.

” I don’t add wherever that is, but it’s a truth that hits me square in the solar plexus.

Suddenly, I can’t breathe. Nico left me to find another woman.

He didn’t show up for the second most important day of my life.

There’s no excuse that can make this okay.

None. I don’t want to live with him. Even though I’ve admitted to myself that I loved him with all my heart, now that this ordeal over, and I’ve survived it without him, I don’t want to see him again.

“Listen,” Julien starts, “I know you must be very upset that Nico isn’t here. I’m sure there’s a logical explanation for him missing this. This is Nico. You know there must be.”

I feel quite sure he added that last bit because he’s also horrified that Nico was a no-show.

“Whatever,” I say, and then stand. “I must find Renzo and Luca so they can get me back to the human world.” I squeeze Julien’s hand. “Thank you for everything.”

I turn toward the door when it bursts open and Renzo races out. “We have to go,” he says. “Nico’s in trouble.”

I freeze. What fresh hell is this? “What do you mean? What trouble?”

Renzo stares at me. “He went to find Esme at the duomo in San Gimignano. He went in a while ago but hasn’t contacted anyone.

He left instructions with his second, Kael, to reach out to us if he wasn’t out in an hour.

But we were in the chamber, so Kael couldn’t reach us.

He tried to check it out, but he immediately recognized that the duomo is surrounded by dark magick.

He was afraid that if he went in, then he wouldn’t be able to come out again, and no one would know where they were. ”

Julien bolted to his feet. “I’ll come with you.”

Renzo nodded. “Good.” He turned to me. “I’m going to have…” he glanced behind him in the hallway and then back at me, “somebody take you home.”

“No,” I say surprising myself. “If you’re going to find Nico, I’m going with you.”

“What’s the hold up?” Luca demands as he enters the room.

“Luna wants to come with us.”

Luca stares at me for a second. “Let her. She’s his wife. Imagine if it were Mia. Would you want to leave her here or have some stranger take her back over to the other side? Plus, we have no idea where Malrick is. I wouldn’t put it past him to try to kidnap her.”

Renzo growls but nods. “Fine but you’re going to have to keep up and keep out of the way.”

I nod but keep my mouth shut. If I say the wrong thing they could still send me back home.

Renzo and Luca head out with Julien and me in their wake. Leonardo joins us in the hallway. He glances at me but says nothing. “We need to leave. Follow me.” He turns and walks the opposite way than we came in.

We wend our way through what seems like a maze of hallways.

I have to half-jog to keep up, and I am still a few steps behind.

Julien stays beside me, although I’m sure he wants to be up with the others.

I suck in oxygen and try to keep my mind blank.

Panicking will not help. The hallways have been getting darker and creepier as we’ve been hurrying along, and I think we’ve also descended several stories.

I am starting to regret not taking them up on the offer to go back to the human side.

I could have used the lack of supervision to run.

It would have been the best choice, but Nico is in trouble.

I can’t leave until I know he’s all right.

I may not forgive him for leaving me to deal with this tribunal, or whatever, on my own, but I don’t want to see him hurt either.

Finally, we halt in a small alcove. The stone walls are weeping some viscous liquid, and the dank smell makes me feel slightly ill.

“You must press this stone,” Leonardo says, “then say the name of the duomo, and it will take you close by, but you have to say the name or you will be lost in between the worlds.”

“I’ve never seen a portal like this,” Julien comments, “and, as an older vampire, I feel I should’ve stumbled across something like this before.”

“It’s only used by the kings. I wouldn’t let you use it, but the circumstances are dire.” Leonardo points at Renzo. “You go first. Luca, you’re next. Then I will go. Julien, I want you to hold Luna so she doesn’t get into trouble.”

The men glance at me and then nod in agreement. Within second Renzo, Luca and Leonardo are gone. “It’s our turn.” Julien reaches out and pulls me to him. I am terrified. “He’s going to be fine, Luna. We’re going to get this sorted. Hang on tight.”

I wrap my arms around Julien, and then I’m once again falling and flying at the same time. My stomach churns and just when I think I’m about to be sick, the world stops spinning, and I find myself in an alley with the Valdicis and Julien.

We hurry to the mouth of the alley and meet another creature. “Kael,” Renzo says, “what do you know?”

Kael shakes his head. “Esme was tracking your mother and?—”

“What?” Leonardo snarls. “Esme was tracking Nerezza?”

“But she’s dead,” Luca blurts out.

Leonardo’s face goes cold.

“You knew?” Renzo confronts his father. “You knew Mother was alive and didn’t tell us.”

Leonardo lets out a long sigh. “I wasn’t positive she was alive, but I suspected. I’d tried to find her but failed. I thought if I told you she was dead, it would protect you from her actions.”

“Nico knew too?” Luca asks.

Leonardo shrugs, “I had no idea.”

Kael says, “If I may…Nico suspected and asked Esme to help him find her. They’ve been working on it for ages.”

“That’s why they’re always together,” Luca comments.

“Who the hell is Esme?” I demand, finally not being able to take the not knowing.

“Esme is a witch. She and Nico are extremely close, like sister and brother,” Leonardo explains.

Like a sister. I take in a deep breath, and it’s like a thousand-pound weight has been lifted off my chest. I’ve been trying not to be hurt, not to give in to jealousy, but it’s been killing me. Now I know; Esme is a sister. Thank God.

“We need to get inside,” Kael reminds everyone. “Nico said if he wasn’t out in an hour, to tell you all. That was several hours ago. The church is cloaked in magick. I’m not sure what kind of spell, but it’s a strong one.

“Listen,” I say.

“What is it?” Julien asks.

“It’s the hum. The same one that I noticed when we were…over there. Now it’s over here.”

Renzo stills, a grim expression on his face. “Shit. She right. That’s not good.” He glances at his father as if asking a question. Luca seems to join in and then I know that they are communicating telepathically.

“So fucking annoying when they do that,” I grumble.

Julien chuckles. “Always drove me nuts too.”

“You can’t do it?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “No, that’s only their bloodline.”

“Okay,” Renzo says. “We’re going in. Luna, this is your last chance. Are you sure you don’t want to stay out here?”

“I’m sure.” My words sound firm, but my resolve is anything but. Still, I have to make sure Nico is okay. I can’t take the not knowing.

“Okay then. Be prepared for anything,” Renzo says, and then follows his father toward the duomo.

Part of me wants to ask if we should try to creep up, glance in the windows first? Or maybe even spread out so if there’s something going on, we won’t all be pinned down at once. At least that’s how it works in the movies.

Julien glances at me. “Vampires are stronger together. If there are creatures in there, it’s better for us to be in a pack, so to speak, than spread out.”

“Thank you,” I murmur. I hold my breath as we climb the steps. Please don’t let Nico be in trouble. Please let him be okay , I pray.

We reach the top and Leonardo slowly opens the door.