Carpathian 10 - Dark Symphony

happy to introduce all of you to Antonietta, but you must give me a period of time to adjust to having Josef around. He is not to do anything foolish."
    "Of course he will not." Eleanor broke into another large smile. "Have you fed this night?"
    "Yes, I am going to her. I will tell her that my family has arrived, and she will certainly invite you to her home. There is much going on. Someone is trying to kill both her and her grandfather."
    Eleanor hissed, a long, slow sound of disapproval, her dark eyes flashing dangerously.
    "Take her and leave this place immediately, Byron. What are you thinking?"
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    Dark Symphony
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    He burst out laughing. "You are such a contradiction, Eleanor. Savannah's rights were stepped on, and you are up in arms, but my life mate has no say in what she does or where she goes."
    "If anything happens to her, it happens to you," Eleanor pointed out.
    "Is that not the same with Gregori and Savannah?"
    She bared her teeth at him. "Gregori is not my little brother. Go to your life mate before I box your ears for your impertinence."
    "Save your ear-boxing for that nephew of mine." He leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. "Do you have a place you are staying?"
    "We rented a villa. Josef wanted to experience the 'flavor of life,' as he puts it. Vlad found one we could use and still be safe. You are more than welcome to stay with us. Josef would be thrilled. He already has his paints set up on the balcony, and he looks stylish in his beret. What of you? Where are you staying?"
    "Below the earth."
    "You must seem a respectable human, Byron. I will see to it that we find you a place of your own. Do not worry, I will find something very suitable so you will be able to take your life mate to a safe residence."
    "Grazie, I did not think of that. Let me know the location when you find one. I will send word to you after I have talked with Antonietta. I have seen no evidence of vampires in the area, but that does not mean they are not among us. Be careful, Eleanor."
    "You, too. It is so good to see you." Reluctantly, she allowed his hand to slip from hers.
    "Do not delay too long in taking your life mate to our world, Byron. You belong in our homeland, you know. You always have. You were the one who imposed a sentence on yourself, leaving our people, fighting the vampires when you are a true, gifted artisan."
    "I long to feel the gold and silver in my hands, to find the perfect gemstones in the sacred caverns." Byron smiled at her, shadows in his eyes. "There are times I find myself fashioning jewels in my mind when I should be doing much more important things. Now that I have found Antonietta, I long to make her something beautiful."
    "Every craftsman is highly prized by our people, Byron," Eleanor reminded. "Especially a master at finding the gem-stones."
    "It is a world like no other. No one can understand such a thing unless they are born to the craft. Emotions bring back needs I wish I did not have."
    "Your craft will always need you, Byron. You are a master such as our people have not seen in centuries. The prince has often commented to me that only you could design the perfect gift for Raven. He will not ask another."
    "He is so certain I will return?"
    "All hope it is so."
    "Few brothers were luckier than I in having such a sister. I will see you later." Byron's solid form dissolved into droplets, and he streamed away from the labyrinth and toward the massive palazzo.
    He circled above the towers and turrets, slipped through the sculptures of winged gargoyles, and dropped toward the second story and a window nearly always left open a few inches. Far below him he caught a glimpse of movement on a narrow, twisting path leading up the mountain, away from the palazzo and away from the city. Ordinarily, he might not have paid attention, but there was something furtive about the way Franco Scarletti's wife, Marita,
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    was moving along the path. She was deliberately keeping to the tree line, rather than walking along the open trail. He could see she didn't want