Lair of the Lion

servant, his eyes flat and cold. "It is over. I'm looking at a dead man."
    His voice chilled her. The servant shrieked a protest, throwing himself on Isabella's mercy, apologizing profusely, denying he had known what he was doing.
    "Nicolai, please, hear him out," she said, holding the don's gaze with her own. She felt the energy in the room, the subtle influence of evil feeding the anger and disgust. It fed the servant's fear right along with her own. She glanced at the two captains, noting they were watching the servant with the same loathing as their don.
    "This is no longer your concern." Nicolai was staring over her head, his gaze locked on the hapless servant, a hunter eyeing its prey.
    "I want to hear him speak," she answered, her tone gentle but insistent. She didn't dare allow the entity to influence her or give it more of an opening to the men.
    "Grazie, grazie!" the man cried. "I don't know what happened, signorina. One moment I was thinking of the journey and how best to unload the supplies when we reached the farm, whether to wait until morn or just take care of it immediately. All of a sudden I was so angry I couldn't think. My head hurt and buzzed with a noise. I don't remember taking the key from you. I know I did because I had it, but I don't remember taking it. I sat in the wagon, and my head hurt so much I was sick. Carlie can tell you, I leapt down and was sick." His eyes pleaded with her for mercy. "In truth I don't remember locking you in, just that closing the door and turning the lock seemed the most important thing in the world."
    "You knew she was in there," Nicolai said, his voice purring with menace. "You left her to freeze to death or to be torn to shreds by the feral cats."
    "Signorina, I swear I don't know what happened to me. Save me. Don't let them kill me."
    Isabella turned to Nicolai. "Allow me to speak with you alone. There is more at work here than what we can see. Please trust me."

    "Take him out," Nicolai ordered.
    His two captains looked as if they wanted to protest, but they did as Nicolai commanded.
    Neither was very gentle with the servant.
    Nicolai began to pace. "You can't ask me to let this man go."
    "Please, Nicolai. I think there's truth in the legend of your valley. I think that when its magic was tampered with, it did become twisted, and something evil was let loose here. I think it preys on human weakness. Our failings. It feeds anger and jealousy. It feeds our own fears. There have been so many incidents, and each person tells the same story. They don't know what happened—they acted differently than they normally would have."
    A growl rumbled deep in his throat. "You want me to let him go," he repeated, his amber eyes gleaming with menace.
    She nodded. "That's exactly what I want you to do. I believe there is an entity loose, and it is responsible, not the man."
    "If this thing influences what a man is capable of, then this man has a sickness that he would dare risk your life."
    "Nicolai." She breathed his name, a gentle persuader.
    He muttered an imprecation, flames flowing in his eyes. "For you, cara mia, only for you. But I believe this man has forfeited his right to live. I should banish him from the valley."
    She crossed to his side and stood on tiptoes to press a kiss along his set jaw. "You will give him his job back. Send him home. Your mercy will earn his loyalty tenfold."
    " Your mercy," he corrected. "To me he is already dead."
    When she continued to look at him, he sighed. "As you wish, Isabella. I'll give the order."
    "Grazie, amore mio." Smiling, she kissed him again and left him to his pacing.

Chapter Eighteen
    Sarina was in Lucca's room, fussing and clucking over him. Lucca, looking desperate, gestured to Francesca behind the housekeeper's back, clearly expecting her to save him.
    Francesca and Isabella grinned at each other, the smirk of conspirators.
    "Sarina," Isabella said, using her sweetest voice. "Francesca and I have one small errand to run. Please see to mio fratello until we return."
    "It's the middle of the night," Lucca hissed between clenched teeth. "Neither one of you should be going anywhere unescorted."
    "We'll be perfectly safe," Francesca assured him with a bright smile. "We'll keep to the passageways. Sarina will take excellent care of you in our absence."
    "Isabella, I forbid you running wild! Have you lost all sense of propriety?" Another spasm of coughing shook him.
    All three women rushed to aid him, but it was Francesca he