Antonietta decided to intervene. “What of Enrico? Has there been any word on our missing chef?” She casually tucked her hand into Byron’s arm to hold him to her side. The moment he had heard of Don Giovanni’s and Paul’s strange behavior, she sensed he knew what their actions meant.
Tell me. Let me go to the kitchen and do a little investigating first. You think the food had poison in it, don’t you? How could either of them possibly know such a thing?
“Enrico is still missing. The wonderful captain was here, but of course we couldn’t allow him to know what had transpired, so we entertained him briefly, allowed him to search Enrico’s room again, and he left.” There was regret in Tasha’s voice. “He’s quite nice, Antonietta. And he loves the opera. I told him that for your next performance, I would try to get him good seats, and he said only if I attended with him.”
“Did you keep him away from Paul?”
“Paul wouldn’t come out of his room except to speak with Don Giovanni. He wouldn’t see Franco or me, but Justine was in and out several times. I wasn’t about to allow the captain near him. Paul was so upset, I was afraid he’d turn himself in.” Tasha glanced warily at Byron. “You aren’t really going to go to the authorities, are you?”
“No, Tasha, I have no intentions of turning your brother in.”
“
Grazie
, you are a good man to be so kind.”
“Do not mistake my intentions for kindness.” There was a distinct bite to Byron’s voice, and for a moment his teeth gleamed white like that of a wolf. A fierce flame burned in the depths of his eyes, giving his pupils the illusion of a fiery red.
Tasha gasped and stepped away from him, her hand going to her throat protectively. She blinked the illusion away, feeling foolish when there were only Byron’s familiar dark eyes glinting at her. Watching her. Without blinking. Much like that of a predator. She shivered, afraid all over again.
Beside Antonietta, Celt lowered his head, his eyes focusing on Byron, his hair up. The ever-present supreme hunter.
Antonietta put her hand on Tasha’s shoulder. “What is it? And don’t say ‘Nothing.’ ” Gently she touched the dog’s head in a gesture meant to soothe. “Celt senses something. A wild animal perhaps.” Do you smell the cat, Byron?
Tasha hesitated. “I’m being silly. For a moment Byron frightened me. He reminded me of a…” She trailed off. She could hardly say wolf.
Byron bowed from the waist. “I did not mean to alarm you, Tasha. I just do not want you to get the wrong impression. Paul nearly killed Antonietta. If he is the one behind the attacks, he will not get away with it. I will see to it personally. And if he proves to be innocent and someone else has targeted her, I will find them.”
Celt smells the shape-shifter in me. Do not worry. There is no danger near us.
Byron wasn’t bragging, Tasha decided, he wasn’t even threatening. He meant every word and uttered each with absolute conviction. The thought set her heart pounding. There was retribution buried in his tone.
“I will go down to the kitchen to investigate and then meet the two of you in Margurite’s room.”
Celt, forgive me, my friend, the wolf comes out in me at the thought of Antonietta in danger.
Byron placed his palm in front of the dog’s nose, allowing him to catch the mixed scent.
The dog’s alert posture changed immediately, the tension draining from the animal, although he stayed protectively close to Antonietta. She stroked the dog’s head with caressing fingers. “Celt is already such a part of my life, I can’t imagine what I did without him,” Antonietta said.
“He’s so devoted to you,” Tasha observed, “but he’s so big and sort of scary. We’ve never had a dog in the palazzo. Margurite will love him. Is he good with children?”
“Celt loves children. A borzoi is a great family addition. A companion and protector. Believe me, the children will come to love him,” Byron assured her. He reached out to scratch Celt’s ears. His hand brushed Antonietta’s. Instantly, electricity sizzled and arced between them. The sexual tension in the room was shattering.
Antonietta rubbed her body along his, a contented cat, stretching leisurely. Byron bent his head to hers. Heat raced over Antonietta’s skin, spread through her body instantly.
She wrapped her arms around Byron’s neck, her mouth melding to his. The world was gone in an instant. There was only heat and fire and the feel of his hard, masculine frame pressed so tightly to hers.
Tasha’s gaze narrowed in disgust, bored into their backs. She made a soft hissing noise of distaste. Byron swung Antonietta around, moving her toward the stained glass window even as he seemed to be devouring her, feeding on her mouth with voracious hunger. Tasha blinked, and the couple was difficult to see. The moonlight hit the glass in some way that spread a hazy veil around Antonietta and Byron. Tasha curled her hand into a fist, her fingernails driving into her palm.
She felt his eyes on her. Dark. Brooding. Filled with speculation. Engulfed in Byron’s arms, Antonietta couldn’t be seen, but his head went up alertly as if sensing danger. The hair on the back of her neck actually stood up in response to the intensity of his gaze. Tasha shivered and hurried to the door.
“Are you coming, Toni? It’s so late,
Nonno
should already be in bed.”
“Of course I’m coming.” There was a multitude of shared secrets in Antonietta’s voice. She kissed Byron again. “I won’t be long.”
“Keep Celt with you.” It came out a command. Byron buried enough of a compulsion in his voice that Antonietta didn’t hesitate, even though she frowned. Antonietta was clearly used to going her own way and making her own decisions, and very few people attempted to tell her what to do.
“Toni!” Tasha said sharply.
Antonietta touched fingertips with Byron, the merest brush, signaling camaraderie. She knew very well that Tasha, in spite of her truce, was displaying her disapproval. She’s temperamental.
She is mental.
Antonietta burst out laughing. Tasha glared at Byron, suspecting the two of whispering together, or worse, of being amused by her jealousy. She reached out to grab her cousin’s wrist with every intention of yanking her out of the room. Somehow the dog was there, inserting its body almost casually. The dark eyes looked quite innocent.
“I feel like kicking you,” Tasha said, closing the door to Antonietta’s bedroom with a louder than necessary thud. She hoped she shut it on Byron’s nose.
“Why would you want to kick me?” Antonietta asked as she followed Tasha into the wide hall.
“Not you, the idiot dog and that man you are climbing all over. What kind of a display is that, Toni? You have a certain position to uphold. You shouldn’t be making a fool of yourself over a man.”
The whip of contempt in Tasha’s voice made Antonietta wince. “I was in my own private quarters, so I don’t see how I could have been making too much of a fool of myself.”
“You’re acting like a lovesick teenager. It’s embarrassing. And that dog is annoying. He’s too big and gets in the way all the time. Why would you want a dog underfoot? I don’t know what Byron was thinking giving him to you. If Marita finds out he’s dangerous, there will be hell to pay.”
“Why would you think he’s dangerous?” Antonietta allowed her exasperation to show. “You may not like Byron, Tasha, and that’s okay with me, but don’t you make trouble for Celt just out of spite.”
“I’m never spiteful.” Tasha’s feet beat out a rhythm of annoyance. “Five minutes with a man, and you’re turning on your own family. I hope you realize you’re totally infatuated. It’s sickening to watch you make an utter fool of yourself, but by all means, don’t listen to my advice.”
“I haven’t heard any advice,” Antonietta said, “just sour grapes.”