“Believe me.” Doug leaned closer, his lips a breath away from hers, and whispered, “I won’t miss.”
“Good.” Olivia blinked and stepped away as she squared her shoulders. “See that you don’t.”
Doug stuck the magazines in the pocket of his coat and reached behind him, tucking the gun in the waist of pants. He didn’t miss the curious looks from Maya and Pete, but he couldn’t blame them. He and Olivia stood there eye-fucking each other like a couple of horny kids, and until two seconds ago, he had forgotten the two of them were even there.
“Let’s go,” she commanded.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said with an exaggerated salute.
Olivia gave him the finger as she walked on, and he chuckled. She was tough as nails, and despite everything that had transpired, she still turned him on. He admired the way she handled Maya and the rest of her coven. The woman was powerful and commanding, but she was also sensitive and empathetic.
He studied her carefully, and it dawned on him how alike they were. Olivia was a rescuer and a protector. She seemed consumed by the need to save people, cats, dogs… vampires. He wondered what drove her? Who was she really trying to rescue?
The hallway opened into a cavernous space that looked like something out of ancient Rome. White marble statues of gods and goddesses lined the circular room, and at the center were towering white columns, framing pristine double doors of black-and-white- swirled marble.
“Welcome to the Presidium’s New York office,” Pete said. He placed a hand on Doug’s left shoulder and leaned in. “Looks like Caesar’s Palace in Vegas, doesn’t it?”
“You aren’t kidding.” Doug rubbed his chin as he they walked down the four steps and into the center of the room. He gestured to the statues. “Are these gods and goddesses?”
“Yes,” Olivia said with a snort of derision. “These are a few of Czar Augustus’s mementos from his human life in ancient Rome. For a guy who looks down on humans, I always thought it odd that he surrounds himself with so many keepsakes from his human life. This room leads to the Presidium’s main chamber, which is where official proceedings take place.”
“I would’ve expected decor more like your club.” He continued to look around them, wanting to know any way in or out. “This seems odd.”
“The czars rule for two centuries in each city, and then a new czar takes over.” Olivia kept her voice down, and he noticed her hand resting on the gun at her hip. “It’s like when a new president moves into the White House and redecorates. Augustus was a senator in ancient Rome, so he decorated like this.”
They moved slowly through the massive room, and their movements echoed. As each sound bounced back, Doug realized that the sound waves were helping him see the room. He didn’t know how or why, but he had a multidimensional view of the space in his mind. He’d heard of bats and dolphins using sonar to see and wondered if that was happening to him.
Doug said nothing as Olivia watched him but simply nodded his understanding. His senses were on high alert, and he couldn’t escape the feeling that something bad was about to go down. They continued across the open space to the steps that led to the double doors, but before the four of them even hit the first step, the doors swung open to welcome them.
“Olivia, I’m scared.” Maya clung to Olivia’s arm like a child and refused to move forward. Doug couldn’t get over how completely different she was from when he first met her. Her big blue eyes were filled with tears, making her mascara run down her face. “Please don’t let them kill me.”
“It’s going to be alright.” Olivia wrapped her arm around Maya, and in a motherly gesture, kissed the top of her head. “Be strong and stick close to Pete.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Maya sniffled.
“You’ll be okay, kid.” Pete patted her on the back and then glanced at Doug. “You’re not gonna cry too are you?”
“Fuck you, Castro.” Doug tried to suppress a smile, but he couldn’t stop it.
“That’s enough,” Olivia hissed. “It’s game time.”
They climbed the staircase and crossed the threshold into the meeting room, and Doug fought the urge to let out a whistle. There were five people on a platform, and the one in the center—Augustus.
Wearing elaborate white robes with gold and burgundy trim, he sat in what could be described as a throne. He wore a golden laurel wreath on his head and had the same arrogant look as the painting Doug had seen. The women and men on either side of him were clad in similar robes and seated on small gold chairs.
Olivia, Pete, and Maya dropped to one knee and bowed their heads, but Doug stood his ground and kept his attention on the czar.
“Clearly, you haven’t trained this one in our ways, Olivia.” Augustus narrowed his eyes at Doug. “Your little coven is quite a mess.”
“I’m not getting on my knees for you or anyone else,” Doug said tightly.
Shane appeared out of nowhere and flew to Doug’s side, lowering his voice to above a whisper. “You should do as your leader commands.”
Tension filled the room, but Doug didn’t waver.
“Give it a rest,” Olivia said, rising to her feet. “He’s new, and we have other issues to worry about.”
“Perhaps,” Shane murmured, his face emotionless as he stepped back. “Rules must be followed to maintain order.”
Augustus rose from his spot on the lounge as his dark eyes went to Maya, who was still on one knee with her head bowed. “You must be the little vampire who started this messy situation in my city. Come here, little one.”
Maya sniffled and slowly rose to her feet as she looked to Olivia for reassurance.
Augustus walked calmly down the steps and took her hand in his. Maya, head bowed and eyes averted, sniffled and adjusted the skirt of her small dress as the czar stepped back and looked her over from head to toe.
“You’re a lovely little thing, aren’t you?” His gentle tone was in stark contradiction to the cruelty in his eyes. Augustus was the kind of man who got off on hurting people, women in particular, drunk on his own power. “Have you been making rogues, little girl?”
“No.” Maya shook her head furiously as tears continued to fall. “I swear it to you.”
“Yes.” He sighed. “I doubt you’re lying. I could drink from you and read those blood memories, but that seems… beneath me. Don’t you agree?”
Maya nodded furiously but avoided his glare.
“I don’t care who made the rogues,” he said in a low tone. “However, this mess all started with you and your irresponsible feeding habits.”
“Augustus—” Olivia interrupted.
“But since you are her maker, Olivia,” he said without taking his eyes off Maya, “then really, this is your problem. She is your responsibility, and therefore this is your mess. As punishment for running such a sloppy, unruly coven, this little troublemaker will be put down, and if you don’t find that rogue nest and eliminate it, then you and the rest of your coven are next.”
“It’s too bad you can’t show Maya the same mercy you showed your son,” Olivia said evenly. “But I suppose since he’s your biological son and not your vampire progeny, that’s why you were soft on him.”
Augustus stilled, and Doug saw the monster lurking behind the mask of calm.
“My son,” he seethed, “was sent into hibernation for fifty years by you. He more than paid his debt for his minor indiscretion.”
“Seems like a different set of rules, and if memory serves, the emperor is not a fan of breaking the rules or vampires who do.” Olivia’s amber eyebrows flew up, and a smile lit her gorgeous face as her voice dropped low. “You don’t think you’re above the emperor, do you?”