EPILOGUE 3 (TERRA POV)

I must admit that this is an interesting hunting, boredom has vanished like it never existed and I'm having the time of my life while Marcus and Aren stare at me worried and confused at the same time. Actually, I should be angry at Ruby because she's behaving like a spoiled brat every time I get close to her and try to start a conversation but I know that's her way to protect herself, those tall walls she's built around her are her weapon to survive and, even if it'd be easy for my vampire powers to knock them down, I'm enjoying this challenge. Of course, I have a great advantage because I can read her mind and the servants' thoughts too and I know that, even if she's cold to me, she stores all my presents carefully: small jewels, fancy fabrics, spices and perfumes, bottles of wine, toys for her baby, flowers and candied fruits.

I don't mind if she says thank you nodding at me quietly when I bump into her deliberately in the city streets, in the parties his father's business partners hold and even in the basilica after the Sunday mass. I know I'm always present in her thoughts, her bedroom is full of roses thanks to me and other suitors' gifts have been moved to other rooms of the palace to be able to keep mines closer to her. I know she wears the jewels I gave her at home even if she never shows them in public and her gorgeous bare feet enjoy the carpet made of soft wolf fur I sent her a week ago. I know it because I watch her closely, sometimes too much, I admit it. There's no good reason for me to sneak in her bedroom every night to watch her sleeping, I know she's safe in her house but I like to check it anyways: she looks so beautiful, relaxed and not frowning at me for a change. But I don't touch her, if I do that I won't be able to restrain myself... Ruby Rose is testing my patience and self-control.

She'll have dinner in Jacopo Ziani's house tonight along with some friends, he's one of my direct rivals and her father's favourite suitor since he's the wealthiest one after ruling out Sebastian Morosini because, even if his palazzo is bigger, he has a violent reputation and rumour has it that he beat his first wife to death. It's pretty obvious that Contarini loves his daughter and won't give her to anyone only because he's interested in a commercial deal, Ziani is the most substantial candidate they have to marry Ruby and some hints have been dropped by her parents but, for some reason, they guy hasn't proposed yet... It's possible that a certain vampire has put in his head the idea that it'd be better to wait till the end of summer. She could also put in his head the idea of going to pilgrimage in Jerusalem or becoming a monk but I don't think I need to go to such lengths. Ruby will fall in my arms soon.

"Turn to the left..." I whisper in my mind fixing my eyes on a gondola oarsman. "You too... and you, turn to the right... And now you stop... and we've managed to block a narrow canal..." Oarsmen start yelling and fighting, gesturing angrily, while neighbours stick their heads through the windows and watch them shocked before joining the racket too. It's going to take some time for them to calm down and get rid of the traffic jam. "And now you, get closer..." I smile discreetly while taking a sip of fresh white wine pretending to pay attention to the fight.

"Terra?" I blink surprised turning my head and there she is, wearing light green silk that makes her eyes and her pearly flawless skin stand out along with some gold jewels that contrast sharply with the red velvet on her gondola seat.

"Oh, hello, Ruby Rose... What are you doing here?"

"I'm heading to Ziani's palazzo to have dinner with my family and some business partners of my father," she answers confused, grabbing the armrest when our gondolas bump against each other slightly while oarsmen keep insulting everybody around us and neighbours yell at them to stop. "And you, what are you doing here?"

"I'm going to a party in..." I grimace tilting my head to one side, pensively. "I can't tell you, it's not a proper lady's conversation..."

Ruby clenches her jaw, getting angry when she understands I'm making fun of her because she complies with those stupid rules imposed by society, although I'm actually trying to arouse her curiosity and force her to ask me the question. Her eyes rake all over my body from head to toe while I take another sip of wine, noticing my elegant clothes: blue silk brocade tunic and a gold belt embellished with sapphires, matching hose, lot of rings in my fingers... The hat and cloak are waiting on the seat in front of me because it's too hot today but the fabric quality and the brooch on the neck are better than anything her father can buy. Marcus only works with the best suppliers in Damascus that provide luxury goods to the Islamic royal courts... Western infidels can't get their hands on these kinds of fabrics easily and the daughter of a Venice merchant knows it.

"Are you going to visit a prostitute?" I blink pretending to feel shocked by her harsh tone of voice.

"Language, signora!" I smile mischievously while pouring another cup of wine and giving it to her, our gondolas are so close that it feels we're actually sitting on the same bench, Ruby hesitates for a second but she realizes the fight between oarsmen isn't going to stop anytime soon so she takes the drink and her fingertips graze mines, sending a shiver down my spine while her cheeks turn red. "I'm going to visit Veronique who, I'm sure you know, is an honoured courtesan... So you're basically right, she's a prostitute, only smarter and well-educated, she writes poetry and handles her own businesses. She's rich and has the support of her clients that are the same Venetian nobles with a seat in the Council... The Dux included..." And her father too but I'm not saying that out loud despite my mate isn't stupid and knows it, probably.

"Is your brother one of her clients?" she asks quietly.

"No, Aren believes it's ridiculous to pay for something he can get for free in exchange of a kind smile and a compliment. Veronique's parties are famous not only because of the good wine and food, pretty oriental dancers or wealthy guests, but because the best commercial deals in this city are closed in that palace... that's why I'm going there."

"Really?" she asks suspiciously holding the glass before taking a look back over her shoulder but the oarsman and her servant are too busy fighting the others, trying to unblock the damned canal... I made sure of that. "But you're one of them..." she whispers leaning over the side of her gondola. I blink confused and get closer to her too ignoring the rocking of my boat.

"One of them?"

"One of those women..." My mate bites her delicious lower lip and her movement catches my eye. "I was sent to a convent when I was 12 years old, this is normal among noble Venetian families, this way the girls can get a better education and they're ready to marry an aristocratic man when they're 16 or 17. We read religious books, write letters, we learn simple math, embroidery work and drawing... It's also the best way to stop us from flirting with young boys of the city or feeling tempted to run away from home with the doorman's son..."

"I guess that happened so many times that Venetian mothers decided to fix it putting you under surveillance of an abbess..." I smile amused and Ruby nods.

"There were some nuns and novices like you in the convent."

"Shameless freethinkers?" I ask boldly despite I know what she's talking about, I was one of those novices some centuries ago after all.

"No, girls who fall in love with other women instead of men..." she whispers looking back over her shoulder again, worried in case someone listens to our conversation but everybody around us is too busy and ignores us, even the servant who should take care of her and protect her, supposedly.

"Love isn't always involved in the affair, angel, sometimes a roll in the hay is the only purpose of the game but I understand what you mean. And yes..." The princess looks right at my face, mesmerizing me with her bright eyes again. "I'm one of those," I confirm smiling mischievously and she holds her breath before nodding but doesn't look surprised or outraged despite I'm not controlling her mind right now. Ruby's more open-minded than most of her fellow citizens... Or she's very interested in me. "Did you feel curiosity about it while staying in the convent?"

"No, I didn't... I never..." she stutters blushing.

"What a pity, I think you would've liked it but it's better this way... I can teach you everything you need to know," I purr and Ruby opens her eyes wide in shock but doesn't pull away, her body is still leaning over the side of the boat towards me holding the cup of wine.

"I can't... No..."

"Why not, princess? It'd be your last adventure before you get married again, a little bit of fun with no consequences before your father sells you like a brood mare to one of his friends... A little bit of romance and passion... but you won't get pregnant. No one will know, only you and me, it'll be our special secret." Ruby stares at me completely floored, speechless, her mind is a whirlwind of confused thoughts but I don't care because I've got what I really wanted: putting in her brain the idea of having a relationship with me. Our boats shake and we start moving again. "Well, it seems they've solved this traffic jam... Great because Veronique is waiting for me..."

"What?" Ruby frowns, getting upset all of a sudden, but there's nothing she can do because her oarsman is moving away from my gondola while she looks around confused holding my glass with a silver base. She can keep that, it'll be a good souvenir of our conversation.

"Think about it, angel." I wink at her before my boat turns right towards a narrower canal. That Ziani idiot won't get anything from her tonight, my mate will be too busy weighting my proposal in her mind to pay attention to his stupid conversation about hunting dogs.

*****

"How was your dinner with Veronique?" Her question makes me smile and I turn around raising an eyebrow: Ruby Rose looks really angry and a bit awkward, there's no one else in this corner of the garden and the torches light can't reach this stone bench hidden under some tree branches. The party is in full swing around the palazzo, Venetian nobles laugh and drink enjoying the nice weather, her family is there with my father and brother who will make sure no one is going to come closer to us. But I didn't force her to follow me, I only said hello politely and let her see how I walked away slowly: she's here because she wants to.

"Fine... What about Ziani?" I ask copying her tone of voice and she shrugs.

"That jerk is obsessed with his dogs," she admits flopping down on the bench next to me and sighing. Ruby's wearing the same light blue tunic embellished with pearls she wore the first day I saw her, really fancy but it looks heavy due to the long train and the fabric is too thick for this summer night, I was feeling hot some minutes ago too and untied some ribbons of my tunic and linen shirt so I was able to expose my neck to the fresh breeze coming from the lagoon. "What are you doing?" she asks scared when my fingers touch her ribs.

"Let me help you... Ruby, stop it..." I growl angrily when she tries to pull away. "It's hot and you look pale, I bet you're feeling dizzy..." She nods reluctantly while I tug at the ribbons on her side and let the heavy tunic fall around her waist exposing her delicate embroidered linen shirt, the princess sighs relieved and leans back on the seat. I wish I could run my fingers through her soft hair but it'd be difficult to braid it again in that complicated updo with silk ribbons entwined. "Do you want me to get you a glass of water?"

"No, I'm feeling better, thank you, Terra." The princess smiles and I nod watching her quietly, still worried but fascinated by her precious face. Suddenly, she frowns and raises her hand, leaning it on my chest skin... I hold my breath when feeling her soft fingers rubbing my flesh and her perfume melts my brain when she moves even closer. "What's that?"

"A tattoo," I blink coming back to reality. "A drawing made with ink under my skin, you can get one in some Eastern kingdoms and also in the North."

"It doesn't fade, never?" I shake my head and swallow hard watching her so close to me, her lips so tempting, it'd be so easy for me to control her mind right now and kiss her, undress her on this bench, make her love and drink from her vein, turn her... I can't do that, she'd hate me and I need her to come to me freely. Damn it... "How many do you have?"

"Two or three..."

"You're full of surprises, Terra, and you're a beautiful woman too... in an unnatural and disturbing way." Ruby looks right at my face despite it's impossible for her to see me in the darkness since she's not a vampire yet. "Are you a sorceress?" I shake my head smiling sadly, remembering I thought the same about her the first day I met her. Someone laughs out loud close to the house where the nobles are still having fun and the princess looks at the light, frowning, a single tear runs down her cheek and I hold my breath, my fingers itch because I'm dying to hug and comfort her but I can't do that, she has to give me her permission, she needs to surrender to me... "Help me," she whispers desperately. "Don't let them sell me again, please."

"It's okay, my love, calm down," I whisper hugging her tight. "I'll protect you, no one will hurt you or force you to do anything you don't want to... Ruby, trust me, please..." I whisper cradling her pretty face when I feel her shaking her head and trying to pull away. "Babe, everything will be all right now that I'm with you... Stay with me and you'll be free."

"How...?" The beautiful woman looks at me confused but I can't restrain myself anymore and lean forward to kiss her, carefully at first because I don't want to scare her but Ruby's more brave than I thought and moves her lips under mines boldly. Her taste is amazing and the scent of her blood manages to get me drunk tearing a moan from my throat, my tongue explores her mouth shyly and Ruby copies my movements hesitating but more relaxed and meek against my body. I'm pretty sure she feels it too: that odd energy when we touch, the urge to be close and sadness when we're apart. Our tongues swirl in sync and I slide my hands down her neck to her shoulders, rubbing her soft skin. "Terra..."

"Shhh... Just a minute longer, please." My mouth slips down her jaw and collarbone while she tilts her head back, holding back a moan. My nimble fingers untie her shirt ribbon to reveal the soft curves of her breasts that I touch reverently before worshiping them with my tongue and lips. Ruby shudders in my arms and I know no one has made her feel so good before, not even her stupid husband, pride floods my mind while I taste her sweet skin but I need to stop because by fangs are fully extended and I don't want her to see them yet. I hold her tight against my body again kissing her forehead and she holds onto me while guests keep laughing and our hearts beat at a steady pace finally. "Let me help you," I whisper tying her shirt and tunic ribbons again.

"Oh my God, what have I done?" she whispers quietly pulling away from me.

"No," I growl putting my arms around her torso, getting up and dragging her with me. "You've done nothing wrong and have nothing to regret, I won't allow it..." Ruby stares at me scared and entranced at the same time but nods reluctantly. "My love, I'll take care of you, I've promised it... You must trust me, please..."

"This is crazy," she whispers trying to step back anxiously and I decide to hold her mind so she calms down a little; her family can't see her so nervous or they'll get suspicious. "I can't do this, you don't understand it, I have a daughter... Her future depends on my reputation, I can't fail her..."

"Yes, you can do this and your daughter will be okay. Ruby, I always keep my promises, okay? There's nothing I can't get, you'll have everything you want..." The truth is that we can stay in Venice for a few years and she can take care of her baby and watch her grow up till she gets married while we'll control the neighbours' minds so they don't notice that we don't get older at some point. We've done it before.

"I wish I never met you," she growls pushing me but I'm stronger.

"You know that's a lie," I answer angrily and my lips meld with hers again. Her muscles go limp and she leans meekly against my body while my tongue tastes her sweet mouth, I think she can't resist me even if I'm not using my vampire charm. "Fate brought us together that day in St. Mark's square, my love," I cup her cheek and my thumb rubs her flawless skin while nobles laugh and dance behind us. "Give me some more days, all right? I promise I'll prove you that we can be together... Do not accept his marriage proposal yet."

"A week..." she answers pulling away and I let her go this time. Ruby runs away from me towards the palazzo and I wait for a minute before following her to make sure she's okay, safe with her family. A week isn't much time but it'll be enough for her to trust me...