The Director glanced down at the open file on top of his desk. “This Raven woman was the Prince’s pet.”

Jack grimaced. “I was unaware of that until I saw her in Florence.”

The Director’s eyes narrowed. “Did you write to the Prince, asking him to release her?”

“Yes. I’ve known her since she was a child. I’ve always protected her.”

The Director rested his hand on top of the open file. “So you don’t deny ignoring proper channels and compromising the Curia’s mission?”

“Since when is an attempt to save a human soul a compromise?” Jack grew very red in the face.

The Director studied him.

“You Jesuits have a habit of asking for forgiveness rather than permission. We aren’t all Jesuits, Father Kavanaugh, and that kind of thinking isn’t tolerated here.” The Director paused. “You were brought to Rome because of your service record. I will personally transfer you to Prague if you compromise our activities again.”

“Prague?” Jack’s eyebrows lifted. “But there aren’t any—”

“Precisely.”

Jack bowed his head to hide his anger. “Understood.”

“It’s fortunate Florence decided to accede to your weakness rather than to exploit it.”

Jack lifted his head. “I don’t consider caring for my parishioners to be a weakness.”

The Director tapped one of his fingers on top of the desk. “We exist in order to protect humanity from evil. I wish we could save everyone. We both know that’s impossible.”

“I’m not asking to save everyone.” Jack forced himself to keep his tone even. “I’m simply asking for support in protecting two young women, women who are like daughters to me.”

“We have intelligence that they are being sent as a gesture of peace, but we have no idea what condition they’re in or how many soldiers accompany them. It would be folly to send a squad outside our walls until we know more.”

Jack leaned forward, placing his hands on top of the desk. “Raven and Cara are in danger, not just from the Florentines, but from ferals, mercenaries, other vampyres. They could be killed.”

“You’ve already tipped your hand by writing to the Prince and expressing your attachment. Any movement of our troops will simply place a higher price on the women’s heads.”

“Then let me go. Alone.”

The Director gave the priest a long look. “I admire your courage. But I’m not going to allow you to initiate a military engagement over two souls, one of whom is a pet.”

Jack straightened. “Our Lord left Heaven to seek and to save those who are lost.”

“I am well-acquainted with sacred scripture.”

Jack leaned closer. “Then you must know the story of the Gadarene, who was a pet to various demons. Our Lord clothed him, fed him, and rescued him from his tormentors.”

“If the women arrive at our borders, we will welcome them. But I won’t allow you to walk into the arms of our enemies and be held for ransom. Nor will I send troops outside Vatican City, unless it’s to lay siege to a stronghold we can overtake. We cannot tip our hand.”

Jack gave the Director a long look. “Are there plans to invade Florence?”

The Director shuffled a few papers on his desk. “Since your protégé was a pet, she will have to be exorcised on arrival.”

Jack touched the cross he always kept in his pocket. “I will see to it personally.”

“I have already directed some of our agents to secure the body of the fiancé. We can’t allow an autopsy to go forward, if he was killed by a vampyre.” The Director made the sign of the cross. “You are dismissed.”

Jack bowed and withdrew to the door.

“Father Kavanaugh.” The Director’s voice interrupted his movements.

He turned. “Yes?”

“The most recent intelligence out of Florence indicates that Machiavelli has been executed.”

“Executed? By whom?”

“The Prince. It seems he survived the coup, executed his enemies, and is now in full control of the city, including the army.”

“Raven,” Jack whispered, his hand seeking the relic he carried in his pocket.

“The battleground on which we wage our war against evil is constantly changing.” The Director turned his attention to the files on his desk. “Remember this when you are tempted to act without consulting your superiors.”

Shaken, Father Kavanaugh bowed and left the office.

Chapter Eight

THE HUNTER RELEASED RAVEN and pushed her to the ground. He withdrew something from his pocket, holding it in front of him.

He laughed.

“Oh yes, laugh.” The Prince’s gray eyes narrowed. “Trust in a trinket you aren’t worthy to wield.”

He approached the hunter, who extended the relic in front of his body as far as he could.

As William neared, the hunter’s expression faltered. He lifted the relic higher, as if that could stop the angry Prince.

William’s eyes grew strangely alight. He reached past the relic to fasten onto the hunter’s wrist, pushing the man’s hand back so quick and so hard that his wrist snapped.

The hunter screamed and dropped the relic.

“You touched what is mine.” William grasped the much taller hunter by the back of his neck. “You made her bleed. Now you will pay for every mark on her perfect skin.”