“Not a joke.” He pulled the boat into the garage—boathouse?—that was on the first level of the four-story mansion.

“This is really the Protectorate’s safe house? One of the biggest mansions in Venice?”

“Aye. Ricketts may send his goons after you, but they won’t get through here.” He cut the engine and tied the boat off to the dock, then climbed out. He reached a hand down.

I took it with my good arm and let him haul me up, then helped him gather the bags out of the boat. I followed him to the stairs, wincing as the protective magic prickled over my skin.

“Let me go first,” he said. “The magic will recognize me and disengage.”

I swept an arm out. “Age before beauty.”

He chuckled, then disengaged the charm locking the door and started up the stairs. We passed the first three floors entirely. By the third flight, I was panting, exhausted from the day’s endeavors.

“These floors are empty,” he said. “Security.”

“What kind?”

“Statues that come alive on the first floor, poison gas on the second floor, and giant snakes on the third—they’re just magic though. Otherwise, it’d be inhumane.”

“Snakes don’t like mansions in Venice.” I nodded sagely. At least, I was aiming for sagely. “Everyone knows that.”

“Precisely.”

I grinned, liking how he went along with my silliness. It was the only thing keeping me from tearing up over the pain in my shoulder.

He let us onto the fourth floor, disengaged another locked door, and my mouth immediately watered at the scent of pizza. The lights were already on, illuminating an amazing living area that looked like something out of a fancy old movie.

“Took you long enough.” Emily grinned, stepping forward out of the living room, which was done entirely in cream and pale gold. Several pizza boxes sat on the table. “Brought you food.”

“Thank you,” Cade said.

“You’re a saint.” I beelined straight for her, handing over the box containing the antidotes. “The cure is one of the potions in here, but Hedy will have to test them. And seriously, thank you for the pizza.”

She nodded, and I didn’t waste any time, leaving her to chat with Cade while I went for the pizza. I chowed down on pepperoni, trying not to pay attention to my arm or the pain in my chest.

I prayed that Hedy could identify that antidote soon.

“See you later!” Emily called. Then she disappeared.

I swallowed the last bite of my third piece of pizza as Cade joined me. I gestured to the fancy room, and the huge arched windows that gave a view of the Grand Canal. “The Protectorate sure likes it fancy.”

“Not always. But when in Rome… Or Venice.” He sat next to me, his big form taking up a good bit of sofa real estate. He leaned in to inspect my arm and shoulder. “It still looks bad. Can I do something about it?”

“Like what exactly?” I swallowed hard. He was so close that I could see the different colors of green in his eyes, the small muscles and veins in his hands. Against all odds, he still smelled good.

Heat flushed through me.

“My healing power is the opposite of death. I’d give you a small amount of my power. Of life. And your wounds would disappear. It’s a last resort, something I do rarely.”

“Um, okay.” I shifted so that my shoulder was near him.

He raised a big hand and hovered it over the acid burn. He was even closer now. So close I could just lean in and kiss him.

I hadn’t been attracted to someone in ages. And Cade was…well, a freaking war god. And as handsome and strong as you’d expect one to be. I swallowed hard, trying to focus on anything else.

Then his power began to flow into me, strong and bright. I gasped. It filled me with light. With warmth. And I felt him.

Not physically, but who he was. Like, the qualities that made him unique.

Bravery, honor, pure goodness. A little bit of danger and ruthlessness. Each quality felt slightly different but was so distinct.

Then heat ran through me, shivering along my skin and into my bones.

Desire welled up.

His for me? Or mine for him?

My gaze darted to his. The green of his eyes blazed with warmth, his lids slightly lowered. His full lips parted.

Warmth surged through me. The pain had faded from my body, and pure want had taken its place.

His gaze dropped to my lips. He gripped the edge of the table tightly, his knuckles turning white. The one that hovered in front of my shoulder trembled slightly.

Oh fates. Did he want to kiss me?

From the heat in his gaze—yes.

I leaned in slightly, more of a sway than a conscious movement.

He swallowed hard and removed his hand that hovered over shoulder. “It’s better.”

The spell broke. The connection severed.

I gasped, leaning backward. The heat was still there, the desire. But the connection was gone. I almost vibrated with the loss.

Had he really wanted to kiss me? Why hadn’t he?

Not that it mattered. Get it together.

Finally, I composed myself. “What happened there?”

His brow creased. “That’s unusual.”

“I could feel you.”

“Me too.”

“Really?” My heart thundered. “What did you find?”

“Honor and love. Fear and bravery.”

“Fear?” My gaze snapped to his.

“Aye. I could sense it back in the crypt, too. Anytime we were about to face a new challenge. But then you’d throw yourself right into it.”

“Well, yeah. Of course I was scared. I’m not a freaking idiot. I’ve got a highly developed sense of self-preservation.”

“But you jumped into the fight anyway.” His green gaze searched mine, assessing.

The heat still hadn’t faded, but the strangeness of talking about myself on such a…a personal level, was starting to drive it off.

“Why’d you jump in if you were so afraid?”

“Gotta get the job done.”

“So as soon as you get scared, you leap into the fray.”

“Yeah. I’m like Pavlov’s dog now. Scared, fight. Scared, fight.” I shrugged. “It’s worked out well for me so far.”

“I’d say so.” He nodded, eyebrows raised and his expression clearly impressed. “I’ve been with many people in battle. Thousands. Not just what I’ve seen myself, but a sense I get. Like I’ve known all the warriors who’ve ever lived. Many of them lack fear.”

“Ha, well, not me.”

“That’s what makes you braver than most.”

Heat singed my cheeks. “Let’s change the subject.”

“All right.” His gaze sharpened. “You developed new magic back in the tomb.”

“Actually, let’s talk about how brave I am.”

His keen gaze pinned me like a bug. I swallowed hard, the heat inside me intensifying into a searing discomfort.

I was majorly attracted to a guy I couldn’t trust.

Sure he was honorable, but where did that honor lie?

Not with me. He barely knew me.

And sure, the Protectorate said they wanted me and Ana, but would they still want us when they learned what we were? They wanted our skills and power, but they didn’t know where that magical power came from. Even we didn’t know that. But my mother had sure put the fear of discovery into us.

“Bree. You can tell me.” His deep voice was soothing.

Except that it did just the opposite for me. “Not much to tell.”

“You have serious power. Magic that you need to learn to control.”

“I will.”

“I understand that you’re wary,” he said. “I’ll help you.”

“Okay.” Yeah, right.

“I mean it.”

“Hmmm hmmm.” I stood and wandered over to the window, knowing that I was blowing this. I wasn’t doing a good job at deflecting his interest or attention, but I wasn’t used to having a real conversation with anyone besides Ana. Or Rowan, when she’d been around.

The rest of our life was fighting and bullshitting with our clients. This ‘up close and personal’ stuff was like a dog trying to speak English. And I was the dog.

“You should eat. The pizza is getting cold.” I pushed open the window and leaned out, sucking in the warm, fresh air.

The sight below was breathtaking—the wide Grand Canal stretched out in both directions, moonlight glittering on the water. Huge mansions lit by golden light loomed on either side, and colorful boats floated below.

It’d be really romantic if I weren’t scared for my life. And Ana’s.

That was my priority right now. Then figuring out if we’d stay at the Protectorate. I was scared of revealing what I really was, but I was also scared of my new powers.

So, which was more frightening?

I had no idea.

I turned back to Cade.

He was eating a slice of pizza and watching me, a ridiculous activity that he somehow managed to make look sexy.

Oh, I was an idiot.

“We need to figure out where Ricketts went,” I said. “If he has another bolt hole.”

Cade nodded. “We will. But first, we’ll rest. You look like you’re about to fall over.”

I felt like it, too. But now that an antidote had been found, the worst of our time crunch had passed. “Okay. Tomorrow we’ll get started.” I turned and inspected the large room. “Which way to a bedroom?”

He pointed left, to a doorway near the windows. “Take that one. There are women’s clothes in the armoire. And I’ll see you in the morning.”

I nodded, not bothering to say goodnight, then turned and headed to the bedroom.

I flicked on the light, getting a glimpse of a bedroom that looked like something a king would sleep in—all ivory and gold again—and immediately headed for the bed.

I barely made it out of my dirty clothes before falling face-first onto the downy mattress. As I drifted off, images of Cade flashed through my mind, along with snippets of the conversation I’d heard through the door at Ricketts’s headquarters.

* * *

Hours later, I shot awake, heart pounding

I know where Ricketts is.