“Why didn’t you tell anyone?” Tenzin asked.

He shook his head, continuing to stare at Beatrice. “Her idea. She wanted a more formal ceremony after all this was over. I thought it was silly, but she insisted. Why are we talking about this?”

“Because they are waiting for you to erupt again.” He heard Baojia’s stiff voice from the edge of the room. He could feel the vampire leave, but Tenzin remained, moving closer to him and placing a hand on his shoulder.

“I’m very, very angry with you both, but now is not the time for that.” He continued to stroke Beatrice’s hair, tucking it behind her ear so it wouldn’t fall in her face.

“It was her idea.”

He whispered, “I’m angry with her, as well.”

No one said anything. All three were focused on Beatrice as she drank. He could feel her amnis begin to pulse, and he knew she was almost finished feeding. She would not wake until nightfall the next day. He finally tore his eyes from her and looked at Tenzin.

“Have you informed your father?”

“Stephen and I told him months ago.”

He just shook his head, stunned by her audacity. He shoved her hand from his shoulder.

“Get away from me.”

“You need to leave her with us and go to your room.”

“I’m not leaving her,” he scoffed.

“Giovanni.” She sat next to him, but he refused to look at her. “You know what changes her body will be going through as she turns. She didn’t want you to see that. You know this. There is a reason a sire takes care of his child.”

He swallowed once. “Don’t ask me to leave her.”

“I didn’t ask it. She did.”

A new ache pierced his heart, and Giovanni looked at Stephen, who only nodded before he returned to watching his daughter, cradling her as if she was an infant. As much as he wanted to stay with Beatrice, he knew her father was probably telling the truth. He would honor Beatrice’s wishes, even if she hadn’t honored his.

Watching Stephen hold her, he realized he felt more at ease leaving Beatrice in the care of her father than with his oldest friend. Tenzin tried to touch his bare shoulder again, but he brushed her off.

“My boy—”

“I’ll go,” he whispered. “Bring her to me before dawn. I don’t want her waking with anyone but me.”

Stephen nodded. “Fine.”

Beatrice stopped drinking and curled instinctively into her father’s arms. Giovanni gave one last brush to her cheek, leaned over to kiss her temple, then stood to go with clenched fists. He turned at the door to watch Tenzin crouch beside Stephen and Beatrice, guarding the room with watchful eyes. Then, he forced himself to walk back to their room and wait.

Tenzin knocked on the door hours later, and, without a word, Giovanni took Beatrice’s sleeping form from Stephen’s arms. They had bathed her, but a faint human smell still clung to her body. She seemed lighter than normal, and he was reminded how small she was beneath her bravado. He kicked the door closed before he walked to the bed and nestled her in the silk sheets. He secured the room, double-checking every safety measure, before he lay down with her. He took the sheet from her body and wrapped her in his arms, pressing her cold skin to warm her.

When Giovanni touched her, her energy twined with his, reaching out even in the black void of the deepest sleep. The touch of her amnis flooded him, and it was as if he could feel the brush of her small hands over his body. He lay utterly still, closed his eyes, and waited for her to rise.

When he opened his eyes an hour before dusk, Beatrice was pulsing with amnis, her senses already heightened though she wasn’t yet conscious. The hairs on her body stood on end and her skin was damp, the water in the air drawn to her as she rested. There was no question, she was most definitely her father’s daughter. And with Stephen drinking as much of Tenzin’s blood as he had been, she was going to be very, very powerful. He could read her energy signature already.

He rose, threw on a robe, and went to open the door. Nima was sitting on a bench outside.

“Nima?”

She looked up. “Yes, Gio?”

He paused, unsure of what to say.

“Has Tenzin informed you—”

“I know. I talked to Beatrice yesterday morning.”

He blinked. “You did?”

“Yes.” She smiled. “She was very peaceful about her decision. Only a little worried how you would react.”

“Of course.” He didn’t know how to respond to her. He was angry. Relieved. Furious. Unavoidably excited. He shook his head. “Is there blood available?”

“Tenzin has already arranged fresh donors. Beatrice was quite concerned about not draining anyone.”

“She would be.”

“It’s taken care of. We will keep it warm for her.” She motioned to one of Zhang’s younger vampires who he saw standing at the end of the hall. “Send for someone when it is needed.”

“Thank you, Nima.”

For the first time, he was grateful he was in Penglai, that she had made her change there. No other place in the world was more of an island for immortals. Everything in the palace revolved around their particular needs and foibles.

“And please let Beatrice know that all the human staff has been moved to another part of the quarters, so she doesn’t need to worry about them. I’m leaving now. I just wanted to speak to you before I left.”