I wasn't ready to face the firing squad, but who is ever ready for that? The Valentinos were not The Sopranos, I knew that much, although certain situations could have been avoided if people just talked to each other.

I had already switched from coffee to a Shirley Temple when Vincent's laptop blinked to life. Colin's smiling mug popped up first, which had me grinning back. I could always count on him to lighten the mood, but the other faces around him were not so light.

Charleton and Jonathan sat on either side of Colin, and both wore smiles I saw right through, while Wren and Amelia huddled in the background, faking it. Damn. Maybe this was The Sopranos.

"Hi Reese. I'm glad to see you're still in one piece," Colin joked.

"Were you expecting my cremated remains? I'm fine. And I'm convinced I will never live underground. How are you?"

"My sleep schedule is shit, but it's been uncharacteristically quiet around here. More free time to worry about you."

"Thank you for that endearing greeting, Colin." Vincent slipped his fingers between mine as he usurped the conversation. "Did you get the contract from our European friends?"

"We're waiting for one more signature, but everything should be in my hands by noon."

"Good catch on that, by the way," Vincent said. "You found what my team missed. Saved the foundation six figures."

I watched Colin's face light up, although he tried to hide it. "Well, the foundation deserves it more than those greedy bastards."

Charleton patted Colin's shoulder roughly. "Everyone came out winners, Colin. Now, let's hear what these two have to share with us. Reese, tell us about your experience in the hive."

I looked at Vincent at the same time he looked at me and I felt like wetting my pants. "Well, the reception I got was mixed, some were less happy to meet me than others, and there was one incident where a girl tried to put my lights out while I was sleepwalking, but other than that... an informative visit. I could have done without the spelunking aspect. I'm not a fan of caves or tunnels, but they have the best shower in existence. It's in an aquifer."

"So, one temp fits all?" Colin said. "How cold was it?"

"Not too bad once your skin went numb."

"What about light?" Wren asked from her position behind Charleton. "Do they really use the eternal flame?"

"Yes, they do. And the queen's chamber looks like an orange lantern made of honeycomb. Completely sci-fi. That's where I talked to Cecile and her daughter, Hadria. They're after an amulet with supernatural powers. Cecile asked my birth mother to steal it, but it never made it to the hive. Apparently, my mother's hybrid nature gave her privileges in churches and temples."

"That's right," Charleton said, bringing his face closer to the screen and nudging Colin aside. "Hybrids and their gollum parents have always been welcome on sacred soil. So, Cecile wants you to get this amulet for her, I take it?"

"Yes, and she gave me a list of places she thinks it might be. Specifically, she believes it's in the hands of my grandmother at a convent in Chicago, or with a domus nearby."

"And what form does this amulet take?" Charleton pressed. "Can you describe it to me."

I gestured to Vincent, since he seemed to know more about the piece than me. "It's a pre-seventeenth century Seal of Solomon forged in gold."

"Oh?" Something passed between Charleton and Vincent, and I speed read their faces. They knew about the amulet. "What does Cecile plan to do with this supernatural artifact once you give it to her?" Charleton asked.

"The amulet is for Hadria. It will keep her from aging," I said. "Cecile already has an amulet. It's an ankh worn by a pharaoh."

"Two queens in one hive? That's unprecedented," Wren complained in the background.

"Yes, it is," Charleton said. "All the domi need to be informed."

"Cecile wrote me a confidential letter explaining herself," I cut in. "The only reason she wants the second amulet is to appease Hadria. Cecile says Hadria is plotting to kill her and rule with an iron fist, so Cecile needs time to train a new queen. Then she'll take out Hadria."

"Now, there's a nurturing family, right there," Colin quipped. This earned him a brotherly shoulder bump from Jonathan. 

"Did Cecile threaten you if you didn't comply?" Charleton asked. "Did she give you a time frame?"

"No. She didn't pressure me with a time frame, like the next full moon or something."

"You're telling us she made her request, patted you on the butt, and sent you on your way?" Colin said.

Vincent leaned forward as he took his turn at the podium. "Cecile is clearly playing the ally card. Reese has ties to the hive. Her mother was raised there. My guess is there are demon scouts outside our door right now, tasked with keeping an eye on her. If Reese doesn't attempt to seek out the amulet, they will move in and apply pressure."

"I agree with you, Vincent," Charleton said. "And, there are several ways this can be played, which we will discuss at length later. Right now, we need to make the domus whole again." Charleton threw the gauntlet before I was ready, and it felt like a right hook, but his face looked more sympathetic than angry. "In your absence, Vincent, there has been much discussion among the New York domi. I'm not going to sugar coat it. We are far from an accord, but there is one matter we all agree on. That is, to protect Reese."

My stomach did a little flip, and Vincent squeezed my hand, reminding me of his presence.

"As far as bringing Reese back to the Valentino domus," Charleston went on. "An agreement has not been reached. It is proposed she live in her apartment under surveillance pro tem." Charleton gave a nod to Vincent, which looked something like an apology, then his empathetic gaze fell on me. "Don't worry, Reese. I foresee an inevitable agreement, if your mate has anything to say about it."

"Does this mean my vacation is over?" I said, smiling awkwardly to cover my nerves.

Colin brought his face up close to the screen. "Are you saying you don't miss us?"

"Of course not. I've grown fond of your mugs, although the rescues are getting excessive. I think this makes four."

"Five," he and Vincent corrected me simultaneously.

"Ask them how soon can they be home?" Wren called out.

"Tomorrow morning," Vincent answered her. "I want to continue Reese's flight training tonight so we don't have to rescue her again. I will let you know when we're back in the city."

"Flight training on the beach, eh?" Colin smirked. "How's that working out for you, Reese? Have you puked on Vincent yet?"

"Only one close call," Vincent replied. "On our flight back from the hive. But she managed to keep her stomach in check."

"In my defense, Ward and his friend were talking about pickled eggs and how many they could fit in their mouths at once. A visual like that would make anyone gag."

Colin and Jonathan laughed. "Ward grew up in rural Maryland. What he lacks in street smarts, he makes up for in survival skills," Jonathan offered. "We'll see you two soon. Valentinos out."

Just before Jonathan disconnected the call, I heard Colin argue that he was acting magister, and Jonathan needed to keep his paws off the keyboard. I had to ask.

"Is Colin acting magister while you're away?"

"Yes. Normally, it would be the second in line, but Jonathan is a father and that role takes precedence."

"So, if you were no longer magister, Colin would take your place?"

Vincent turned to catch me in his gaze. He looked battle fatigued. "If the situation were more permanent, upon my death, let's say, Jonathan would assume the post. I awarded Colin the temporary position to give him something to do. He threw a tantrum when he couldn't come with me to the hive."

"A tantrum?" I tried not to smirk but failed miserably, which had Vincent looking obstinate.

"Colin's obsession with you is going to put me into an early grave," he said. "That is, if I don't kill him first."

"C'mon, Vincent. Colin is not obsessed with me. He might be obsessed with the idea of me. I'm a female gollum who isn't tied to her domus, but our relationship begins and ends at friendship."

"That's my point. His obsession is with your friendship. You and he established that bond before you and I did. It's something he likes to hold over my head."

I brought my lips within kissing range of Vincent's mouth as he tried to appear wounded. "You're the one I think about twenty-four-seven. And it's your arms I want wrapped around me after sex."

This brought a small smile to his lips. "Volo carnalis et vera amoris. Carnal desire and true love."

There's not much else a girl wants to hear than a love sonnet spoken in Latin, and with his uncanny ability to read me like a book, Vincent swaddled me in his arms and reclined on the couch, nuzzling up to my neck. Yeah, the amoris was real.