Chapter 10
There were very few times in Marcella's life that she wished she had kept her mouth shut.
She blamed having Cosimo in her apartment and looking at her research for her complete lack of tact.
She had gotten so flustered by his energy in her space, she had blurted out about not sleeping with him before thinking it through, and now, she looked like a complete madwoman.
What the hell is the matter with you? She usually had far better timing with such things.
Cosimo had taken her outburst in stride with a gentle kind of rejection that had left her feeling even more awkward. She couldn't actually remember the last time a man had rejected her. It was always the other way around.
They had fallen back into talking through her research, and some of the tenseness had eased once more.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to share some of this with Bridget," Cosimo said, looking at her wall. He hadn't made any comment about it looking like a crazy person's house either, and she was strangely grateful for that.
"I suppose, but can I ask why?"
Cosimo grinned. "She's good at researching.
All my children are, but Bridget has also seen my research for the Medici Grimoire.
She can catch up on your half while we look for Maria, and knowing my daughter, she will start putting it together.
If she gets stuck, she will reach out to Layla, Charlotte's sister, who is also a research wiz. "
Marcella's chest squeezed in a moment of panic. She had been working on this on her own for so long that sharing it with others felt wrong.
Cosimo seemed to notice her inner struggle without her having to say a word.
"You want us to find it, and we can't do both right now.
Maria's dragon is waking up, and I can't wait," he said softly.
"I know how hard it is to let people in to help sometimes, but they will never break your trust by sharing it with others.
This is still within the family, Marcella. Let them help."
Marcella blew out a breath, and the tension eased in her chest. "Okay, send her photos. I can forward her my electronic files too. I am a bit of an organization freak when it comes to my research filing."
"Bridget will love that," Cosimo chuckled. He started taking pictures of her walls and sending them off. He gave her Bridget's email, and Marcella only hesitated a second before sending through her life's work. She was stuck and needed help. Would more eyes on it really be the answer?
"I still want to see your Medici Grimoire research for myself. And your library," Marcella said, watching him move about the room. He was truly a handsome man, but knowing it came with a big brain and a charming family was bordering on unfair.
Marcella had gotten home late from their dinner the night before, and her apartment had seemed so quiet and empty. It was ridiculous. She had never felt lonely since leaving Carlo. She had enough family drama to last her for a lifetime.
Unfortunately, dinner with the Greatdrakes had reminded her that sometimes she did miss being part of a bigger group that knew each other so well, with the constant teasing banter between them.
Cosimo looked over at her, his gray eyes amused. "You're welcome to come to Ireland whenever you like to see my research and the library, Marcella. The house is massive, with plenty of guest rooms, so you would have space and privacy."
Marcella was tempted to say she would stay at a hotel, but she was too curious to see the inside of a magical mansion.
"Let's see if we can find your sister first," she said, feeling hot under her sweater. She was starting to hate that he could do that to her with a smile.
Last night in the garden, she had been so tempted to kiss him, just to get it out of the way. She had tried dating in the past but never found anyone worthwhile. She hadn't wanted to kiss someone for a long time.
Santa Maria, save me from my own stupidity and handsome, clever men.
Cosimo had just told her he wasn't interested. She would have made a proper fool out of herself if she had tried to kiss him, so it was a good thing she had kept her lips to herself.
Marcella looked away from Cosimo for her own mental well-being and started searching through the drawers of her desk. She found the folder that contained her divorce paperwork and took out Carlo's card. She had made sure she never put his number into her new phone, wanting to make a fresh start.
"Is it too early for wine? I think I need wine," she said, putting the card on her desk like it was going to bite her.
Cosimo looked over his shoulder at her. "Would you like me to leave?"
"No. No. Stay. It's not that. He's just going to be an asshole," Marcella replied with a groan.
"Sounds like it is his natural state," came Cosimo's reply. He closed the book he was looking through and came and sat on the edge of her desk. "Want me to do it?"
"No. It's fine. I just need to work up my courage a bit," she admitted. Hearing Carlo's voice was going to stir up old memories she didn't want to have to think about.
But a deal was a deal, and she would do anything to find Caterina's grimoire.
Cosimo reached out and placed a warm hand over hers. "I only know you a little, but I can say with complete certainty that courage isn't something you lack. You came into the Uffizi ready to fight me a few days ago. Bring that Marcella back."
She couldn't help but smile. "Easier said than done."
Cosimo's eyes darkened to a purple that she had only seen at dinner when he had threatened her.
And called you his treasure, her mind provided unhelpfully. She hadn't dared bring that up again.
"He might act like an asshole, but I won't let him hurt you. You are under my protection, remember?" he said.
"So you keep saying. When your eyes change like that, is it your dragon?" Marcella asked. She had noticed how his children's eyes sometimes did the same thing.
Cosimo removed his hand from the top of hers and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Yes. Sorry if it disturbs you. It doesn't like that you are scared right now."
"I'm not..."
"It can smell it. Your scent has changed," Cosimo said, his eyes still that deep Tyrian purple.
Marcella shifted uneasily. "That's disconcerting. Stop sniffing me."
"It's not intentional," Cosimo replied, his grin making an appearance. "My dragon really likes your perfume."
"Then it can buy its own bottle. It's called Rosa Moceniga by The Merchant of Venice," Marcella said primly, picking up Carlo's card. If it came between dealing with her ex and Cosimo's flirty dragon, then she knew which one she had to choose.
Marcella took out her phone and dialed the number. She swore under her breath and then pressed the speaker phone button.
"Pronto," Carlo answered.
"It's... It's Marcella. I've been asked—"
"I knew you would give in one day and try to come crawling back," Carlo interrupted her.
Marcella glanced up at the ceiling and prayed to all her saints for patience.
"I'm not calling to try to come back, Carlo. I've been asked to act as an emissary between a client and your mother. Is she around?"
"You can talk to me before wasting Renata's time," he said stiffly.
Marcella glanced over at Cosimo and mouthed, 'See? Asshole.'
Cosimo smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. He looked like he wanted to smash her phone.
Mio Dio. That shouldn't turn her on the way it did.
"Well, you are wasting my time right now, Carlo, so listen closely.
My client is searching for any information related to Maria Greatdrakes.
Apparently, she was in the area a few decades ago.
She was searching for a temple to Minerva and met with some of the streghe.
I wanted to see if Renata knew anything about it.
It was before her time leading the congrega," Marcella said quickly before Carlo could interrupt her.
"Greatdrakes. I heard they are magicians. What the fuck are you doing messing with them, huh? You should stay the fuck out of their messes," Carlo replied, his attitude still firmly in the dark ages when it came to any outsiders.
"One of the great things about no longer being married to you is that I don't have to answer to you anymore about who I associate with," Marcella said, trying not to hang up on him.
"We are still married in the eyes of God."
"Which one? Certainly not any of mine," Marcella snapped back. "And not according to the legal paperwork I have in front of me."
"Pieces of paper mean nothing. I took your virgin blood.
It is a covenant that nothing can break.
Your body will always be mine, no matter how far you run, no matter who you fuck.
You will always know, deep down, that it was mine first and always," Carlo said, deepening his voice.
"Doesn't your body miss me the way mine misses you? "
"No." Marcella cleared her throat and wished she hadn't put this call on speaker. "Ask Renata about the information. She will know who the Greatdrakes are, who their extended family is, and will know that working with them is a good idea." She hung up before Carlo could spout any more nonsense.
"Still a fucking stronzo," she muttered.
"You know I could have him castrated for you," Cosimo said with a chilling calm. "I could throw it into our deal as a special bonus, free of charge."
"If you do that, what will he use to think with?" Marcella said, trying to lighten the mood.
The dragon was still burning in Cosimo's eyes, and she knew he meant every word of the threat. A dark, forbidden thrill ran through her at the thought of saying yes to the offer.
"You can change your mind at any time," he said and brushed a curl away from her eyes, the slight touch leaving her skin burning. "I mean it, Marcella. He hurts you, he gets hurt in return."
Marcella had never had anyone act so protective over her, and she wasn't sure how to handle it. Her parents had always known she could take care of herself, and Carlo learned it when she left him.
"I don't need your protection," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
"I know, but it doesn't mean you don't still have it and my family's. We look after our friends."
Marcella frowned. "And we are friends now?"
"Yes. You've sat at my table and eaten with my children. I don't let just anyone do that," Cosimo replied. "And I don't offer to let simple colleagues stay at the Greatdrakes mansion either."
"Has anyone told you that you are a little intense?" Marcella said with a strained laugh. She didn't know how to deal with this man. She couldn't flirt and charm him. It was infuriating that he could look straight through her.
"Not recently. I'd like to say it's the dragon, but it's also me. I tend to decide quickly if I like people. My family likes to say that I can't help adopting people," he said with a fond grin that he usually had when talking about them.
"I don't need a daddy," Marcella said and almost smacked herself in the face when she realized what she had said.
Cosimo's smile only widened in a way that it shouldn't after telling her he wasn't interested in sleeping with her.
"Everyone needs a daddy sometimes," he teased. "You had better get used to the idea that we are adopting you, too, because once the other dragons and fae meet you, you'll see what overprotective really means."
"You don't even know me! You are all crazy," Marcella said, throwing her hands up and laughing to hide her embarrassment. She didn't know how to respond to anything that just came out of his mouth.
"We are, and we aren't the only ones," Cosimo said and gestured at her office covered in her obsessive research. "But, as they say, you are our kind of crazy."
Marcella realized that there was no arguing with a dragon about how it was too early in their friendship to be acting so possessive, so she tried to focus on something that was neutral ground. "Tell me more about Maria and this temple she was looking for."