Mia tried to relax, but the thought of the Shadow Assassin wouldn't leave her. Her godfather didn't seem too upset by having some crazy-ass immortal with unknown powers just running around his territory, but she had no idea why.
She really, really wished Julien were here. Her brother could play mind games and deal with unknown powers much better than she could, but he was on a business trip in Singapore. She knew he would come back if she asked, but it felt cowardly and unreasonable to do so.
"He is, by all accounts, an honourable man and only wants what is his anyway. Meet him in a public place and don't threaten him too much. But just in case, do not be alone with him. The accounts of his power are not verified yet," the High Warlock had said when he had instructed her to relay the message.
"You want me to be nice to some possibly immortal witch who wants to steal one of your most prized possessions?" she had asked.
She was not quite sure if her godfather had not lost his marbles. He had always been very eccentric, but not insane. The death of his oldest friend had shaken him to the core, she knew, so she didn't want to make life more difficult for him by arguing.
"Mia, I wouldn't put you in his way if I thought he was dangerous."
"How do you even know what he is?"
"I have been waiting for him for decades. I will explain to you when we see each other. It is not something one can talk about on the phone. But just in case I am wrong, don't try to fight him. The Benevento will take care of him if he approaches Italy, and the island has enough defences. I will return as soon as the funeral is over."
She may have gone a bit overboard with the police, but she couldn't risk him being unreasonable and going anyway. Amadeo Visconti didn't take prisoners, and if Uncle Gio wanted the man alive, she would do her best to grant him that wish.
She exhaled and sat up on the lounge chair on the rather empty beach. It was early in the morning, and breathing in the sea breeze and watching the waves on the blue waters always calmed and revived her. She pulled her cardigan closer around her and got out her phone to check for messages when she heard the sound of feet on the pebble gravel.
She turned around, hoping it wasn't one of her older neighbours eager for a chat, then sighed inwardly as she saw the tall figure of Li Tian Yi.
Before she had met him, she had somehow imagined he would look either like an old sage or a young prince. She had definitely watched too many fantasy dramas in which immortals looked like either pretty boys or grandpas.
This man had no baby face and doe eyes. His face was rather narrow, with a strong chin, high cheekbones, and eyebrows that were naturally arched upwards, giving him a stern look. The eyes were so dark that one couldn't really tell where the pupil stopped and the iris started. His nose was high-bridged, but flatter and broader at the tip, with a tiny birthmark dot on it.
There was something very masculine and strict about that face, even though his lips were very full and dark pink, which made him look like somewhat of a reprobate. His hair was cut very short on the sides, but the cover hair was full and swept up from his forehead in a stylish-looking haircut that went well with the perfectly tailored suit he had worn the previous evening. Except now he had exchanged it for a white linen outfit that looked just as exquisite and expensive, yet totally out of place in the small fishing village
"Hello, lady," he said with unhidden reproach.
She was suddenly aware of her old comfortable jeans and scuffed red sneakers, as well as her complete lack of make-up. It made her feel quite frumpy in comparison to his sartorial elegance.
She pushed that ridiculous feeling down and raised her eyebrows at him.
"They let you go already?"
He put down a wicker basket next to her beach chair and pulled another one closer to sit next to her.
"I have good lawyers. I was out in an hour. It just took me longer than expected to find you," he said.
"You shouldn't have bothered."
"Has no one ever told you that beauty alone doesn't excuse a lack of charm?"
She gave him her best imitation of a simpering smile.
"I am sure you can find a paid companion who will offer both if you return to Split."
He sighed and bit his full lower lip. His teeth were rather large, but straight and white, and fit his face perfectly. It was a handsome face that somehow became even more so the longer she looked at it. She quickly shook that thought off and looked out at the sea.
"I apologise for mistaking you for a paid companion, Ms Novak. It is not that you look like one, you just looked out of place there all alone, and the waitress' reaction to your arrival misled me," he explained.
That made her turn to him again, and he smiled slightly, then continued: "I've been told you had a very memorable brawl with a man who tried to disrespect you in that hotel."
Now that was definitely not a topic she wanted to discuss. Or even remember. And anyway, it had been years ago. Couldn't people just mind their own business or find some new scandal?
"So what can I do for you to accept my apology?", he asked.
"Stay put and don't make any trouble."
"I am here, am I not? Shouldn't you be happy that I am right under your nose and not fighting Italian witches?"
"Did you actually plan to fight them?"
"There was no need. I could just sneak by them. They wouldn't recognise me as a magic user."
"You don't want to meet their Seeker."
"I don't think that would make a difference."
"She may not recognise what you are exactly, but she would recognise that you are not anything that is familiar to her."
"I doubt they let an old lady patrol beaches."
Mia snorted. "Let her? She is the one letting others do what she decides. But at least you had the good sense to gather some information."
"Well, apparently, I somehow missed you. No one told me there was someone like you in Croatia."
"You should really check your sources."
"I assume you will not tell me about yours?"
"Mine?"
"How did you know that I was coming?"
"The High Warlock told me. Not that I would tell you if I knew how he knows, but I really don't. He just sent me to politely ask you to wait, because I was here anyway."
"You thought that was a polite request?"
"I would have asked you politely had you not been a patronising bastard."
"And the cocaine?"
"Just a precaution."
"Where do you even get a kilo of pure cocaine? I heard the High Warlock doesn't allow for criminals among his ranks."
"He doesn't. A friend of mine took it from a rogue witch and inconveniently dumped it on me."
He shook his head and opened the wicker basket.
"A peace offering," he said.
She flinched back as she saw the octopus salad. He misunderstood.
"Give me some credit, lady. It would be pretty stupid of me to poison the High Warlock's godchild and his successor's adopted sister. I hear the latter is not as indulgent and forgiving as the old man."
"I just don't like fish and tentacles," she said.
He offered her grapes and salty breadsticks instead, and she took the grapes. He plucked two off the stem in her hand, probably to show her that they weren't poisoned.
"I assume you won't tell me who you get your information from?" she asked.
"I don't think that would be of much use to you. It is hearsay from talkative witches and regular resources anyone with money can buy. I don't have a spy in your ranks, if that's what you fear."
She looked at him closely. "I understand that it is relatively easy to find out that my godfather is out of Italy. What I do not understand is how you know where that sword is or that he has it. It is not something that is widely known or shared even among the most trusted European witches."
"It was bound to me when it was forged. I will always be able to find it."
She opened her mouth and closed it again. That sword was centuries old, but he could pass for anything from mid-twenties to mid-thirties, depending on his expression. Mostly depending on that smile, really. It had been patronising yesterday, never reaching his cold eyes and not softening his stony expression. Now it looked genuine and warm, making him look boyish.
But she couldn't trust that.
"Can we go somewhere else?" he asked, interrupting her speculations.
She hesitated.
"Has your godfather forbidden you to be alone with me because he thinks I'll hurt you? Or because he fears you'll break a few of my bones if I annoy you?" he asked.
"He said neither, but I assume it was a bit of both," Mia admitted.
"I promise I don't intend to hurt you."
"I believe you."
"You are very trusting."
"I'm not. I just don't think you're an idiot. Why would you risk his wrath when you can get what you want anyway, just by talking to him?"
"Was that a compliment or are you reminding me, just in case I'm an idiot after all?"
"It was just a statement of fact," she said and got up. "Let's go to my house."
She just hoped she wouldn't have to regret that.