Imitation and Alchemy: An Elemental Legacy Novella Read Free Page A

it?” he asked through the door as he splashed water on his face and pulled off his sweat-stained shirt.
    “Not too bad yet,” she said. “But July is just around the corner.”
    He walked out and caught her admiring his bare chest with an arched eyebrow.
    “I don’t have many clothes,” he said. “I’ll need to go shopping.”
    “I can go with you tomorrow.” She sat up and went to the wardrobe, opening it and surveying the contents with a frown. “You’re right.” She threw a shirt at him and closed the doors. “Wear that for dinner. It’ll do. We’re meeting some friends tonight by the river.”
    “Is the fair going on?”
    “ Sul Lungotevere, ” she said. “Good restaurants this year.”
    During the summer, the banks of the Tiber were taken over by restaurants and vendors who took advantage of the cool evenings to lure locals and tourists to the river. It was a combination of food, drink, and art that Fabi had told him about, but he’d never had a chance to visit.
    “You can meet Elias.” Fabi fell back on the bed. “I really like him, Ben. He’s kind. Smart, but not full of himself—”
    “Not like me then.” He grinned at her as he dressed.
    “No, not like you.” She rolled her eyes. “He is handsome though. His mother is Ethiopian. He’s gorgeous. And so tall.”
    “You trying to make me jealous?”
    “Is it even possible?”
    Maybe. He couldn’t decide yet. Fabi was an old friend, so it was nice to see her happy. That didn’t mean he’d give this guy a free pass because she thought he was handsome. Ben was protective of the women in his life, especially the human ones.
    He buttoned up the shirt. “So dinner with Angie and drinks after?”
    “Yes. I called Ronan and Gabi too. They’re going to meet us. Gabi will want to sleep with you now that you have a beard. Ronan might too. Just warning you.”
    Ben laughed. “And yet, neither one is my type. It’ll be good to see ’em both.”
    Ben and Fabi’s group of friends in Rome mostly consisted of other young people who had—like them—grown up under vampire aegis in some way. Ronan’s parents worked for Emil Conti, the immortal leader of Rome and most of Italy, while Gabi’s family was involved with the vampires at the Vatican. Gabi and Ronan didn’t offer information; Ben didn’t ask.
    When you grew up with vampires, you learned to be careful which questions you asked.
    But it was easy to be with a group of people who understood where you were coming from. Darkness didn’t hold the same allure when you grew up walking half your life in it. Their friends understood that.
    “So why did you decide to come to Rome in June?” she asked as they walked toward the smell of meatballs. “Not that it’s not nice to see you, but—”
    “I’m visiting friends.” He put his hand at the small of her back and ushered her into the courtyard where Angie was setting a small table for the three of them. “And I’m delivering some things for my uncle. And…” He sighed. “Still trying to figure out what I’m going to do, you know? Sometimes it’s easier to think when I’m not in LA.”
    She touched his jaw in understanding. They’d spoken of post-university plans at Christmas.
    “Any ideas yet?” Fabi asked.
    “Maybe. Nothing definite. You?”
    She shrugged. “I’m an attractive twenty-five-year-old Roman girl with degrees in archeology and art history. What do you think I’m going to do?”
    “Tour guide?”
    “Of course!” She smiled ruefully. “If I can build up a good private clientele, I can make a decent living. And I’ll set my own schedule. I like that.”
    “I like the idea,” Angela said as she placed a dish of olives on the table. “As long as she stays in the house and helps me here.”
    Ben raised his eyebrows. “Yeah? Like, permanently?”
    “I’m thinking about it,” Fabi said. “Zia Angela says she could use the help.”
    “I’m not getting any younger,” Angie chided. “And Signor