“I think Gioia means ‘joy,’” Elvi explained quietly when Allie looked confused at the man using the wrong name. “A term of endearment.”

“Oh,” Allie whispered, and then glanced back to the couple as the kiss ended and Leonora laughed.

“No. It’s not me that smells so good.” Raising a hand to run it affectionately over his cheek, she murmured, “It’s the omelet. I think there’s some left. Did you want some?”

“Sì,” he said abruptly, straightening. “I am a poor hungry man whose wife abandoned him to go play with her friends.”

Leonora snorted. “Nonsense, Alessandro. You and Edward were playing that video game and didn’t even notice when I left.”

Alessandro grinned. “Sì. The game is good. Etienne, he has done it again. But I did notice you left, and missed you at once.”

“Victor’s brother, Etienne, creates video games,” Elvi explained to Allie. “He has a new one coming out soon and sent a couple of beta copies to Victor to be tested. Alessandro and Edward were kind enough to offer to try it out too.”

“Oh,” Allie said with a smile, and then froze when Alessandro’s attention settled on her and he smiled widely.

“You must be the Allison my wife came to help with, sì?” he said, moving around the table to take her hand.

“Oh, well . . .” Her gaze shot to Leonora. “Yes, I guess I must be.”

“Bella. Welcome to Port Henry,” Alessandro said, pressing a kiss to her hand. “But you are too pale. You must eat, sì? Or my wife, she will worry. So mangia, mangia.” He released her hand and then disappeared around the counter, returning a moment later with a plate and fork to claim the seat next to Leonora.

Allie glanced around the table then, taking in everyone there and realizing quite suddenly that she’d spent the last four years running from vampires, and yet for the second time in as many days found herself sitting at a table with a large group of them as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Immortals, dear,” Elvi corrected as if she’d spoken aloud. “Now eat. Alessandro is right. You need to rebuild your strength.”

Allie flushed and turned her attention back to her food, concentrating on the taste and texture in an effort to silence the thoughts in her head. It was extremely discomfiting to have people reading your thoughts all the time. It made her want to get as far away from them as possible, which was a shame, because they all seemed rather nice.

Nine

“Time to take your pulse and temperature.”

Allie had just finished her last bite of omelet when Leonora made that announcement and stood to move around the table to her side.