Normally, any kind of sparring was disallowed on the palace grounds, but Elder Zhang had overheard Beatrice whining about feeling cooped up one night and generously offered the gardens for her to practice, promising he would smooth any ruffled feathers in the court as long as she and Baojia were careful.

Beatrice had been overjoyed she would be able to escape the confines of Tenzin’s quarters.

Giovanni had not.

“Stupid, overbearing—”

“Beatrice, if you hack that scholar’s stone, I will disarm you! Focus.”

She shook her head and brought her mind back. The fight with Giovanni could wait. He had certainly stormed off in a huff, smoke pouring from his collar as he stalked back to the library, ostensibly to help Stephen translate more of some Greek manual for Elder Lu’s monks to examine.

The two scholars were sending letters back and forth to the mysterious monastery that no one knew the location of except for the Eight Immortals. Stephen had visited, but had been blindfolded for the journey. Not even the highest-ranking administrators knew the secret site of the protected library where the book was being kept.

Nor did anyone know where Elder Lan had gone. No word had reached Mount Penglai about the strange immortal’s whereabouts, so the whole palace was in a kind of holding pattern. Tension blanketed the grounds, affecting everyone.

Especially Beatrice.

Her martial arts were improving exponentially, mostly because practicing was all she could do. She had progressed in her weapons training to the point that Baojia had moved her from dull weapons to sharp and was practicing more aggressively with her. The strange chemistry Beatrice sensed from her teacher had not dissipated in the tense atmosphere, which only added to the overall stress she was feeling. Even the weight of his stare was starting to bother her.

“Again.” Baojia’s blade slapped hers and she backed away. “Try that combination again, only this time, try not thinking about your boyfriend.”

“Shut up!”

He snarled at her, getting in her face when she glared at him. “Do not order me around, little girl. Do you think I care about your hurt feelings? You wanted to learn from me, so pay attention.”

She didn’t back down, stepping closer as she tossed her blade to the ground. “I’m done. Go bite something, Baojia.”

He grabbed her arm and spun her around when she tried to walk away. “You want me to bite something? I’ll tell you—”

“Well, isn’t this interesting.” Beatrice stiffened when she heard the mocking voice. “Whatever would my Papà say if he saw this little scene?”

She turned slowly to see Lorenzo sitting on a bench nearby, surrounded by guards.

“Beatrice,” Baojia warned quietly. “He’s baiting you. Ignore him.”

“Gio wouldn’t say anything to you, you slimy little bastard.” She spit at the blond vampire. “Leave me alone. Or were you going to try to grab me again? Not so brave when you don’t have others doing your dirty work, are you?”

Lorenzo’s blue eyes narrowed, and a smile flicked at the corner of his lips. In the blink of an eye, he stood before her, leaning down and hissing before Baojia could pull her behind him. Her bodyguard pressed her into his back, standing his ground as the palace guards intervened and stepped between the two water vampires. They pushed Lorenzo back and Beatrice heard a low snarl come from Baojia’s chest.

“Back away, Lorenzo.” She heard him say. “I have orders to protect this one, and I don’t care who your patron is. I will happily end you if you interfere with my assignment.”

“Everyone is in love with the little human.” Lorenzo laughed. “It’s all so amusing. Such a precious little girl. I do hope she wanders in my direction soon.”

“I very much doubt that will happen,” Baojia said as Beatrice slumped against his back, suddenly exhausted and wishing she could run away. Despite her fear, she didn’t want to show any weakness in front of her old antagonist, so she straightened up and stepped out from her protector’s shadow.

“Run along, Lorenzo,” she called. “No one wants to play with you today.”

“I’ll just have to see if I can change your mind,” he said with a wink and a smile before he jumped across the stream and strolled back to the opposite side of the palace gardens.

They both watched him until he was out of sight. Baojia finally turned to her.

“Don’t be brave. Bravado will get you killed.”

Beatrice only shrugged and turned to walk back to Tenzin’s. “So will fear.”

He caught up with her. “I request that you do not make my job more difficult for me, Beatrice De Novo.”

“Afraid of my grandfather’s wrath if I get hurt?”

“Of course I am. I’m not an idiot. Also…”

“What?” She stopped and turned to him, suddenly desperate to know why he watched her the way he did. It had become more than just the obvious male appreciation she was used to. His dark eyes searched her face.

“I find you… worthwhile. For a human.”

She snorted. “Worthwhile?”

He frowned. “I would find it very unpleasant if anything were to happen to you, B.”

Beatrice had no idea what to say to him, and her heart was racing in her chest. Baojia looked as if he was on the edge of saying something else, so she turned abruptly and retreated to her room.

Chapter Eleven

Mount Penglai, China