Fire Maidens: Venice Read online

  She stopped at the threshold, taking a deep breath. Then she walked across the master bedroom and pushed open the shutters to peer down at the yard.

  “Ciao.” Fiorina waved.

  “Ciao,” Cara called back in a slightly wobbly voice.

  Tony hugged her from behind, knowing just how she felt. “You like it?”

  “I love it. But…but…”

  “But, what?”

  She shook her head slowly. “Nothing, I guess. I just can’t believe this is ours.”

  “Yours.”

  She shook her head firmly. “Ours.”

  He tipped his head against hers, gazing out over the canal. A view he would have been happy to take in for hours if Rocco hadn’t whistled and pointed to the roof. “There’s a deck up there. Have a look.”

  Cara’s eyes went wide. “It gets better?”

  Tony grinned. “Maybe.”

  Backtracking into the hall, they eyed a narrow wooden staircase. Cara tested the first step gingerly. “Will it hold?”

  “You go first and find out,” he joked.

  “And if I fall?”

  “You are a feline. We always land on our feet.”

  “Very funny, buster.” Cara play-slapped him, then turned back to the stairs. “Maybe if we stay along the wall…”

  The stairs creaked, and the handrail hung askew, but they both made it to a tiny landing, where they pushed open a trapdoor leading to the roof. A moment later, they were on the rooftop deck, blinking in the sunlight.

  “Oh. My. God,” Cara murmured. “This is amazing.”

  Most of the surrounding buildings were taller, but the canal gave them a narrow, unobstructed view of the lagoon and the Alps in the distance.

  “It is amazing,” he agreed.

  Cara walked a slow lap of the deck. “Just imagine. We could commute to work from our own private dock.”

  “We can shift and lie together in the sun,” he added. There wasn’t much space in Venice for a shifter to roam, but a property like this would let them stretch their legs between visits to the outer islands for a proper run.

  “I could row for fun…”

  “You could fly too.”

  She didn’t look so sure. “Maybe after some practice. A lot of practice.” Then she turned in a slow circle. “This place really is perfect. It just needs work. Okay, a hell of a lot of work. And money.”

  “There’s no rush, right? And may I remind you you’re rich now?”

  Cara blinked. “Oops, I keep forgetting.”

  He grinned. That was one of many things he loved about his mate. When he opened his arms, she slipped right in, and they hugged tightly. Then they both turned and looked out at the view.

  A long, quiet minute later, Cara whispered, “Your mother lives out in the mountains, doesn’t she?”

  He nodded. “My sisters too.”

  “Do you think they would like to visit sometime?”

  He grinned. “I’m sure they can be convinced.” Then he sighed and looked around.

  “What?”

  He motioned around. “For the past ten years, I’ve been dreaming of this. Not just returning to Venice, but to my family. It’s like I can see them all from here. My mother and sisters, over there in the Dolomites. We could drive there in half a day — all without asking a commanding officer for leave and without fearing arrest. My grandfather is right over there.” He pointed to a splotch of green in the lagoon. “I can visit any of them, anytime. Or I can stay here with you.”

  He took a deep breath. For the first time in years, he didn’t feel like a marionette. He was his own man, living his own life. A Guardian of Venice, no less. It was as if destiny had finally relinquished its hold on him and set him free.

  Free, his lion rumbled.

  He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the air of home — and the scent of his mate.

  Home, his lion hummed happily.

  It might have been his imagination, but he swore a low, earthy whisper drifted by on the breeze.

  You, warrior, have completed all I required of you. Now, I release you to your own fate. Do you think you can handle it?

  He smiled and pulled Cara closer. Oh, he could handle that, all right. Especially with his mate at his side.

  Cara hugged him back, reading his mind. “Funny, I was thinking the same thing.”

  * * *

  Thank you for reading Fire Maidens: Venice! If you enjoyed the story, please leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Reviews are the best way to thank an independent author for a story you’ve loved.

  The adventure, emotion, and passion continues in Book 8, Fire Maidens: Greece, Theo’s story. When he heads home to a picture-perfect island in the Mediterranean, all he’s focused on is claiming a vast inheritance. But love has a way of sneaking up when a dragon shifter least expects it! Click here for a sneak peek!

  EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPILOGUE: make sure you’re signed up for Anna Lowe’s newsletter to receive a FREE copy of Flyin’ Lion, the bonus epilogue to Fire Maidens: Venice plus three free books, two free audiobooks, and dozens of bonus scenes. Signing up also makes sure you’ll be the first to hear about new releases, exclusive stories, and great deals.

  Fire Maidens: Venice is also available in audio. Audio brings the story to life in a whole different way and can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime. While driving, cooking, walking… you can settle back, relax, and let the audio story sweep you away!

  Finally, you can read about the inspiration for Fire Maidens: Venice in the bonus materials section of Anna’s website, so please come and visit today!

  Sneak Peek: Fire Maidens: Greece

  After ten years in the military, dragon shifter Theo Lazaridis has a new mission: to check off the last of his father’s requirements and finally claim a vast inheritance. But plans are made to be rewritten and priorities change, especially when a fiery stranger appears and turns his world upside down.

  Zoe Thomas is living an archaeologist’s dream on a sun-kissed Greek island. That is, until startling new discoveries at her excavation site open a Pandora’s box of trouble — and puts her on a collision course with powerful forces straight out of Greek mythology.

  Much as her stubborn pride hates to admit it, Zoe needs help to protect an ancient wonder — and to survive. The problem is, the only person up to the challenge is a tantalizing mystery man she’s been warned not to get involved with… a man she finds impossible to resist.

  * * *

  Don’t miss Fire Maidens: Greece, Book 8 in Anna Lowe’s Billionaires and Bodyguards series. Get your copy today!

  Free books

  Get your free e-books now!

  Sign up for my newsletter at annalowebooks.com to receive:

  three free books (Desert Wolf, Off the Charts & Perfection)

  two free audiobooks (Rebel Heart & Paris Rose)

  and dozens of exclusive bonus scenes!

  Signing up also makes sure you’ll be the first to hear about new releases, exclusive stories, and great deals!

  Books by Anna Lowe

  Fire Maidens - Billionaires & Bodyguards

  Fire Maidens: Paris (Book 1)

  Fire Maidens: London (Book 2)

  Fire Maidens: Rome (Book 3)

  Fire Maidens: Portugal (Book 4)

  Fire Maidens: Ireland (Book 5)

  Fire Maidens: Scotland (Book 6)

  Fire Maidens: Venice (Book 7)

  Fire Maidens: Greece (Book 8)

  Fire Maidens: Switzerland (Book 9)

  Aloha Shifters - Jewels of the Heart

  Lure of the Dragon (Book 1)

  Lure of the Wolf (Book 2)

  Lure of the Bear (Book 3)

  Lure of the Tiger (Book 4)

  Love of the Dragon (Book 5)

  Lure of the Fox (Book 6)

  Aloha Shifters - Pearls of Desire

  Rebel Dragon (Book 1)

  Rebel Bear (Book 2)

  Rebel Lion (Book 3)

  Rebel Wolf (Book 4)

&nbs
p; Rebel Heart (A prequel to Book 5)

  Rebel Alpha (Book 5)

  The Wolves of Twin Moon Ranch

  Desert Hunt (the Prequel)

  Desert Moon (Book 1)

  Desert Blood (Book 2)

  Desert Fate (Book 3)

  Desert Heart (Book 4)

  Desert Rose (Book 5)

  Desert Roots (Book 6)

  Desert Yule (a short story)

  Desert Wolf: Complete Collection (Four short stories)

  Sasquatch Surprise (a Twin Moon spin-off story)

  Blue Moon Saloon

  Perfection (a short story prequel)

  Damnation (Book 1)

  Temptation (Book 2)

  Redemption (Book 3)

  Salvation (Book 4)

  Deception (Book 5)

  Celebration (a holiday treat)

  Shifters in Vegas

  Paranormal romance with a zany twist

  Gambling on Trouble

  Gambling on Her Dragon

  Gambling on Her Bear

  Serendipity Adventure Romance

  Off the Charts

  Uncharted

  Entangled

  Windswept

  Adrift

  Travel Romance

  Veiled Fantasies

  Island Fantasies

  visit www.annalowebooks.com.

  More from Anna Lowe

  Check out the other side of Anna Lowe with a series even die-hard paranormal fans rave about: the Serendipity Adventure Romance series. You can try it FREE with Off The Charts, a short story prequel you can receive for FREE by signing up for Anna Lowe’s newsletter. Just click here!

  Listen to what a few Twin Moon fans have to say about this new series:

  This is as HOT as her shifter series. For those who want spicy without paranormal, this is a perfect start. I can’t wait to read more about these characters.

  I’m enjoying Anna’s new series just as much as I do her Wolves of Twin Moon Ranch series.

  It’s not my normal genre but I do love Anna Lowe’s romance books because of the great way she writes. I am really happy this book was the same great style.

  Uncharted is different from Anna’s Wolves of Twin Moon Ranch but I enjoyed the story just as well.

  Visit AnnaLoweBooks.com