Veiled Magic by Deborah Blake Page B

could remove the black mark.
    â€œWell,” she said slowly, “I
have
found someone who might be able to help us with that. Farmingham suggested I take the painting to him, since he has skills in the areas of both restoration and copying. His name is Peter Casaventi.” She didn’t want to seem completely uncooperative, since the Council was so important to her family’s standing in the Paranormal community.
    A look of keen interest crossed Clement Moore’s dour face. “Ah, yes, I am familiar with Mr. Casaventi. A very interesting case.”
    Donata perked up a bit; here was her chance to find out a little more about the mysterious Mr. Casaventi. “Really? In what way?”
    â€œTo begin with,” Moore said, “he’s half Human and half Dragon.”
    â€œOh, I knew that,” Donata replied.
    Moore appeared disappointed he hadn’t been able to dazzle her with his bombshell, but went on anyway. “I see. And did you know his Dragon father never learned of his existence, and so he has been raised completely ignorant of his Paranormal origins?”
    She shook her head. That explained a few things, anyway. “How is that possible?”
    â€œOur records show that his father, Raphael, had a brief but intense affair with Lily Casaventi, but then lost interest, as Dragons tend to do. As far as we can tell, Lily didn’t discover the pregnancy until after the relationship had ended, by which time Raphael had gone into hibernation.” He spelled out the facts dryly, as though actual people and feelings hadn’t been involved. “Apparently Raphael had been infatuated enough in the beginning to tell her the truth about Paranormals and some of his Dragon traits, since she seems to have some knowledge of our existence. Fortunately, she was wise enough to keep this knowledge from her son. As far as he or any other members of the family know, Peter’s father is Lily’s husband, Herman.”
    Donata shook her head. Poor Peter. One of these days he was in for a rude awakening.
    â€œSo how do you know all this?” she asked curiously. “Does the Council have a file on him too?”
    â€œOf course,” Moore said with smug complacency. “Since Dragon children are so rare, and Human-Dragon hybrids even more so, the Council has kept an eye on Raphael’s son.” He shifted on her uncomfortable couch and brushed fussily at a smattering of cat fur now adhering to his previously spotless pants. Donata stifled a laugh.
    â€œInitially,” he continued, ignoring her ill-concealed smile, “we were waiting to see if Raphael would come out of hibernation, discover he had a son, and steal the child.” He didn’t say that the Council would have stopped him, Donata noticed.
    â€œAnd now?” she asked, since that was hardly a worry now that Peter was a grown man. “I take it you are still keeping an eye on him?”
    Moore explained. “As much as we can. He has proven to be somewhat elusive, I’m afraid. These days we must content ourselves with watching him when he is out in public with his family, to see if he manifests any Dragon abilities. In which case we would step in and explain his origins to him. Up until now, there hasn’t been any need to do so.”
    Donata wasn’t sure she agreed with the idea of keeping anyone in the dark about such an important part of their life, but it wasn’t up to her. Thank goodness. She had enough on her plate without trying to figure out how to tell someone they were part Dragon.
    â€œSo it would be okay with the Council if I consulted with Peter about the painting?” she asked. She intended to do so regardless of what Clement Moore said, of course, but it would be a lot easier if the Council approved of her actions beforehand.
    â€œAbsolutely not,” Moore said. “There is no need to involve anyone else in this. Simply get us the painting. That is