Page 9 of Master Botosoni

Yet, I do … but, still, I understand the concern.

In an underworld that has seemingly turned against the pureblooded vampires, is it safe to trust a woman with powers knowing little to nothing about her at all? I take a draw on the Descallia Red, a mixture of blood and wine that takes the edge off slightly but not strong enough to do more than that. “Like I said, I believe what Catina says. If we believe in destiny, we believe she has been sent to help us, no?” I inquire of the questioning eyes around me.

Lucianna’s lips part in a gentle smile. “Indeed, we do, Master Botosoni. We should all trust in our values, beliefs, and the Vade Mecum as you do.” She walks to the end table beside the leather sectional the women are seated on. Lucianna flips through the guide the vampires use as though she’s been doing it all her life and not newly acclimated to it or the history and direction it provides.

Her finger traces a passage in the leather-bound book. “A healer of future times will bring together three separate stones which will light a path to enemies who wish to send the vampires back to the dark. To a time when they feasted on humans or any other prey to procure their blood.”

All eyes are now on her. She looks at me. “Tell us again what it is that Catina told you, word for word. We know the stones are the key to sending the rogues to a fiery hell. The Vade Mecum says, “The stone of the witches will light a path to send evil to a fiery hell.”

I take another draw of the Descallia Red before answering. “She said, the stone is coming to you. A woman named Madria has it. If you combine it with the witches’ stones, they will light a path that will take you directly to the rogues.” Then she had a vision. I know she saw the rogues and the shifters; I felt her respond to it from across the table. Her heart was beating off the charts and her face turned ashen. When I prompted her, she told me, “You have to wait for the stone. You won’t be able to find them until it lights the way. If you try to go up the mountain without it, you’ll fail, time and time again.”

Descallia growls. “Did Catina see Sheba? I won’t stop until I know exactly how and why that sneaky bastard is helping the bane of our existence.” He points to each of the women with a stone. Raven, Willow, and Madria’s eyes grow wide as they wait for what he has to say when his eyes finally settle only on Madria. “Are you a witch?” he asks gruffly.

She laughs, but Sardinia’s not laughing by a long shot. It’s been a contentious subject all the way round lately with masters turning humans without the consulate’s approval first and getting involved with witches at all. At least Romano and Campania came clean about their involvement with the witches, and if Madria is, and Sardinia hasn’t told Descallia, all hell is about to unleash whether we should be focused on other things or not.

All eyes are now watching Madria with curiosity. “I’m not a witch. At least,” she pauses for longer than she probably should. “I don’t think I am. My mother gave me the stone when I was young, but it gave me nightmarish visions. I only started wearing it again after growing up.” She shrugs. “That’s really all I know. I’ve never been told I am a witch, but this stone allows me to see a lot.” She looks around the room. “I’m sorry if that’s not what you wanted to hear, but it’s the truth.”

Lucianna puts her arm around her. “It’s okay, Madria. You have the power of the stone, that is all the Vade Mecum says, and so all we need to be concerned with.” She looks to her mate with an arched eyebrow. “Right?”

The fearless leader is about to say something, no doubt as impatient as I, to get word from the others on the trail of the rogues, but a blood-curdling scream coming from upstairs silences everything and chills me to the very bone.

Chapter 8

Catina

I try refocusing my energy, the swirling in my mind that will not stop, but the shifters and rogues have a strong hold on my mind. They keep me tethered in the vision, howling from afar as the packs of shifters gain ground, snarling at me from close up as they overtake me in a flat out run for my life.

My head hits the ground, as paws and nails dig into my shoulders and back as I try to keep my face and heart protected, but a strong hand wraps my hair to my scalp and tugs, pulling me over face up on the ground, staring into the red eyes and descended fangs of the rogue vampire we’re looking for.

I scream, trying anything to break through the subconscious that keeps me underwater in its spell, louder and louder, flailing to get away as they attack, fighting tooth and nail as paws try to tear my skin away from my body and get to my blood.

Strong arms shake me out of the nightmare and pull me into their arms. “Catina!” A gentle hand strokes down the length of my hair, and as quickly as the vision came, it doesn’t just slowly fade, but is instantly gone. My entire body sags with the physical exertion and mental fear of the vision.

I sink into Botosoni’s protective arms, still trembling as though every bit of it was real, because to me, it was more than real. Stronger than any nightmare or vison that I’ve ever had. Gramma would call it an omen, a message sent from the powers that rule over us all. The kind you do not ignore.

Botosoni pulls me closer, holding me as he continues to stroke my hair against the softness of my sweater, his heart beating in time with my own, only now just starting to slow and calm. I nestle into the comfort of his chest, and he allows it, soothing me with his touch until the realization that we’re in his room, and I’m in his arms causes my heart to beat with a different kind of angst. The fear of my family’s disapproval, reprisal, shunning from the travelers if they find out, and the wrath of the rogue vampires and shifters who want to take over the world and steal everyone’s blood.

It hits me with sudden clarity. I have to go. Now. There is no time for niceties and small talk. I need to go now. But I already know it is far too late for that. Even if Botosoni let me, which I highly doubt, the omen was intended solely for me, and for no other purpose than to foreshadow my history with the vampires because every vision happens for a reason.

Of that there is no doubt…

My chest pounds and blood races with the reality because there is no doubt in my mind that someday, and soon, I will face what has been my scariest vision to date, and the rogues and shifters will come after me for real.

Botosoni lifts my finger. “I feel, hear, and see your angst, Catina. I told you that you’re under my protection. That means from anything or anyone who wishes to do you harm. Your visions are part of a bigger destiny, part of the purebloods. We will protect you. I will protect you.”

His face is so close that his breath mingles with mine. His hand floats underneath my hair, caressing my nape. I know he’s going to do it before he does; it’s as though the look he gives me allows one last chance to turn away, but to deny his touch is not what I want.

But I won’t deny the attraction that strums through my veins, and I don’t. I crave everything he has to give and more.

My heart races with anticipation and traces of fear. Not of him, but of this unknown and never experienced desire. The burning intensity that seems to consume my very being with its need. His face lowers, and his lips graze mine, caressing them open. My hands find their way to the back of his hair as he deepens the kiss, exploring with a hunger that causes every nerve ending that I have to come alive with excitement and anticipation of the unknown and what’s to come.

His hardness presses into the snugness of my jeans, and he groans, causing me to panic. The sudden reality that he wants to put that long hardness inside of me pulls me from my reverie and makes everything crystal clear. I may want to, but I don’t have a clue what I’m doing. Besides, good girls don’t, not without bringing shame to their entire family. I’ve already brought far too much of that to their door as it is. My voice is a whisper, my heart only half in the decision. “I can’t.”

The hold he has on my back loosens, but I pull away slower than I should, watching as his reddened eyes openly watch me with desire. I step on tiptoes and caress his cheek. “Thank you for taking care of me. It’s not that I don’t want what you want. I simply can’t risk my family being caught up in all of this.” All the while the tears that I will not let fall prick the back of my eyes.

His eyes harden as they begin to fade to a deep black. “The family that put hands on you? That’s the family you wish to protect, think who can protect you if the rogues come for you?”

I step back, but he keeps his hand on my lower back, a gentle reminder of the fact that he is in charge, and I am not. He can let me go all the way or choose not to. He can hurt my family.

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