Page 14 of Master Oradea

She sniffs. “I saw you killed, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop it. I couldn't get them away from you.” She sobs softly.

I tilt her chin with my finger. “Listen to me. It was a dream. I’m not going anywhere, understand? No amount of wishing me dead on the part of the rogues will make that come true.” I tell her this, but yet, I’m not the psychic one between us. Natalia is, which gives me significant reason for pause.

Chapter 14

Natalia

The ringing of the alarm on my phone drags me from a deep sleep. I tap the bed next to me, patting the mattress around my pillow in an attempt to find the confounding sound that just won't go away. I drag my eyes open to turn it off, only to find the bed empty next to me. But I can still smell the sexy, musky smell of Oradea, and the scent of our lovemaking only makes me want him again. I pull myself from the comfort of the bed, bound and determined to forget all about my dream and focus on the fact that I am adored by a dark-eyed devil who makes my heart sing.

I take my time getting ready in the luxurious bathroom, soothing the delicious ache that stays with me yet today as the warmth of the water rains over me in drops.

I've barely reached the bottom stairs after getting ready for the day when Oradea meets me, drawing me in for a passionate kiss that lingers, taking my breath away. He ends our kiss but keeps me held in his arms, pushing a wayward strand of hair from my face. “Good morning, enchantress,” he whispers.

My stomach dances with butterflies, taking in his muscular frame sheathed in a black Henley and snug jeans. When I reach his face, he’s smirking. My cheeks heat at being caught checking him out. “A girl could get used to this.” He puts his arm around my waist as we walk across the marble floor of the great room and gives me a squeeze.

I gesture toward the still drawn drapes. “I don't know if it’s morning or night anymore. I think it’s night, but yet I smell breakfast?” I sniff the air … bacon, yes that’s definitely bacon that I smell.

Oradea laughs. “It’s a good source of protein to go with your eggs; let's just call it having breakfast at night. It’s our first meal of the day. We try to assimilate, but some things like sleeping during the day don’t change. For a matter of necessity and function. Otherwise, we would all be walking zombies.”

I give him wide eyes, and he laughs. “Joking, Natalia. Vampires can’t be zombies. Well, technically.”

All eyes turn to us as we walk into the dining room where everyone else is already gathered and quietly talking amongst each other. Whatever has changed, Master Oradea is clearly not keeping our relationship to himself after what we’ve shared, and I can’t help feeling my chest tighten with pride. His arm hasn't left my waist. The ladies’ eyes light up, smiling widely as my cheeks flush pink under their appraisal. Lucianna’s lips curve up, but Overmaster Descallia’s face remains a mask of indifference. He barely glances at us before looking down at his plate and then clearing his throat to talk with the group.

All attention turns to him as we slip into our chairs. “I hope everyone is well rested today. We have a lot to do tonight. While most of us were sleeping, Master Oradea, a couple of the others, and I have been in constant contact with Natalia’s brothers. They’ve had boots on the ground around the perimeter of Oradea and cities adjacent to it, trying to learn what they can and get that information back to us as quickly as possible.”

My chest tightens with angst. Pushing my brothers and how they’ll feel about me with Oradea out of my mind was easy last night and even this morning. Not so much while they are the topic of conversation. The mention of my brother’s name causes me to look up and pay attention.

Descallia glances at each of us in turn. “Michael, Marcus and Roman have been very helpful. In addition, Sheba has the wolves in his pack, the ones he knows with certainty that he can trust, scouring the land for scents of the rogue bastards. But we know his plight. The entire pack has dwindled, and very few remain who are loyal to him or our cause. Regardless, they’ve been working diligently to get information and found a homestead about two hundred miles south where Lucas and the others could be hiding with the rogues.”

The group bursts into side conversations, animated and ready to hunt the rogues down this very minute without another word.

Lucianna holds up her hand to settle the group so that Descallia can continue. “We’ve sent our own soldiers in to check it out, a select few who have been picked by Oradea. People he knows we can trust, and they’ve confirmed what Sheba’s wolves have found. But I don’t need to tell anyone sitting around this table the number of times we’ve found ourselves believing those mangy rogues are right within grasp, only to have them slip away. We need to be stealthy and alert, making sure we’re not stepping into a trap set by those who want to destroy us.”

Oradea puts his orange juice glass down, looking from one end of the table to the other. “Are we comfortable with all hands-on deck?” I watch the body language, some of the masters shifting in their seats, the others quietly contemplating while moving a fork back and forth, and Sardinia, whose jaw looks like it is so tightly clamped that his teeth might crack.

Oradea looks to him. “Sardinia?”

Sardinia glances around the table and lets out a heavy sigh. “I have real reservations about having the ladies accompany us.” Catina turns eyes on him, while the others focus on their mates as though they should do or say something to change the course of this conversation because we’re all probably thinking the same thing. We’re not made of glass.

I may not know these women well yet, but I do know they are committed and determined, and it’s going to take more than Sardinia to keep them home. Oradea takes a drink of his orange juice, and I can feel the contemplation. This isn’t just simple; it’s Oradea putting lives of the mates of the masters around this table at jeopardy with that single question, and everyone here knows it, including me.

“It’s not a simple decision. But everyone here was brought here for a reason. They contribute to the overall good of the group, to all the vampires in the community and around the globe,” Oradea says. He looks to each of the masters. “I won’t make the decision to put your mates in harm’s way. You will each need to decide.”

The ladies’ mouths gape, and it takes effort to keep my mouth shut. We are not in the dark ages here. Women are valuable members of battles every day whether the males among us want us to be or not. Madria gives Sardinia a gentle look and takes his hand. “I love you for wanting to protect me, but I love our life together and all of you, and I want to be by your side, protecting what we have.”

Sardinia doesn’t argue, but it doesn’t look much like he agrees either or will change his objection to his mate or the others being put in danger.

“If they want to go, I vote they all go, but we protect the females at all costs.”

A resounding “Agreed,” circles the table, each master probably contemplating what this means for him and his mate, but the decision has been made. I give Madria a wink, knowing her approach aided us greatly in being able to help fight our enemies today.

Descallia stands with Lucianna. “Our mission is straightforward. At the end of the day, Lucas knows the secret that we keep and the power of the stones these three ladies wear. We need to find him and determine if he’s under another curse, or if he’s gone off the dead end and has aligned with the rogues. Let’s all meet back here in an hour, ready to go, and it goes without saying, we always protect the ladies whether they need our protection or not.”

Oradea and I finish our meal in silence as the others eat. When the others are done, Sardinia stands. “A word with you in the other room, men?”

Oradea’s eyes darken, and he wipes his mouth on his napkin. “I’ll be back shortly,” he tells me before leaving with Sardinia and the other vampires. Catina gives me wide eyes from across the table and snickers.

“The testosterone at the table this morning. It would give Embry a ton to talk about.”

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