Page 16 of Master Bistrita

It's something I never thought I would say in a million centuries or lifetimes to pass. “Follow the witches.”

Raven, the mindreading little pest, gives me a grin, before she, Willow, and Madria take the lead with their mates close by their side. I stay pressed against the group’s right flank, and Master Oradea stays on their left as we venture farther up. The lords and others protect us from the rear, while Magnus and his men keep watch from above.

The guidance of the Vade Mecum is coming true; the rogues won’t know what hit them. We’ll be in and out before they can disappear this time. The crunch of our boots against the dried twigs and branches on the ground send animals scurrying across the land in search of safety and away from the mayhem that is sure to come.

The creatures have a sixth sense that rivals our own. It aids them in self-preservation, and if the rogues were smart, they would heed their signs. Because this time, we are coming for them, and no one will stand in our way.

The witches’ stones are still glowing, but they’re certainly not leading a path. The vampires are quietly but fiercely carving our way through the wild undergrowth, allowing us to head straight toward the center of that cavern, where we’ll infiltrate it with Magnus and his soldiers who will meet us at the sides.

The minute we reach our agreed upon position at the mouth of the crevice, I gesture to Magnus and his team who had to wait until the guns atop were taken out by Michael and Roman’s snipers before they could get into position. The soldiers all single file it from both directions, entering the opening of the cave with stealth and ornate shields covering our solid black clothes, intended to save them from a well-placed stake.

The rogues have waited for centuries to turn us to ash. They will not want to lose the long-fought battle between the groups. But, if we have anything to say about it, they will see their demise today.

The last of the line of soldiers enter, soldiers who are trusted, tapped to help by only Magnus and a few of our lords. The trusted of their trusted, to help us save the day since the warriors have done nothing but betray us, and it was hard to put our lives in the hands of another living soul.

The last soldier at the end of the line gives me the signal, letting me know things are clear inside. I head to the front, letting one of the lords in the rear take my position at flank. We inch forward, going slowly, prepared for a trap or another fight. But all is quiet as we round the curve of the tunnel that should take us to the area that was described by the traitor shifter in exchange for a merciful death.

Something is wrong, though. I feel it before we’ve gotten a quarter of the way down the hall. Even with the guns atop taken out silently by the syndicate boys, the rogues should have had interior guards to keep us at bay. They didn’t have a chance to get word to their partners inside the mountain. The shifters told us they would have guards here, yet there are none.

Fight or flight is real, it can happen in a moment’s notice, but for a vampire, it is magnified by ten. “Trap, get out! Into the air!” I yell, just as a crashing wave of water from the overflow dam annihilates any space at all in the small confinements of the tunnel.

The vampires wrap their mates protectively in their capes as they get into the air, while water gushes headstrong behind us, forcing us to weave around the corner of the cavern and head toward the exit.

I fly as low as I can at the back to make sure everyone makes it out alive, but my chest pounds with fury as we watch the massive stream of water flooding into the cavern from the upper side of the mountain. “That was too damn close. They knew we were coming! Those shifter bastards either set the trap, or Lucas knew we’d beat his location out of them! I’m betting on the latter. They knew the shifters would talk.”

I don’t tell them I was watching for the guards the shifter bastard told us about, and not seeing them tipped me off. It saved us. We would have died if it weren’t for him telling me that, and he didn’t need to tell me. He wanted me to know and for us to survive.

Overmaster Descallia’s eyes are dark red, and his fangs hang fiercely over his lip. “That is the last time we allow them to try to destroy us. We have given them far more than grace. They left their guns on top of that mountain. They didn’t think we’d get as far as we did, yet they had a plan in place, just in case. Sneaky bastards. It will not end well for them.”

Something that Oradea and I found when looking at where our land junctures comes vividly to mind. “The only way they could have channeled that water is by placing a spill through where our properties meet. That would drive the water this way with enough force, and then channeling it downward would be easier than you think, with the right amount of force.”

“We need to find that spill through.” I look to Romano. “While we’re doing this, can you call Trentino and find out if the special ops guys can get a lead on any known associates of the rogues in the area, any locations they’ve been spotted at before in or around this mountain area? Then let’s call Master Slobozia. My guess is the rogues will come out of the tunnels near his region.”

“Of course,” Master Romano says, already on his phone pounding out a message to Trentino, who is running the communication center from the lower level in his estate. “But we’re going to need to move with caution in case they have any more death traps up their sleeves. I’m not a fan of drowning or whatever else they may have in mind tonight.”

The lords are huddled into a group talking, but then suddenly start walking toward our group to address us and Overmaster Descallia. “The lords have been conferring. We heard what you said about the rogues moving into Slobozia territory. We can split up, some come with you, and others stay here, just in case they double back. We want to continue to help, that is, if you don’t mind.”

Magnus flies from his position on the mountainside and joins Overmaster Descallia’s side, the breeze keeping his cape floating on the wind. “We saw everyone fly out of the cavern and the water crashing down that mountain. They have to be stopped soon, Descallia. My group and I, we’ll stay by your side and help you until they’re gone. My men will keep watch from where they are on the mountaintop. From that vantage point, they can see quite far and alert us if they see anything suspicious.”

Descallia nods in agreement, but his eyes are fiery red, expressing the same anger we all feel at the betrayals and the ability for the rogues to outsmart us again.

The sound of that water rushing into the cavern reverberates in my ears, over and over again. Only seconds of warning saved us from being too late to get into the air. They had to have known the shifters would tell us the very place they wanted us to be, or the very place they were and set the trap, knowing they would tell us where to find them.

My chest heaves with frustration. “Time and time again, they have us chasing our tails, and I for one am through. “Let’s take some time. We’ll make camp and regroup,” I say, but something that was said, something that I saw or heard, wiggles in the recesses of my mind far after I’ve left the group to get some space in the forest and contemplate the puzzle on my own.

Chapter 12

Chara

I glance at the detailed paper for the umpteenth time in the last three days. There is no way that I don’t try this. No matter what reasons and excuses my mind conjures, there is always a logical and rational reason to put it aside and explore this relationship with Master Bistrita.

Fated mates…

Maybe it’s only forbidden because I’m human and he’s not but, in my heart, I know it’s more than that. We could get past that; others have done it. Well, most after being transitioned, but not all. But I’m so much younger than him. I mean not like disgustingly younger, but still, I’ve barely started to experience things he is bound to be an expert at. It’s hard not to think of sex because knowing he’s so much more experienced and can teach me things I’ve never even thought of before excites me at my very core.

Maybe there is something to it because there is absolutely no denying that every red-blooded cell in my body wants to try it, to be close to him, and feel that magnetic pulse vibrating between us all the time. Just thinking about his kiss sends a shiver down my spine.

I reread the paragraph that continually replays in my mind. Why does everything else sound so good, but I can’t for the life of me get past this. I put the paper aside and get dressed.

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