Page 18 of Master Bistrita

I will myself to look at her, forcing my tears not to fall.

“I am a vampire. If all else fails, I will disappear or any other number of things. I can take care of myself, but I can’t do it unless I know you’re safe and you will be behind those walls. They are made of materials not even the angriest of vampires can penetrate. Understand? You go to the panic room, stay there, and we will let you out when it is safe.”

I nod, still trying to absorb everything I need to remember, all while hoping that I don’t need even a piece of the advice given. I point to the bathroom. “Go, you stink.”

She laughs, heading into the bathroom and leaving it open a crack while I listen for any and every noise coming from the halls or down below, until finally I shake off the tremors and pull out my phone. No matter what happens, Master Bistrita deserves an answer, to know that I want to be with him.

I never knew what fated mates meant, until you. The answer is yes. My heart is in pieces waiting for you to return.

I wait moment after moment, and finally Taylen comes out of the bathroom, dried hair, makeup and all. I look up. “I texted, and he didn’t even respond.”

The grimness on her face, though, tells me everything that I do not want to know…

Chapter 13

Bistrita

I take a long inhalation of breath beneath the old forest tree, trying to decipher what’s swimming around in my mind, elusively avoiding me before my phone beeps with a message. I have half a mind not to glance at the words on the screen after seeing Chara’s name, already having decided that she’s planning to say no after three days of silence. Three long days, and finally, the love I never knew I wanted finally responds.

How has destiny put this woman right in my path at the most inopportune time and made me divide my attention between the task of hunting the rogues and winning her love at the very same time. Impossibly torn at the most crucial of times.

Meeting her, actually feeling her breath, her angst, and the blood coursing through her veins as I touched her skin, caressed her cheeks, and kissed her lips, told me everything that I needed to know.

Whether she says yes or no, it makes no difference, because in the end destiny and I will win. She will be mine for eternity, whether as a human she accepts it yet or not.

I take a long moment to read and fully comprehend every heartfelt word of her message, my chest expanding with pride. My love is not only new to destiny and our ways, but she is courageous in the face of that limited knowledge and willing to trust me in spite of it.

I never knew what fated mates meant, until you. The answer is yes. My heart is in pieces waiting for you to return.

I smile down at my phone, rereading the message again, realizing that my heart has started beating much more steady and solid now that my future mate has accepted me as her own. But as an innocent, or at least novice to the life, she can’t not have questions even though I decided not to shock her with any deviant revelations in a note, instead teaching her to trust me and experience things as they come, whatever they may be.

Very good, and my rules?

No concerns with the exception of one.

Just as I thought. I glance up, hearing rustling and send her a quick text.

I have to go now. The rules have flexibility. They are intended as a guide. We will go slow and create ours together.

I long to see my beauty even more now that I know she has accepted our fate. Soon this hunt will be over, and our life will begin. I head toward the mountainside where we’ve set camp, and the group rallies by my side. Day after day, and always the same. No sign of the rogues, and day after day, I’m apart from my mate while we hunt the elusive rogue vampires. Surely destiny will step in and put a stop to their reign of terror for good.

I turn my mind from thoughts of Chara with difficulty. At least for the moment, my attention needs to be on the matter at hand. We have right on our side. The witches, two major crime families, and most other humans are on our side. And a handful of small shifter packs located throughout the underworld, who will need to come together if they are to make it through the devastation the rogues have brought to their door.

Overmaster Descallia’s jaw is locked tight when I join him and the others. I’m as sick as my brothers in arms and their mates of standing around and waiting for these pricks to attack. Every single time we move, somehow, no matter how many traitors we unveil, they know.

My body stiffens with a sudden thought that sends blood pumping through the ventricles of my heart at an unprecedented rate. The elusive answer that has been scurrying away as soon as the thought even nears my mind. Teasing and taunting me with its intangibility.

Chara has freed my worry about her accepting my offer, allowing me to focus on the rogues. This time, the nagging thought returns with a vengeance, as clear as day, and refuses to let go. I send a secure message to Trentino, waiting for a reply as my mind sorts through the multiple scenarios, disregarding one after another until only the one remains.

I clear my throat, and all the side conversations abruptly cease as everyone turns to listen to what I have to say. “The rogues may want to destroy us, but that’s not all they want. They’ve always been after the gold and all the treasures of yesteryear. How else would they finance all of their grandiose plans of taking our place in the underworld?”

The witches’ eyes begin to circle, but only one of them speaks up. Raven sucks in a breath, knowing this is going to come full circle back to her, the witches, and her Aunt Devora. “We witches know exactly what you’re talking about, Master Bistrita. We’ve always suspected the rogue vampires were after the treasure that rumors and our witch bible tell us were hidden years ago, on property that we still call our own.”

The witches know more than they should, but her forthrightness about the treasure and the rumors about where it is laid alleviates some of the angst having them in the middle of our battle brings. “Thank you, Raven. It’s good to know that it was no secret, and yet it still remains intact.”

Overmaster Descallia’s eyebrows raise slightly, yet he allows me to continue without interruption or debate about the treasure’s location he’s never shared with anyone at any time, unless he’s flat out lied to the council members about it, which he would never do.

“The rogues have no inside help now, not with Roman’s family, the Benettis, and not with the Benzinis, and no clout whatsoever in the human world without money, because money buys you power. They have not had any power over the witches since Devora and the high priestess decided to side with us. The shifters, there aren’t that many who are not already dead. Those alive live in small packs that will need to combine at some time in the future. Do you think they will want to side with the rogues after what has happened?”

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