Page 4 of Master Bistrita

Chara’s green eyes swim with emotion. “I came to warn you. I have it on good authority that Lucas is on the hunt tonight. He isn’t going to let his vendetta with you and your brother go. You’re not safe, no matter where you are tonight.”

Natalia takes her arm. “It’s okay, Chara. We already know he’s coming, but we’re not going to let him get to us first, we’re going to…”

I clear my throat. “Enough! Our plans are not to be divulged to the world, and it’s hardly any concern of yours,” I tell the redhead, who has commanded the attention of the entire room.

Chara flips her green eyes to me in a flash of defiance. “No disrespect, but I wasn’t speaking with you. I was talking to Natalia who is the one in need of protecting, not you.”

I walk toward the sexy little human who even in heels barely reaches my chest, looking down at her with curiosity as my blood races. To my surprise, she stands her ground, placing her hands on her hips while glaring up at me. “I don’t want any trouble. I just came to warn my friend. For some reason, I thought you and the others would appreciate it and not act like such an ass.”

There’s no way I can avoid looking at the perfect swell of her breasts spilling from the black and red lingerie looking outfit and fishnet stockings she wears beneath that sweater. “We are capable of taking care of Natalia and ourselves quite fine, young lady, and I don’t appreciate your tone or disrespect.”

The sexy woman with a creamy expanse of neck on display as her hair falls to the side raises her eyebrows in question, causing my heart to pump and blood to race. “If you were able to take care of her, you wouldn’t have let them turn her into a vampire.”

A deep rumble settles in my chest. I fight hard to keep it under wraps while my chest pounds with indignation and my nose fills with her scent. There is something about this woman, but I do not believe in your one and only, and all that romantic crap. Sexual attraction? Animal magnetism, primal need. Sure, nature at its finest as far as I’m concerned, but me, desire a human? No, even destiny would not go that far or cross that line with me.

Natalia steps between us and puts her arm protectively around her friend as she guides Chara away from me. “If I had stayed with the vampires, like Oradea wanted, none of this would have happened. Lucas wouldn’t have caught me at my brother’s house without any of the vampires to protect me. As it was, they got there in time to save my life, Chara. It’s not fair to blame them, you know this. What’s going on?” she asks her friend softly.

Chara’s eyes fill with moisture. “I just have this feeling that I can’t shake. Lucas is not going to let things go. Your brothers screwed him over royally when they sided with the vampire masters. I just don’t want him to take your life as the price. Security is crazy at the club. Something is in the air. The vampires at the club know it, and I can feel it, Natalia. You’re not safe.”

Master Oradea has allowed them time, but he walks toward them. “She’s safe with me. Trust that I’m not about to let anything happen to her again. We appreciate you coming, but…”

I clear my throat. “What he’s trying to say is we don’t have time for this. We have things to do, and you’re wasting valuable time.” I wait for her to leave, but she stays standing in place, glaring up at me as though I’m the one wasting her time.

I scowl. “That was a dismissal. Thanks for the warning, but there is work to be done.”

Her eyes narrow. “Keep my friend safe this time, or you’ll answer to me, vampire.”

My jaw shifts with irritation. “Leave.”

Natalia scowls at me and takes her little snip of a friend by the arm, walking her past me and to the front entrance. I don’t miss the sideways look of warning coming from Oradea, but whether he likes it or not, there is no time to deal with the young woman’s fears tonight. We’ve wasted too much precious time already, and he surely can’t argue with that. It is time to hunt our enemies before we lose the element of surprise and they come for us.

I have no time to contemplate the effects of the red-haired and creamy skinned beauty who makes my blood boil with rage one moment and sets it on fire with red hot desire in the next, as she leaves and the scent of her settles under my nostrils. I inhale deeply, rolling her name silently on my tongue. Thoughts of baring the pale-skinned creature, peeling every layer under that long sweater to see if she’s as beautiful as I envision come vividly to mind.

I suck in a breath. “There’s work to be done, everyone. Let’s get to it,” I growl, as much for me as for them.

Chapter 4

Chara

My right leg hangs over my left, my high heel swishing back and forth all the way back to the club in the cab. No matter that Mr. High and Mighty Master Bistrita thinks Natalia will be fine. What the hell does he know anyway? He’s not the one who watched her fight for her life after Lucas tore her neck to shreds with those fangs from hell.

The big, bossy brute looking down his nose at me like he can’t be bothered to spend two minutes to listen to what I say. The cab driver clears his throat, causing me to look up, embarrassed at the thoughts running through my head about the infuriating but sexy as fuck vampire. I’m hardly to blame; no one could ignore the heat of that gaze drinking me in like a tall glass of water on a hot summer day.

I shake thoughts of the dark-souled beast from my mind, frustrated with myself for even feeling that way, but the feeling of impending doom will not subside no matter what I try to think about. I stop to talk to Gregor for a minute at the door of the club after being dropped off. “Sorry I flew out of here so fast. Friend in trouble, or so I thought. Everything good here?”

His black eyes redden with heat. “You know more than you should for a human. Stop worrying. Your heart’s beating a million miles a minute. Just take care of things downstairs, and let us take care of the rest. If anyone comes tonight, we’re ready. You and Taylen get the clients to safety. Understand?”

I nod and pat his dark suit coat. “Yes, and thanks. Maybe I just needed to see my friend for myself. She’s been through so much lately.”

He gives me one of those rare Gregor smiles. The one saved for those he knows well, and seldom if ever seen by anyone who frequents the club. I make my way through the lounge. A few couples have wandered into the club and are doing some heavy petting on the couches, secluded by large palm trees and the like.

I slip off my sweater and put it and my purse under the bar. Taylen doesn’t say a word, just waits patiently for me to tell her what happened. I shrug, slipping onto a bar stool on our side of the bar. “I got there, and everything seemed fine, but I can’t shake the feeling that something horrible is about to happen to Natalia. Maybe it’s because I saw her lying on her death bed, not knowing if she was going to make it or not. The vampires pretty much told me not to worry and to come back here. Have you heard of Master Bistrita? Bossy asshole?”

Her eyes widen. “The Master Bistrita? Where have you been, girl? I’m surprised you haven’t worked when he’s been in, but he does tend to keep to himself. He definitely likes the clubs, but usually goes to the Club Descallia over in his region.” She lowers her voice. “I heard he’s here helping Master Oradea and the others because they think the rogues are heading up the mountain, where the land between Oradea and Bistrita join. I’ve covered and trained over at the Club Descallia in Bistrita. Master Bistrita is a very sought-after sex club partner. A very good teacher, if you know what I mean. Not that he’s my drink of preference.”

I roll my eyes. “He’s bossy, rude, and old enough to be our father.” I don’t tell her that getting the image of him paddling me over one of the benches in the lower level is going to be hard to get out of my mind, tonight or any night.

She laughs. “Someone’s got their panties in a little twist. Master Bistrita is older but not that old. Just the perfect age to know exactly what you need.”

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