Page 29 of Master Bistrita

She shakes her head in slow motion.

“No, I don’t think it is. I think Master Bistrita didn’t believe you when he should have. As close as Lucas and Descallia have been rumored to be over the centuries, Lucas was always his right-hand man.”

I start to say something, but Taylen wards it off with a hand. “Let me see if this plays out.”

She paces some more. “Lucas may have been the right hand and trusted above all, but Overmaster Descallia’s friend, his dearest friend? Everyone knows that’s Magnus. A powerful vampire with enough sway of his own, in many regions around the globe. Rumor has it that he was offered positions within Overmaster’s structure after Anna, Lucianna as you know her, was staked and left to burn alive centuries ago. But Descallia saved her soul, he carried her out of that burning city, barely alive himself after her demise, fueled by only one thing, his promise to her of building a legacy and structure for the vampires that we could be proud of in centuries to come. Everyone knows he and Magnus have been the best of friends since before then.”

Natalia and I look to each other, never having expected to become part of a vampire war that dates back centuries and still goes on today. “Magnus? Is he the key?” I ask Taylen.

I feel the stealthy, cold, dark-hearted beast before he appears in front of us, never having heard the door lock at all. Master Bistrita stands tall and fierce, glaring at the three of us. “I thought this is where the two of you would be. Do not leave this room,” he says to Taylen and Natalia before taking my hand. “You come with me.”

Chapter 23

Bistrita

The minute I hear the name I know the friend Chara meant was Magnus and not Lucas. Lucas probably wanted to take over what Cyrus started and pulled Magnus into the deal because he knew how close the two were. Probably even used Magnus to get closer to Descallia over the years. And now everything clicks into place, but there’s no way to tell Descallia this unless we are positively sure. I walk Chara to the bedroom and close the door behind me with the toe of my boot. She turns to look at me, her eyes worried, questioning, and challenging all at the very same time.

My complex beauty, the fated mate destiny has put in my path, will cause me many sleepless nights with her impetuousness; of that, I am sure. But my chest hasn’t stopped beating hard for her since I walked out that door. It’s clear to me that it’s not even enough for me to keep her safe, but my dominance demands that I be the one to keep her safe, be with her through it all, and to ensure she is trained in a manner I deem fit and no one else.

I stroke a finger down her cheek. “I’m not quite sure I really believed that destiny would ever give someone like me a fated mate, but it became evident quite quickly that I not only need to claim you for my own, but need to protect you in every sense of the word. That’s what I was trying to do when I left you naked in my bed, yet you defied me. That’s what I was trying to do when I sent Gregor to get you, yet you defied me again and went to the gym. There are rules, Chara, if we are to make this work.”

I brace my hands against either side of the wall, caging her in, capturing her lips, kissing her with pent-up passion. When I finally allow her to breathe on her own, her eyes are glazed and hazy, and my cock throbs hard, pressed against the center of her heat.

She nods. “Already, not fully even knowing all the rules, I feel off kilter without them. It’s written in the Vade Mecum that you will protect me. It says you’re supposed to protect me until the enemy is slain or my transition has taken place. I think the exact words are… Hang on, give me a moment to get this right. I tried really hard to memorize it. The vampire master will say goodbye to his young charge, in order to keep her protected until the enemy is slain or her transition has taken place, not believing she holds the key to the enemy’s demise.”

I raise my brows, surprised not only that it’s written in the vampire bible but that my love has managed to memorize so much. “The Vade Mecum said that?”

She nods. “It did, in black and white.”

I push a wayward hair that floats across her eyes from her face and tuck it behind the sensitive fold of her ear. “Natalia told me that you want to transition?”

She smiles softly and gently nods. “I do. I want it more than you’ll ever know. I want to fight by your side. I don’t want to be a withering lily, or whatever they call girls who sit on the sideline and let the guys have all the fun.” She puts her hand over her heart. “Fated mates. I want to be with you, by your side, fighting for our rights, and those of all the vampires, the underworld, and humans that live by your side.”

The click of the door opening causes both of us to look up, but my chest relaxes as soon as I hear Taylen talking. “Come on in, Gregor.” But then Taylen lets out a blood-curdling scream.

Instincts take over and my body flies through the room and toward the sound, bringing me face to face with a traitor who’s left Taylen on the floor in a pool of blood. I fly at him, trying to get him out of the room, but Gregor is a manipulative and evasive prick. A traitor I did not see right here in our midst. “You dare side with the rogues and Lucas,” I challenge, coming face to face with him, our eyes reddened and fangs fully descended in our rage.

His eyes flash, and he’s too quick for the sword that lunges from my side, causing a wasted thrust on the traitorous bastard.

“Why? Why now and not when you had a million chances to hurt her?” I circle him again and come in from a different angle, bound and determined to give Taylen time to heal before he strikes her again, or worse stakes her, and to keep him far, far away from my love.

He glares at me as though I’m stupid. “Timing, my friend. Everything is about timing and patience. Lucas waited almost four centuries for his chance to step out from Overmaster Descallia’s shadow, barely a servant to the almighty beast, and for what? No, those of us who have vision, we wait until it is time. And then we strike!” he yells as a group of vampires swarms the panic room. A space that should have been a safe area but was known all along by the traitors in our midst.

Gregor takes a swing at me, but a vampire obsessed with keeping his love alive will not easily die. I sidestep him and swing my long sword but miss him. I connect with another foe, and then another, stabbing him in the chest as he hits the floor. I fly above and dive with my dagger out and ready to do harm. I manage to keep him from Taylen and from getting past me to the bedroom door, before his army closes in.

I see the bedroom door open as I fall to the ground, sword after sword slicing through my skin, deep into my organs, my beautiful mate halting the beating as all eyes move to her beauty standing in the door.

The one they’ve come for, now theirs for the taking, the ultimate gift to Lucas, their new leader who will not be happy until he has either her or Natalia as a fuck you to the syndicate boys for taking our side.

They are in no hurry, enjoying the hunt, walking toward my love as she so bravely stands in the door, luring them in. “No…” It comes out in a deep growl from the depths of my dark-hearted soul, yet I’m unable to move as they rip into my love, tearing her throat to shreds as my name dies on her lips. All sense of time pauses, as if destiny has taken it away as the battle ensues.

The masters and our own swoop in, filling the night with their anger and cries of Gregor and the rogues, who after a fight with them are no more. All lying in pieces on the ground, but each with a blood-stained stake driven through their heart. My chest beats wildly, and finally destiny allows me to move, but only when the ravages of the beasts have left my love an empty shell, lying listlessly on the ground and ready to die a human death.

I drag myself to her hurriedly, using the blood that runs red and quick from her body and replenishing it with my own. I hold her through it all, willing destiny to pull her through. My brave fated mate, the one who was sent to me by the heavens above, and who was always supposed to be one with me and part of the vampire world.

I hold her tight as she crosses over, knowing her fight is not yet over, that she will have the hardest one to face. “Fight well, love, and they will let you through to the underworld.” Master Romano and Campania help me up, my feet unsteady yet, but my body starting to mend and unwilling to let her go. “Gregor. He’s been with us for so very long. We were warned not to trust anyone, yet I did.”

Campania growls. “We all did. We all have lords and vampires in our regions who have been with us for long periods of time, our trusted few. The bastards knew exactly who to turn and just went to call in their cards.”

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