Page 8 of Master Bistrita

When he turns me to face him, his reddened eyes regard me with a searing gaze. “Better?”

I swallow hard through the lump that has formed in the back of my throat. “I’m not too proud to say I’m sorry. I let the heat of the moment take over my emotions. Thank you for everything that you did for Natalia, upstairs for me, and for this.”

He tilts his head, as though not quite sure what to say before offering a hand. “Down from there before I give you the impression that I’m anything but the beast you believe me to be, and instead give you the spanking you more than deserve for earlier.”

My cheeks continue to heat, this time with thoughts of being tipped over the master vampire’s lap with nothing on but a thong as he caresses my tender skin in between each hard slap to the ass.

The magnetism of the dark-souled beast’s intensity draws my eyes upward to his devilish smirk. “That particular scenario is best reserved for pleasure, not as a punishment, Chara. A punishment spanking would have you bent over one of my benches with your hands bound above your head, no panties or thong to speak of, and absolutely no rubbing of your cheeks between each lash of the implement of my choosing.”

Embarrassment floods my core, realizing somehow, he knows everything I was thinking about, and probably assumes I’m attracted to him too. The arrogant beast. Those flashing eyes don’t scare me now. He didn’t save me only to kill me or harm me himself. I’m sure of that.

I inhale a deep, cleansing breath. “I was just thinking of a play scenario for later in the club. It wasn’t with you, so don’t flatter yourself, vampire. I was offered a job at Club Descallia, which I probably plan to take.”

One of his eyebrows arches upward, and the full darkness of his eyes return. “You just broke one of my rules, Chara. No lying.”

Chapter 7

Bistrita

I walk away before giving her a chance to answer. If I don’t leave, we’re going to have a conversation I reserve only for my future submissives. Usually, only after a lot of contemplation of them being a good fit, testing the chemistry and personalities, and never until a non-disclosure is signed.

If I don’t leave this human I seem magnetically drawn to, we’re going to have that conversation right now, with or without an NDA. I already know the chemistry is off the fucking charts, and no amount of distance is going to change this attraction that exists between us. Even if she weren’t in that miniscule little outfit, it would be the same.

Just thinking about talking about my rules and having a submissive and dominant conversation with Chara has my cock pressing uncomfortably against the seam of my jeans, but there is a right way and a wrong way, and now is not the time or the place to do either well.

There is far too much to be done to ensure the rogues are stopped in their tracks for good, and that has to take precedence for now. Keeping everyone, including Chara, safe has to be the priority. “Stay here until I return.”

I close the door behind me, taking the elevator downstairs, quickly assessing the pandemonium that has erupted in the usually quiet and dimly lit lounge area of Club Descallia. The witches’ fingernails are all crackling with blue and green electricity, which is a sure sign that dissension has erupted among the group.

Overmaster Descallia is busy in another corner, dealing with a couple of irate vampires who are young and will learn really quick to heel that temper of theirs before Descallia puts them in their place.

Gregor walks into the lounge with Michael Benzini and his three brothers. “It looks like they took a few of our soldiers out, but we’ve reinforced the perimeter. No one will get in or out now. We’ve positioned snipers to keep an eye out for others who may try that again,” Michael says.

“Great, maybe you can help get some information from our not so cooperative and barely alive shifters?” I ask, gesturing to the mangy creatures who have no hope of escape.

Michael’s brother, Marcus, pulls out his gun. “Now you’re talking. That’s our specialty,” he says, following Gregor to take his frustrations out on our would-be assassins, leaving me to deal with the witches who have started cackling in the corner, arguing about none other than Embry. Again with their loyalty to that traitor.

I blow out a breath of frustration. Overmaster Descallia and Master Oradea did not tell me babysitting witches would be part of the job when they asked me for my help. I reach the group, all talking heatedly amongst themselves, and look to Oradea for the reason, already knowing it has to be Embry. The damn witches seem to agree on everything else.

Oradea shakes his head in frustration. “Embry.”

All eyes turn to me, as though I have a magic answer or will give them a different one than Oradea or the others have given them of late. I don’t want to dash their hopes either, but I have to side with the voice of reason. I clear my throat, trying not to look directly at the witches’ eyes which keep swirling in a myriad of colors. “We have to be certain she’s not a traitor and honestly nothing is on her side right now.”

The witches’ fingernails spark with electricity, letting me know in no uncertain terms what they think about my response.

I sigh heavily. “Look, I had a hard time believing she turned against us at first too, but the reality is that she would have come back if not. Embry is tough, she is well trained, and no one is going to keep her against her will for this long. Not with her powers. She is with Lucas.”

Raven starts to argue, and I put up a hand, mindful of the protective arm Romano puts around her instantly. I give him a nod of assurance. “No disrespect intended, but this has to stop. We all want the same thing. We can’t continue to argue amongst ourselves about Embry.”

Willow sends a strand of electricity into the air that sparks into a firework display above our heads. “Embry is not a traitor! You want to respect us, then hear what we have to say.”

My jaw locks with frustration. “We have been listening, almost nonstop since she left. Embry is with Lucas. She has always been with Lucas. Hell, maybe that’s why she came looking for the job at Descallia, so that she could get in good with you ladies and infiltrate our group. What better inside cover than a group of ladies who will defend her to the bitter end?”

The glare I get is better than being turned into a frog, which is high on my list of probable outcomes for not siding with the witches. But being glared at by a group of unpredictable witches is not the highlight of my day either. Still, I do my best to console them. “It will get resolved. We need more time to understand what happened and why. Then we’ll all know for sure.”

Lucianna places a hand on Willow’s arm. “We all love Embry, but we need to make sure it’s the best for everyone. Stay the course and the Vade Mecum, destiny, and the stones will show us the way, along with the truth about our enemies.”

Her calming aura and friendship with the witches are finally able to tame their ire, where mine just seemed to throw kerosene onto the already heated flame.

---