Page 17 of Master Slobozia

“Regardless of the victories, we always have to be prepared,” Lucianna says, raising her glass in toast and clinking it with all of ours.

Romano nods. “It’s true. Every century it seems we do battle with their kind for more or less the same reason, but do I think we have anything imminent to fear? No. I think we can rest assured that the immediate threat is over. Life for the vampires will go on normally, although there is work to do in preparing some of our infrastructure, like the warriors.”

The heat of Master Slobozia’s gaze rakes over my body, causing it to heat from the other side of the room as he walks in. My eyes find his, connecting, as though we are the only two people in the room. Until the tall blonde sleaze walks out from behind him and I see the red smear that matches her lipstick on his cheek.

Chapter 16

Slobozia

Taylen’s eyes meet mine, and I know the minute she sees me and the voluptuous blonde together, exactly where her thoughts lead. No matter that I’ve just spent the last twenty minutes consoling a female who has been a casual play partner but still has feelings and deserves to be told that the relationship has come to an end. No matter that Taylen herself will leave, signing up for the warriors and being asked to travel the world doing battle for the vampires instead of being by my side.

She glares at me with heat and hurt-filled eyes. How this relationship will work long distance if she doesn’t trust me is just one more reason that it may never be. I stride toward her and Raven, Lucianna, and the others conveniently disappear with their mates to the dance floor. “It’s not what you’re thinking but I don’t appreciate having to explain,” I tell her.

Her eyebrow arches. “You don’t need to explain a thing to me. You like to play the field. I get it, she gets it, everyone gets it. I should be thrilled that the great Master Slobozia gave me a night of his time. Before you lie right to my face you should wipe the lipstick from yours.”

I inhale a deep breath. “She gave me a kiss on the cheek to say good-bye, that’s how it ended. She deserved to hear that it was over and why from me, not from the rumor mill, and not by me just ghosting her.”

“How noble.”

My jaw locks with irritation. “I’m not used to being questioned, or distrusted.”

She has the audacity to smile, but it doesn’t light her eyes. No, something has changed in a matter of a few hours, since I had her in my bed and thought destiny had it right and there was a chance for us. Maybe I have a bit of the green-eyed monster myself. Jealousy over the job she wants to take and that it will take her away from me, too. Maybe we’re not so different, but I know for sure, if I stand in her way, she’ll come to resent me one day.

The server walks toward us tentatively, seemingly unsure if he should advance but I gesture him over, needing a good stiff drink of the red. “Descallia Red, please, and whatever the lady is having,” I tell him, unsure of what the fruity little froufrou drink is that sits in front of her half empty.

She shakes her head. “None for me, but thanks.”

The bartender hands me a glass, and I take a long draw before telling her about the meeting. She deserves to know that the positions will be open, because she has fought nobly for the right to be on the team that will defend the vampires in the future. “The warriors, maybe structured slightly different, will be pulled back together. Overmaster Descallia still feels strongly that we need a group dedicated to the battles we need fought, but that don’t necessarily require the masters to be involved. Having said that, we need to be able to trust them and as you know, with the betrayal that took place, it just wasn’t possible anymore. If you’re interested in a position with the group, you’ll want to submit your name.”

Taylen shrugs. “Sure, I’m interested, but it’s not like they’re going to put a ton of females on the team, right? Embry’s back. She may not be one hundred percent, but she’s resilient and a damn good warrior from what I’ve heard. She’ll make the team and I won’t. She’s been with the group longer. I won’t have any hard feelings, but I also don’t want to put a lot of emotional energy into getting something that’s not attainable.”

My eyebrows raise. “Why do I get the feeling you’re talking about more than the position on the warriors? I told you what happened and what I was doing with her. It’s finished.”

“I know you did, and I should believe you, but here’s the problem. Deep down, I don’t know if I should. When you’ve been hurt like I was, you don’t trust easily, or at all, ever again. I see you with her and all the hurt that I walked away from and that took eons to heal from gets pulled wide open again. I can’t go through it again. The fact is, you’re a powerful master and sexy as hell. Every female vampire in the region would do anything to get your attention and be by your side. I can’t compete with that or deal with the temptation that would be in your path every day, wondering is today the day he’s going to cave, cheat, be with someone else?”

The minute I open my mouth to say a word, a couple of the dancing girls prance off stage, making googly eyes at me, and one blows me a kiss on the way by. Fucking great.

Her eyebrow arches. “See what I’m saying? Why don’t we just appreciate the time we had? It will be a fond memory and we won’t end up parting as resentful and hateful lovers a few months down the road.”

Taylen jumps out of her chair after her tirade, before I’ve had time to gather my thoughts or develop a response. I track her intently as she walks through the club, watch as many of the male vampires’ eyes graze over her, taking in the beautiful female who walks alone but should be by my side.

But telling her I’m trustworthy is not the way. She has to feel it, know it and that’s the only way Taylen will ever be able to heal from the scars of her past. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have to stay and face the demons of her past. She has an escape, because no matter what she thinks, not one of the masters, after hearing how she saved Embry and bested Lucas, will not vote to place her on the team. And she’ll be gone the minute that happens.

Chapter 17

Taylen

Ichoke back the emotion that spills up from my chest, swallowing through the angst that feels like my heart is shattering into a million pieces. Far better that we break it off now than to get a few months down the road and be even more in over my head. No, a clean break, sooner than later. If you’re going to fail, fail fast and move on. If I learned anything from the past it’s to protect my heart and that’s exactly what I plan to do going forward.

I feel Slobozia’s eyes on me, tracking me with that intent stare as I make my way through the throng of writhing bodies on the dance floor, heading anywhere that takes me away from him. A vampire I’ve never seen steps in front of me. “Dance with me.”

“Thanks, but not tonight. I’m heading out for the night,” I tell him, unsure of where I’ll really go. Certainly not back to Master Slobozia’s bed. I knew that vampire was trouble. Why I ever let him in is beyond me. I knew he was a playboy, knew all the women wanted him, have heard all the rumors. But still, I let my guard down and am paying the price tonight. He loves his life in Slobozia and should live it however he sees fit. I refuse to be thejealous mate always on the lookout for indiscretion and it would certainly happen around here.

The vampire’s eyes grow red and the smell of alcohol wafts from his breath and his skin. “I said dance with me.”

My eyes grow wide and my temper flares. “I said no nicely, now move out of my way.”

He sneers. “You’re just like all the other snooty females around this joint. What, you only have a taste for the masters and the lords, the plain common vampires won’t do for you? You’re nothing but a bunch of gold diggers, every single one of you skanks.”

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