Page 7 of Master Slobozia

The minute Silver starts to speak, the spell between Taylen and I is broken. I turn to the young vampire whose psychic skills are becoming well known in our inner circles. “Come again?” I ask, unsure if I heard the young vampire correctly as he spoke.

Silver points to the piece of delicate jewelry in Lucianna’s hand where we can see an image of Lucas holding a female hostage. It has to be Embry, but the aura is a murky shadow at best. “She’s alive but could be hurting, you should hurry. I’m going to go and see if I can get any additional images or vibes the closer I get to the range,” Silver says before transporting away.

Lucianna’s crystalline eyes flash bright green at the sight of her friend. “He’s going to try to bargain her life for the key. He wants the treasure that will give him financial security to rule the vampires in the future. It’s written in theVade Mecum, but the outcome is not clearly written. Perhaps because the history is not yet known.”

A low growl barrels from my chest. The damn vampire bible is both a help and yet a curse. Giving us clues to follow, yet not always written in a clear and at first decipherable way. It is the only one we have though, and while sometimes confusing, has never led us astray. Lucas wanting the key to the treasure makes sense though if he wants to rule vampires one day.

Overmaster Descallia growls. “Lucas has betrayed me and the vampires for the last time. The fool gets ahead of himself if he thinks he has outsmarted me. I vowed to ensure the vampires have the autonomy to live without killing humans and I will not allow us to be dragged back into the dark ages,” he roars.

All eyes turn to our fearless master, and not one of us disagree with his sentiment, or feel the passion and dedication that he’s had for this cause for so very long. It’s only under his leadership that the vampires have finally been able to live among the humans without fear.

His eyes soften as he looks at his mate knowing that she’s struggling with her friend being gone. Descallia touches her check with a gentle stroke of a finger. “I promised you as you died in my arms, staked by the traitors that it would not be in vain, that I would develop a structure, a life for the vampires, and assure our power in the future. I would never entrust the core of that success to anyone no matter the relationship. Not after the betrayal that caused your death in the first place. We’ll find Embry, protect her, and find the key, believe me.”

Lucianna takes his hand into hers, squeezing it, as he places his arm protectively around his mate who’s still unsettled by the image she saw.

“A betrayal by a long-term employee who had been with us for centuries, ate with us, and we trusted like family. Look where it led. No, on that day, I vowed that only destiny and I would know where to find the treasure. Lucas thinks because he got in good with Magnus, and Magnus was my closest friend, that he knows where the gold and other jewels are hidden, but the only thing he’ll find in the cavern ahead is destruction of his own making. Remember, we’re talking about Embry here. She is as resourceful as the moon is full.”

My eyebrows raise in confusion though. “The treasure is not in the caverns then?”

Descallia sucks in a deep breath. “Lucas will find what we’ve left for anyone who got this close to find. A clue, nothing more, but no one to give him the next one and the next. No, in order to find the key, he would need to know far more than any one vampire knows. I made sure of that.”

The witches’ stones glow a bright green and purple kaleidoscopic path from us toward the tunnel in front of us, catching the light of Lucianna’s eyes which add brilliance to the path that leads us to the mouth of the crevice we will enter.

My eyes crinkle in confusion, realizing just how masterful our fearless leader is navigating betrayal after betrayal from our own kind, Isala, along with the rogues, shifters, and witches alike. Somehow, through all that, he has managed to secure our destiny, and keep our sacred key safe knowing that ultimately our enemies would always seek it out.

But still, the danger is real if Lucas doesn’t know. He is determined and will do whatever it takes to get what he wants. I still can’t help watching the witches, wondering how the lights of their stones play into our sacred secrets. Silver’s jaw tightens with impatience. “We go now. If Embry is in danger, there is no time to waste. Everyone thinks she can take care of herself, and maybe she can, but Lucas is beyond desperate now. Anything is possible. We should find him.”

I nod in solemn agreement, gesturing the rest of the vampires forward, to gather around, drawing them in from our flank and the forest floor and treetops above for Descallia.

The growl in my chest stays subdued with effort as I update the men. “If Lucas is using Embry as a bargaining chip, we’ll need to let him think we’re giving him what he wants.” I lower my voice and give them the plan, knowing that tonight will be the finish to this war. The end of the fight, the end of Lucas or the beginning of the end of our future if he puts the pieces of the clues he may find together with the information he’s learned about the key’s whereabouts.

Taylen watches me with silvered eyes, her heart beating fast with the thought of the upcoming battle. I can feel her excitement as though it’s my veins it races through. If anything has become clear in all of this, it’s that I’m not letting the vampiress out of my sight. Destiny has put her in my path, and now, there is no escaping the blood that pumps faster and faster through my veins at even the thought of not having her near.

Fated mates was never an option for me, until her.

I reach her side as the vampires split up and prepare for the battle ahead. “You’ll stay by my side for the remainder of the night. Lucianna and Descallia will lead the way to the cavern. The witches’ stones aren’t alerting them to danger, they’re pointing them in the direction of a clue to our secrets, not to wherever Lucas is hiding out. Although, they are probably one and the same. I just can’t be sure.”

Taylen lays a hand on each of the two daggers embedded in the sheath at her breast. “Lucas is near. I feel it, Slobozia. I’ve been up close and personal with the beast. I can smell his stench.”

I nod. “I feel it, too. I don’t want a repeat of what happened yesterday in the woods with Lucas. We listen with all of our senses, just in case he decides to swoop in again. Do not leave my side for any reason. Am I clear this time?”

Chapter 6

Taylen

Ifeel the shift in his demeanor, and his hand at the base of my low back. It sends a shiver of anticipation and desire down the length of my spine. But, if he thinks I’m going to allow him for one minute to usurp my ability to show everyone my battle skills and break free from the minor slips I’ve made along the way, he has another think coming.

My lip twists with irritation as a few of the masters notice the possessiveness of his touch. Great, now they’ll never see me as anything other than a female who needs to be protected, not the trained and battle-ready professional that I am. I shrink slowly away from his side, joining the females who are deep in conversation. Slobozia’s eyes track me, and he gives me a slow smile. Damn that panty-melting look all to hell.

He smirks. You can run but you can’t hide.

The arches of my brow lift in question. He sees far too much for my own good. How I’m supposed to slip away from the hunky beast and battle the enemy so I can show that I am worthy of having a seat on the warriors is beyond me with him watching me with those blazing red eyes. I huff.Stop gawking. Everyone will think there’s something between us.

He grins and I turn away, trying to focus on the surroundings when all I can think about is the vampire beast whose eyes heat my skin. I need to talk to Natalia. My friend will be able to help put this into perspective. All my life I've been with the wrong men, or have had no interest in men who acted like mere boys. But I’ve heard all the rumors about him. A different female every night, sexual proclivities that I probably don’t even know about, and worst of all someone all the women want. A shiver runs through my skin as his thoughts float through my mind.A masterful teacher would put your mind at ease, love.

My cheeks heat with embarrassment, but I don’t turn to look at him. I will not give that hunky beast any more reason to think I’ve gone all gooey eyed, because I haven’t. Maybe it’s just been too long since I mated. Men aren’t the only ones who need these things. I suck in a deep breath, resigning myself to go to Club Descallia and find a partner for a night, someone who will help me work this unwanted attraction to the vampire master right out of my senses.

A slight sound jolts me back to reality.

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