Page 1 of Embers in the Wind

Prologue

The cell in front of Overmaster Descallia rings. He scowls, turning it over to check the message, but then excuses himself for a minute to step outside. The masters’ phones all begin to ring, vibrate, and buzz at the very same time, while I see I have a missed call from Taylen. I flip over to the missed voicemails and read the transcription of the message while the others call their mates.

Message:Just got word that Embry is missing. She left a note for Lucianna that said she needed time away from us, and this place. The ladies want to go after her, and there’s a big debate. I’ll help in whatever way you need.

Descallia walks backinto the room and clears his throat. “Gentlemen, Embry has disappeared. She left Lucianna a note letting her know that she needed some time away, but the ladies aren’t convinced that she should be on her own. I sent out a few feelers to Sheba and others. They’ll help us locate her if she wanders into their areas, but we need someone skillful and who knows his way in and out of the vampire lairs, and quite franklysomeone strong enough to deal with Embry. Lucianna has tried all the normal ways of communicating with her. She’s gone dark. We believe she’s alone but we need to find her.”

My right-hand manwill be furious, but if Taylen were missing, I’d want him leading the charge to find her. I clear my throat. “Stephan Corvinus. I’ll get him up to speed and have him take point in finding her. There is no one better in a situation like this.”

Every one ofthe masters nods their agreements and Descallia bangs the gavel with so much force the sound reverberates around the room. “Good. Have him find and convince Embry to come home.”

“I’ll get righton it. No thoughts at all as to where she would be? Lucianna didn’t have any visions or thoughts?”

Descallia grimaces.“No, it’s like she’s turned everything off and completely vanished. Embry’s in the wind.”

Chapter 1

Corvinus

An impromptu visit from Overmaster Descallia is always a surprise, especially when he arrives in my estate without any warning at all, red-eyed and fangs descended. I stand from behind my desk, coming around to greet the man who only last night made his mate our queen at a ceremony that will be the talk of the vampire community for centuries.

He tugs on the end of his shirt sleeves, letting the crisp white show beneath his black suit. “Lucianna is worried sick about Embry. Even with her powers, she can’t get a sense of comfort with Embry gone. We need to deal with this once and for all, closure to the whole damn thing. I won’t have Lucianna upset like this during at a time when she should be the happiest.”

I gesture to the seat across from my desk and settle back in, unbuttoning my own jacket as one of my dearest friends and my boss for centuries folds his length into the chair. There must be far more to this assignment than what I learned last night, but I’ll let him tell me when he’s ready. “There are a few things I need to finish, but I planned to leave to find her at first dark.”

He inhales a deep breath, the red in his eyes diminishing, returning to the dark black eyes that pierce me with their intensity. Something tells me I’m not going to like what he’s about to say, any more than I liked getting the assignment last night after the ceremony.

Overmaster Descallia is not known for beating around the bush and he doesn’t do it now. “Embry was spotted in the Mystic Forest. No one is sure where, but there are many who have spotted a young woman with a dark cape, purple hair and eyes traipsing through not only the tall oaks in and around Master Romano’s territory but venturing into areas of the forest that are off limits to the vampires, at least according to the witches.”

My jaw tightens with agitation. What should have been easy just got fucking hard. “She plans to hide in the very place she knows vampires are not wanted, in the land we’ve agreed not to battle with the witches over right now. We just got out of one war with the rogue vampires, and she wants to start another with the cackling biddies? She knows the contention around that land.”

This woman, best friends with our new queen or not, has just inched herself up on the list of people I don’t like, in addition to upping my annoyance level by many degrees.

Descallia’s eyes tinge with redness around the periphery as he stews over the same thing. He shifts in his seat. “Exactly. The same area where the witch caverns convene, right along the property adjacent to Romano’s estate, and the Carpathian Mountains. So close to the very land we fight over with the witches, and she damn well knows it. Yet, she runs to the Romanian hills without a word of warning other than that fucking note.”

I clear my throat. “Which told us nothing about where she was going, only that she was leaving.”

His deep eyes meet mine. “You’re not wrong. Embry has been truly committed to the vampires, and a fearless warrior. But herrelationship with Lucas has put doubt in everyone’s minds about her trustworthiness.”

That in itself should tell us to leave her be. Let Embry work whatever it is out by herself and for us to stay out of that land. She’ll come back when she’s ready. Let the witches deal with her but that’s not likely the case, damn it all to hell.

Descallia wouldn’t be here if that were the case. A quick phone call or text would have sufficed to let me know plans had changed. No, something is troubling our fearless leader, and I have no doubt I’m about to find out the real reason for his visit.

He waits as Bernard, my house manager for many centuries, walks in with a silver tray with two glasses of Descallia Red, a mixture of blood and wine made in the vineyards of Italy around one of Descallia’s homes.

“Thank you, Bernard,” I tell him as he leaves us to our business, closing the door behind him as he leaves. I hand a glass of the Red to Descallia and take one for myself, taking a sip and allowing the calming blood mixture to mingle in my veins. Fresh blood, a truly soothing balm for whatever ails you.

He takes a drink of his, almost draining his one long swallow. His fangs descend again, and his eyes begin to take on a red glow, his emotions generally well hidden from the public and prying eyes. “Devora and I have agreed to keep each other informed when traveling into the area of the Mystic Forest that both the vampires and witches stake claim on as our own. We need to find Embry and get her the fuck out of the Mystic Forest before she reaches the area that Devora claims as her own.”

I glance at the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak open worked watch on my wrist, a million-dollar gift to myself. Perhaps extravagant, but also a sign that the vampires have arrived in the world of human billionaires who believed until not long ago that they were the only males on earth. “It will be dark soon now. I’ll get things wrapped up here and be on my way.”

He stands. “I’m counting on you to get in, find her, and bring her home fast. We’re in no position to go to war with the witches. And you never know with Embry what the hell she’ll do and what’s going to pop right out of her mouth at the most inopportune of times. I swear that woman has no filter, but Lucianna loves her like a sister. She is one of the best at wielding a blade, so we protect her at all costs.”

“You don’t think she’s already crossed the line, or wandered into the land?”

His dark eyes penetrate mine. “I’m counting on you to make sure she doesn’t and for you to keep the impetuous little vixen in line before she starts another war!”

My jaw tightens with pent up frustration. Fucking fantastic…

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