Page 10 of Embers in the Wind

He glances up at me from underneath a long wavy lock of hair that’s fallen over his eyes. “Just that you think you’re getting rid of me so easy. You see, Embry. I’ve been sent to bring you home, so you’ll be with me when I go.”

Chapter 9

Corvinus

That flare of purple in her eyes is a very strong tell. I don’t even know if she is aware of the light that flames from her beautiful orbs every time something sets off her ire. She finishes cooking in silence and almost drops the plate filled with freshly cooked bacon and eggs on the table in front of me, doesn’t say a word, and then returns with a plate of buttered toast and a quart of blood.

The beauty stands by the counter trying to give me the cold shoulder, gently nibbling on a piece of bacon while the creaminess of her delicate hand rests against the darkness of the quart of blood. The storm flowing from the young vampiress is real, but I am willing to take risking her ire. If I can get her to come home, it will be the best for all.

But she’s made up her mind about something, perhaps what I said, perhaps what she plans to do. It’s not clear what, but it’s clear that all of a sudden, she has a plan. She gulps down the full quart of blood, letting the blood flow down the back of her throat while I watch the tender muscles below her throat constrict with every swallow.

My cock shifts, hardening against my pants while I watch the vampiress in this state. She may be my job, my charge for the moment, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to bend her over that counter and give her blood while relieving us of this desire we both want to ignore.

Damn that arrogant and handsome devil to hell.

My ears perk up, and it’s hard not to smirk. I do try, although the minute she thinks it and I smirk, she knows I heard her thoughts. She knows the connection is there and her cheeks turn a lovely shade of crimson that is not from drinking the prepared blood at all.

She points to me and then to her and then back to me again. “This thing, the one where we can communicate. Annoying as fuck!”

I laugh out loud. Not much surprises me these days, but she sure as hell does. “I don’t disagree with you at all. Although at times, it can be rather enlightening, no?”

Her eyes narrow at my sarcasm. “Don’t flatter yourself, Vampire. I haven’t been with anyone since Lucas. The itch was bound to surface. Consider yourself a passing fancy.”

“Ouch, a sexy vampiress with a mean bite. You’d do well to hold that tongue, Embry before you find yourself in a position you did not intend.”

She rolls her eyes and gives me a dramatic little glare, but I don’t think the vampiress is as impervious to my charms as she wants me to believe. And I, like her, have an itch of my own. Damnable fact that she’s friends with the new queen, and my boss’s wife.

I smirk. “Pun intended. Now bring your breakfast and coffee over here, eat and finish drinking your coffee while we talk like two civilized vampires in modern day. Leave that sharp-edged tongue at the counter, understand?”

She makes her way over, padding across the wood floors with purple painted toenails with a white little design. Her jeans make a whooshing sound as her thighs rub against each other and the material chafes.

Embry’s blood races as I watch her. Our connection, no matter the reason, is undeniable and her tight little pants do nothing to curb my unrest.

She places her plate across from me, as far as she can sit while still being at the table. When she slides into her seat, she puts her coffee down to pick up and munch on another piece of bacon.

She eyes me with rueful disdain. “This is what I think. Lucianna read my letter, went to Overmaster Descallia to have someone find me and he sent his trusty right-hand man?”

“That sums it up.”

Her eyes roll in a fashion I find amusing. “What I don’t understand is why? I was clear. I need time. And it didn’t take you long to take the place of Lucas as right-hand man for Overmaster Descallia.”

Embry is not quite the open book as I thought her to be. Of course, she would still have feelings for the man. No matter that the bloodthirsty killer wanted to hunt and bury all the purebloods in the ground. “It was not well known, but I’ve been working with Overmaster Descallia for years as the liaison to the lords.”

She pushes a piece of flyaway hair from her face. “I didn’t realize that.”

“While we certainly were not sorry to see Lucas stopped, I am sorry that you mourn his loss. No matter what he did, he was a friend to you for years, and lover after that. I’m sure his demise was not an easy thing to bear.”

Her eyebrows raise. “A beast with a heart? Who would have known?”

I smirk. “From time to time, but don’t let the word out.”

Embry runs a piece of toast around the plate, soaking up the melted butter and remnants of bacon before placing it into her mouth and chewing. Still, she doesn’t say a word until after she’s swallowed and taken another sip of coffee.

I can almost feel the storm of emotion building. Her eyes flash with emotion and the intensity of their vibrance settles on me. “Everyone thinks, poor Embry. She didn’t know, poor Embry, he only used her to get what he wanted, poor Embry, she must have been blind. Used by the traitor to get what he wanted.”

I don’t think that…

I didn’t utter a word, yet the roll of her eyes lets me know she heard every word I thought.

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