Page 29 of Embers in the Wind

“Embry! I allowed her to seek shelter in the Mystic Forest, not the bloodthirsty beast!”

Corvinus steps forward, in front of me. “The blame is mine. I should have sought you out and asked permission once realizing I was in the territory that we both call our own. I understand there is a truce and an agreement with each other. I apologize.”

The witch’s eyes spark electricity across the room in response and she waves her wand.

Threat or real, I step out of Corvinus’s shadow, but warily, keeping my eyes peeled on the evil witch who’s caused problems for the vampires for centuries no matter her acts of truce every now and again. “The blame is mine. Not his.”

She zaps a streak of gold electricity through the room. “Vampires all of you!”

I try to appeal to her softer side. “I’m sorry, Devora. I appreciate you letting me stay here so much. I needed a little space, away from everyone really and it was gracious for you to let me remain. I was just drawn to it.”

Devora doesn’t need to know anything about gramma, at least not until I figure out what it all means myself. “I did not realize that Lord Corvinus, or anyone for that matter, would follow me until it was too late. The forest creatures helped me avoid him, but he found me. He wasn’t trying to harm you, or spy. He just wanted to find me and take me home. It’s my fault for putting him in that position at all. Neither of us meant any harm or disrespect to the witches.”

Corvinus stands tall beside Romano, neither looking as though they’re tolerating the witch’s outbursts well, but they haven’t drawn steel or turned her to ashes with those heated eyes, at least yet. The look Romano passes Corvinus is slight, but I don’t miss it. A plea to keep the peace.Please Corvinus, let it go. Let her vent. Then it will be over. No battles again.

His fangs ascend and his eyes begin to calm, turning from the flaming red heat until they have gone black as night. “Devora, I owe you an apology. I did not intend to flagrantly go through the sacred land that we both call our own, intentionally. I followed Embry and she was my main concern. I apologize. I’ll talk to Overmaster Descallia, let him know what has occurred.”

The witch cackles loudly, her eyes flashing spears of gold.

He is not intimidated by her one bit, but handles himself in a manner of professionalism that seems to put her raging ire at least a little bit to bay. “I’m sure you’ll receive a call or visit from him. Please know the vampires appreciate you providing sanctuary for Embry. Romano had absolutely nothing to do withthis. He only just found out, and as Raven said, he invited Embry and I to stay at the estate and I’ve accepted on our behalf.”

If that’s what it takes to keep the peace, I’ll stay with Raven, Romano and Corvinus in a heartbeat. As long as Devora doesn’t send us packing, or at least me, until I’ve uncovered the mystery around my grandmother. That’s all that matters now, but something deep inside tells me to keep that to myself. Not to divulge something so personal and maybe deep down it’s because I simply don’t trust Devora.

Corvinus meets my gaze.On that we agree.

The ability to communicate so intuitively is almost surreal but somehow it makes me feel completely safe, connected and far closer to this vampire than I intend.

Devora flies in circles, cackling as she swoops this way and that. Then she hovers right in front of me. “You were the one who should have asked permission. You know the rules just as well as these vampires. The minute you transitioned, you became one of them. You are the one who owes us an apology, but yet you haven’t said a word. What say you, vampire!”

My heart beats fast and then faster. No matter that she’s been kind enough to give me sanctuary, my vampire instincts have never really bought it, at least fully. So many centuries of tricks, intended to run the vampires right into the ground. The magnetic gaze of Corvinus’s eyes draws me to his.You were right. Let it go. It’s not worth the fight right now.

The head witch is right. I’ve caused this, following my gramma’s directions, but still, she doesn’t know that and I’m not about to tell. “You’re right Devora. You’ve been more than generous, and it was I that owed you an apology. I should have come to you the minute I reached the forest.”

The sparks in the tips of Devora’s fingernails begin to calm, the electricity floating in small waves, pulsing through the air.

Romano may have been quiet until now, allowing us the time to say our peace, but now he takes the opportunity to set things straight. He walks right up to Devora as she hovers in the air. At over six-foot, he’s not worried at all about the fact that she’s almost eye to eye with him. “I respect your position on not being conferred with, not because we believe the land is yours, but because of the deal you made with our overmaster.”

Her eyes flash defiance as she twirls her broom in the air, sending her skirt swirling as she turns around.

Romano is not to be dissuaded. “That does not give you permission to disrespect my home, or those who reside in it. This should have been a conversation between either you and Overmaster Descallia or myself. A calm and civil one, not you barging into our home in a rage. Don’t let it happen again. Raven has free will, free will to choose wherever she wants to be, to live and to breathe. That is her call, not yours, nor mine. If that’s all, see yourself out and shut the door behind you.”

Devora’s eyes home in on Master Romano. “Don’t you speak to me like that you impotent asshole. I will turn you into the largest toad in the pond and leave you there for a century!”

Raven shifts her right hand, holding her little black wand tightly. “Aunt Devora! Seriously, the two of you, stop. This is all getting blown out of proportion. No one meant any harm, everyone is sorry, so let’s just leave it at that.”

Devora’s fingers snap with fire. “And you, are you staying with the enemy? Where the other witches and I are not welcome?”

Raven holds her own. “You know that I am. I love Romano, that’s never going to change, and it was fine with you up until a few days ago. Why the sudden change of heart? He has done nothing, and the land is not in jeopardy just because Embry and Corvinus walked through it.”

Devora screeches… “You know nothing child, absolutely nothing. You will be the end of the witches if you persist in bedding with the bloodthirsty beasts and don’t come to your senses!”

Romano’s eyes blaze flame red, ready to shoot fire at the slightest provocation and turn this whole thing into a war.

I step forward. “I’m sorry this happened, Devora. We’re going to stay here for a little while, and then we’ll go.”

The head witch shakes her head, electricity flaring from every tip of her fingernails. “Not one of you has a clue what you’ve done, what you’ve started, or what’s to come…”

Chapter 24

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