Page 6 of Embers in the Wind

My jaw locks tight, my ire hard to veil. “Why on earth would she run? If she’s not guilty of all the rumors, of sleeping with the enemy and spilling our secrets in his bed, why run?”

Romano shifts slightly. “I don’t have all the answers, Corvinus, but what I do know is that she may have been with Lucas, but we shed much blood together she and I when we went after the rogues. Embry was part of the warriors, a very integral part, and was responsible for many of our enemies’ deaths. She not only maimed them, but drove stakes deep in their hearts, ensuring they did not rise again for some time. These are not the actions of a woman who is working with the rogues.”

He’s not wrong, yet the rumors are hard to ignore. “Why would she have been with him, stayed with him once she knew then? It’s hard to reconcile much less to understand.”

Romano stands and walks to the drapes, pulling one back slightly. “The lights are on in the attic of the witches’ academy. They’ve probably heard you’re here and are readying some fantastic and eclectic potions to keep you in your place, or most likely out of theirs.”

Damn it all to hell. Who needs this headache? “Keep me out of the cavern? They will need to do better than one of their magical potions. I’m going to go back, pound on the door and talk some sense into that woman. I could use some help.”

He turns and grins. “I’m afraid you’ve misunderstood the impenetrable nature of the cavern. As long as Embry remains inside, within the confines of that home, she will be untouchable, by you or anyone.”

I scoff. “She’s arrived with a knapsack smaller than a modern purse, filled with what I do not know, but surely not enough to provide any sustenance or deal with her needs for longer than a few days. She’ll come out, and when she does, I will be there to snatch her up and take her home. Two or three days at most, then we’ll be on our way back home. That’s all the time I’ll give to this nonsense.”

The lines on his forehead deepen. “Then a warning. I do not want any trouble with the witches here. If you are convinced that you will keep vigilance on a cavern in the land that we both claim, then you will do so outside of my protection here. Promises were made and I’d rather not know anything more, for the sake of peace in the region.”

I start to argue, but he holds up a hand. “Corvinus, I mean no disrespect, I am highly aware of just what an awkward position you’ve been placed into, and that I’ve made it even harder for you still. But the livelihoods of all those who live in the Romanian land, and wander the Mystic Forest are of my concern, not just one lord and one woman.”

I’d like to say that I don’t understand, that he has no right taking any side with the witches, only paying allegiance to the purebloods who are in power and reign supreme, yet, as a very wise lord, I know all too well that there is a balance, and that I must ensure it is not thrown off by my attempt to take the girl.

“Master Romano, there’s no need to worry. I’ll handle my job with the utmost respect toward the witches in the land, and any others I encounter.” I will be living in this land, right outside that fucking door if I have to, but make no mistake, when I leave for Chicago, I will have Embry in tow.”

His eyes flare. “One thing, Lord Corvinus. You only take Embry if she is willing to go. I want your word.”

Damn it all to hell, this night just keeps getting worse and worse.

Chapter 6

Embry

After all the stress of the last few days, encounters with wolves, shifters, bears, big cats and other creatures alike, at first, I think the voice coming from the rocking chair is a dream. A deep-seated desire to go back in time, when life wasn’t as hard and see my gramma again. But when the rocking chair moves, and her sweet voice fills the room again, I know it is far from a dream.

“Gramma?”

I squeeze my eyes closed, and reopen them, hoping to discern more in the dimly lit room. Gramma sits watching me. Her smile lights the room, and still she rocks in her favorite old chair as though she’s been doing it since the day she died. “I don’t understand.”

I glance around the small home buried in the side of the mountain. “Any of it. I followed the instructions you gave me as a child and ended up here, in safety. The vampire who chases me couldn’t get in.” I gesture around me. “What is this? How are you here?”

She nods, still rocking. “An old, abandoned witch cavern. One of many left to ensure that wherever witches roam, theyhave safe harbor not far by. Essential in the day and age of the burnings, and quite handy in times when the vampires in power would like nothing better than to catch and kill witches with their bare hands.”

My heart beats hard, still unsure if she is an apparition that somehow, I’ve conjured in my mind. “How are you here? Why are you here?”

Gramma rocks. “It’s my job to keep you safe child, no matter where you roam and no matter what century it is. You’ve just managed to spark the interest of the vampires, which means they will follow, and whenever they are anywhere near the Carpathian Mountains trouble of ill proportions will follow. It’s my job to not only keep you safe, but to ensure problems of a grave nature do not ensue to a point of war.”

“The vampire who almost captured me before I arrived. You saw that?”

“Indeed.”

“The master vampires want me back in Chicago. He said at the request of Lucianna, although I highly doubt that. I left her a letter. She knows I need the space, time to process all that has occurred.” For the first time in days, I allow myself a moment of reprieve and wipe a tear that slowly falls from my eye. “They think I’m an enemy, that I am a traitor, that I slept with Lucas fully knowing he had taken the helm of the rogues and was trying to overthrow Master Descallia. I would never do that.”

She nods, the rocking chair gliding with each soft movement. “It’s a shame about Lucas. I always liked him and never thought he would turn. So unlike the man I used to know.”

I nod. “He was under the spell of the witches for a time, but then the curse was removed. I thought he was fine, but remembering back, I don’t think he was ever the same.”

“Do you think it was because he was under their spell or was he always a rogue loyal, and placed under the spell because the witches needed to get him out of the picture?”

It’s a good and fair question, one I’ve thought about myself so many times, but not one logical answer comes to mind. “I really don’t know. I’ve become so unsure of my judgment in people, especially men, that I really couldn’t even begin to know. What I do know is that somewhere in time, he changed.

“He became the man he wasn’t when I was friends with him and then lovers. It’s a hard pill to swallow when the man you thought you loved is found out to be a traitor to the very vampires that you hold dear. And then they turn on you and call you a traitor too.”

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