Page 7 of Embers in the Wind

She nods. “It is a conundrum, that is for sure. For now, you can stay here, get your mind clear while I work on mending fences that may have been undone as you two stomped through the Mystic Forest’s floor, sending off alarms throughout the forest to anyone that will hear.”

My eyes narrow at the woman who I still can’t even believe is here. “Well, it’s not like I slandered the witches or the vampires. I just needed navigational help, and they were all very happy to oblige when I told them where I was heading. Your description really helped.”

Her kindly eyes roll upward. “Dear child, the description of the cavern is all that was needed to set their tongues a wagging. The story of the woman fleeing from the vampires and trying to find the witch cavern is all over the woods and by now has surely reached Devora at the witches’ academy.”

My eyes roll upward. “Oh, good lord, we all know how that woman can flare.”

“I’m here to ensure that the vampires and witches keep the peace, that they do not invoke a war that has only just started to recess. One day, it will all be clear, but for right now, you need tomake peace with Lord Corvinus and sort your differences, for the good of the vampires and the witches. They have been through far too much of late.”

My mouth gapes. “Why does this fall to me? What assurances do I have that the beast won’t grab me as soon as he can? He’s already tried before I got to safety. That man is said not to have a patient bone in his body, and I do not intend to go anywhere with that ass.”

Her kindly eyes warm my heart, but her words do nothing to calm my soul. “You brought this on yourself, child. Instead of staying in Chicago, defending yourself from the rumors, sure not easy to do, you ran. Ran to the Mystic Forest no less where the vampires and witches have feuded over this patch of land for years. What do you expect them to think?”

“I was only running away from the gossip. I have nothing to hide. I did nothing wrong. I went after the bastard, and no one knows what I went through, but they treat me as though they do.” My heart twists at the memories of the chains and that cold hard floor in the cavern of his rule. “No one will ever understand, because I can’t yet explain it myself. I need time.”

She nods and rocks, the chair making a little rubbing pattern on the hardwood floor as though signaling time. “Then you will figure out how to get what you need, keep the peace between the witches and the vampires, and not offend the dark lord, at least any more than you have already done. Am I clear, Embry?”

In my worst nightmares I could not have seen this coming. I seek solace, fight for it even, navigating through the torrential forests to get here, finally finding safety only to be faced with this. Be nice to the beast who tried to grab me around my neck and haul me somewhere I do not want to be. I could just scream, yet gramma remains calm.

She gestures to the door. “It’s time to turn this around, create another story for yourself, my love. There’s a handsome vampirelord at the door. And I don’t think he’s going to be too keen on taking no for an answer this time.”

Chapter 7

Corvinus

Ipound on the green ornate door, listening closely but don’t hear a word inside. My jaw tightens with mirth. Embry may think she’s won this round, and I’ll leave, but I’m not planning to go back to Chicago empty-handed. It may be trickier now that Romano has put conditions around the entire thing, but still, I’m known for my ability to solve difficult problems, and I’ll figure this out. The little spitfire is not going to get the best of me.

I bang on the door for the umpteenth time. “Embry, I know you don’t want to come back to Chicago, or even to leave the forest, but at least give me something to take back to Lucianna besides you left her a letter. She needs to know that you’re really okay, at least, if I’m to go back without you by my side.” I don’t tell her it’s hardly what I plan to do. One way or another, she’s going back with me.

Her melodic and tired voice wafts through the heaviness of the door. “Come back tomorrow. Then we can talk.”

It’s good she can’t see the smile on my face. I was hoping she had not fled and found another suitable cavern while I was away.“I mean you no harm. Invite me in. We can talk, decide how to proceed, but going back empty-handed will hardly do.”

I wait, not patiently, but still, I wait while the gods from the sky decide the forest is drier than it should be and could use a little mist. I pull my cape over my head and keep a watchful vigil, determined that the vampiress will do as I say.

Finally…The door squeaks as it cracks open, and the wide set purple eyes are the first thing I see, then the stark creamy complexion of her alabaster skin. She no longer wears the black cape she had on while racing through the wind and cold. She’s shed her own natural black cape that should hang from her shoulders, and instead wears only her black boots, jeans, and a heavy sweater.

A far cry from the Embry I’ve seen pictures of, usually dressed in a short little skirt and matching top. But everything seems off, right down to the look on her face, or her sudden decision to let me in. The pulse on the side of her neck is weak. She needs blood, whether she knows it or not. She’s been turned for quite some time, but after learning what Lucas did, who knows if he cared for her transition in the manner that he should.

I could best the sexy little vampiress right now, having had my fill of nutrient rich blood before leaving Romano’s but for the damned promise I made to him only to take her if she is willing to go. Damn this assignment and everything about this night.

The door shifts, and I realize that I can’t see her other arm. No matter my keen vision, there’s no way my sight will see through this door. A curse of the witches no doubt, the haven safeguarded with their own brand of protection against vampires.

If the vampiress doesn’t want people to gossip about her then she sure as hell should have stayed and told her side, and not instead run and begun consorting with the witches’ kind. Avampire who cozies with witches but runs when gossiped about. What did the little witch lover expect?

“I told you I’m not going to hurt you,” I speak through the door, only a guess that her mighty blade of steel hangs heavy from her arm right behind that door. Ready to slash me in an instant if threatened by my ire, which would slowly subside if she would do as I ask.

But instead, she tests me at every bend. “I’ll come out, but the trees have eyes and ears. The witches will protect me if you so much as lay a finger on one hair of my head.”

I scoff. “If I wanted to hurt you, it would have been done. Come out from behind that door. I’m done with these silly games. I have things to do, and it doesn’t consist of spending all my time talking with you in the dead of night, especially in the rain.”

Her purple eyes flash. “If you want me to come out, then I’d watch your mouth. I’m not going to take the sharp side of your tongue lying down, no matter what your rank.”

The young vampiress should calm her ire. She should know that exerting energy like this unnecessarily is hardly the thing to do right now, not when it’s so obvious that sustenance and blood is what she needs. If Lucas had taken care of her as he should, she would know these things.

She opens the door and her eyelids blink, refocusing as she stands taller yet doesn’t break the five-foot-five barrier at all. “I’ll come outside. Better for prying eyes that you aren’t seen entering a hidden cavern that you have no right even to know about.”

I don’t argue the point that if she didn’t want me to find it then she shouldn’t have left. “It’s raining and you need blood.”

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