I laugh, already excited to see the ladies again but determined to get to the bottom of those shadow books and thesecrets they hold as quickly as we can. “You’re not wrong, but we have important work to do tonight. Now scoot, I need to get out of this little robe with no panties you like me running around in and put something decent on before they get here. Especially since I’m supposed to look like I’m not really yours.”
He scowls for a moment and then heads toward the coat closet by the front door. “Text me if you find out anything of interest to the masters or Descallia. I’m sure Lucianna will send it to Descallia too.”
“Sounds good,” I singsong, dashing up the stairs as he leaves for the night. I’ve barely had time to get dressed, brush my teeth, and put my makeup on when the doorbell rings. I race downstairs before one of Corvinus’s employees lets the ladies in and takes their raincoats in the foyer to put in the closet.
I swallow through the lump in my throat with mixed emotions. The angst that still lingers after that fateful night, the happiness I feel with Corvinus, and excitement and pure joy in my heart at getting back together with my friends.
Lucianna’s eyes glow bright green as she sees me approaching. Something about the intensity of her gaze, the way she’s looking directly at me, and Delilah, Angel, Raven, Willow, and Madria all behind her tells me more than anyone else would know.
I suck in a deep breath. “Okay ladies, tell me what it is that I need to know.”
28
CORVINUS
Ishould be thinking about the meeting with the masters and Overmaster Descallia on the drive into the city, but all I can think about is Embry’s last words. She doesn’t think I want people to know she’s mine. She couldn’t be more fucking wrong. It may be a problem right now, and we may have needed to keep things under wraps for a short time, but it was more because I didn’t want to move too fast. Not because I didn’t want her or for people to know that she’s mine.
I’ve already come to the realization that I’ll give this job up in a heartbeat if it means not being able to keep her, because whether she realizes it or not, she’s already fucking mine. I may not have ever wanted a mate or thought there was a single soul out there compatible in the entire world, but destiny changed that with a flick of her wrist and a wave her hand. But first, I’m going to have to put the warriors together again. Interview each and every one of the candidates and determine who is worthy and who is not.
The way Embry looked at me as I left tells me everything I need to know about what she wants in terms of her future and damn it all to hell if I’m not going to be able to give it to her without first putting her through an excruciatingly enormoustest. I have no doubt she’ll get through it, just like all the other applicants, but she has to do it to prove her capabilities. Just like them all.
The powerful engine on the Maserati thrums over the highway as I take the exit heading toward Lake Michigan, to a building owned by the vampires under the Descallia name. The large golden emblem is heavily lit on the side of one of the tallest buildings in the area and comes into view as I navigate the pedestrian crossings, watching carefully as groups of late-night shoppers dash in and out of the lit up little shops along the way.
The valet at the entrance switches places with me as I get out of the car, driving it to the parking lot on the other side of the building. A quick glance at my watch tells me I’ve plenty of time as I make my way to the elevator and up to the thirtieth floor.
Overmaster Descallia looks up from the head of the large oval table in the center of the room. “Glad you could attend tonight, Corvinus. Take a seat anywhere.” I glance around the table, at the masters already seated at the table as a few others walk in, all looking at me with inquisitive eyes. Why the fuck do I believe that instead of being brought here to explain the process about the warriors I’ve been brought here to do a whole hell of a lot more.
I slide into the open seat toward the middle and wait for the meeting to convene. When the clock on the wall strikes the hour, Overmaster Descallia’s gavel comes down hard, and his booming voice lets everyone know that he’s ready to start. “Thanks for coming. As you know we’ve experienced a lot of turmoil with the witches as of late.”
Side conversations erupt around the table. None of us thought the relationship with them would be friendly for long. “Order,” Descallia growls, bringing the gavel back down with a resounding thud. “There’s much to discuss.”
“Romano has maintained a good balance in the Romanian region with Devora and the witches. We were hopeful it would last, but the fact of the matter is that no matter what she says, it’s always what she does that we have to pay attention to. There’s a witch’s cavern in the Mystic Forest that Embry was lured to. She strongly believes she was brought there by her deceased gramma, a place to go for refuge, to heal after the emotional trauma after Lucas.”
My chest tightens as his words begin to settle. Now I know exactly why the fuck he brought me here and it probably doesn’t have a fucking thing to do with the warriors.
Overmaster Descallia looks directly at me. “I didn’t tell you this, Corvinus, when we spoke on the phone because Lucianna had the vision just shortly before I left to come here.”
The whole world feels like it’s on tilt as I wait for him to tell us the rest because if it’s a conversation that needs to take place either with him and me one on one, or involving the masters, it can’t be fucking good. “What did she see?” I ask quietly, my eyes never leaving the dark black ones of our overmaster.
He nods. “Lucianna saw the witches stirring a brew in the cauldron, and then in a bubble, floating through the woods, watching Embry as she traveled through the Mystic Forest. Lucianna interprets it to mean they are the ones, not her gramma, who lured Embry to that cavern.”
My gaze meets that of the other masters as they contemplate what Descallia says. “It wouldn’t be the first time the witches did something sneaky, but to what end?”
“She believes it was intended as a trap, to lure one of our vampires into the Mystic Forest, and start a war.”
I exhale a breath. “Embry was so damn sure it was her gramma, and she was looking for answers about herself and her gramma, even originally thinking that maybe she was in fact awitch. She’s going to be devastated when she learns she was being used to start an age-old rivalry back up.”
Descallia fucking grins at me, and then the whole table starts smiling at me. Descallia gives me a pointed look and shakes his head. “Corvinus, I fear you have no fucking idea the tornado that is about to erupt when Embry finds out she’s been used by the witches in a way that so blatantly disrespects the memory of her gramma. She’s not going to be devastated, she’s going to be fucking pissed, and when Embry is pissed, nothing but trouble can ensue.”
Romano gives me a nod. “She’s going to come unglued my friend.” The masters are no help at all, just nodding and smirking. I look to Descallia, and then to them. “So, my job is to tell her this?”
Descallia’s eyes go wide. “No, my friend. Lucianna and the ladies are breaking it to her as we speak. You are here because the repercussions of Embry’s actions could be very widespread. The balance between the vampires and witches has always been delicate, but using Embry, especially right now, was a move I have no doubt they will sorely regret.”
“I might be missing something…”
Romano laughs out loud. “You haven’t known our fiery little Embry for long. When she gets this news all hell is going to break loose. You think you’ve had your hands full with Embry? You haven’t seen anything yet my friend.”
29
