Page 28 of Embers in the Wind
“You’ve seen her, been to the cavern?” he asks, amazement in his voice coming through loud and clear instead of sheer anger as I thought.
“I tracked her there. I’m at Romano’s now because reception in the woods is shit and I wanted to give you an update. Embry needs some time. She has to process losing Lucas, that and all the rumors, the gossip about her role in everything related to Lucas. She’s hurt that anyone would ever have thought she was part of a scheme to hurt us. That’s what’s troubling Embry. At a time when she needed us the most, she felt the most outcast.”
Descallia growls from deep in his chest. “No one really believed she was a traitor, but as the overmaster to twelve regions and vampires across the globe, I do not have the luxury of taking chances with their lives. She must realize that.”
“I’m sure knowing it and separating it from the feeling of abandonment will just take time.”
“When did you become a psychologist? Bring her home Corvinus, Lucianna will deal with this.”
If only it were that simple. “Something else I should tell you. The witches knew she was coming or at least learned she was here through her friends in the forest.”
“Impossible,” he growls. “Devora and I have a pact. An agreement reached after we bested the rogues. Who told you they knew?”
Damn this is getting dicey, but I can’t lie to the overmaster, not knowing the history of the witches and what they’ve tried to do to us in the past. Who knows if this is another of their ruses, trying to draw us in so they can curse us all. “I heard one of the witches telling Embry that Devora learned she was in the forest and that Devora told the witch to give her space, let her find her way, and not to even tell Raven in case it would get back to you.”
“What the fuck is going on! Embry goes to the witches. Leaves the sanctity of our community and straight into the arms of our enemies. And they protect her behind my back?”
In all fairness to him, it’s hard not to see it that way from a vampire’s point of view. “Well, technically, she thought the two groups had called a truce. Embry, Raven, Willow and the other witches the masters have taken as mates have become very good friends. I don’t think she meant it as a slight to the vampires, but my understanding is that the witches fought hard to get her out of lockup, when maybe many of the vampires did not.”
I don’t need to tell him he was one of the ones on the side of keeping the vampires safe, no matter what it cost Embry. He already knows that. But still, I try to soften the blame. “I wasn’t the most supportive of her plight at first either. I didn’t know her personally but had heard the stories. Her gramma though, fought for us, was killed battling for us, and Embry herself would have died if we had not brought her over. She still loves the vampires with all her heart, but she’s hurting. She needs time.”
Descallia growls below his breath but I try to appeal to his emotional side, although I’ve only seen it a few times other than with Lucianna. “Romano said we can stay here for a little while, until she’s worked through a few things and is ready to return.”
His growl pierces through the phone with a boom. “Embry comes home now! She can work whatever it is out here, with Lucianna and her friends, not the fucking witches!”
“There’s one more thing, Overmaster.”
His dead silence tells me his patience is beyond tested. “Her gramma. Embry knows her gramma died, but she swears she’s here somewhere. She believes her gramma told her the stories long ago and gave her specific directions and that she was meant to be here at this very time. She’s not going to leave until she finds her, not on her own, and I’m not about to make her my captive. Not after what she’s been through.”
I wait, not so patiently, knowing he could order me to do just that, or worse, haul me before the council of masters for insubordination no matter our friendship over the years.
He sighs loudly. “We’ve known each other too long for me not to give you the leeway you ask. I’ll talk with Lucianna, let her know what’s happening. Hopefully in the meantime, we can keep the peace.”
I’m going to find out from Devora though, just why she felt the need to keep this from me. We have a pact, and I damn well expect her to keep her end of the deal. Better that you stay with Romano, away from the woods which seems to be the sore spot for everyone all the way around until I get some answers. I’ll take this back to the masters at our next meeting. Give them an update on what’s going on in this region. Obviously, Romano is aware.”
I don’t confirm or deny. I’ll let Romano handle Descallia’s questions in his own way and time and he doesn’t push me one way or another on that issue.
He’s quiet for a moment though. “We’re in the middle of putting the warriors together. We need you home soon and the last thing we need is some cackling biddy getting in the way of our plans. You’ll have to find a way to keep the peace, while getting Embry safely home.”
Descallia’s not wrong. “Agreed. The last thing I need is a witch out of hell riding her broom up my ass,” I tell him, just as the loud cackling of a witch can be heard screeching so loud it sends shockwaves through the air.
Chapter 23
Embry
Raven takes my hand. “We need to get back to Romano’s estate. Devora knows about Corvinus and this is not going to be good!” She points as the streak of electrical light flashes through the dark of night, speeding through the atmosphere, making circles and then a beeline straight toward the ground.
“Transport to Romano’s! I’ll meet you there,” she screams, disappearing before my very eyes. That little witch is faster than anyone thinks, and when I reach the estate, the door is wide open and Raven is already pleading with her aunt who rides through the air in all her furious glory.
Devora turns those mean green eyes on me, hovering in the air on her broom while strong electrical currents spark from her body. “Vampires! Not one single one of you can be trusted!” She hovers so close to Romano that Raven jumps in front of him.
“Get out of the way or I’ll turn him into the ugliest toad in the pond! How dare you keep secrets from me, especially about him!” she screeches, pointing to Corvinus. “And how dare you walk across our land, pretending you own property that is notyours, will never be yours! Descallia and I had a deal. One that you’ve broken intentionally!”
Raven puts up a sparking hand. “I can explain everything, just give me a minute. I didn’t want to tell you because I thought it was over. I knew Romano would offer for them to stay at our estate, and he did. There was no harm. Lord Corvinus just followed her into the forest to find her and keep her safe. Which was everyone’s intent. Keep Embry safe. She’ll stay here at our estate.”
Wrong choice of words. It just gives Devora one more thing to cackle about. “Our estate? You and the vampire? No, this is a vampire lair! I allow you to be with Romano, because I thought I could trust him, but you have a responsibility to take your rightful place at the academy if the pureblood wants to take the side of the vampires and not keep the peace in our land.”
Raven rolls her eyes. “That’s not your decision to make anymore.” She pulls a wand from her skirt and waves it in the air, a broom appears midair, and she jumps on it going head-to-head with her aunt. “You allowed Embry to be here,” she admonishes her aunt.
