10. Chara

Chapter 10

Chara

A knock on the door pulls me from my reverie at the bathroom mirror while drying my hair. I turn it off and tighten the full-length white cashmere robe borrowed from the hanger behind the door.

Gregor, tall and dark, stands in the doorway when I open it, the hint of an upward curve in his lips. "Don't look so disappointed, Chara. I do have a message from Master Bistrita for you."

I grin. "Sorry, was it that obvious? I'm just worried about him. I mean ... all of them. It's been hours, and no sign of anyone and no word."

Gregor nods. "The Carpathian Mountain range is vast, and we can't assume the shifters told them the truth about where the rogues were hiding. It wouldn't be the first time the purebloods were misled and sent to the wrong place, or that a trap was waiting when they arrived."

He must see the fear in my eyes or hear the pounding of my heart. "Sorry, I forget that not everyone is used to what we've dealt with for centuries and centuries. It's always the same with the rogues. They want us to go back to the dark ages, attacking and killing innocents for their blood. It's senseless and unconscionable today, but that's the way they've always gotten what they need, through fear. We've dealt with them for too long, and it's time to end them."

I glance down the hall as one of the masters and his mate walk out of the elevator. "Was there something you needed?" I ask, not sure how to explain to Master Bistrita that just hours after he left, I invited a vampire into my room while wearing only a robe.

He smiles. "No, this won't take long. Master Bistrita wants you to read this NDA. If you agree to its contents, sign it. If not, don't."

My brow furrows, as he pulls a crisp white piece of paper from a yellow envelope. I quickly scan the document and smile. It leaves me with no commitment, outside of the agreement to keep what I read within the document to myself. "Pen?"

Gregor nods and pulls one out of his jacket pocket, handing it to me. I lean the paper against the doorframe and scroll my signature onto the line intended for my agreement and date it. "There you go."

"Since you've signed this and agree to keep what's in the packet confidential, I will leave you with both the packet and Master Bistrita's personal business card, which has his cell phone number on it. He asks that you call with any questions." He turns and walks down the hall back toward the elevator just as Taylen steps from it and into the hall. "Gregor?" I call.

He turns. "Yes?"

"Thank you. You'll let me know if you hear something, please?"

He gives me a nod of agreement. "You'll be the first to know. Try to get some sleep. There's about four and a half hours of darkness left before sunup. The masters and their mates will be busy hunting for the duration of that time."

Taylen averts her eyes in the hall as she passes Gregor, then steps into the room before closing and locking the door. She doesn't even look at me as she walks to the refrigerator and pulls out a bottle of what looks like red wine, but I recognize it for what it is.

Descallia Red, the vampires' drink of choice. And by the look on her face, she needs what it offers.

Taylen pours herself a generous glass, downs it, and then pours another. She wipes the trail of blood and wine mixture from her mouth on the back of her hand. "Nerves, I've burned through the meat and cheese. Now it's just nerves. All of us should be out there helping the masters find the rogues. Defending our way of life, yet the vampires and vampiresses who aren't purebloods or their mates are left to sit it out and wait, just like the humans. It's hardly fair.

"That's the first time I've ever heard you say something like that. I thought you were all pretty tight and got along."

Her eyebrows raise. "I don't mean to give you the impression that we're not. It's just that I've trained so hard. I thought one day, I might make it as one of the warriors, but then the whole group got deep sixed when Overmaster Descallia found out some of them were helping Isala."

My heart aches for one of my dearest friends. I've barely seen a minute of the savages of her world, and still, I'm conflicted, feeling like I'm being lured into its dark web, little by little by the vampire master who causes me to want more of it instead of less. "I certainly don't know what it's like to be on the inside but feeling like I'm not. I very much feel like the outsider that I am right now. I'm trying to figure out how to fit in, while still being me."

Her eyes silver around the edges, something I've seen time and time again for a variety of reasons. "Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to be a vampire to fit into our world. You fit because your heart is pure, which is the only reason you work here. Otherwise, we wouldn't allow it. But I am very much a vampire, yet the skills and dedication are cast aside."

"I'm sorry." It feels so insignificant, like saying so little, but it's all that I can offer."

Taylen pours another half glass. "Good thing we don't have customers to take care of. They gave everyone the next few days off." She takes a long swig and somehow, I don't think two and a half glasses in she's gonna just stop. "Now I learn they have this team called Special Ops. Embry is part of that. She probably got in because of her in with Lucas. If you're Overmaster Descallia's right hand man and you want your girl on the team, she's a shoo in, right?"

I walk into the kitchen and pour myself a glass of wine. "I don't know too much about her, but from what Natalia told me, the lady can fight. They just don't know whose team she's on right now, but she said that it doesn't look good for Embry."

Taylen growls, a deep in her throat growl.

I turn to look at the now very red eyes and fangs of my friend. "Taylen, I didn't mean to upset you, I'm just saying. They didn't just hire her because of Lucas. She fought hard for that position. I heard the story."

She takes another sip and licks her lip, while her fangs ascend and her eyes go back to their bluish hue, when not silver. "Well, maybe, just maybe, they need another kick-ass special ops on their team to take her place?" she relents.

I quirk an eyebrow at my overzealous friend who usually has her heart in the right place but seems to be a wee bit jealous of the notorious Embry. "And what if Embry isn't guilty? What if she isn't a traitor?"

"Killjoy! I'm going to bed." She walks to the master and peeks in. "Since you've already taken over the master bedroom and its bathroom, I'll take the small room."

I grimace. "Sorry, that tub was just calling my name."

She laughs. "Not a problem. I want to go down to the lower-level gym early tomorrow before any of the others get the same idea. I just wish I had gotten a chance to prove my skills today. Those shifters were just too damn fast. I'll be ready for the shifters next time. I'll show the masters when they return," she vows.

If they even return…

Taylen turns and gives me a look. "Stop worrying. They have survived centuries and will survive for centuries in the future. I have faith in our overmaster and the masters. You have to think positive. Just because I'm a piss pot full of jealousy does not mean I don't respect each and every one of them."

I stick my tongue out at her. "I hate that you can read my mind."

She laughs. "Good night, human."

I top off my glass of wine and head to the master bedroom, setting the glass on the nightstand and slipping off my robe before getting into the spacious bed. I tilt the pillows to sit up against them, put my phone next to me, and take another long drink before finally opening the envelope that's been on my mind since it was first placed into my hand.

Dominant/submissive

In this contract, we will focus on the Dominant/submissive roles versus that of Masters/slaves and the very specific rules that I will advise you to research and fully understand before committing. The role of the submissive is to please your Dominant. The following rules are a general guide, to be used as a basis to begin the relationship, and to be adjusted as the relationship grows.

Rules

1. When in public, or outside of play, you will always address me by my first name, or the agreed upon pet name chosen together. In the bedroom, playroom, or any other area where sexual activity is in play, you will address me as sir.

2. Wellness and health are essential to the well-being of a submissive. You will adhere to a healthy diet (prepared by the resident chef), engage in a regimen of approved physical activity, and spend time discussing your day with your Dominant.

3. Ownership

You will wear my collar.

You will not remove my collar.

You will not allow anyone else to remove my collar.

4. Appearance

You will keep your body fit and able to adapt to flexible positioning with stamina.

You will adhere to grooming of a personal nature, performed by me, each week.

You will go to a day spa twice a week for full massage and restorative therapy.

You will not wear clothing that displays your thighs, buttocks, abdomen, or cleavage when in public.

When in private, you will wear what I lay out for you, which will most often be nothing.

5. Sexual activities

You will not engage in physical relationships with anyone but me.

You will fully understand and verbally state what I wish to do with you and ask me to do it before we begin.

You will use a prescribed set of safe words that are to be used as we agree and will be selected together by the two of us.

6. Behaviors that are not allowed and that will get you punished.

-Lying

-Cheating

-Not telling me right away if something or someone has hurt you.

-Not using your safe words.

-Allowing yourself to do something you are not certain you want to do.

7. Behaviors that will result in reward.

-Pleasing me, in all ways, by following the rules, and by openly communicating your feelings about any activity we are about to engage in, or those we have recently engaged in, or that you would like to engage in outside of our relationship, other than physical which would break rule number 5.

If you are still interested in learning more after reading this far, you may let me know.

Desire and a healthy amount of angst bloom in my veins. My fingers trace the bottom edge of the page, knowing there is only one way to find out if these are things that I am willing to try.

I put the document in the envelope and place it on the nightstand. My mind wanders aimlessly from one thought to another as I toss, trying to get to sleep and resigning myself to a night with thoughts of him. A vampire, a master vampire at that, and a very viral and beastly handsome dominant vampire. Who wants me to be his submissive.

It's far too soon for a relationship. The vampires and the rest of the underworld may believe in fated mates and destiny setting out their course, but last time I checked, I was still human. Am still human, and I do not believe in fated mates. You meet someone, get to know them, see if they get along with your friends, see if the chemistry beneath the sheets is there, and then, when you know you're not going to grow tired of them, maybe that's when you think about a permanent relationship. You do not leave your life up to destiny, yet that's exactly what I want to do.

The door creaks, and I glance up. Taylen stands in a pair of white panties, with her hands crossed against her naked breasts. "You're driving me insane with all your mind chatter. Master Bistrita has chosen you. You are his fated mate, and he is yours. I knew it the minute he burst through that door and saved you from the wolf. You are his whether you accept it yet or not."

I stare at my friend through the dimly lit room. "Get out of my head, Taylen. And don't you dare say a word to anyone that you know I have a thing for him."

She laughs. "Do you really think nobody knows about the two of you already? That's all anyone was talking about when he scooped you up and took you to the playroom. We all know. You're the only one who doesn't, little miss human. And for the record, nothing against humans, but the human way of meeting and trialing out a mate? That's seriously boring. I mean, chemistry first, love. If there's no chemistry, nothing else is going on, right?"

"Go away, Taylen."

She turns and closes the door. "Don't you dare keep me awake anymore tonight!" she calls through the walls as she heads back to her room.

Fated mates…

If anyone had told me something like this could happen to me, I never would have believed it, no matter that we live amongst the vampires, witches, and shifters. How am I even on destiny's list to choose? What made her think that pairing me with a hot-blooded vampire who could have any woman or vampire he desires makes sense. How can he want me?

"Because you're gorgeous and will give him a run for his money. Now go to sleep or I swear I'm going to burn you alive!"

This time I laugh. "Only witches do that!" I yell but get nothing but silence in return. Maybe the wine and blood finally did her in. I yawn, snuggling into the covers, for some reason much more at ease than I was before.

Fated mates, with a submissive twist…