14. Natalia

The ringingof the alarm on my phone drags me from a deep sleep. I tap the bed next to me, patting the mattress around my pillow in an attempt to find the confounding sound that just won"t go away. I drag my eyes open to turn it off, only to find the bed empty next to me. But I can still smell the sexy, musky smell of Oradea, and the scent of our lovemaking only makes me want him again. I pull myself from the comfort of the bed, bound and determined to forget all about my dream and focus on the fact that I am adored by a dark-eyed devil who makes my heart sing.

I take my time getting ready in the luxurious bathroom, soothing the delicious ache that stays with me yet today as the warmth of the water rains over me in drops.

I"ve barely reached the bottom stairs after getting ready for the day when Oradea meets me, drawing me in for a passionate kiss that lingers, taking my breath away. He ends our kiss but keeps me held in his arms, pushing a wayward strand of hair from my face. "Good morning, enchantress," he whispers.

My stomach dances with butterflies, taking in his muscular frame sheathed in a black Henley and snug jeans. When I reach his face, he's smirking. My cheeks heat at being caught checking him out. "A girl could get used to this." He puts his arm around my waist as we walk across the marble floor of the great room and gives me a squeeze.

I gesture toward the still drawn drapes. "I don"t know if it's morning or night anymore. I think it's night, but yet I smell breakfast?" I sniff the air … bacon, yes that's definitely bacon that I smell.

Oradea laughs. "It's a good source of protein to go with your eggs; let"s just call it having breakfast at night. It's our first meal of the day. We try to assimilate, but some things like sleeping during the day don't change. For a matter of necessity and function. Otherwise, we would all be walking zombies."

I give him wide eyes, and he laughs. "Joking, Natalia. Vampires can't be zombies. Well, technically."

All eyes turn to us as we walk into the dining room where everyone else is already gathered and quietly talking amongst each other. Whatever has changed, Master Oradea is clearly not keeping our relationship to himself after what we've shared, and I can't help feeling my chest tighten with pride. His arm hasn"t left my waist. The ladies' eyes light up, smiling widely as my cheeks flush pink under their appraisal. Lucianna's lips curve up, but Overmaster Descallia's face remains a mask of indifference. He barely glances at us before looking down at his plate and then clearing his throat to talk with the group.

All attention turns to him as we slip into our chairs. "I hope everyone is well rested today. We have a lot to do tonight. While most of us were sleeping, Master Oradea, a couple of the others, and I have been in constant contact with Natalia's brothers. They've had boots on the ground around the perimeter of Oradea and cities adjacent to it, trying to learn what they can and get that information back to us as quickly as possible."

My chest tightens with angst. Pushing my brothers and how they'll feel about me with Oradea out of my mind was easy last night and even this morning. Not so much while they are the topic of conversation. The mention of my brother's name causes me to look up and pay attention.

Descallia glances at each of us in turn. "Michael, Marcus and Roman have been very helpful. In addition, Sheba has the wolves in his pack, the ones he knows with certainty that he can trust, scouring the land for scents of the rogue bastards. But we know his plight. The entire pack has dwindled, and very few remain who are loyal to him or our cause. Regardless, they've been working diligently to get information and found a homestead about two hundred miles south where Lucas and the others could be hiding with the rogues."

The group bursts into side conversations, animated and ready to hunt the rogues down this very minute without another word.

Lucianna holds up her hand to settle the group so that Descallia can continue. "We've sent our own soldiers in to check it out, a select few who have been picked by Oradea. People he knows we can trust, and they've confirmed what Sheba's wolves have found. But I don't need to tell anyone sitting around this table the number of times we've found ourselves believing those mangy rogues are right within grasp, only to have them slip away. We need to be stealthy and alert, making sure we're not stepping into a trap set by those who want to destroy us."

Oradea puts his orange juice glass down, looking from one end of the table to the other. "Are we comfortable with all hands-on deck?" I watch the body language, some of the masters shifting in their seats, the others quietly contemplating while moving a fork back and forth, and Sardinia, whose jaw looks like it is so tightly clamped that his teeth might crack.

Oradea looks to him. "Sardinia?"

Sardinia glances around the table and lets out a heavy sigh. "I have real reservations about having the ladies accompany us." Catina turns eyes on him, while the others focus on their mates as though they should do or say something to change the course of this conversation because we're all probably thinking the same thing. We're not made of glass.

I may not know these women well yet, but I do know they are committed and determined, and it's going to take more than Sardinia to keep them home. Oradea takes a drink of his orange juice, and I can feel the contemplation. This isn't just simple; it's Oradea putting lives of the mates of the masters around this table at jeopardy with that single question, and everyone here knows it, including me.

"It's not a simple decision. But everyone here was brought here for a reason. They contribute to the overall good of the group, to all the vampires in the community and around the globe," Oradea says. He looks to each of the masters. "I won't make the decision to put your mates in harm's way. You will each need to decide."

The ladies' mouths gape, and it takes effort to keep my mouth shut. We are not in the dark ages here. Women are valuable members of battles every day whether the males among us want us to be or not. Madria gives Sardinia a gentle look and takes his hand. "I love you for wanting to protect me, but I love our life together and all of you, and I want to be by your side, protecting what we have."

Sardinia doesn't argue, but it doesn't look much like he agrees either or will change his objection to his mate or the others being put in danger.

"If they want to go, I vote they all go, but we protect the females at all costs."

A resounding "Agreed," circles the table, each master probably contemplating what this means for him and his mate, but the decision has been made. I give Madria a wink, knowing her approach aided us greatly in being able to help fight our enemies today.

Descallia stands with Lucianna. "Our mission is straightforward. At the end of the day, Lucas knows the secret that we keep and the power of the stones these three ladies wear. We need to find him and determine if he's under another curse, or if he's gone off the dead end and has aligned with the rogues. Let's all meet back here in an hour, ready to go, and it goes without saying, we always protect the ladies whether they need our protection or not."

Oradea and I finish our meal in silence as the others eat. When the others are done, Sardinia stands. "A word with you in the other room, men?"

Oradea's eyes darken, and he wipes his mouth on his napkin. "I'll be back shortly," he tells me before leaving with Sardinia and the other vampires. Catina gives me wide eyes from across the table and snickers.

"The testosterone at the table this morning. It would give Embry a ton to talk about."

"Do you know what those two are talking about?" I ask.

Catina shakes her head. "I don't. But"—she looks this way and that, making sure no one is lurking about. "I think now's our one and only chance to run down and talk with Embry, find out firsthand exactly what she's thinking." Raven, Willow, Madria, and I all laugh out loud at the very same time. This spirited young woman is bound to get us in trouble, yet an energy runs through my veins at the very thought of sneaking downstairs and checking out the dungeon. The big, bad vampires are gone. We can pretty much do whatever we want as long as we're quick about it.

The four of them laugh out loud…

My eyes widen. "What did you just do? Did you put a spell or a hex or something on me?" They shake their heads, laughing.

"No, it's just that you were thinking the very same thing that we were thinking at the very same time. What's stopping us?"

Catina's eyes widen. "Umm, a very big vampire who is not a very big fan of the witches, if you haven't gained that insight already." Raven laughs. "It's not a real witch hate, though. Oradea and Descallia really are just trying to protect the vampires. I just wish Oradea didn't think you three—well, now four—were involved in any of the stuff that got us into this situation in the first place. It's hard for him to let go of the hatred for Devora after all these years."

"Maybe with time and getting to know you all better," I offer. Madria pours another glass of orange juice and rolls a muffin in a fresh napkin. "We're not going to solve it today. Look, we don't have all day. Let's get down to Embry and then back up here before those vampires find out we're gone."

Raven and Willow don't have to be told twice. With a blink of Raven's head and a swirl of Willow's wand, we are in the lower level very red dungeon. Oh, my… "Don't stop and dawdle," Raven says, her little shortie heels clicking across the black tiled floor, past a large cross and benches, and a wall full of all kinds of paddles and torturous looking instruments that should look scary as hell but don't at all; instead, every curious bone in my body itches with sexual curiosity.

A door ahead is locked, and with a nod of her head we are inside a master bedroom suite with a wide-eyed Embry who gets a huge grin on her face. "I knew you would come! Thank you for not tossing me away like the others." Embry crawls from the large red comforter and steps onto the black tile floor, pushing back a strand of her purple hair. She hugs each of the ladies and takes the muffin from Madria. She eyes me with undisguised interest, but no one offers Embry an introduction. I decide it may be better to keep my mouth closed and let them do the talking in case I say something that I shouldn't.

Willow glances at her watch. "We don't have long, Embry. We just wanted you to know that we're out there fighting for you and that we love you. It won't be long, and we'll get this whole situation sorted, okay?"

Embry rolls her eyes. "Sorted as in toss me to the fucking rogues and mangy-ass shifters, take my status as special ops away, treat me like a traitor and lock me away in a dungeon? Too late; they've already done that. I've lost everything. They clearly don't trust me, and all because of that prick Lucas!" She plops onto the bed dramatically. "I don't blame them really. I would blame me too. How do I live with someone and not pick up on the fact that he's one of them? Hell, maybe they're right; maybe I even gave him information without realizing it, and that's what he was using to stay two steps ahead of us. I don't blame them for thinking that, not really, but it still hurts like hell not to be trusted. Lucianna will get it sorted, though. She is fair and kind, and no one is going to make her believe I did this, until she has proof in hand. She may not be able to say that, but I believe it wholeheartedly."

Willow glances at her watch again. "We have to go, okay? We'll be back when we can." Embry sucks in a deep breath. "Love you ladies. Thanks for coming. Nice to meet you, by the way," she says. I seriously can't believe they brought another stranger into the fold.

My head swings around, unsure if Embry said that or I just imagined it. Her eyes go wide. "You fucking read my mind. You are a witch."

"I am no such thing; why does everyone keep making those comments? I am as human as, well, everyone I know in the human world. My brothers are human, and so am I."

Raven and Willow exchange a look. Embry laughs. "Oh, shit. This is about to get good. Out with it, you two, you're on a clock," she says, pointing to an imaginary watch on her arm.

Raven sighs. "Willow and I think all of you are witches. Think about it. Madria has the other stone. Something we didn't tell you is that the stone simply won't work if you aren't a witch. Your mother had to have known that, Madria. We all know this. Maybe she just wanted you to be raised human and thought the two worlds would never collide, but that's hardly ever the case. And you"—she points at Catina. "Your powers are off the chart. There is no denying it, and you," she says, pointing to me. "I knew you were a witch the moment I met you. Your electrical energy is crazy. Witches, we were intended to meet the vampires, to show them the way, to help them overcome the rogues once and for all. I don't know why, but I feel it; deep in here, I feel it," she says, touching her heart.

Embry nods. "I don't disagree, ladies. So many times, so many situations it points to you all being witches. It makes perfect sense to me."

Willow grabs Raven's arm. "We have to get them upstairs. We'll be back, Embry," she says as we're poofed out of the dungeon and into the back hall of the estate. Willow points to our stuff. "Let's grab our gear and meet by the front foyer." Raven rolls her eyes to the sky. "I'm sure the guys will be so patiently waiting for the ladies to join them."

I head toward the great room and follow the sound of Oradea's voice to find out what gear he wants us to take. I turn the corner and hear his voice raise through his closed office door. "So now that the others are gone, are you going to tell me what's really bothering you?"

"I don't want the ladies to go, plain and simple. You put me on the spot at the table. How am I supposed to be the only one who says no?"

"It's a group decision, and each master needs to be accountable for their mate. It's always been that way. It's no different this time, Sardinia. I'm not thrilled that they are going either, but I have no choice. I've promised to keep Natalia protected, and I can't do that if she isn't by my side. You and the others have choices."

Sardinia scoffs, "No, don't give me that. You laid that out there so the masters mated to witches would decide that it's too dangerous and force them to stay home and away from the mountain. You don't believe they can help."

Oradea's voice raises. "This isn't about that."

"No, why has it been perfectly fine for the women to fight by our side until now?"

"Tell me you don't feel the same, Sardinia? Devora and her witches have been laying low, playing the middle ground, but they're constantly part of the problem, and then part of the solution. I'm telling you—this whole thing is one of their smoke and mirrors spells. We all know the land that we claim, and they claim, will always be a source of contention; it's just a matter of when and where the fight will ensue over the area we both call ours. The fight for the mother land, the heritage, and the vampires' future lays in the secrets of the land."

Sardinia doesn't reply for a minute and when he does, I have to strain to hear what he says. "The witches have proven they are trustworthy. They have battled by our side countless times. It was the same way in Sardinia; others wanting to point fingers at Madria without even knowing if she is a witch. I won't stand for it anymore. I'm sick and tired of defending someone who continues to go out of her way to help us; they all do."

"I wouldn't put it past them to be trying to get those three stones in the same place at the same time just to get this land," Oradea growls.

"Descallia not hours ago asked us all to accept the witches around us. Look at what they've done to help us, really. And, what if Natalia is a witch?" Sardinia says.

Oradea scoffs, "Don't try turning the tables around. I'm not the one who got involved with a witch. I wouldn't have gotten myself in that situation in the first place. I would have run like hell."