19. Oradea

I hoverdown the steps to the lower level, fueled with too much energy to walk. A witch. What in the world makes her think she is a witch? I would know. Every time one of the pesky creatures come along, I've been able to tell. Even when they like to mingle amongst a crowd in a bar or other public place, not once have I not been able to scent them out just like these rogues. They may have eluded us at the Benzini's and for the last few days, but they are not going to escape my wrath for long. I've made good use of my time, waiting and researching every nook and cranny that I can think of.

Her brothers can't possibly believe she is a witch, or they would have said something. They would have wanted to use it to their advantage, told me she didn't need protection because she would take care of herself. Any, or all of those things, would have been said if Natalia was a witch. And not a damn word. Instead, I was asked to protect her, because she was human, couldn't take care of herself against these vicious killers. She is not a witch.

I get to my office and slam the door, heading to my chair with my phone already out. There's only one way to find out for sure, and I aim to do just that. Campania answers on the first ring. "I need a favor. Willow has the power of sight, the real strong stuff, right? Do you think she would be able to tell if someone else were a witch? I mean, sense it instinctively?"

He lets out a long, drawn-out sigh. "She can, Raven can, and Madria too; although her witch status has not been officially confirmed, all can sense the spirit of another witch. I take it Natalia told you?"

I scowl. "Told me what?" There's a pause on the other end of the line, but he doesn't walk it back. "Natalia knows she's a witch because all the ladies, including Embry, told her. They know it, and now so does she. That's probably why she left in the first place, Oradea.

My jaw locks so tight that my teeth hurt. "Thanks, Campania."

He clears his throat. "Before you hang up, there's something you should know. You may be down on yourself right now for her leaving, maybe even feeling badly that she left and ended up attacked."

The growl leaves my throat so fast it's impossible to control. "What do you think? She left because she thought I wouldn't accept her as a witch, otherwise I'm pretty sure she would have told her brother to go to hell and that she was staying. She was killed because of me. At the end of the day, I am the reason she was turned into a vampire, something that she never wanted to be."

"Hold on, Oradea. There's more that she apparently didn't tell you. She snuck down to see Embry with the other ladies. One thing led to another, and it ended up with the witches telling the ladies that they believe they are all witches. That they were intended to meet the vampires, to show them the way, to help them overcome the rogues once and for all."

"Fuck, and how's Sardinia taking it?"

"Better than you, but he's had time to prepare for it. It's always been a possibility with Madria. I mean, she does carry the other stone. Madria is his heart. He's never going to let the fact that she's a witch stand in the way of what they have. He told me about your disagreement. Some of that is probably him dealing with his own feelings. Sometimes destiny is a bitch, but what she says goes; there's no way to change it, and eventually you understand why things happened in the way they did; not always but most times anyway."

"It still doesn't change the fact that I've turned her into something she never wanted to be."

Campania laughs. "I swear, if it gets back to those females that it was me who told you, we're going to have problems, my friend. But Natalia told the ladies she wanted to be a vampire and not a witch. She said she could help the vampires in so many ways. Thought that her family would side with us if she were a vampire. Don't you dare repeat that I shared Willow's pillow talk with you."

"Natalia really said that?"

"She did, my friend."

My chest tightens with the overwhelming realization that witch or not, her heart is pure, and not all witches are out to get the vampires no matter the history. "Thanks for telling me this. I appreciate it. I'll text you when I have word about Lucas. I'm hoping it won't be much longer. It's been days."

"He'll show his face when we least expect it."

I shift in my seat. "I have no doubt you're right, my friend. I'll talk to you later." I stare at the wall for a moment, contemplating our conversation, the fact that Natalia wanted to become a vampire, even after learning she was a witch. And even upstairs, I walked away, just let her think that I didn't accept her because of it. Even after what she's been through.

My concentration is disrupted. Natalia is in danger.

I transport upstairs to my bedroom, ready to fight Lucas to the death, only to find Natalia sleeping soundly in my bed. Still, my heart beats with unprecedented fear, knowing that her life could be snuffed out and over with one well-placed stake to the heart as a fuck you to me. I sit on the edge of the bed and stroke a finger down her porcelain cheek, and the emotion hits me so hard that I can barely breathe. "I love you, enchantress."

Natalia is in danger.You need to come and talk to me. I can help.

Embry. The need to get to the bottom of whatever Embry can tell me roils in my stomach. I transport downstairs because I know Natalia is not safe until Lucas and the other rogues are contained, and Embry's going to tell me what she knows, dammit. I'm done playing games. I will throttle it out of her if I have to.

Lucas has turned into a completely different person than we know. There is no way he's going to admit the defeat of not ending Natalia's life, of not paying the Benzinis back for siding with us instead of the rogues, knowing the manpower they have beneath them in every city between here and Italy. I saw that in his eyes, and I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. I knock on the door, inserting my key in the lock to find Embry's purple eyes on me when I walk in, watching me with keen interest.

I narrow my eyes at the little waif who dares call me down here with such tactics. "What danger is Natalia in? Tell me what you know, or you'll be here until you die."

Her purple eyes flash. "Do not threaten me, Master Oradea. You already know. The Lucas I used to know is dead. The Lucas who has sided with the rogues, who's high on the need for power and the thirst for unrighteous blood will come for Natalia. We have to protect her. We have to!"

My temper tamps slightly, hearing her concern for the woman who's put her entire trust in me, whether I deserve it or not, even wishing to become one of us far before I even knew. I will do anything for Natalia, including getting information that I need from this imp of a girl. I walk closer. "We will protect her. I am doing that right now. I have every vampire around the perimeter ready to protect and alert us the moment Lucas comes near because we know that he will."

Her purple eyes flash. "I don't doubt that, Master Oradea, but I'm telling you. She is in danger right this very minute. I am the closest one to Lucas, whether I want to be right now or not. I'm telling you, he is near, or something is happening to her right now. Let me out so I can help her."

The steadfast beat of her heart, the steady pulse, and the way she looks at me tells me she's not lying, that what she says is the truth, yet, if I let her out, and she is working with Lucas, it puts every vampire around the globe in jeopardy. "You communicate with me when you know something more. Until then, you stay here, and I will stay with Natalia. When this is over, I will personally let you out, but I cannot jeopardize the lives of everyone we hold dear until we are sure. I'm sorry, Embry."

Her eyes flash with defiance. "Of course, I will tell you when I know anything else. Do what you must, but I can't help you battle him from here."

"I'm aware."

She shrugs and touches her nails, purposely ignoring me. When I don't leave right away, she looks up. "You should go to Natalia and make things right."

I smile. "That I will. I'll be back for you soon. Until then, try to stay out of trouble," I tell her, looking at the walls where she's managed to cover most of them in a mural of sorts. She sees me looking at her artwork and grins. "Serves you right for leaving me in this dungeon."

I narrow my eyes, watching the young lady who sits on my king-sized bed, has a sixty-five-inch television on the wall to watch, room service at the touch of a button and anything her heart desires, with the exception of her freedom. "Soon, Embry. Everyone wants you out," I tell her, but the way she looks at me leaves me with more questions than when I first came down to talk.