5. Oradea

My jaw tightenswith angst as I sit at my desk and listen to the fifth of my lords tell me the same damn thing. Not one person saw Lucas after he left the club last night, and no one has seen him since. The traitor will not disappear and get the best of me. I will hunt that beast until I've found him and made him pay for every atrocity against the masters and the pureblood vampires he and the rogues want to eradicate.

I disconnect from the line and begin sifting through pages of the vampire guide, searching the Vade Mecum for a historical clue that will help me determine the beast's intent for the future. Someone has to stop Lucas and these rogues dead in their tracks. After last night, I've determined that it will be me, because my patience has come to an absolute end.

A sound at the door causes me to glance up. Overmaster Descallia takes up the frame of the entrance. I wave him in and to the seat across from me. "How was the journey?"

He folds himself into the chair and sighs. "I have to admit, it's been a long few days since finding out about Lucas. It was bad enough to learn about the others, especially Isala and Dragos. You don't expect family or someone you spent so much time mentoring to turn on you, yet they did."

I shift in my chair. "I'm sorry." It's all I can say because while the betrayal has hit us all, it's more personal to Descallia who helped hand pick each and every one of us with the goal of becoming exactly who we are in the communities today. Vampires who are viewed with respect and with positions of authority in the towns we live in. But to be constantly looking over our shoulder, waiting for the rogues to swoop in with the next ploy to take us out must be much harder for him to take, century after century. Yet we've managed to prevail, time and time again, and this attempt will be no different. "We will find the bastards and make them pay."

Descallia shakes his head slowly. "It's become complex, hasn't it? Everything was simpler centuries ago. Then we were fighting for our freedom, to be the purebloods we knew we could be. Holding onto the gains and positions we've achieved seems much harder to do when it's not just one faction who wants to drag us down, but many, for a variety of reasons that don't always make sense at the time."

I tap the burgundy leather of the Vade Mecum. "We'll find Lucas and the rogues. The answers have to be in here. When we do, we'll learn what they're after. We know pieces; it's just putting them together like a puzzle."

He nods. "You're not wrong, Oradea. Lucianna feels strongly that while the Vade Mecum is not specific, that Raven, Willow, Madria, and their stones are key to finding the rogues." I flip to the page I've bookmarked.

"The stone of the witches will light a path to send evil to a fiery hell." Descallia nods.

"Exactly. We believe destiny meant for the stones to come together and we were to wait to look for the rogues until they did. How or what the power of the stones hold, Devora would not say, but it's written in the witches' history, in their bible of sorts, that when the three stones come together, a play for power will surmount anything ever seen. Every time we get close to the truth or to the rogues, the witches are involved. It's undeniable."

I nod. "Devora was pretty convincing when she came to the consulate meeting to meet with the masters about putting things in the past. I have to tell you, it was a hard pill to swallow having her there. But to her credit, she was up front and honest about her inability and unwillingness to let the land dispute lie."

Descallia's eyes redden. "They believe it's theirs as much as we believe it belongs to us. Romano and Campania were telling me some of the stories that Raven and Willow told them about some of what they were taught at the academy, about their history and ours. It's hard to blame the witches if that's what they've learned from Devora and the High Priestess."

"I'm still having a hard time believing they aren't part of this, and I'm trying hard not to let their schemes of the past cloud my judgment, but it's an effort."

He stands and goes to the window, looking out at the sky that's just barely turned dark. "We seem to have developed an amiable truce, but not where the land is concerned. The entire war with the witches has been about that land. I was hoping if we could fix that, our problems would go away, but this thing with Lucas … He knows the secret that we keep and the powers of the stones."

"What about Embry? I heard you both stayed back to deal with her."

Descallia growls under his breath. "He was the one who brought Embry into our fold. They have a history that ties them together. That bond may be deeper than her commitment to us. Even that has brought dissension to our group. The ladies are convinced that Embry would never betray us. Lucianna believes they're right, but she isn't willing to put the future of the vampires on the line until we know for certain. In the meantime, Embry isn't talking to anyone, and Lucas hasn't said a word about her or come back to claim her."

I heard that. "It's a real cluster, that's for sure. Did you have time to think about our call last night and how you want to handle Roman and the Benzini family?"

A half growl barrels forward from deep in his chest. "Those brothers should be thanking Roman for agreeing to take them into his fold, instead of acting as though they're doing him a favor. They have no don, the elders of their group want to dissipate, or have them merge with another family. That tells me they don't believe the leadership structure the Benzinis have is solid enough to withstand anything without merging. Roman's in the driver's seat on this one. He just needs to hold his ground with these thugs."

"I spoke with the lords this evening. They've had all of their soldiers with their ears to the ground. No one has seen or heard a word from Lucas. I have a couple stops I want to make this evening. Given his appearance last night, maybe going in alone but having backup watching the perimeter would be smart? There are a few people I need to talk with, and then I'll head over to the Descallia and see if I can learn anything there. At least we know all the vampires there are loyal to us."

His eyebrows raise. "At least we used to. It's a solid plan. At least until we know more about the possibilities of where he's gone. I'll ask Lucianna to work with the ladies and their stones and see if they can find out anything about his whereabouts too."

"Did you bring Embry with you and Lucianna?"

He exhales a deep breath. "We brought her, but she's about as pleasant as a little viper at the moment. I hope you don't mind, but I gave her your lower level. It gives her enough space and keeps her close by, which soothed the ladies who feel I'm the most unjust person on this earth for not trusting Embry. The masters can take their ladies to see Embry, but I'd rather not have her anywhere else but where we can keep an eye on her until we know for sure. There's far too much at stake."

"Sounds reasonable to me. I'll talk to Embry tomorrow. I have questions for her that may come better from me than those she was closer to. In the meantime, Elda will have our staff keep her comfortable, with food and drink and anything else she needs."

I glance at the clock, anxious to take leave. "I'm sure you and Lucianna are famished. Why don't you grab something to eat. Elda should be putting a meal on shortly. I want to get back to the clubs as quickly as possible. Maybe you can have Lucianna ask the ladies to focus on making those stones sparkle or glow or whatever they do to tell us what we need to know while you and Lucianna recover from the journey."

He nods, but his mind is clearly somewhere else with a thousand things to think of and all which fall to his shoulders to rule if the vampires are to continue to exist in the manner we've all become extremely accustomed to living. "Make sure to take backup," is all he says, as I walk out the door.

The minute I reach one of the many clubs on my list, I text my location to Romano, Campania, Sardinia and Botosoni, letting them know so they can stay close by as I head into the joint. A necessary backup given last night's debacle, and I'm not waiting around while they eat. I'm way too keyed up for that.

The doorman greets me as I make my way through the entrance. A couple chin nods from the bouncers greet me as I walk through the club, scouring it for my lords, soldiers, and whoever else may have information I want to know.

Club after club, dizzying light, and sound effects, different in each until I reach the Descallia. At least here, a vampire can breathe. Take in the calming red walls and black and red patterned marble on the floor, and be consoled by the music in the background that does not overwhelm your senses the minute you walk through the door. I walk to the long black marble bar, and the barkeep brings me a Descallia Red without asking. "Thanks, Curt," I tell him. "Seen anything suspicious tonight, anything that will help us on our hunt?" I ask him, lowering my voice as a vampire in a suit walks through the club with his nude mate. He places a protective hand to her lower back, guiding her to one of the entrances to the lower-level playrooms.

The thought of what it would be like to have one woman in my life floats through my mind, before I dismiss it. Hardly likely for a vampire in my position, although many of the others I thought would remain steadfast bachelors over the course of time have settled down and seem to be much happier for it.

I finish my drink as I take in the patrons who move in and out of the club, but my jaw locks firmly as the doors open, and all four Benzini brothers stalk into the room, with Natalia in tow. Their eyes scan the floor until they come to land on me. Not again with these fuckers. They make their way toward me, and Natalia closes her eyes and shakes her head softly. I'm sorry. My eyes narrow suspiciously at the forbidden young woman who acts like a human but connects with me as an enchantress. "What do you want?" I growl, as the wall of dark-suited brothers reach me at the bar.

Michael starts to speak but is interrupted by Marcus. His face is beet red, and if his heart doesn't slow the fuck down, he's going to have a coronary right in the middle of our club. He grabs my suit jacket, but that's the wrong thing to do. I curl my hand around his and squeeze until his eyes begin to water. "Do not touch me, human. Tell me what has everyone in such a temper."

Natalia doesn't give him time to recover from his temper or the shock of being caught in a vampire's hold. "The rogue vampire that was in the club last night, Lucas? He sent one of his vampires to threaten me last night. I got into a cab right outside the club, and he was the driver."

My chest pounds with unprecedented rage. It is enough that the fucker makes an appearance, threatening me in public, but this is beyond the pale. "Details, I want to know everything he said."

Antonio gets in my face, but he's careful not to touch me; a lesson his brother or any of them won't soon forget, at least until the hand of their brother heals. "That bastard threatened her with sucking the blood from her body. Our sister! Those fuckers are going to pay for that with their lives!"

Natalia's blue eyes flash with gold. "I am quite capable of retelling the story." Michael contains a smirk while Marcus continues to baby the hand that will most certainly need casting to set straight. She stands straighter on her four-inch Louboutins, which do everything to show off the expanse of creamy thigh and slender ankle that I envisioned wrapped around my neck last night while I feasted on her cream. Her eyes go wide, and her cheeks turn the loveliest of pinks. There's no way she can know what I'm thinking. Her eyebrows arch as to say otherwise. Eerie and fascinating at the very same time.

Indeed it is, enchantress.

She clears her throat and looks me directly in the eyes, as if being able to communicate on this level with a vampire master happens every day. "One of the rogue vampires was driving a taxi I got into last night. He said, ‘Give your brothers a message. Stay out of the vampires' business. If they side with the masters, they will become enemies of the rogues.' Then he laughed at me. I swear I'll never forget that laugh and he said, ‘We especially like the taste of blood from little blonde girls like you. This is the only warning they will get.'"

My chest pounds with unprecedented rage. Michael is standing closest to me and gets the heat of my anger. "Did I not warn you last night? They know you're partners with Roman and that his alliance is to us and not them. Now you've managed to get your sister right in the middle of the most brutal and bloodthirsty war the vampires have seen in centuries. They've already set their sights on Natalia!"

The brothers glare at me. Marcus pulls Natalia back to try to get in my face, but I growl. It's the only warning he'll get. I don't have time to deal with the Benzini brothers if I'm going to find Lucas and save Natalia from becoming a victim of this war. Michael puts a hand on his brother's shoulder before turning to me. "Tell me what it takes to safeguard Natalia, to keep her from these rogues, and we will persuade the families to side with you in this war. Last night, it was appropriate to stay neutral. After the threat to my sister, it demands a response from the family. We are in this war whether we want to be or not."

I may not have liked the fact he brushed me off last night, but I can certainly respect why and his change of heart today. "Done. But we do things my way. You have no weapons against these beasts, and make no mistake—they will want the blood of your virgin sister."

Natalia's eyes widen in disbelief, and Michael takes a menacing step toward me. I raise my hand to thwart off any further conversation of the matter and to let the other masters who are watching from a discreet distance know I don't need them to step in to help me with this. "Do not ask me how I know. Vampires have senses that you humans cannot even comprehend. I am the only one who can protect her against the wrath that is headed her way."

Natalia already knows what this means; I can hear the change in the beating of her heart and the pumping of her blood. Her mind races with the reality before the words leave my mouth. "There is no choice now. Natalia must come with me."