9. Oradea

In and outof the dark caverns we fly, chasing elusive rogues who may not have counted on our descent but somehow managed to disappear into the night. Overmaster Descallia growls his impatience and frustration with the situation, finally gathering us in a clearing in the woods, not far from the base of the mountain. "We had the element of surprise, the three damn stones, and yet they still managed to get away!"

Lucianna's crystalline green eyes glow with understanding for her mate's frustration. She places an arm on Descallia's forearm. When he looks at her, it's as though all anger dissipates. "We'll find them; today it just wasn't meant to be." She looks around, taking in the forest's edge, the distance between us, and the now deserted caverns that have been tunneled in at the edge of the mountain that stretches across the Carpathian Mountain range. "The mountain range is central to the feud between the witches and vampires, yet the rogues feel comfortable to take refuge here. That is peculiarly unsettling."

Raven and Willow exchange a look, and Raven clears her throat. "The stones weren't really warm." Lucianna's eyebrows draw up in an arch. "I'm not understanding. Does the temperature mean something?" They both nod at the same time, as Madria and Catina join them. Madria touches her stone. It sends off a small glow but doesn't glow very bright. Master Campania puts his arm around Willow. "What's the matter with them?" he asks his mate.

She sighs. "I'm afraid they've been zapped of their power. There is no other explanation that I can think of. I'm sorry."

My jaw tightens with anger. Time and time again it's the pesky witches, but no one seems to want to acknowledge what sits right in front of their face over and over. I glare at Raven and Willow, not giving two fucks that Romano and Campania have their arms around their mates, and let out a warning growl. I glance at my brothers who've been so quick to bring the traitors into our midst. "What now? We have never trusted the witches; now we do, and this? We are no further along in this hunt than when we started. They'll disappear, and we won't find them easily again."

Campania's eyes blaze red, and his fangs descend, causing a deep growl to barrel from the depths of my chest. "Enough!" Overmaster Descallia roars. "The witches have done nothing but try to help. We knew going in that we might spook them, that they may catch wind of us, or even expect us to come."

Descallia glances around. "The entire Carpathian range is full of witch havens, up and down the arc of Europe. Surely, there's one around here? Let's regroup back at your estate, Oradea, and come up with a game plan. Light will be upon us soon."

I concede, but that doesn't mean he's right about the pesky little witches. Natalia watches the encounter with wide eyes. This whole situation could have ended up differently. They could have attacked instead of taking leave. Maybe that's the reason for such annoyance at the witches, not so much the fact that they're witches, but that them not doing something put Natalia in danger when I'm doing everything in my power to keep my unexpected little charge safe.

I glance to all three witches, whose stones glow with an amber color. "We were supposed to wait for the stone before going after the rogues because going into the mountains without them would end in failure. We did that. Aren't the stones supposed to light our path and send the evil to a fiery hell? What now?" I ask, not really looking for an answer, disgusted with the entire journey that did nothing but put Natalia in danger. I lift my cape and let it settle in around her, protecting my charge and drawing her close.

Too innocent for this world, too forbidden and young to make my own, no matter the raging desire to make her mine. Instead, I settle for the warmth of her by my side as we move through the night and back to my estate. I lift my cape from around her, and she stares up at me with bright eyes, under the brightness of the full moon. "I don't know how, but I know what you're thinking, Oradea. You are wrong about me, though. My brothers may put me off limits to you, and I may be young, but I know exactly what I want."

I stroke a stray strand of hair from her face, so that it doesn't mar the loveliness of her expression. The one I want to memorize for an eternity and etch into my memory bank for years—no, centuries to come. She smiles gently. "I want you to be my first, Oradea."

My chest compresses with the enormity of her words. I shake my head. "No, you don't know what you ask. It's difficult enough between humans and vampires, but I've made a promise to your brothers to protect you, in all things. That means your virtue too."

She looks at me as though I've dashed every hope she has, and that feeling isn't only hers. The thought of not touching Natalia causes my chest to tighten with the enormity of our reality. "If it makes it better, I wish it were different, that these barriers did not exist."

Natalia stretches on her tiptoes. I know exactly what the enchanting blonde beauty intends before she does it. There is every chance to stop it, move away, redirect her motions, but I don't consider any one of them in any real way. Because I want what she desires in the very worst of ways, and when our lips meet, hers soft and seeking against my own, mine responding and then taking lead, exploring, and claiming what I want to be mine, our fate is clear.

The entire world disappears in a kiss. Our destiny is sealed… Her brothers, the masters, the witches, the humans… All of them cease to exist in this very moment. She looks at me, hazy with lust, no doubt a reflection of my own. But yet, we've crossed a line, a very dark line in the sand. I've given my word to the syndicate to keep her safe, not to defile her innocence with my need, but I want her in the worst of ways.

I stroke back that straggling wisp of hair that never seems to stay in place and kiss her chastely on the forehead. "There, now you've kissed a vampire. Gotten it out of your system. Come, we have much work to do if we're to find Lucas and return you to your brothers."

Her eyes go from hazy to sharp, flashing sheens of gold. "You pompous ass. You are not the boss of me. You do not get to decide who I kiss. You do not get to decide who I lose my virginity to, or when!"

I look down at the little blonde who dares scream at a beast who could easily tear her to pieces and drink her blood. In fact, the very same thing the rogues would love nothing better than to do, and same thing her brothers fear. Yet, Natalia has no life-sustaining fear at all. "You're an asshole!" she says, after I don't respond to her tirade in the amount of time she's given me. "A real certifiable asshole!" she emphasizes just in case I didn't know she was serious the first time.

"The others are arriving," I tell her, cutting off our conversation seconds before the group descends on us, and I have to explain why I've kissed the innocent and put the vampires in a precarious position with the syndicate. Not that Overmaster Descallia is scared of them, but we all know it's more than a tenuous situation right now. The more syndicate members we have on our side, the better. Having Roman and her brothers side with us is definitely a plus that we don't want to shake or alter in any way. Even if it means keeping myself in check around the fair little virgin who tempts me at every turn.

The ladies turn to Natalia. "What do you think?"

Her brow wrinkles in confusion. "I'm sorry, about what?"

Raven's eyes crinkle. "I'm so confused. You can understand us and communicate with us on so many levels, but not just shortly ago?"

Natalia shakes her head. "Apparently not?"

"It's just as well," Willow says. "It's hardly good for you if we drag you into our upset with our mates. One of our closest friends is being treated as a traitor when she is not." Master Campania tries to console his mate, but she turns from him as I lead us into the foyer. "Embry is no more a traitor than I am. You stand up for me, for us, the witches that are here, but yet you have no compassion for one of your very own. Embry fought battles for you, she turned from human to vampire; that's all she ever wanted, and you treat her this way," she laments.

Campania sighs, taking her gear and hanging it in the closet as the others gather round doing the same. Lucianna exchanges a nod with Descallia. The fact that they can communicate without words is well known, but she was a vampire who came back as a human and then turned. Her being able to communicate with us is understandable, but this thing with Natalia is mind-baffling at best. Clearly the witches don't believe she's one of them if she can't communicate with them all the time. I make a note to discuss it with Descallia when Natalia and the others are not around.

Elda gives me a nod from the doorway, letting me know all is ready for me and our guests. "Elda and the staff have prepared a lavish meal. Come"—I place my hand on the small of Natalia's back—"let's eat, have something to drink, and talk about the evening. Surely we can put our heads together and decide how we want to proceed?"

The group gives me nods and small smiles, but there's a distance between the masters and their mates that didn't exist before we left to go find the rogues. Whatever the conversation Natalia and I missed while we were having a moment of our own has had a dismal impact on the spirits of the ladies, and they're not being shy about how they feel, at all.

I hold the chair out for Natalia as she takes a seat before taking the one next to her. She leans over and whispers, "Clearly, I missed something, but I don't have a clue what." I nod, watching as the ladies settle in next to each other, while ignoring their mates, who take the open seats with irritation.

I begin with the meat, taking a piece of the tender beef, placing a serving on Natalia's plate, and then passing it as I reach for the plate of roasted red potatoes. You won't take me to bed, but you treat me as a mate. You guide me here and there, you protect me in your cape, you shelter me, and you even kiss me!

Your tantrum will fall on deaf ears with me, enchantress. You are a siren put on earth to lull me into a false sense of security, and when I'm not looking you'll cast an evil spell.

I go to put some potatoes on her plate, but she takes the platter from me and serves herself. Ha! You think I'm a witch. You're no better than the others believing the worst of Embry.

I scowl. You don't even know Embry. This communication style of yours is annoying at best. I don't think you're a witch. Believe me, if you were a witch, we wouldn't be having this conversation. I do believe you have psychic powers though. Just like Angel, Master Trentino's mate. She is an enchantress too. She can communicate with us and with those already on the other side. Her powers of sight are incredible and have been very helpful to the vampires.

She shrugs and takes the bowl of green beans from my hands before I can put some on her plate. I'm quite capable; thank you!

I look up to find Catina scowling at Sardinia and exchanging glances with the ladies. He tosses down the white linen napkin. "Alright, we're going to clear things up right here and now. Not one of the masters is happy about the situation with Embry, including myself. We don't like the fact that she has to be kept separate from us anymore than you do, but we are responsible for the welfare of the vampires across the globe. If she and Lucas are a team, then we must ensure she does not feed him information, at least until we can be sure."

Raven's eyes flash, and the ends of her fingernails begin to crackle. Romano's eyes go wide, placing a calming hand on Raven's arm, but she doesn't acknowledge him a bit. "I would be able to tell if she were a traitor; Willow would be able, maybe even some of the others. The psychics and witches have a lot in common, you know? What I don't understand is why can't you tell if she is or isn't, Lucianna?" she says, looking to our future queen.

Lucianna sits beside Descallia with deep green glowing eyes, not saying a word, until she's ready to speak, and even then, is thoughtful and quiet in her response. "I've asked myself that very question so many times. My powers are not the same as they were. Lucas has pledged allegiance to the other side; is it his doing or by another spell cast by our enemies? How is Embry involved? All questions that I have not been able to answer. But tonight, when the witches' stones did not work, that told us more than we ever could have learned. What the rumors say is true—the stones did lead the way. They told me what we need to know by not doing what they are intended to do."