14. Slobozia

Chapter 14

Slobozia

I slip gently from bed, get ready and leave quietly in the dead of night, transporting to Rome where all the masters will convene. Overmaster Descallia is sure to have a long agenda for tonight, because there is certainly much to do now that the rogues, Magnus, and Lucas are dead.

The lights in the building are already on when I arrive. I adjust my suit, sliding a hand through my hair as I walk through the glass doors that lead me to the conference room inside. Several masters have already settled around the long oval table and Descallia sits at the head with a large gavel in front of him. While there is much to celebrate, we all know there is still much to sort out to maintain the hard-won power that we've developed in the underworld along with the relationships we've built with the humans.

The seat next to Campania is free, and I slide in next to him, catching up a little but both of our minds are on the future and not really on the idle sidebar used to pass time. I watch the door, and once all twelve of us have arrived, master Calabrea closes the door, being the last one in.

The round clock on the wall strikes the top of the hour just as my phone buzzes with an alarm for the start of the meeting. Overmaster Descallia is always prompt, and even more focused today. The gavel comes down, barely giving me time to turn off the silent alarm before he dives into the agenda.

He looks around. "As you know, celebration is in order. I want to thank each and every one of you for all your hard work and diligence in this battle. We have bested the enemies who would see us sent back to the dark ages, ravaging humans for no other reason but for amusement and blood. But first, we must put plans in place to repair the damage they've done to our community, our structure in order to sustain our place in power far into the next century."

Descallia does not need to go into detail, as every single master has been kept well-informed and apprised as the events of the last week unfolded. "The first matter of business is to assure you and all that sit around this table our kingdom, our wealth, and resources are completely safe. While Lucas was aware of the key, and how that key can lead to the treasures of our kind, he was not privy to any more than that. Those kinds of secrets must be safeguarded from all, and you can be assured that outside of the cavern we had to destroy, no other of our havens were found or compromised."

The masters nod, probably with the same emotions I had at hearing those words, both a mixture of relief and appreciation for the overmaster's strategy in keeping the key safeguarded even from his most trusted allies. It causes my chest to tighten slightly though knowing just how many times I've entrusted my lords with information, trusting them implicitly and that Overmaster simply cannot do the same. He's learned the hard way, through betrayal after betrayal that money and ulterior motives and dreams of even more power can buy loyalty.

He clears his throat, as though I'm not the only one whose thoughts have wondered from his words. "Our first two orders of business will be to fill the role of my second in command and the position of warrior leader as we restructure that group."

My chest tightens. Taylen's dream is about to become reality because there is no way I can stand in the way of her doing what has been her life's calling to do. No matter my desire to keep her safe and protected and no matter the almost primal need now to keep her by my side.

Sardinia's hand swirls the water glass in front of him. "What about the shifters? Sheba, and the others who remain? Do you know if he plans to rebuild? Surely the packs spread across the land are looking to regroup with all the upheaval in the land? Will they be our allies in the future?"

Overmaster looks at Sardinia, but doesn't respond directly to his question, causing a few raised eyebrows among the group, including Sardinia. None of us are used to evasiveness from the fearless leader who's been at the helm for centuries and carried us through battle after battle with the rogues. "Let's table that for now. It will require more discussion and move us away from the priorities tonight. It is important though and will need to be addressed."

Clearly, he's got things on his mind and an order in which to get them done. He clears his throat, looking directly at me. "I've not asked him yet, but I'd like Master Slobozia to run point on gathering submissions for positions in the Society of Warriors. Anyone interested, please submit a letter of interest to Slobozia by the end of the week. After that, I'll go through the initial submissions, and we'll get a few interested masters together to conduct group interviews. We can then discuss if, when, and how we plan to fill the vacated positions."

"Happy to do anything to help," I tell him and the group, not surprised he'd pick me to handle the job knowing my loyalty to my region and desire not to leave. I silently contemplate who among those around the table may be interested in the jobs. Everyone seems so happy in their areas, have been for years, and being second in charge is no easy feat and for this, he at least appears to want to select the person collaboratively with the group

Tuscano leans forward from the far end of the table, looking past us all and directly at Master Descallia. "What about the witches?" Some of the masters shift uncomfortably in their seats. The witches are always going to be a priority for Tuscano.

Descallia looks thoughtfully across the room knowing the answer is important to many of the masters. "The witches have been good allies to us in this battle. Even when we thought they were not, there was not intentional betrayal, only a desire to ensure they were not harmed. Devora has proven good as her word, and the witches who were problematic were under the spell of those with more power than them. Look around the room. Many of our masters have mated with witches who were instrumental in helping us get to Lucas and Embry in the end."

Tuscano's steely eyes do not detour though. "I don't disagree that they have helped, but how does that change things between us now? What about the land in Romania, the section of the mountain range that lies between Master Romano's estate and the witches' academy?"

Master Descallia sighs, probably wishing Tuscano didn't push, but our fearless leader is not known for backing down and he does not do it now. "I don't have all the answers, but going forward, we live in a world where we are colleagues and not enemies, similar to the syndicate. We may not always see things in the same way, but we work together and deal with our differences as they arise, such as the land that has been a source of contention for centuries."

The masters look from Overmaster to each other, all taking in the other's reactions, trying to track between Tuscano and our leader.

Descallia clears his throat. "That's the only way we have a path forward that ends with anything else but war. His look softens toward Tuscano, knowing as we all do that it will be important for his mate to hear after everything she went through at the hands of the enemy, and Devora and the other witches' kindness to her. "Will that be enough for Delilah?" he asks.

Tuscano gives a nod. "I think it will, sir. Thank you. I'm glad you've decided to reinstate the warriors. I assume the special ops group you put together will have a chance to be part of the group?"

Descallia nods. "I believe they've earned that right, along with many others who have fought valiantly to defend the vampires and fight our enemies in the battles of late." His gaze falls to me, but he didn't need to connect with me for me to know that one of the people just happens to be my fated mate. The one I didn't know I needed, or wanted, until it was far too late, but I will not stand in the way of what Taylen wants to be.

No matter the cost to me.

Overmaster Descallia clears his throat and give us a seldom seen grin. "Next on the agenda. We need to discuss the upcoming transition ceremony and the crowning ceremony for my queen."