18. Slobozia

Chapter 18

Slobozia

M aybe I handled it all wrong. What the hell do I know about dealing with the emotions of a woman whose been hurt before? No matter that I wanted to do the right thing for everyone involved, somehow unintentionally, I've managed to screw everything up and do the one thing I swore not to do. Stand in the way of her chances at the warrior group.

I slam the phone on my desk down in frustration. She can't have just disappeared into the fucking abyss. Somebody in her region has to know where she's at. I pull out my cell, and call both Master Bistrita and Oradea for the gazillionth time since Taylen disappeared a week ago. Finally someone answers my fucking call on the first ring. "This is Oradea."

"Any word?" I ask more gruffly than I should, but days without sleep are wearing my patience threadbare.

"Natalia says she hasn't heard from Taylen. How about if I call you if she hears from her?"

"The way you say that, it makes me think she's contacting her and you know it, but you're not going to say anything because Natalia didn't tell you herself."

Oradea doesn't say anything for a long minute. "Fuck, Slobozia. Natalia, Chara and Taylen have all been talking, and she's been staying with a different friend each night, okay? She's fine, just severely pissed. She and the ladies are close friends, and Natalia's my mate. I shouldn't be telling you anything at all after what happened at the club. Taylen has every right to be pissed at you. What were you thinking? She thinks every master on the consulate knows that you're a thing and that they will think she needed you to protect her. How's she supposed to get a job defending vampires if she needs one to protect her? What were you thinking?"

My growl is fierce. "She didn't need me to protect her. She was doing it all by herself, would have done it all by herself If I hadn't have needed to be the one to protect her, to defend her from that asshole. There's a fucking difference," I growl.

"Look, this woman has clearly gotten to you but from what Natalia said my friend, it's over. Taylen is moving on, not looking back. She's going to apply for the position whether she gets it or not. If she does, she'll leave for training and if she doesn't, she plans to apply with one of the other combat divisions in another region. Far away from you is what I hear, and you're not supposed to know that my friend. So do me a favor and keep it to yourself. I need no problems with the females."

I hang up without replying. This can't be the end. Not after all we've been through, not knowing how we feel about each other and how we connect. I refuse to believe it's over, but taking charge and stepping in will drive her away again. I glance out the window and the trees sway in the darkness of the wind, ghouls who protect the estate flying around the perimeter as I wonder what she's doing right now and contemplate what I plan to do.

The fact that she's been hurt is not going to go away easily with her past. But I meant every word I said. I have no desire for anyone but her, she should know that, feel it, the way deep down inside that I feel it about her. This connection we have is deep, but her wounds have left her scarred, and they may be deeper than even destiny's meddling can heal.

I watch the wind as it swirls, and slowly the storm of the night brings clarity to my plight. As though the answer was there all along, just waiting for the right moment to be put into perspective and then applied.

I slide into my leather chair and open my laptop, sending one email and then another, and then settle back to contemplate my plan. It will work. It has to work, because if it doesn't, my whole world is about to shift without her by my side. Something I find absolutely un-fucking-acceptable and will not allow.