25. Slobozia

Chapter 25

Slobozia

Epilogue

I caress the silkiness of Taylen's cheek before sliding out of bed to jump in the shower and get to the meeting that will give me the answer to the long-awaited question about the future of Taylen in the warriors. I want her to be happy, both in her life with me and with the career that fulfills a desire to serve the vampires as a mighty warrior, no matter my fear of her being put in harm's way.

She stands in a skimpy little robe that barely covers her panties and leaves her sexy thighs on display for me when I return to the bedroom to dress. Her little pink tongue slides seductively across her lips and protruding fangs. "Do you have to go so soon?"

I let the towel fall, hard for her always.

Her eyes light red, and I draw her to me and give her a kiss, instead of what we both really crave. "Remember the rules."

"Are you taking me to the VIP playrooms tonight, if you find out I get the job?"

I smirk. "Someone's been reading my mind."

"Uh-huh," she says, running a red painted toe along the marble floor.

I get dressed, and she watches, coming over to put a knot in my tie. When she's done, she smiles. "I can feel your apprehension. Don't worry about the answer. Either way, I was accepted as an applicant. I'm happy about that, and if I get the job, I do, if not, I don't. It's not like it will change anything. We'll live here and I'll transport wherever the assignment is. It's not like you can't meet me there, if need be, sometimes. We've got this, no matter the decision," she says, looking up at me with those eyes that I adore.

A little worry lifts. Perhaps I've been going about this all wrong, carefully walking on eggshells to safeguard Taylen's feelings. I give her a kiss goodbye. "I'll call you as soon as the meeting adjourns. Be ready to go celebrate, no matter what. I've put a new dress and heels in your closet, and don't wear panties. You won't need them."

She blushes a color that makes me sorry I don't have time to take her again now before I go. The darkness of the transport allows time for thought, to regroup my feelings as I enter Rome and the consulate where the decision about the applicants will be delivered. The masters can surely relate to my angst. Many have been in this same position for different reasons. Waiting to see if their future mates will be accepted by the rest of us, as witches, as psychics or others they wished to turn. They know the feeling of having a mate who can protect themselves, while still wanting to protect their love themselves. If she was meant to have the job, they will do the fair thing. If not, they will have a logical reason that I can provide to Taylen.

Surprisingly, I'm the last to arrive, which is never the case. I give the clock on the wall a quick glance before sliding into the empty seat at the long oval table where issues of great importance are decided with both calm and heated debate.

Descallia bangs the gavel, and my chest tightens. Taylen may not want me to know she wants this, but I feel how badly she wants to do this with her life. It's part of her very fabric, who she is, and what she was meant to do, and I want it for her, no matter the cost to me personally.

Descallia clears his throat. "As you know, we've won the battle with the rogues, but one day in the future, if they come after us again we must have a strong and solid structure. It must be impenetrable from the betrayals we have suffered at the hands of the rogues, and other enemies alike. We must rebuild better than before and solidify alliances that will allow the pureblooded vampires to remain in power and live the life we desire. We must rise out of the shadows of our past and immerse ourselves even more in the modern-day world."

The group bursts into applause, in total agreement with our overmaster's words and the vision for the future.

"Master Slobozia gathered all the initial applications and ran point to coordinate all the interviews for the group of you with the warrior submissions. Given his relationship with one of the aspiring warriors, he asked to be recused from the vote and from providing me with his recommendation, and from the conversations until you had come to a decision. Master Tuscano, would you like to share the outcomes, please?"

Tuscano gives him a nod and looks around the table briefly before starting. "We've narrowed the applicants down but have not yet been able to decide between a few."

My chest tightens hoping the conflict they're having was not caused by me defending Taylen when I should have let her defend herself, or me having a relationship with someone who will now be in a role that reports to our positions. In this moment, I know I'll resign. Anything for her happiness. "Tell us," I half growl.

He gives me a smile that I find more than irritating. "Relax, Slobozia. Taylen was the first one selected for a position, with a caveat, of course."

The tightness in my chest relaxes, knowing how much this will mean to her. "Tell me."

Tuscano clears his throat. "Taylen will be unable to report to the group as a whole, unless of course, we remove you from your current position."

I swallow over the lump that has formed in the back of my throat but I'm not dissuaded. I knew it may come to this and I will do anything for her happiness. "Of course." I would have removed myself from the equation, I just didn't expect to be removed from the group at a meeting with my peers.

Descallia lowers the gavel with a bang and then gives me a big-ass grin. "Slobozia, you are being removed so you can take the very important role of second in command and Taylen will take her rightful position on the team. You will directly report to me alone, going forward, and Taylen will report to the master's oversight group, who also reports to me. No conflict of interest at all."

The masters grin at me from around the table. "Accept it!" Tuscano roars, while the others nod, smiling at me like they've been bursting at the seams keeping the secret from me all this time.

I grin at the group. "Thank you very much. I accept, and I am sure that Taylen will be thrilled."

Master Romano interjects. "She earned this position, you both did."

The cell in front of Overmaster Descallia rings and he scowls, turning it over to check the message, but then excuses himself for a minute to step outside. The masters' phones all begin to ring, vibrate, and buzz at the very same time, while I see I have a missed call from Taylen. I flip over to the missed voicemails and read the transcription of the message while the others call their mates.

Message: Just got word that Embry is missing. She left a note for Lucianna that said she needed time away from us, and this place. The ladies want to go after her, and there's a big debate. I'll help in whatever way you need.

Descallia walks back into the room and clears his throat. "Gentlemen, Embry has disappeared. She left Lucianna a note letting her know that she needed some time away, but the ladies aren't convinced that she should be on her own. I sent out a few feelers to Sheba and others. They'll help us locate her if she wanders into their areas, but we need someone skillful and who knows his way in and out of the vampire lairs, and quite frankly someone strong enough to deal with Embry. Lucianna has tried all the normal ways of communicating with her. She's gone dark. We believe she's alone but we need to find her."

My right-hand man will be furious, but if Taylen were missing, I'd want him leading the charge to find her. I clear my throat. "Stephan Corvinus. I'll get him up to speed and have him take point in finding her. There is no one better in a situation like this."

Every one of the masters nods their agreements and Descallia bangs the gavel with so much force the sound reverberates around the room. "Good. Have him find and convince Embry to come home."

"I'll get right on it. No thoughts at all as to where she would be? Lucianna didn't have any visions or thoughts?"

Descallia grimaces. "No, it's like she's turned everything off and completely vanished. Embry's in the wind."

Want to find out what happens between the dark vampire Lord Stephan Corvinus and the fiery Embry? When these two collide, more than sparks will fly!

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