6. Taylen

Chapter 6

Taylen

I feel the shift in his demeanor, and his hand at the base of my low back. It sends a shiver of anticipation and desire down the length of my spine. But, if he thinks I'm going to allow him for one minute to usurp my ability to show everyone my battle skills and break free from the minor slips I've made along the way, he has another think coming.

My lip twists with irritation as a few of the masters notice the possessiveness of his touch. Great, now they'll never see me as anything other than a female who needs to be protected, not the trained and battle-ready professional that I am. I shrink slowly away from his side, joining the females who are deep in conversation. Slobozia's eyes track me, and he gives me a slow smile. Damn that panty-melting look all to hell.

He smirks . You can run but you can't hide.

The arches of my brow lift in question. He sees far too much for my own good. How I'm supposed to slip away from the hunky beast and battle the enemy so I can show that I am worthy of having a seat on the warriors is beyond me with him watching me with those blazing red eyes. I huff. Stop gawking. Everyone will think there's something between us.

He grins and I turn away, trying to focus on the surroundings when all I can think about is the vampire beast whose eyes heat my skin. I need to talk to Natalia. My friend will be able to help put this into perspective. All my life I've been with the wrong men, or have had no interest in men who acted like mere boys. But I've heard all the rumors about him. A different female every night, sexual proclivities that I probably don't even know about, and worst of all someone all the women want. A shiver runs through my skin as his thoughts float through my mind. A masterful teacher would put your mind at ease, love.

My cheeks heat with embarrassment, but I don't turn to look at him. I will not give that hunky beast any more reason to think I've gone all gooey eyed, because I haven't. Maybe it's just been too long since I mated. Men aren't the only ones who need these things. I suck in a deep breath, resigning myself to go to Club Descallia and find a partner for a night, someone who will help me work this unwanted attraction to the vampire master right out of my senses.

A slight sound jolts me back to reality.

My sword is drawn before I turn toward the forest floor. The slightest pop of dried twig, and probably an animal scurrying in the night, but I'm not taking any chances of being bested by Lucas again. And clearly, neither are the masters who have all drawn weapons and now stand listening to the silence that's fallen over the forest floor again. At least now my heart is racing for another reason altogether. And not due to some attraction to the dark beast.

Slobozia, Overmaster Descallia, and the other masters exchange a look. Just an animal scurrying in the night. Slobozia points ahead. "It's on, we're going in, and the battle of a lifetime is about to commence. A story that will ensure the vampires are victorious and those around us see what happens to traitors who betray our kind or else it will end in our own demise."

The march forward is slow though. Slobozia isn't letting me off the proverbial leash anytime soon. My jaw tightens knowing he's right next to me and is not likely to let me show what I can do instead of trying to protect me like some frail girl who doesn't know how to battle.

Romano, Campania and Sardinia and their witch mates have taken the lead, Overmaster and the others allowing the lights of the witches' stones to lead us through the trees, no matter the suspicion on my part and Slobozia's. Silver returns and joins Lucianna and Overmaster Descallia without any new update, while Slobozia keeps me at his hip, a hand at my elbow every once in a while, as we master the rocks.

I stay alert, looking from left to right, watching, listening for anything out of the ordinary, that may look, smell, or give us a clue to finding Lucas. Silver may have seen him in a vision, but that doesn't mean he's really holding Embry at his dagger's point and that he hasn't tied her up so that he can come after us. I wouldn't put anything past the bastard, but then again, I've known men like him all my life. Traitorous men who will do anything to get what they want in the end, no matter what it means to the good of the vampires. But no one ever thought it would be Lucas.

I say a silent vow to stay sharp, to show my skills at defending the vampires and our way of life among the humans and to keep us all safe from harm as we head toward the cavern that waits ahead.

The witches' stones hanging from their necks shine a beaconing path from them to the crevice in the mountain range ahead. I swallow back centuries of instinct that tell me not to trust the cackling biddies, while knowing that our overlord and future queen trust the three that light our way. Birds squawk overhead, diving through the trees in an attempt to get out of our way as our squadron makes our way on ground and through the crowns of the looming trees above, carefully positioned and spread out to ensure the vampires come out victorious in our hunt.

But as much as we've prepared with the witches and master Slobozia, we're dealing with Lucas, and we don't know what condition we'll find Embry in when we arrive. Embry's safety cannot be our first thought, or our objective. It never really was, and she would understand the reason for that. No, our focus has to be on stopping the evil plan that Lucas has, the vision of his where vampires like us are annihilated and we are replaced with the vampires of yesteryear. Vampires who will pilfer and plunder the humans and kill them for fresh blood.

But still, every part of my body reacts the minute we grow near the entrance and hear the bloodcurdling scream from within.