It’s hard not to smirk. My love only drinks tequila when she’s out with the girls or really wants to let loose and play. I indulge Embry, but she’s going to rest first before she expends any more energy. I pour our Descallia Reds, and we both drink, sipping slowly, both just content and happy to be on our own, and to have come out of this battle. We both know the ghouls and witches in an army like that are enough to take entire covens down.
But Embry is not just a soldier, she was a special ops soldier, a warrior of the most special kind. Now she’s a mighty warrior with a special gift that she either didn’t have before or didn’t know about at all. I let us relax, finishing our first drinks, letting the soothing blood and wine mixture begin to blend in our veins before standing to pour us our drink of choice tonight.
A margarita for my love with all the salt crystals and lime flavor she likes around the glass rim, while I pour two fingers of Delmar for myself before rejoining her on the couch. “You learned about the stone in the end of your sword recently, or were just suddenly able to harness it’s power?”
Her wide eyes meet mine over her tequila glass. “Both. Gramma told me so many things long ago, but I just didn’t retain all the information for one reason or another. I do recall her saying it had special powers and never to fight without it. But, the shadow books, they warn the witches to beware of the half witch, half human who walks beside them sometimes acting as a friend, that she has great unleashed powers. And with a heart full of rage and one magical phrase whispered under her breath can turn her sword into a burning torch.
It makes so much sense. “Devora really hated your great grandmother and all of your relatives. You’re not going to be safe until she’s out of the picture, Embry.”
Embry’s eyes grow wide, and the periphery turns purple as she takes a sip of her drink, watching me over the glass’s edge before setting it on the table. She kneels on the couch and crawls into my lap, placing one leg on either side of my thighs, her mouth coming so close that I could capture her lips if not so entranced by watching to see what she wants to do.
She kisses my lips gently. “You have it all wrong, vampire. You see, I’m not the one who needs protection. As long as I am alive, it is Devora who needs protection. She is the one who has made it her mission to kill me and Lucianna, trying to send the vampires I love back to the dark ages, all while pretending to help us. It is she who should run and hide, because I know the secrets of my own power now, and I’m not afraid to use them on that green-faced bitch.”
Chapter 11
Embry
Corvinus does his best not to smirk but his lips curve ever so slightly giving him away. I stroke over his lips with a finger. “What’s so funny, vampire? Is this amusing to you?”
A growl deep and low comes barreling from his chest, as in one quick move he maneuvers us around, and has me lying on the sofa while he cages me with this length and balances his weight to prevent crushing me with his strength. I’m left looking up at my dark-souled beast, the arrogant dark lord that somehow, I’ve managed to fall head over heels in love with. “You always like to be in charge,” I tease.
His eyebrow arches, and his dark eyes sear me with their heat. “Because I’m always in charge, love. Always protecting you, no matter what, understand? That doesn’t mean I don’t think you’re capable of doing it on your own. That means I’m always going to be there to back you up if the need should arise. There’s no room for negotiations there.”
I stroke his face. “I felt you before I saw you, I heard you speaking to me through the haze of my anger with Lucas, andyou let me fight while protecting me at the same time. I needed that so much.”
He kisses me gently before nuzzling his fangs against the column of my throat he loves to explore and drink his fill from, especially in the height of passion. “You’re going to rest first, love. I’m anxious to have you far away from the witches’ academy and back at my estate.”
“What do you think Overmaster Descallia will do about Devora? When I sent that message, I half thought they would show up. I knew he would want to be told but there was a big part of me that didn’t want to say anything, because I wanted to do it on my own. You know?”
“I know, love. I told him we had it under control and that I would intervene if necessary and if not would let her walk away so that he could deal with her in his time and in another way.”
“Hmm, even when I think I’m in control you’re in the back pulling the strings aren’t you,” I huff playfully.
He taps my nose. “It’s to keep you safe and nothing more. You have nothing to prove with me.”
I sigh heavily. “That’s where you’re wrong.”
“About what?”
I stroke the side of his face. “What if I still very much want to be a warrior? I’ve done what you asked, I’ve worked with the ladies to find and decipher the codes in the shadow books. We know Lucas is not a real threat, but something the witches have just conjured up. When I meet with Lucianna, I’ll see what she thinks about Isala, but my guess is that Devora conjured them both which is why Lucianna and I both had similar visions. But now that we unlocked the secrets of the shadow books and we know the land is ours, one day, whenever Descallia decides it’s time, there will be a fight. I want to be a warrior.”
His eyes close and he holds me to him. “There’s nothing at all to stop you from applying, Embry. You have all the skillsand more necessary for the job. You’ve proven yourself time and time again. Just apply.”
I swallow through the lump in my throat having thought through this time and time again. “And if I apply, exactly where does that leave us, vampire?”
Chapter 12
Corvinus
From the moment this fiery beauty came into my life and destiny put us together in her little matchmaking game we both knew the paths of our lives were never going to be the same. Some way we’ll find a way forward, but it’s not going to be with her giving up her dreams or not being able to do what she wants to do, especially with the powers she brings to the table.
“Leave that to destiny. For now, apply, and let’s see which way she blows us in the wind.”
Embry snakes her arms around me and kisses me gently on the lips as her eyes close with exhaustion. “I love you, vampire. I’m not losing you over this, no matter what.”
I roll us onto our side and cradle her, not wanting to part with the heat of her body for the moments it would take us to find a bed. Right now, I just need to feel her breath against me as I fall into an exhausted sleep that is much needed for us to regenerate and make the journey home tomorrow.
A nip to my neck wakes me hours later and Embry is smiling widely at me. “Guess what?”
