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The shifter’s voice is deadened by a gunshot to the chest. I look in the direction of the shot where a lone vampire holds a gun and shoots it in the air as though a warning to the other shifters.
Every single one of the shifters tuck tail and turn, running and leaping toward the forest that surrounds the Descallia property. Campania gestures to the man who now walks toward our group with a female by his side. “Lucas, Descallia’s right hand man, and Embry,” he says as the two close the distance between us.
I can’t shake the thought of the shifter tearing Campania to pieces. The fear of what could have happened still weighs heavily on my mind, but right this second, there is far more to think about. The green-eyed ghouls with no other features than that and surrounded by oversized hoods and capes make a beeline toward us.
An intense buzzing fills the air as they draw closer, faster than it would seem possible. I swallow past the initial fear. After what we’ve been through, it’s clear that Campania is not going to let anything happen to me. Not because Devora forbade it, if she even did, but because if he were going to hurt me, it would have happened long before now.
He places a hand on mine. “The ghouls are with us,” he says as Overmaster Descallia and Lucianna appear on the lawn with Lucas and Embry. The vampire overmaster looks meaner than the pictures from the academy, but in all fairness to him, his property was just invaded by a bunch of mangy shifters.
The vampire barely gives me a second glance, talking to Lucas and Campania. Lucianna extends a hand. “I’m Lucianna, Luce for short, but you can call me either, and this is Embry. I understand that you’ve been helping Master Campania find the witches who defected from Devora’s coven?”
I shake her hand and then Embry’s. “Very nice to meet you. Yes, Master Campania and the others have them”—I glance at Campania's smirking face—“I think corralled is the word I’m looking for.”
Lucianna laughs. “I have no doubt. Master Campania’s rings of fire are quite well known.” Her eyes follow the wrinkling of my brow. I’ve not even asked the question that’s rattling around in my mind before she answers the question. “Psychic, a gift that not everyone is fortunate enough to have, with the ability to see things not only in the future but in the past as well.”
Embry’s purple eyes roll. “And she speaks with the dead like nobody’s business. They come from all around to get her help. She’s like a revolving door for the dear and departed.”
Lucianna turns to me. “You’re psychic too, powerfully so. Like Raven, you can both see what’s happening in other places as well?”
I sigh. “It would seem so. I didn’t realize the extent of the connections until just shortly ago. We were in the bar with the witches. I was able to see that you were in trouble, that the shifters were approaching. I still don’t understand why that vision came to me. I mean, I’m thrilled that it did and that we could help, I just don’t understand why. Usually when I have visions, it’s something that impacts someone I care about, or at times something that I’ve been asked to understand.” I shrug, “Usually by the witches. This time it was different. I don’t even know you, but the vision was so clear.”
The kind woman with bright crystalline green eyes puts a hand on my shoulder. “We will know each other well in the future. You were chosen by Campania to assist us out of all the witches that he could have found to help. That speaks volumes and tells me much.”
The overmaster stalks toward us, still looking every bit as mean and menacing as what the head witches have taught us. Yet, when he reaches us, he places an arm around Lucianna’s shoulders, drawing her to him gently. He looks at me. “I understand that you and Raven were able to see what was happening and alerted the others. Thank you.” As quickly as the conversation started it’s over, his attention reverted back to his mate.
He strokes a finger down the side of Lucianna’s cheek. “There is still work to be done. Take Willow and Raven into the house with you. Lucas will go with me and the masters to find the rest of the shifters. It’s time Sheba gets his house in order and gets control of the shifters again, or they won’t have any left to control when we get done with them.”
Lucianna starts to say something, but he places a finger on her lips. She rolls her eyes. “I’ll take Willow and Raven inside with me. It will be fun catching up with Raven and getting to know Willow. Hurry home, and be safe.”
Descallia looks to Embry. “I want you to stay with them.”
Her mouth opens as if to protest, but he raises his hand to stop the tirade. “Please, I need to know everyone is safe. You will help Lucianna keep the witches from harm if need be. Understand?”
Embry nods, standing tall in her short skirt and even shorter little shirt that shows off a navel ring. “I’d be happy to stay back and help Lucianna.”
I’ve never been inside a vampire’s estate. Warned never to succumb to any enticement to get me in their house. A lair, where it’s rumored they have torturing devices for witches such as me. Lucianna may seem nice, but that doesn’t stop my heart from beating so hard it feels like it’s going to pop right out of my chest.
Campania’s eyes settle on me, questioning, before turning to the group. “I need to speak with Willow in private, and then we’ll leave.” He takes me by the arm and walks with me into the nearby brush. The canopies of the trees and tall brush soon obscure the view of the others who have gathered in a small group and are conversing among themselves as they wait.
Even away from the other vampires my heart still beats wildly. The vampire master has shielded and protected me at every point along the way, even when there was good cause to make me pay penitence for the lies and deceit; idle and sexy threats about getting turned over his knee were all I received in consequence. I draw in a deep breath, trying to settle my nerves, but adrenaline is a heady concoction when mixed with both fear and desire.
The dark souled creature watches me for a moment. He must feel half the attraction that I do. I suspect that he does; still, vampires and witches do not consort. They most certainly do not do any of the other unspeakable things that I want to do with him. The images of Campania turning me over his lap and lifting my skirt, stroking the lacy undergarments before pulling them aside to caress the bare cheeks of my ass are all forbidden things between a vampire and a witch that should not come to mind, but do.
My cheeks heat with the intensity of my growing attraction for the muscular and insanely sexy vampire. I should be running for the hills the first chance I get. Instead, all I can think of is being in deliciously uncompromised positions in the vampire master’s bed.
I should be embarrassed and ashamed. If any of the witches back at the academy, or even my closest friends for that matter, got an inkling that I’ve let an attraction to a sexy dark-hearted vampire fill my thoughts, I’ll be the laughingstock of the academy.
A hand on my shoulder heats my skin. Master Campania tilts my chin and pushes a lock of hair that’s fallen over the side of my face behind my ear. “Two things. I would never hurt you, and the image you conjured of being turned over my knee will be something I never get out of my mind, enchantress.”
My eyes widen and cheeks heat with red-hot embarrassment. “It’s embarrassing how you can read my mind.” The words are a whisper. I start to turn away from him, but he doesn’t allow it. “It wasn’t intentional, but it was very, very sexy, Willow.” He strokes a finger down the length of my cheek that sends a shiver of desire straight to my core.
The points of his fangs descend as his hand wraps the back of my nape. “This thing between us, it’s not one sided. Both an impossible and forbidden attraction it would seem.” He draws me closer, watching with eyes that begin to redden around the rims. All vestiges of fear are gone in the heat of the moment. “Close your eyes, Willow.”
The fearless vampire brushes my lips with his, gentle at first. My lips part of their own accord, wanting everything that the forbidden master gives. He kisses me with increasing power, consuming my fear while fanning my desire. The blood races through my veins, striking a wet hot need right in my center, as he devours me with his need.
“Campania.” The whisper leaves my lips on a soft breath as he breaks our kiss. So caught up in our kiss that all sense of time is lost.
He tilts my chin, his eyes hazy with desire. “We have to go, Willow. You’ll be safe with Lucianna, Raven, and Embry. When I return, we’ll talk more, okay?” He doesn’t wait for an answer, simply guides me still half dazed out of the woods where the group stands ready to go.
