Chapter 24
Corvinus
Lucianna’s eyes glow green and Embry’s are bright purple. They both produce a hue that surrounds the entire area. Descallia gives me a nod over the top of Lucianna’s head. “I’ve called a few others just to be on the safe side, but not enough to get us all killed,” he says.
Embry turns to him. “Do you think it’s a trap?
Chelise came to the club for me. Not anyone else.
But she also knows wherever I am, if I get into trouble, that Lucianna and I are together.
I don’t like this little situation one bit at all.
Why don’t you three stay here, let me go test the waters.
They will be expecting me, not all of us.
Maybe I can learn something before the three of you come in? ”
Descallia and Lucianna look at me in surprise as a growl erupts. I don’t explain or apologize. “Not happening. We go together. Descallia and Lucianna can decide if they are coming or not. You don’t have a choice. I’m going to be by your side.”
Lucianna laughs right out loud. She looks at Embry and then at me. “I told you,” she says, pointing to Descallia.
My head shakes, clearly with no time for anything but what’s at hand. “We give it a few minutes and then we all go.”
I’m good with that. There is safety in numbers, but I should have known that wasn’t going to be the end of it for Embry. She inhales a deep breath. “Look, I know everyone here wants to know if Isala is back or not. And that everyone wants to protect me.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “And I love that you do. But, I am the one who just got promoted, and in terms of strategic positioning we cannot allow Overmaster Descallia and Lucianna, our queen, to be put in harm’s way when there are other options on the table.
I’d like to suggest that when backup arrives, you let me take the lead. ”
I start to object, but that little pint of spirit just talks right over the top of me.
“I know that building, every square inch of it. Lucianna and I used to come here from time to time to see Isala. I’ll keep in touch with Corvinus the entire time, I won’t break contact, and when we need help, you’ll know it.
But if there’s an ambush, they won’t be caught in it. That’s my job.”
My jaw tightens because she’s not fucking wrong and everyone here knows it. “You lead the way; I’m right behind you and we have backup.”
She nods and gives me a smile. “Deal.”
Like there was going to be a fucking deal that didn’t include me being right beside her or at least within earshot.
Lucianna’s eyes have gone dark green. “It’s not that I don’t think your strategy is sound, Embry.
If we were different people, it would be spot on.
But I had a vision of Isala right before Corvinus messaged Descallia.
She wants both of us. It’s always been the two of us, and since she wants it so bad, and we’re so kickass together, I say let’s go see what she wants. ”
Descallia’s growl reverberates through his chest, just as Masters Tuscano, Trentino, and Romano show up. “You’re not going. I’ll not let her win.”
Lucianna puts a calming hand on his arm. “Let Embry and I go in, like she said, we’ll have backup. I,”—she links arms with Embry and smiles,—“we need to do this. They tried to kill us. Did kill our human states. Now that we’re vampires, we will win this fight.”
The masters get closer to the edge. “We’ve got some of our regional lords positioned strategically around the building.” Master Romano looks at Embry. “One day soon, we’ll be happy to hand this all off to you. For right now, let us help.”
Embry nods. “Thank you all. Help accepted gratefully. This Isala bitch, she has caused the vampires nothing but trouble, and for Lucianna, heartache of the most horrible kind. We go in cautiously, but if that witch is alive, she doesn’t leave that way.
Agreed?” she asks, looking to Overmaster Descallia for confirmation.
His dark eyes meet Embry’s. “Do what you have to do to keep everyone on our team alive and kill the traitorous bitch. She wants to harm both of you and send the vampires back to the dark ages and take control of all the vampires have built.”
Embry is thoughtful as her hand slides over her sword.
“Master Romano, any chance you can call Raven, Willow and Madria? We’ve always known that the stones they wear around their necks can guide us, at least directionally.
If they would be willing to help, I think it would help.
There are more ways to win a war than with swords, no matter how great the skill at the steel.
We’ve seen how our powers merge at just the right time, the baubles they wear, Lucianna’s eyes, my eyes, the gems of our swords, especially this one. ”
She turns it to show them the jewel-tipped end of her weapon.
“This longsword, it was given to me by my gramma. Descallia will confirm this. Gramma received it as a gift from a vampire she fought side by side with years ago. I have the power to command it, and they have the power to help with other things. Together, we are a force not to be taken lightly.”
Master Romano has barely sent a message when Raven, Willow and Madria appear, the stones around their necks barely glowing at all, but beginning to turn slowly to a green hue. Embry smiles, quickly bringing the three witches up to speed.
The light in the office across the street flickers.
Embry turns to the group. “Lucianna and I will go in first, confront Isala. My guess is there’ll be a little party waiting for us.
Corvinus will be right behind us, to get backup where we need it and in place.
And when I tap the end of my sword, ladies,” she says, looking at each of the witches, “we light those bitches up in a ring of fire.”
It takes every bit of restraint I possess, but Embry was born to lead the warriors. She and Lucianna somehow were intended to be together, to come together and fight the evil forces with the vampires, and no matter how much at first I wanted to deny it, she was destined to lead.
She casts a backward glance at me, but I’m not letting her go into danger without this and I don’t give a fuck who’s watching.
I capture her mouth in a kiss that tells everyone standing on the top of this building that Embry, no matter the position, no matter what happens next to all of us or me when we get this job done, she is mine.
I run my lips over her ear. “Go get them, love.”