Chapter 26
Corvinus
Iwatch from my vantage point right outside the door.
Embry did not hold back; that’s for damn sure.
If I thought she was going to drag out Devora’s little game, I was dead wrong.
I don’t know why I didn’t see it at the club, but now I see it.
It’s the eyes. Chelise isn’t alive. Son of a bitch.
Now that I’ve realized it a quick look at the vampire guy confirms the very same thing.
And if I needed any further confirmation, Isala doesn’t say a word. She just stands there mutely as though the grand puppeteer is no longer pulling the strings or trying to think of something to say.
I send out a message to Descallia: Isala is not real. It’s Devora.
Overmaster Descallia is at my side instantly, glaring as we watch Devora’s bubble suddenly appear, her face contorted with evilness and rage. “You won’t get away with keeping my books. You may have hidden them for now, but we’ll find them, you stupid, stupid little girl!” she shrieks at Embry.
My hands ball into fists at my side and it takes all my effort to keep from attacking the evil witch who dares to yell at my mate. But in this instant, she is not my mate. She is a warrior, and I know exactly what she’s trying to do. I just don’t fucking like her baiting Devora at all.
But in this, she’s calculated. “You want the shadow books back? Why don’t we trade?” she asks as we watch Devora’s reaction, and her anger grows to a full-blown rage. Her face triples in size, almost engulfing the entirety of the bubble. “Do not play games with me!” she screams.
Embry is calm and looks up to meet her eye to eye.
“The shadow books have told us all we need to know. The land in question has always been ours. How you and Overmaster Descallia intend to handle that, it is not up to me. But what is up to me is the safety of the vampires, and you, Devora, with your scheming and meddling pose a great harm to both their privacy and security.”
The electricity around Devora sparks, flying from her fingertips, but this time, it sets off a chain reaction, causing Embry’s fingertips to spark with energy of their own, along with the witches’ who are watching from a few feet away.
My fingers slide over the handle of my sword ready to jump in and intervene if one thing goes wrong.
If Devora touches one hair on Embry’s head…
But Embry is far from the wilting violet. She knows me so well and can clearly hear my every thought. Don’t you dare, vampire.
I’m not moving a muscle. I’ll let her and Lucianna handle their business. They need this, but Descallia and I are sure as shit not going to let them be tricked by the wicked little bitch who took their lives and left them with no alternative but to turn to the dark side of their souls.
Devora’s eyes narrow. “This is a war you should have never stepped into. Your gramma, her gramma, and all of their grammas before knew it. You will never win. You may have an ounce of our power, but each of them tried, and all of us knew it was never going to be enough to make a difference, and it wasn’t. ”
Embry’s eyes begin to circle, turning kaleidoscope in color, swirling as the energy in her fingertips begins to spark. She nods her head and in one instant both Chelise and her vampire guy are turned into the ugliest two toads imaginable. “You should see what I can do when I’m really pissed.”
Devora screeches in her large floating bubble.
Lucianna laughs. “Apparently you haven’t read your shadow books or compared them to the Vade Mecum. Your time is ending, Devora. Your reign of terror, it’s finished.”
Devora’s eyes narrow even further, and her head enlarges to the full size of the bubble above.
That doesn’t stop Embry though. “The vampires, we will take control of our rightful land. We will live peacefully among you but hear this well, my friend. You will no longer cause the vampires trouble. There is no reason except out of fear. We do not mean you and the witches harm but if you bring trouble to our door going forward, we are going to end it for good.”
Devora’s face pushes against the bubble distorting her features even farther. “The shadow books do not belong to you. Return my property or pay the price,” she cackles.
Embry nods. “Once you and Overmaster Descallia have negotiated an amiable agreement around the land, we will do just that. Until then, your sacred books are secure.”
“Bitch!” Devora screams, suddenly shrinking in size, jumping on her broom, and racing around inside the bubble above Embry’s head. “She’s fucking insane,” I tell Descallia.
He shakes his head, but his eyes don’t leave the situation as we watch our mates deal with the deviant witch.
“Yeah, you’re not wrong my friend. Let’s get out of here.
Let her cool off. I’ll call her and set up a meet.
Thanks to Embry at least we know Lucas and Isala haven’t risen from the grave, and we don’t have to deal with them.
Devora and her magic bubble disappear without another word, leaving Embry and Lucianna facing two rather ugly looking toads. Embry gives Chelise a smile. “So long, bitch!” she says, spinning on a shortie boot as she and Lucianna head out of the room and walk toward us.
Lucianna smiles up at Descallia when she sees him. “I knew you were here,” she says softly. “Thank you for coming.” Our fearless Overmaster puts his arm around her protectively. “Let’s go home.”
Embry hesitates as she sees me. She’s unsure what to do, because Lucianna and Descallia are still with us in the hall. Raven, Willow, and Madria join us, and of course they begin talking all at once. “You two were fantastic, it didn’t even come down to a battle. That’s amazing work,” Willow says.
Raven looks from me to Descallia. “Oh seriously. Embry, do you really not think everyone here knows that the minute we leave you’re going to be climbing Lord Corvinus like a tree?”