Chapter 31
Embry
Ifeel Corvinus before I see him and slowly spin from my position on the makeshift dance floor toward the door where he stands watching me with reddened eyes.
The arrogant lord knew I would sense him the moment he walked into this estate.
My feet move toward him as in a trance. Anywhere he is, I want to be.
It’s been that way since the very first time I met him. Wanna dance, vampire?
That arrogant smirk gets me every time, sending waves of desire snaking down the length of my spine as I meet him at the door. His hand snakes around my nape, drawing me close as a slow song comes over the speakers. Lord Corvinus whispers in my ear. “Dance with me, love.”
His hand slides down the length of my back, settling at my lower back, his powerful arms drawing me closer as we make our way back to the dance floor.
His eyes don’t leave mine as the seductive beat of the music plays, clasping my hand in his as we begin to move in time to the dark timbered music that seems to be made just for us.
My eyes meet his and my heart beats fast. “I could feel you watching me, vampire.”
Corvinus draws me closer, leans down and whispers in my ear.
“You’ll always feel me watching you. Wherever you go…
I’ll be near, right there taking care of, watching over, and protecting you, no matter where or what you find yourself involved in, love.
It’s one of the non-negotiables in our relationship.
It doesn’t matter that you’re the leader of the warriors.
Where you’re concerned, I’m still in charge. ”
My head rests against his chest as the seductive beat of the music plays. “Because you like to be in charge.”
His cock is hard against my belly telling me what I already know, but still, I want to hear it from him because this arrogant and dominant lord in charge, that’s always going to flip my switch, his sexual proclivities are always going to turn me on in the most delicious of ways.
Lord Corvinus’s lips capture mine, causing everything south to clench with a delicious desire that I know he’s going to ignite with a passion that cannot be extinguished tonight.
My eyes meet his as his fangs descend, causing my pussy to weep as he moves me slowly and strategically around the makeshift dance floor of Descallia’s great room.
There’s no way he doesn’t already know what I’m wanting him to say. My arms raise so they can encompass his neck. “You should take me home because I want you in the most carnal of ways, vampire.”
He smirks which just drives me half insane. “Anticipation adds to the desire.”
“You like the control too much, vampire.”
Corvinus pulls me closer. “I do like to be in control and I’m never going to be far from your side. Can you live with that, love?”
My heart enlarges with every single word Corvinus says. To be his, like this, it’s more than I could even have imagined. Corvinus waits for an answer while cradling me in his arms. His breath brushes against the sensitive skin of my ear. “Tell me what I want to hear.”
Every neuron in my body clenches. My hand wraps around my mate, clasping him possessively to me. “Yes, I want to be yours, forever and always, love. Your protectiveness, possessiveness, I want it all. You by my side always. Take me home, vampire.”
“Slow down love, we’re going to spend a little time mingling with our friends before I take you home and give you your way.”
Everything south clenches with that uncontrollable desire that only Corvinus can sate, but I know exactly what he’s doing, and I don’t want to wait. Hmm. “You’re teasing me at the most inopportune time,” I whisper.
He glances around at the makeshift dance floor where more than a few of the masters have their mates in their arms. “We mingle with our friends, and then when I think you’re ready, we go home. Not until.”
“You are killing me, vampire.”
Corvinus smirks as the slow song comes to an end. He leans down and whispers in my ear. “Let the anticipation build, you’ll see how hard you come on the end of my dick as a result.”
Well, it’s not like I can argue with that, but still. I reluctantly let him lead me to the bar where Romano, Raven, Descallia and Lucianna are talking. “What would you like?” Corvinus asks.
I grin. “One more margarita?”
He laughs as Raven nods in agreement while holding her empty glass up to a smirking Romano. Raven moves next to me as the guys talk and pour drinks. “There’s something I’ve been thinking about, I can’t get it off of my mind.”
Raven doesn’t even give me a chance to say a word. “You know I love the vampires, would do anything for them, right?”
“Of course.”
“Well, a few minutes ago I was texting with one of the witches at the academy, Tabitha Grimm, a friend for years. She doesn’t follow the witches’ orders like a lot of the others.”
Corvinus hands me a beautifully salted lime-flavored margarita.
You’ve got so many skills, vampire.
Raven’s eyes swirl. “Maybe I should save this for another day, but it is important.”
“No, tell us,” I encourage as Descallia, Lucianna, Romano, Corvinus and I all give her our full attention.
Raven inhales a deep breath. “This is such a hard thing to do. I don’t want you to think that I’m telling you things to save Devora from what she’s certainly due, or that I’m just trying to keep my Aunt Devora alive, but my friend, she wouldn’t lie.
“Tabitha sent me a text because she’s scared that the repercussions of Devora’s actions will end in the witches’ demise.
She’s a special witch. She doesn’t just follow Devora, the instructors and the high priestess blindly, without thinking on her own.
She sent me a message because she learned that Devora was very tight with Isala, and now holds the secrets to the destruction of the vampires. At least that’s what she overheard.
“Tabitha also overheard a conversation between two of the head witches talking about the arrival of the high priestess at the academy. She believes as I do that the best path for both the vampires and witches are in truce, but she’s certain the high priestess will stir up Devora’s anger even more.”
Descallia and Lucianna’s eyes turn flaming red at the very same time. Descallia growls so loud that the crystal glasses on the bar shatter into a million pieces.
Lucianna places a hand on our fearless overmaster’s arm.
“It just means that we keep doing what you’ve always done.
For centuries you’ve put up with Devora and her nonsense to ensure the vampires came out on top.
” She shrugs. “The answer is simple. Dealing with her is a headache but if we keep her close, like you’ve always done, then we can win this war.
If you attack, the other witches could know the secrets to our destruction.
Then we don’t know who our enemy is. Is it worth the chance or the satisfaction you would get by ending her? ”
Overmaster Descallia’s jaw tightens as his eyes turn a brighter red.
“Dealing with Devora is far better than letting the secrets of our demise get out.” He looks to both Corvinus and me.
“The two of you will have much work to do. The lords will need to be prepared, and we’ll need the warriors up and running very soon.
This high priestess is not going to like the fact that we’ve not only learned the sacred land is ours, but plan to take it back.
” Descallia scans the group. “The masters are going to want an update on where we are with the warriors, and after that, will want to put plans into place to secure our sacred land and the caverns within the ranges.”
Embry nods. “The rest of the applications should all be in within the next couple of weeks. I’ll pull together a small group to go over my thoughts and help me narrow it down, with a plan to test not only their brawn and skill with the sword, but also their loyalty.”
Corvinus places his arms around me possessively.
“But first things first. At the next masters’ meeting I’ll be letting them know that Embry is mine, now and always.
And at the next ceremony where you and Lucianna share your vision for the vampire court, I’d like Embry to officially be crowned my mate. I want everyone to know.”
He tips my chin so that my eyes meet his dark searing orbs. “Say yes.”
“Yes, a thousand times, vampire. I love you.”
He holds me tight. I love him so much for sharing our special moment with the people who mean the most to us.
“I love you too, Embry. Destiny always knew what we did not, our lives were always on a path to cross, and now, we are not only seared in love, but bound to protect the vampires for eternity. Destiny definitely got it right.” He bends his head and kisses me so passionately that he takes my breath away.
When I look up, all of our friends are smiling.
Lucianna puts her arm around me. “All I’ve ever wanted for you is a love as strong as mine.
And now, together, this court of ours will cement all of our lives together, bringing us power in numbers and in strength.
” She turns to the group and raises my hand.
“Are we ready to celebrate at the next ceremony and reveal the official hierarchy of the court?”
Cheers from our friends sound in my ear as Corvinus lifts me into his arms and transports me away, back to his estate where a path of dark red rose petals lie in the doorway, trailing down the hall and up the stairs and into our bedroom.
The bed is covered with them and a perfect silver crown with two layers of rubies lies in the center of the magnificent bed.
“To signify my love, your position, and the rubies to signify the rings of fire that saved the vampires and gave you back your power.”
My eyes leak tears I simply cannot hold back. “The strength of your unwavering love and trust, that’s what gave me my power back, vampire.”