Chapter 4
EMbrY
The way Corvinus looks at me makes everything south clench with the anticipation of what the dark-eyed devil has planned for me tonight. Undeniably good sex, that I can deal with.
Giving my heart away…
The thought of belonging to someone again, to even trying to commit sends my heart racing like a runaway train.
Even though I told him I can’t commit, that it’s far too soon, we both know it’s not ours to decide.
Destiny has placed us together for a reason and his soul is connected to mine in a way that I’ve never imagined before.
And the sex … destiny got it fucking right this time!
His dark black eyes sear me with their heat.
Ready for a relationship with the dark vampire lord or not our deal hangs like an unspoken promise between us as I recall his words not so many nights ago.
“I’m not letting you go. That’s not our destiny.
If you can’t commit to being mine for an eternity, you’ll do it for a year.
A year of belonging to me, spending most of our time in Chicago at my estate, taking you to clubs, allowing you to experience things you’ve never been able to feel before. ”
I’d rather have met anyone in the world besides Overmaster Descallia’s new right-hand man to make me feel alive, but somehow it still feels so right to my heart.
But maybe it’s too soon, a man too close to the issues that I ran to get away from, same position as my ex, but yet his persistence in the chance and our undeniable attraction sears me into place as his eyes heat my skin as though he were burning me alive.
Raven warned me about the dark-souled lord and his proclivities. The billionaire used to getting exactly what he wants when he wants, letting me know that she’d steer clear of the dark vampire lord altogether, but we all know that Raven isn’t me. I am drawn to his proclivities.
Where she might run away, his darkness and the unknown sexual preferences just draw me right the fuck in.
I want him to teach me everything he knows.
And the fact that it’s taboo in the underworld for the vampire lord to engage with a warrior, even a disgraced one that currently doesn’t have a place, it makes it so much worse.
At least for him. For me, it just makes me want him more.
His eyes sear my skin, and a shiver of anticipation runs down the length of my spine. We have work to do first, vampire.
Raven may have told us she’ll help find out why Gramma led me here, but Master Romano now has her in the corner, talking to her, no doubt filling her mind with one caution after another that will surely spoil my plan to sneak into the lower level of the witch academy tonight.
Corvinus places a finger under my chin to face him. His dark eyes, still lightly red rimmed, meet mine with concern. I don’t like it. Something doesn’t feel right, Embry.
I stroke his arm, turning away from the direction of Romano and Raven while lowering my voice.
“It’s going to be okay. If Raven goes with us, it won’t take long to get in and out of the witches’ academy.
She knows exactly where the shadow books are kept.
” I snap my fingers. “We’ll be in and out of there lickety-split. ”
His low growl tells me he’s not convinced but Corvinus agreed to help or at least protect me while I search for information about my gramma and the witches, and these books could be the key. I’m not letting the hot-blooded vampire go back on his word about this or his bed.
My heart beats faster. He could just say no and where would that leave me.
I’m not going back to Chicago with him until I learn at least some of what I want to know.
The fact that whatever we learn should serve useful for him and the other vampires, something concrete he can take back to Overlord Descallia has to at least account for something in my favor.
The simple fact that the witches did not mind me being on the sacred land in the Mystic Forest, but had a total meltdown conniption when they learned Corvinus was here, tells me that they’re trying to keep something from the vampires.
I hope we learn what it is in addition to information about my gramma.
Corvinus still doesn’t look like he thinks this is a good idea.
He didn’t get to where he is today by not being able to deduce two and two.
Hopefully I can appeal to his logical side, the one that wants to make sure that the witches are brewing something up that would hurt the vampire community.
It’s not like it would be the first time.
I give him a sassy wink. A deal is a deal, Vampire.
Besides we may find something useful to the vampires and Descallia.
His eyes flash and he growls his frustration. “It goes against my better judgement. I’m coming with you and not letting you out of my sight.” He hands me a sword. My jewel-tipped sword. “In case things go wrong.”
My chest tightens with the thought of how many times I’ve used this thing, how many times the weapon Gramma gave me so many years ago has protected not only me but the entire vampire community. The lump in my throat is hard to get past. “Thank you for bringing it to me.”
“You’re welcome. Now try to stay out of trouble tonight, love.”
I shrug, giving him a grin. “Maybe, vampire,” I tell him, tucking the sheaved sword into the back of my skirt, while looking up at him sweetly while lowering my voice so Raven and Master Romano can’t hear us. “In and out, then we can play?”
His eyes flash red. The big grump isn’t any more immune to our attraction than I and he’s certainly not used to having his every word not immediately obeyed.
Well, if he and I are going to have a mutually satisfying agreement, then he’s going to have to learn to give up control a little bit, even when not in the bedroom. And that’s a damn fact.
His intense eyes sear me with their heat. Not likely in this lifetime, love.
Damn that vampire’s ability to read my flippin mind.
I take a sip of the Descallia Red, letting the blood and wine mixture seep into my veins, calming me as we wait until it’s time to go.
The large mahogany and brass grandfather clock in the corner cuts through the quiet of the night.
The haunting chime lets us all know as it strikes the eight o'clock hour.
Finally dark enough now to sneak out, and early enough to give us all the time we need before daylight breaks. We may not anticipate being out long, but when sunlight can fry you in an instant you need to make sure you have a plan that gets you inside before it peaks.
Raven’s eyes meet mine from across the room, then she turns back to Romano who pushes a short strand of her short black pixie style hair behind her ears, bending to whisper something in her ear. When she turns and walks toward me, Raven flashes her bright green eyes and mouths, “It’s time.”
I put my finished wine glass on the marble bar as Corvinus goes to discuss something with Romano and Raven joins my side. I gesture to her mate with a tip of my head and a grin. “Is he going to let you go alone with me and Lord Corvinus or is the possessive master coming too?”
She leans in and whispers, but the guys are talking so intently in the corner of the room that I doubt for a minute they would hear a word we said.
“He has to stay neutral in some respects. He’s looked upon to keep the peace and I respect it.
He’s not stopping me from going but did warn me that if we get caught, it could cause a ton of trouble that no one needs, and he’s right. ”
I sigh. “He’s not wrong, Raven. Look, don’t feel obligated to go with us.
I need to do this. Something drew me to this place, my gramma did, for whatever reason, and I feel like it’s because I need to unearth something for the vampires, find myself or learn something about her.
I don’t know for sure what I feel.” I shrug, “I honestly don’t know what to call it but I’m doing it.
You though, you don’t have to go. Especially if it’s going to put you in a bad position with both your Aunt Devora and Master Romano. ”
She looks up at me and her eyes flash with all the colors of a kaleidoscope. “Oh, I wouldn’t miss this for a thing. She calls over to her mate. “We won’t be long, Romano. Besides, what trouble could we possibly get into?”
Master Romano’s eyebrow arches and she gives him an adorable wink. “Coming, vampire?” I ask Lord Corvinus, before all three of us disappear into the night.