21. Embry
Chapter 21
Embry
T here is no better time than now, especially with Corvinus at Master Romano’s. I don’t know how much time I have, but surely it’s enough to transport to the witches’ academy, have a quick look around and then get back home before he’s back and any the wiser.
I shower and get ready in record time, donning a long black cape to cover the wispy skirt, bare navel, and legs from the cold. The transport may be quick, but the wind can be brutal in Romania. The silhouette of the academy falls over the lawn, giving me an eerie feeling as I arrive, but perched in the oak tree in the shape of a small black bat, nestled in a branch’s nook I blend well, even from the keen eyes of the ghouls who patrol from the treetops above.
A silent touch from behind almost makes me jump right out of my skin. I turn quickly, dagger in hand, but as soon as I see Raven my blood begins to calm. “What are you doing here?” I ask.
Master Romano’s mate’s wide eyes narrow. “I should ask you the same thing. You’ve had Lucianna scared to death. Do you know how many people are looking for you, trying to find you in every location across the globe? You’re just lucky you didn’t run into enemies of the vampires, ones who would like to shred you to pieces and leave you in little bits on the ground. The animals that scurry the forest floor would have a great time with that.”
“I missed you too.”
Raven laughs, throwing her arms around me as I take shape. She pats the branch, and I sit next to her, our legs hanging below, far above the ghouls who think they are good at patrol. She points towards the academy. “Everyone is asleep, well, except Belinda, who has made it her mission to learn as much as she can about you and keep the vampire who stalks you away.”
I smirk. “He’s not stalking me, not in any sense of the word. Overmaster Descallia and Lucianna sent him to find and protect me. He’s doing a good job.”
She laughs, kicking her shorty boots together. “Oh, you should have seen his face when I walked in on him and Romano. I demanded they tell me where you were, acted like I had no clue those two connivers were up to no good. They both have known damn well you were here, yet not one word to me or to Auntie Devora.”
“Did you talk to Belinda?” I ask softly, hoping her friend has talked to her, at least now that she knows.
She shakes her head. “Uh-uh. She was sworn to secrecy by Devora. I wouldn’t have expected her to go back on a promise like that, no matter the reason, but I already knew, so she filled me in on the rest.
My scowl deepens. “How so?”
Raven laughs. “Because I saw you slip away into the night and followed you. I knew you were keeping something from us when we were getting things ready for Lucianna’s ball for queen. You just weren’t the same jovial, kickin’ ass and taking names badass warrior that we all know and love. I couldn’t let you leave with just a note and nothing else.”
I glare at the witch. “Just how long were you spying on me, Raven?”
She shrugs. “Long enough to know you needed to get away, and to decide that you weren’t going alone. And that I was going to keep it to myself for a little while and give you some space, as long as I knew you were safe.”
A tear falls down my cheek, and I hug the woman who over time has begun to mean so much. “Too much happened, I just couldn’t reconcile it all, and everywhere I turned, more gossip, this whisper and that whisper, as though I couldn’t hear a word they were saying.”
Raven takes my hand. “I know. They were mean, cold, and incredibly wrong. You know it, and the people who matter know it.”
“Why is my word good enough now, and not then? I’m still the same person who fought for the vampires every single day of my life since my own transition. I walked in the transition ceremony, I vowed to put them above all else, and I did, even against my own traitorous mate, but where were they, or you, when I needed you the most?” I turn away and wipe angrily at a wayward tear because the last thing I need or want is for her to see me cry.
She sighs heavily, turning me to face her. “Many of us believed you, and so did Lucianna, but her situation was different. She could not take the slightest chance given all the traitors in our midst. And need I remind you, it wasn’t just that you could have been a traitor. It was a very real likelihood that a witch, not the friendly ones you know and love, but others, could have gotten to you and put a spell or hex on you. She had to be sure. It is her job.”
Logically all she says is true, but it doesn’t make it a damn bit easier. “I know, I’m trying to get past it. Because she means so much to me. All of you do.”
She smiles gently. “Lucianna took a vow to protect the vampires and that’s what she was doing. She told us herself that she knew in her heart that you were not the enemy, but she had to be certain. For the lives of the entire vampire community, she had to be right. If you were in her place, as future queen, wouldn’t you?”
“You believed me?” I ask softly, turning toward one of my dearest friends.
“Always, and unconditionally. Now tell me about this quest you’re on. Why here, why now? Belinda told me about your gramma, but how does that even make sense? She wasn’t a witch, and neither are you.”
“You know that for sure?”
Her eyes spark. “Yes, I do, but what I don’t understand is how did she know about the Mystic Forest unless she was with the vampires when they were stomping across our sacred land?”
“Wait, that’s not fair. I don’t know much, but I do know that she spoke highly of the vampires. This is true, but many people thought she had magic too. I think in the end it was just pure psychic ability, like me. Mine is very strong. I lean in closer to my friend. “Very strong with Lord Corvinus. I’ve seriously never experienced anything like it. Even on our best days, Lucas and I were never like this. The connection is unlike anything I’ve ever known.”
She smirks. “Destiny. Perhaps she owes you something real after what she put you through with Lucas. You two were simply not a good match. It was clear to many if not to you.”
I push her shoulder. “Maybe I deluded myself into thinking it was real love, when it was real love but not of the mating kind. He was always more the older brother type to me; someone I worshipped since he helped my gramma. But it was up and down with Lucas. He never did anything horrible to me, but I think in my heart I always knew we weren’t destined to be.”
Raven nods. “I felt that Embry.” She touches her heart. “Right in here.”
“There was a time when things were pretty hot, believe it or not. Lucas was a little older, and we had been friends for years. I think he always had a crush on me, but he was torn with the promise that he made to my gramma that fateful night she died and he promised to take care of me. He swore to her when she was dying in his arms that he wouldn’t let anyone hurt me.”
She scoffs. “Until the bastard did it himself. How did you two become a thing?”
“I have to admit, I was a little bit flirty, okay a lot flirty, but he didn’t give in to the feelings between us until I put myself in danger. It made him go back on his promise to my gramma and he always felt guilty about that.”
“Not guilty enough, the assbag.”
I meet my friend’s eyes. “The rumors going around? You know about me following him, and getting into the vampires’ lives through him?” I sniff. “It’s true. Not like they make it out to be but true nonetheless.”
Her wide eyes swirl. “We know you didn’t become a vampire to infiltrate their community and turn on them if that’s what you think.”
“Maybe not you, but there are enough who do. They’re not all wrong, but it wasn’t to hurt the vampires, it’s because I was kind of obsessed with them. I asked Lucas for a chance to work at Club Descallia, and he allowed it, and then ended up having to turn me when the casino came under attack. Lucas blamed himself for the danger, for what happened, even if it was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Raven sighs. “We know nothing you did was intended to hurt the vampires or the witches for that matter. In all honesty, the other witches and I were not all too sure about the feelings Lucas had for you from the start. Call it witchy intuition. It just didn’t, what do you say, spark?”
My chest hurts with the thought. “It really sunk in that things were off when the witches put a curse on Lucas. He wasn’t himself. Every time I thought we were getting one step closer to actually being together, he did something to push me even farther away. I seriously began thinking he was intentionally trying to get rid of me without actually telling me.”
Raven nods. “At one point, I think he may have been doing just that very thing. Maybe to safeguard you. I think like you said, perhaps he cared for you and wanted to see his promise through. At least until the end when he turned into the asshole of the year.”
“I thought it was because he didn’t want to be with me, and maybe that’s part of it but I honestly think he was pushing me away to protect me. He changed, his values changed, and he wanted to protect me from it all still. Maybe just to keep that promise to my gramma.”
Her eyes narrow. “I thought that too until the bastard chained you to the wall of that cavern.”
Tears roll down my face at an unprecedented speed. “Me too. I think by that time all of our feelings for each other were gone, but in his own way, I think he was still protecting me.”
Raven doesn’t look convinced.
“Lucas was in a mind-boggling rage. He could have killed me more times than I want to count that night. But he didn’t. Came close when defending himself against my attacks, but he didn’t. Whatever changed him to side with the rogues, the power he got, I don’t know, but it became way more important than the vampires he’s protected for centuries and me.”
She leans over and pulls me to her, giving me a warm hug. “I’m sure at one time he loved you very much, and maybe you’re right, he wanted to keep the promise to your gramma too.”
Maybe I should have confided in others sooner and not kept it all bottled up inside. “Talking through it is helpful. I haven’t really allowed myself to do that too much. Just with you and lately Corvinus.”
She snickers. “I bet a good talk is not all you’re experiencing with that philanderer.” She looks at me, right in the eye. “You do not take one thing that vampire says seriously. It’s all ploys to get into your pants. I’ve heard all the rumors about him. Billionaire ten times over with not one interest in spending more than a night with anyone in particular.”
My face breaks into a wide grin not having felt like myself for so very long. “Little late for that. Sorry not sorry. I could climb that six-foot-four tree all night long and still want more in the morning.”
Raven shakes her head and her wispy black hair blows from her face into the wind. “You be careful that you don’t let your feelings get involved with that one. He’s a love ‘em and leave ‘em and …”
I take her hand. “It’s okay. We’re both adults, and we know the rules, and neither of us is looking for a mate. We’re just having fun, I’m working through some things, and it helps, that’s all. No harm, no commitment, okay? Just a whole hell of a lot of fun.”
She lets out a sigh. “That’s a huge relief. Now there’s one more thing I need to confess before we go.”
My eyes narrow at my mischievous friend. “Let’s talk more tomorrow. Tonight, I’m going to take a look around the academy. Someone or something has to lead me to a clue about my gramma. She wouldn’t just lead me here years ago, than appear in my dream at the very location she sent me to, only to leave me all alone to fend for myself. She’s here, somewhere, I can feel it. And I only have so much time before Corvinus is back.”
Raven puts her arm around me. “This one can’t wait. I’m so sorry to be the one to tell you this, but I was the one who put your clothes in the closet and blood in the fridge.”
My heart sinks as I look at my friend. “Not the other witches. Not my gramma. When I mentioned it to Belinda she didn’t outrightly admit to it or deny it, so I guess I held onto the possibility that it still could have been my gramma who did it.”
She shakes her head. “Belinda told me. I’m sorry, Embry. I was just trying to help. I saw you drop your bag when the wolf was chasing you. I dealt with him, but you had already tossed your bag and I didn’t have time to chase his ass down to retrieve it. Next time I come across that asshole though, you can be assured I will get that stuff back, or he will reimburse you for every single thing. No matter if it’s from the skin of his backside.”
“It doesn’t matter. I just thought, hoped, that it was my gramma, that somehow, she had drifted across that divide and could communicate with me. Because our powers are so strong. It made sense in my head. Maybe not so much now.”
Raven commiserates with me, listens and gives me a different perspective to look at. “It’s hard losing someone you love. My own mother is gone, too, but we do communicate. It’s different with witches.”
“Thank you for being here and for everything you did, Raven.”
Her eyes sparkle with the mischievousness that I’ve missed for a little while as she grabs me and hugs me so tight I can barely breathe. “Of course. You’re one of my dearest friends.”
“Yeah, well, I’m sure I’ve crossed a major line. I mean, having me here is one thing, but a vampire in the Mystic Forest, and staying in the cavern? Your Auntie Devora is going to be furious when she finds out that Corvinus is here, too. Maybe she won’t find out until I’ve learned what happened to Gramma and leave.”
Raven’s eyes begin to swirl and her fingertips spark with an electrical energy I’ve seen before. I follow her eyes, high in the air and gasp at the green line of fury streaking across the sky.
“I’m afraid it’s far too late for that, Embry.”