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Everyone speaks all at once, welcoming me to the group, gushing over each other’s dresses and necklaces. All dressed in gowns of red, very similar to my own but wearing a different and very unique necklace except for the three stones that Raven, Willow, and Madria wear around their necks.
The lights dim, and Lucianna’s eyes begin to glow. “Remember, ladies. All we have to do is stand on that stage looking pretty with these lovely necklaces around our necks. News of the auction and the demise of the rogues has traveled far and wide. If any of the rogues are left, they will certainly use it as an opportunity to steal them.”
Delilah’s eyes go wide… “If they so much as come near me, I will end the bastard with the knife on my thigh. Tuscano and the master’s won’t have a chance.”
Embry wraps an arm around Delilah. “After what you went through because of them and the syndicate, I hope you get your chance to kick ass and destroy.”
The women begin talking over each other again, joking about how each of them will take them down. Everyone laughs at the way Raven describes taking him out with the wand she has at her thigh. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that and the masters keep them at bay.”
Lucianna rolls her eyes at the group then looks from one to the other of us all. “There have been many wrongs, but we really need to stick with the plan.” She looks to Angel. “Your brother and his men are helping guard the club tonight. No one is going to get through them without us knowing they’re coming first, okay.”
Angel laughs. “I pity the poor vampire who runs into Roman and his soldiers, especially if Overmaster Descallia has given them stakes. There was a time when I doubted that my relationship with Trentino would work because of what happened between him and my brother, but they’ve handled it amazingly well. It doesn’t hurt that Overmaster Descallia and my brother are trying to keep the peace.”
Embry twists on her sandals, unusually quiet. “As long as they maintain a fine line that neither cross, I think they will be okay. But I’m not going to hold my breath that the new elders and other families don’t push Roman to try to encroach on what belongs to us. No one will allow that, no offense.”
Angel considers it for a minute. “Roman and Overmaster Descallia will figure out a way around it. They always do, right?”
Embry nods. “They always do, and usually with Lucas having to run interference in the background.” She looks around the club and then back to us. “It’s a good thing he’s not here yet. You should probably hear it from me first anyway. Lucas and I broke up.”
The ladies mutter an abundance of apologies and take turns giving her hugs which causes her to smile with wet eyes. She dabs at them to keep her mascara from running. “It’s sad, but it’s really okay. I should have told you a lot sooner. Our relationship has been up and down for a while now; it’s only our ties to the past that kept us together this long. That feeling of being absolutely in love with each other went out some time ago.”
“I’m really sorry,” Tansia says.
“I’ve known for a while, but growing apart is never easy, even if it’s best for both parties involved. I sure know that.”
Embry shrugs it off. “It happens sometimes, you know? And besides, now I’m free to tangle with all the hunky vampires who come my way.”
Tansia narrows her eyes at Embry. “All the hunky vampires or one in particular?”
Lucianna puts her arm around Embry, but she doesn’t seem surprised at all by Embry’s announcement, and I have no doubt as close as they are it’s not the first she’s heard of their breakup. “Lucas is already here putting out some fire or another, but Descallia probably has him busy with his obsession to find Sheba. The need for vengeance against the shifter who betrayed him burns deep in his soul. You know Descallia; he is not going to rest until the world has seen what happens to traitors to the vampires.”
Embry laughs and gestures toward the front of the club. “Speak of the devils now.”
The lights dim again, and a spotlight shines onto the raised platform where all of us will soon be put on display. A ploy to reel any rogue vampire who might still be alive into the club. Overmaster Descallia and Lucas walk onto the stage dressed in a tux and crisp red shirt that matches the one Botosoni and the rest of the masters have on. Overmaster Descallia addresses the very small crowd of high rollers who he’s invited to be part of the event, friends who understand the intent of the night. “Thank you for coming to an event we hope that you will find most pleasing.”
Embry leans over. “Overmaster Descallia always has a reason for doing everything. He’s wanted to do a dry run of a real live auction for some time. He wants to include it as a monthly event at all the clubs as they expand. The highest end and equipped playrooms across the globe with private playrooms that can be reserved before they are even built if you have enough money. This probably serves his purpose of that and drawing them in at the same time.”
Expanded playrooms to enjoy in the future. Just thinking about the equipment that we used, and haven’t used yet, sends a shiver of anticipation down the length of my spine. My cheeks heat, and even in the dimness Embry doesn’t miss a thing. “I bet by that little blush that you and the mighty master have tried out a little of the kink.”
“Shhh…” I tell her, trying to hide my smile as Overmaster Descallia begins to introduce and requests each of the ladies up to the stage, waiting for Embry and my name to be announced. He calls Embry first, and I know from the planning brief that I will be next. I suck in a deep breath as he gets to me, and I’m summoned to the stage. I walk tentatively toward the stairs, but I almost stumble as my mind flashes with an unclear image of something that I’ve seen before.
I slow my walk up the stairs, trying to balance myself on heels I’m unaccustomed to wearing, trying desperately not to fall onto my face as visions swirl in my mind. When I get to the top of the step, voices and names all blur together, but I manage to keep moving and take my place in the line of ten next to Embry.
She turns to me, concern registered on her face, but the crowd is anxious and restless, waiting with anticipation for the auction to begin. I can feel the angst from all the females showing off their wares and spectacular jewelry all the way down the line. Overmaster Descallia smiles at the small table of high rolling males who take up the first three tables in the front row, along with all the masters who are waiting for anyone to show. “Gentlemen, I’ll hand the mic over to my very capable right-hand, Lucas, who will start the bidding. Remember, luck is not needed tonight, gentleman. You hold all the power; just bid the highest.”
There are deep chuckles from the front row of tables, as Lucas takes the mic and begins to address the crowd, and Overmaster Descallia walks off stage, down the stairs, taking his place at his table dead center in front of the stage.
The door opens suddenly, a chill of wind blowing in as it crashes against the wall. The white wolf with pristine blue eyes bursts through the door, bringing the show to an abrupt and silenced halt. Sheba saunters into the club, seemingly in no rush as he walks right up to Overmaster Descallia’s table, not two feet in front and below us.
Every one of us while every master in the place has drawn their weapon. They do not attack knowing that Descallia wants to be the one to take him out, each of them stand on the ready as the patrons who knew well that they might be in the middle of a war between the vampires make their way to the lower-level safe room as planned.
Overmaster Descallia stands, facing his approaching enemy, roaring with anger at the white wolf. “Sheba! The traitor dares to show his face! I will show the world what we do with those who betray their vampire friends in the underworld.”
Sheba’s blue eyes are like ice. “You have it wrong, Descallia. I’ve been working with the rogues only to get the information that we jointly need to bury them for good and retake our rightly places in the underworld. I had far too many traitors to do anything but join them for a short time, find out what I could, or be killed myself. I just could not take the chance that my secret would learned.”
Lucianna’s eyes glow, and she takes a moment to absorb his essence. “Sheba tells the truth. What have you learned that will help the vampires?”
My mind swirls fast, image after image of blurs begins to take shape until suddenly the images become crystal clear, and the puzzle pieces snap together from the recesses of my mind. Without a thought, the knife at the slit in my thigh is in my hand and thrown with precision into the back of Lucas’ neck before he can do the vampires any harm, causing him to drop to the floor with a growl of pain. “A stake, I need a stake. It’s Lucas, he’s a rogue,” I yell to anyone who can help, but it’s far too late because he may be hurt, but he’s not going to stick around for that.
