Chapter 103 - A thin line

**Ambrogios pov**

Luna’s blood has been completely out of my system for almost a week now. I should feel strong, hungry, reborn, but I don’t. The little I hear from Great Falls is that nothing has changed. Zara was here for a few days but even she couldn’t lighten my mood. Maybe it’s different when a vampire has a mate. What I learned about wolf mates is that they are two parts of one soul in some way, they soothe and relieve each other’s pain, they feel each other’s worries and happiness...I don’t feel that way about Zara. Of course, I am drawn in when she is close, and when I feel the taste of her, I am completely absorbed by it, but when we are apart, I don’t miss her that much. I can admit that in the beginning I thought about her all the time. Her looks and manner were captivating and drew me in, everything about her reminded me of Zandra...Zandra, she was the one who took up my thoughts, the one who made my heart ache, the one who kept me awake or visited my dreams when I managed to fall asleep.
When I saw the bird in the sky, I knew immediately that it was her, I could feel her and what I felt surprised me. I felt none of the hatred or hostility I felt before. I felt relief, happiness and even if it was imagination, I thought I felt love. She was majestic as she circled the winds above us, her cry a beautiful song to my ears, a song that was silenced by the gunshot that echoed between the brick walls. I can still feel the weight of the bird’s wings over my shoulders as she fell to me from the sky, I can hear the last little heartbeat and feel the tiny wind from the last breath she took before she went limp in my arms. I look at myself in the mirror as I do very often these days, it is the only confirmation I have that she is still alive. The pale gray streaks in my eyes. They haven’t changed any more, haven’t faded but haven’t gotten stronger either.
“Good morning beautiful...or is it perhaps good evening? It doesn’t matter. I have some interesting news. I don’t really know what the wolves are doing for your recovery, but unfortunately I can’t just sit still and wait, as you know have that’s never been my forte, I’m more of a man of action” I smile at the thought of her sighing and rolling her eyes at what I say.
“I’ve found more of your relatives, in different packs and in a few other places. I’ve asked them to come here. Many have refused and I’m not forcing them, I know you wouldn’t like that. Some have agreed for a significant amount of money, which is okay, no amount is to high if it means you get help”
A knock on the door interrupts me.
“I have to go..sleep well my love”
Tony is standing leaning against the wall on the other side of the door when I open it.
“Is she here?”
“Yes, and she brought company with her”
“Of course she did, I wouldn’t have expected anything else.” I hurried through the corridor that led to the common areas.
“Tatiana! You are a feast for the eyes as usual!” I wear my most charming smile when I step into the room.
“Ambrogio! It’s been too long!”
She comes up to me and gives me two cold kisses, one on each cheek. She is as beautiful as I remember her and her aura as dark. Tatiana is a dark witch, the strongest and most dangerous I know. We’ve never liked each other, but we’ve never had a reason to disagree either. Over the years we had benefited from each other. Me of her magic and she of my wide net, fat wallet and sadistic nature. Five men accompany her. If I know her correctly, which I think I do, at least two of them are wizards of some sort. She would never go anywhere without backup, she has way too many enemies. The men stay in the background, but their eyes never leave her.
“So, my dear old friend…why have you summoned me?”
Her charcoal gray eyes bore into mine, she would know if I’m lying so I’ve already decided to lay all the cards on the tables.
“Tatiana..what do you know about my origin?” She studies me for a while before answering.
“To be honest not so much..I know you pissed off God, I know the wolves were involved but to be honest I never cared enough to find out the facts. I don’t care if you was bitten by a bat or bewitched by a witch.” I smile at her arrogance. Of course she doesn’t care, why would she? I settle into a leather armchair and lean back. Tatiana sits down across from me, crossing her long slender legs and lets her black hair slide through her fingers.
“I guess I came here to hear the story?”
“Yes…yes you did.”

A few hours had passed when one of my sons came in with more refreshments. Bourbon for Tatiana and a newly bottled b-positive for me. The silence was heavy in the room and had been so for the last few minutes since I finished my story. The dark beauty in front of me pondered, she took a breath and was about to say something, changed her mind and pondered some more. With her glass in hand, she stood up, emptied it and held it out for a refill before she began to slowly sway back and forth, still deep in thought. When her glass was once again empty, she turns to face me.
“Zandra…I haven’t heard her name in a very very long time.”
“Do you know of her?”
“I do…Zandra, the white witch, she who has lived since the beginning of times…Protector of wolves, the strongest of all touched by magic…well, that’s what they say about her anyway..I know better.”
“Yeah, she is not that old” I chuckled in response.
“I never had the pleasure to cross paths with her though, and I don’t regret that. I can’t say the same about her granddaughter.” Her face shows a disapproving expression.
“Zara? What do you have against her?” A joyless cold laugh left Tatiana before she answered.
“Oh sweetie, you know she’s not your mate right?”
“Of course she is…what are you talking about?” I feel a little uncomfortable and slightly offended by her bold statement, but then she leans forward, whispers something I assume is a spell and kisses me before I can react. The taste of sun-ripened strawberries explodes in my mouth and it takes all my willpower to push her away. This time her laughter is not joyless. Tatiana laughs so hard she almost squints.
“Oh silly man!..it’s one of the oldest tricks, making someone imagine things! Let me ask, how do you feel about her right now?”
“I..I love her…and I miss her…” I felt my self stutter like a stubborn boy.
“Stop lying, you called me here so stop lying to me! Tell me the truth, what do you feel for Zara when she is not around?” Noticeably irritated by my silence, she continues.
“Okay, we’ll do this instead..take my hands, close your eyes and when you feel me knock, you let me in. I promise, I won’t peek at anything you don’t want to show and you can throw me out at any time.” She winks and holds out her hands and I almost regret inviting her here.
To my surprise, her hands are warm and soft in mine, I had expected them to be cold and stiff. I take a deep breath and close my eyes.
After poking around in my memories a little longer than I was comfortable with, Tatiana releases my hands and I feel her consciousness leave mine. I keep my eyes closed for a few extra seconds to collect myself and when I open them I see the smug smile on her lips.
“As I thought..Zara is not your mate”
“Isn’t she?”
“Nope, she has you under a spell, why I don’t know.”
“So the Gods didn’t answer Zandra’s prayer?” I feel a pang of disappointment, the feeling of being worthy of a mate had lifted something heavy and dark I’d carried with me for centuries. A small giggle leaves Tatiana.
“Oh but they did..the Heaven really have a twisted sense of humor.”
“Tatiana, speak plainly!” my irritation grew and she noticed.
“They gave you Zandra..I don’t know if they did before her prayer or after, regardless she is your mate.” I looked at her for a moment before I burst out laughing.
“I don’t know if you missed the part in the story about what I did to her and how much Zandra hates me..and what I know about mates is that they don’t hurt or hate each other.”
“The line between hate and love is thin my friend. I was in your memories, I felt what you felt. When you saw her in the air, was it hate you felt?” She narrowed her eyes at me and I felt my mouth go as dry as my hands became sweaty.
“Well? Was it hatred you felt?”
“No...”
“No! It was love! My guess is that she allowed herself to feel it for the first time, she was relieved to see you and let go of the hatred she’s been holding on to for so long..and it’s scaring her.”
“What do you mean scare her?”
“Zandra’s not hurt, she is not in a coma, she’s hiding”