Dark Celebration

Dark 17 Dark

For my beloved daughter, Cecilia, who has always given us reason for celebration!

For My Readers

Be sure to write to Christine at Christine@christinefeehan.com to get a FREE exclusive screen saver and join the PRIVATE e-mail list to receive an announcement when Christine's books are released.

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Diane Trudeau for her help with the recipes. Cheryl Wilson, you know you are invaluable. Denise, Manda and Brian, thank you for your unfailing support and all of the work you do to help me put these books together.

Dear Readers,

Over the past few years, I have received thousands of letters asking for a reunion of the Carpathian characters. I resisted the idea for a long time, uncertain how one could bring so many vivid and larger-than-life characters together in the same book. It seemed a daunting task. Then one evening, I was sitting around a fireplace talking with some author friends about the mess we'd made of the dinner that night. We'd rented a house together to work, and unfortunately, some of us were a little lax on the cooking skills. (I'm not mentioning names here or raising my hand, but a few of the disasters depicted in this book actually did happen, sadly enough to say.) We were laughing so hard, and the idea of a Christmas party where the Carpathians cooked for their friends was born.

I pitched the idea to my editor as a special thank-you gift book at Christmas time for my readers. I was very excited to have a fun, lighthearted book to write. I was thrilled with the idea of adding in the Dark Desserts, and so many wonderful people from all over the world sent in the most scrumptious recipes. The concept was completely different than anything I'd ever conceived of writing, so it was going to be great fun! And then I sat down and

started to write it…

First of all, it hadn't occurred to me that there was no hero and heroine, and that I would have to find a way to transition each chapter smoothly. And second, and more important, I don't write fun and lighthearted. My characters tend to take over the book and run away with it, and this book was no exception. No matter how hard I tried, the book turned-yes, you guessed it-dark!

Once I called my editor and warned her that the book had taken on its own life and I wasn't going to be delivering that lighthearted book, I simply accepted it and allowed the characters free rein. They took over, and Dark Celebration became a huge part of the rich tapestry that makes up the Carpathian world. I had fun revisiting the characters and finding out how they were doing together and what their lives were like as couples as well as what the Carpathian society was like as a whole.

The book turned into something very unexpected, but in all honesty, I thoroughly enjoyed myself writing it, and I certainly hope you have just as much fun reading it. When I write, the characters definitely dictate the story, so several were very forthcoming while others hung back a little more than I would have liked. All in all, in the end I think we caught a glimpse of old friends and what their lives are together. I found myself smiling a lot while writing it and hope you have the same reaction reading it!

Warmest regards, Christine

Chapter 1

Stars glittered across the night sky and the moon spilled light, illuminating the trees below and turning leaves a glistening silver. A female owl skimmed the canopy, dipped lower to speed through the labyrinth of trees before rising again just in time to avoid a thick branch. A second, larger owl chased her in a wide circle above the forest surrounding a clearing where a large two-story stone house sat. The female plummeted toward the steep roof, talons extended toward the chimney, pulled up at the last heart-stopping second to race away from the male, wings flapping noiselessly, the wind riffling iridescent feathers.

Raven! Mikhail Dubrinsky warned his lifemate sharply. That was far too close.

It was exhilarating.

Raven, you are going to get tired. There was a soft warning growl in Mikhail's voice, as if a wolf lurked inside the body of the owl.

Her laughter bubbled up, soft and warm in his mind as they telepathically communicated. I'm not a newbie anymore, Mikhail, and after all these years, I think I can handle flying. I love it. It's my favorite thing to do. Are you ever going to get over being overprotective?

I do not think it is overprotective to watch over the woman of my heart and soul. You always overdo it when you fly. And you risk much more than you should.

That may have been true, but Raven wasn't going to admit it. Once in the body of a bird, she wanted to stay that way for long periods of time. I feel so free.

From the moment of her conversion-human to Carpathian-the one thing that had intrigued and filled her with joy above all else in her new life was the ability to fly. She could soar high above earth and see miles of beautiful forest, cool lakes and a riot of wildflowers. Beauty always surrounded her when she took the form of an owl, making her forget, at least for a few moments, the absolute wonder-and responsibility-of being lifemate to the prince of the Carpathian people.

There was a small silence. Raven, do you not feel freedom when you are with me? I have never caged you, although at times I felt it would be the safest thing to do.

The female owl circled back toward the male to position herself just under his left wing. Of course not, silly. Don't you love flying? The wind lifting your body while the terrain below appears so magical?

There was that whisper of love in her voice-in her mind. Mikhail had come to depend on the steadiness-the absolute steadfastness of her love. It is so. If you ever are despairing of my nature, I would want you to let me know. I feel your sadness sometimes, my love, the ache in your heart.

Don't, Mikhail. It's not because of you. Or because of us. Like any woman who has found her true lifemate, I want children. I cant complain. We have our daughter, Savannah, so precious to both of us and much more than many other of our women are gifted with. If we never have another, I have been lucky enough to have one child as well as the only man who could ever make me happy. You and Savannah are enough for me.

Mikhail wished they were home, where he could pull her into his arms and kiss her soundly. He ached with love for her more than he cared to admit, and he could hear-and feel-the desire in her to hold a child in her arms. It was his greatest failure-not only in his duty to his lifemate, but also in his duty to his people. After hundreds of years, he still couldn't protect his people from their greatest threat-not vampires or the mage, not modern society, not even the lack of emotion in the males after two hundred years and the ever-present darkness creeping into their souls. He couldn't protect them from what he was beginning to believe might be the very extinction of their species.

Mikhail. Raven whispered his name in his mind. A soft sound of utter love and compassion. You will find the answers for our people. You've accomplished so much already by bringing such great minds together in an effort to solve this problem. And three babies have survived in the last few years. We kept Savannah. Francesca and Gabriel have Tamara, and now there is Corrine and Dayan's child, Jennifer. Three girls, my love. There is yet hope.

Mikhail was silent, wanting to roar his despair to the heavens. Three female children when so many of the men of his species were without hope. To survive, to maintain honor,

they had no choice but to find the one woman who would complete their soul-bring light to their darkness. Without a woman, they had nothing but an endless, barren existence.

That's not so, Raven objected. Many have found their lifemates among my people.

A handful, Raven. Why cant I find the answer when I have such great minds working on the problem? We need women and children or our kind will cease to exist.

After the assassination attempt on his life, more than anything else, Mikhail feared their enemies would realize just how fragile the Carpathian race had become. With so many against them, it would only take one to realize where the true vulnerability of the Carpathian race lay-the absence of women and children. So far all the strikes had been directed against the men, but sooner or later their enemies would realize that to kill the species, they had only to kill the women and children.

The thought of Raven, his beloved lifemate, or his precious daughter, Savannah, as a target was almost more than he could bear-but it was inevitable. The enemy had joined together with the dark mage and had found a way to hide their presence, making them doubly dangerous. No longer could the Carpathians rely on their ability to read minds and sense a threat. They must be more vigilant than ever. Even now Mikhail scanned the forest below them warily, unable to relax completely.

Mikhail. You have closed your mind to mine.

He forced his thoughts back to their conversation. It was bad enough that he could not console his lifemate over losing a child, let alone stay on track with such an important topic. You have lived with us only fifty years and already you have suffered the loss of a child. Can you imagine the great sorrow in a hundred years-two hundred? Our women cannot suffer these losses without severe repercussions.

Shea believes she and Gary are much closer to finding the answers. Gabrielle is now helping as well, Raven reminded him. Gary was human and Gabrielle had been. Recently, to save her life, Gabrielle had undergone the conversion, but she had worked tirelessly even before the change to aid Shea in finding out why Carpathian women suffered so many miscarriages. With all the training Shea had as a human doctor and her natural abilities as a Carpathian healer, she is an amazing resource to our people. She has worked with Gabrielle, Gary and, of course, Gregori to find the answer as to why our women can no longer successfully carry children. The few babies born rarely survived the first year. Raven was grateful she had had a miscarriage and been spared the terrible grief of giving birth, holding her child for a year and then losing it. Shea has already discovered so much. She will unlock this mystery.

Mikhail believed Shea might be the one to perform such a miracle. She had already proved her tenacity and courage in bringing his brother Jacques back from the brink of insanity, but Mikhail also feared the answers would come too late for his people. Their enemies were banding together, closing in and striking often. Worse, it seemed their oldest

and crudest enemy might still be alive. Xavier, the powerful dark mage, and his grandson, Razvan, were aiding the undead with ancient knowledge.

Raven broke away from him to fly with her usual abandon far too close to the canopy of trees. His heart nearly stopped, and it took tremendous discipline to keep from ordering her back to his side where she would be safe. He couldn't imprison her any more than any of the other Carpathian males could their lifemates, but the need and desire were there, beating at him with ruthless temptation.

Mikhail put on a burst of speed, catching up to the woman who completed his soul, his sharp eyes scanning the terrain below as they flew together. He could feel happiness radiating from her and it helped to ease the burdens in his heart.

You do know, my love, Raven called teasingly, that you have to play Santa Claus at the Christmas party for all the children.

Mikhail lost the image-that of an owl-in his mind for the first time in hundreds of years. His body plummeted thirty feet, nearly hitting the top of a tree before he recovered from his shock. Even within the owl's body, he shuddered. You may rid yourself of that notion at once.

Raven spiraled down toward their home, her body graceful in flight, landing on two feet on the walkway leading to their porch as she shifted into her natural form. Mikhail followed her, shifting as he landed directly in front of her, halting her escape. The lines and planes of his face hardened into a fierce look meant to intimidate. This conversation is not over. He couldn't prevent the horrified reaction running through his body. «There are things you should never ask a man to do.»

Raven rolled her eyes. «The children will be expecting St. Nick to make an appearance. This is our first big Christmas party, the first real one, and the women have agreed to cook, so the men have to do their part. You have to do it, Mikhail.»

«I do not think so,» he replied. His expression could daunt the most dangerous of vampires or vampire hunters, but certainly did not seem to have the desired effect on his lifemate.

Raven merely huffed out her breath at him, exasperated. «Don't be such a baby. Human men do it all the time with absolutely no fear.»

«I am not afraid.»

Her eyebrow shot up, the one that always intrigued him, but this time she looked suspiciously as if she might be laughing at him. «Oh, yes, you are. You look terrified-and pale.»

«I'm pale because I've expended energy flying without first taking sustenance. I am the prince of the Carpathian people, not Santa Claus.»

«That's not an excuse. As the leader of our people, it is your duty to play the part of St. Nick. It's tradition.»

«Not Carpathian tradition. It is not dignified, Raven.» Mikhail swept his black hair to the nape of his neck and secured it with a thin strip of leather. His black eyes glittered at her, making every attempt to intimidate her into submission.

She burst out laughing, completely unsympathetic and certainly not scared. «Tough luck, hotshot. It's your job. Carpathian tradition or not, you promised me we'd have a big Christmas party for everyone. Our people have come from the United States, South America and several other countries to participate in our celebration. We cannot possibly disappoint them.»

«It will not be disappointing to do this ridiculous thing?»

Her laughter deepened into a rich, appealing sound that played down his spine and made his stomach do a funny little flip. Only Raven could do that to him. Only Raven could make him want to do anything on Earth to please her.

«Trust me, Mikhail, the entire Carpathian race will be disappointed if they do not see you playing the role of Santa Claus.» She stroked his face with her fingertips. «A nice white beard.» Her hand ran down his chest to his hard, flat stomach. «A nice round belly…»

«You aren't at all amusing.» But she was, and it was taking everything he had not to smile at her.

«You promised me you would do everything to make our first Christmas gathering a success.»

«I was not thinking at the time. You were distracting me,» he grumbled.

«Was I?» Raven asked, blinking innocently. «I can't remember.»

Mikhail wrapped his arms around Raven and pulled her into his body. Nibbling on her neck, he tasted her pulse, felt her answering excitement and knew it would always be this way between them. Raven. He thought he couldn't love her more, yet each day the emotion grew stronger until he felt he was bursting with it. Sometimes, when she wasn't looking, he could feel blood red tears welling up in his eyes. Who would believe the powerful prince of the Carpathian people would be so enamored of a woman.

He had been born with the ritual words of binding imprinted on his brain as had every other male of his kind. It had been a shock to discover not only that a human woman could become his lifemate, but that she could be successfully turned to his species. More than the complete amazement of all of that was the overwhelming love and hunger he felt for her, that it grew stronger with every moment they shared together. Looking at her could steal the breath from his body.

«You always smell so good.»

Raven reached back to circle his neck with her arm, dragging his head closer so she could kiss him. The moment his lips touched hers, fire exploded in his gut and spread low, racing through his system until his blood thickened and his pulse pounded. He pressed his body closer so she could feel the evidence of his desire.

She laughed softly. «You always make me forget what I'm doing. I'm supposed to be cooking the turkey. It's been a very long time and I have to make certain I don't make any mistakes. We've invited the Ostojics and any guests staying at the inn. Even though we can't eat it, we need human food for them and since it was my idea, I couldn't very well pass on the most important item on our dinner menu.»

«Yes, you could.» Mikhail's voice suddenly turned sly.

Raven whirled around to study her lifemate's all too innocent expression. «What are you up to, Mikhail?»

«I'm passing on the duty of being jolly old St. Nick.»

Raven put both hands on her hips and tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. «You're up to something very, very bad. I can feel your laughter. What is so amusing?»

«It has just occurred to me that I have a son-in-law.»

A slow, answering grin spread over Raven's face even as she gasped in shock, one hand flying to her throat. «You wouldn't. Not Gregori. He'll scare all the children. He couldn't look jolly if he tried.»

«We let him take our daughter from us,» Mikhail said. «I think as his father-in-law he will have a hard time turning me down.»

«And you say I have a wicked sense of humor,» Raven accused.

«Where do you think I got it?» Mikhail nuzzled her neck, his voice a husky whisper.

The familiar answering tingle of excitement shot down her spine. Raven loved the way Mikhail's every touch seemed so intimate. «He'll never do it. Not in a million years and you'll still have to, but I'd love to see his face when you ask.»

«I have no intention of asking,» Mikhail said, straightening to his full height. «I'm his prince as well as his father-in-law and he is my second in command and son-in-law. It is his duty to do these things.»

«You can't order him to play Santa Claus.» Raven tried desperately to keep her laughter from spilling over. Gregori was one of the most fearsome men she'd ever met. The idea of even considering him in the part of Santa Claus was both hilarious and ludicrous to her.

«I believe that I can, Raven,» Mikhail said solemnly. «You ordered me, and I'm the prince.»

Raven made a snickering sound. «I suppose you'd prefer I groveled at your feet.»

His hands framed her face and he bent to take possession of her mouth. He loved her mouth-her taste-her instant response. I could kiss you for all time.

Good thing since you dragged me kicking and screaming into your world. Raven closed her eyes and gave herself up to the sheer magic of his kiss. Her arms stole around his neck and she leaned into him, wanting to feel the imprint of his body so real and alive against hers. There had been too many assassination attempts on Mikhail. Just recently they had lost one of their homes in a fierce battle fighting the combined forces of Razvan, a mage, and vampires. It had been unheard of for vampires to band together, let alone band with any other species.

It frightened her to think there was a conspiracy to murder Mikhail. Her terror of losing him had partly been the reason she'd suggested a huge celebration of Christmas. Although not a holiday usually celebrated by the Carpathians, many of the previously human lifemates, including Raven, missed not having Christmas. She also needed something to take her mind off her growing fears for his safety.

Mikhail lifted his head, retaining possession of her chin. «There is no need for you to fear for my safety, Raven.»

The smile faded from Raven's face and she took a step away from her lifemate. «There is every need.» She glanced toward the forest, a hitch in her breath. «Someone is coming.»

«A youngster, Raven, no one to be afraid of.» Mikhail brought her palm to his mouth to press a kiss in the center. «I've never seen you so nervous.»

«I try to accept what we cannot change, Mikhail, but as the years have gone by, the danger to you has increased. I try to live as normal a life as possible, but I cannot even now, when it is imperative to protect you, overcome my loathing of sleeping in the ground. My terror of being buried alive makes us more vulnerable than ever.» Ashamed, she ducked her head, avoiding his eyes.

Raven. My love. He bent his head once more to hers, his lips brushing hers with a tenderness that brought tears to her eyes. «I made you a promise and I mean to keep it. You do not ever have to sleep beneath the ground. The earth rejuvenates us in our chamber and there is no need to feel you have in any way placed my life in danger. You are my life. I cannot allow you ever to be in danger. If I thought sleeping in our chamber was dangerous, I would find another way.»

Her eyes searched his, her mind sweeping through his at the same time, searching for the truth. She knew he wove powerful safeguards to protect them, but she still feared that she

placed them in danger with her strong aversion to going to ground.

The rustle of leaves on the path to their home broke them apart, Mikhail shifting his body slightly to place his taller frame between the forest and his lifemate. A young woman emerged from behind several leafy plants, looking frightened, but determined. She was average height with tousled, dark hair shimmering with red streaks. She had the skin of a young girl and the eyes of someone far, far older.

Skyler. Mikhail told Raven. Gabriel and Francesca adopted her. Both Gabriel and Francesca have given her their blood. She is still human, yet carries a powerful bloodline. She is a very strong psychic.

Raven smiled at the teenager. She worries about the Carpathian males wanting to claim her now that she is sixteen. She's much too young to worry about such things. «You must be Skyler. How nice of you to come visiting. Perhaps you'd care to come in and talk to me while I check on the turkey.»

«I do not see Gabriel with you,» Mikhail said pointedly. This young child represented hope to his race, yet she walked through the forest unescorted.

Mikhail! Don't frighten her.

There are wolves in the forest, as well as the possibility of enemies.

Skyler stopped abruptly, her gaze shifting to Mikhail. For a moment, her dark eyes clashed with Mikhail's black ones defiantly. «Gabriel trusts me to make my way to your house. I'm not a child anymore.»

«I can see that. I'm Mikhail and this is my lifemate, Raven. Gabriel and Francesca speak of you so often, I feel as if I know you. Forgive me if I showed my concern for a young woman I look upon as family.»

A brief smile flirted with Skyler's mouth. «I have to hand it to you, Mr. Dubrinsky. That should make me feel like a worm, but it doesn't. I'm here because I absolutely want to make it clear that I am not a lifemate to anyone.»

A shadow passed across the moon, briefly blotting out the light spilling down on the forest. Bats wheeled and dipped in a mad, frenzied performance in the night sky.

Mikhail stood still, searching the surrounding forest with his preternatural senses. He gestured imperiously toward the door Raven held open. They followed Skyler inside. «You are so certain of this?»

The aroma of turkey filled the house, and Mikhail hid his natural revulsion against the scent of meat cooking. Smells from her past often comforted Raven. She was unaware of it, but he sensed her happiness, as if the turkey in the oven had been an important part of her life-a good memory of childhood-so he was careful not to ruin it for her. Raven sent him

a small smile as if she might be reading his thoughts in spite of his thin shield. He'd have to watch that. Her skills and powers grew daily.

Skyler looked at the high beamed ceilings and wide-open space before her gaze settled on the three enormous stained-glass windows. Her face lit up and she walked straight over to them. «This is Francesca's work. Isn't she awesome? I helped her with this one.» She tilted her head to study the vibrant colors. «I haven't learned how to weave the safeguards into the glass yet. I can do it in quilts, but glass is much more complicated.» She glanced at Raven. «Do you ever stand under the setting sun and feel comfort?» Skyler moved an inch to her left. «Right here. If you stand right in this spot as the last rays of light hit, you'll feel it. I did that.»

«It's a work of art,» Raven said. «If I could, I'd have every window done in Francesca's work. I had no idea you were helping her.»

«I have some talent, not nearly as strong as hers, but she's helping me develop mine. I hope to be partners with her one day.» The smile faded, leaving her eyes bleak. She reached up to brush strands of dark hair from her face, revealing a small crescent-shaped scar on her temple and drawing attention to the white scars on her hands and forearms. Skyler seemed to be aware of her nervous gesture and folded her hands, her chin raising a fraction. «I've heard rumors of a coming-out party-where the men gather to see if they could possibly be compatible with one of the women…»

«We have no women,» Mikhail pointed out. «There are no parties and no coming out as we have no women…»

Skyler's mouth firmed into a stubborn line as she followed the couple into the kitchen. «Gabriel and Francesca treat me like family.»

Mikhail nodded. «They love you as if you were their daughter.» He inhaled deeply, drawing her scent into his lungs. «You carry their blood so through love, blood and in every other way, you are their daughter.»

«They've offered to convert me when I'm twenty-one and I'm considering it, but I want assurances that you won't try to force me to be with a man-any man.»

«No one would force you to do anything,» Raven said. «Gabriel is a powerful man. Don't you think he would protect you?»

«Absolutely he would protect me. I don't want Gabriel or Francesca to have to protect me. If I go through the conversion, I do not want someone trying to claim me.»

«Are you not aware of the plight of our people? Of our males?» Mikhail demanded.

Raven put a restraining hand on his arm. «Have a seat, Skyler. Can I get you something to eat or drink? We have juice in the fridge.»

Without breaking eye contact with Mikhail, the teenager sank into a chair with an almost regal nod. «Yes, thank you, juice would be nice.»

She is terrific, isn't she Mikhail? She's terrified but determined that she be heard. There was admiration-and warning in Raven's soft message to her lifemate. Raven poured a glass of orange juice and set it in front of Skyler.

Mikhail's head went up suddenly and he stepped toward the window, his gaze restless as he searched the darkness. He felt the presence of wolves and owls as they hunted for prey, but nothing that would cause the uneasy feeling twisting at his gut. He glanced down at the defiant young teenager, gently probing her mind-and memories. He found Francesca and Gabriel's shields to help distance the girl from the brutality of her life before they had made her their ward, but even with that protection in place, the memories of the malicious cruelty and violence against Skyler sickened him.

Mikhail glanced at Raven and saw the tears shimmering in her eyes as she shared Skyler's past-felt her pain and despair-the utter hopelessness of a child who could not escape from a depraved adult world. Raven hastily crossed to the oven to check on the turkey.

«It smells good,» Skyler said.

«I used a wild rice stuffing,» Raven said. «I remember it from my childhood. It took a bit of time tracking down the recipe, but it should be good, although it's been a long time since I cooked anything.»

«Francesca lets me cook whenever I want. She trusts me to make my own decisions.» Skyler glanced at Mikhail.

«Are you aware of what happens to a Carpathian male without his lifemate?» Mikhail asked, his voice compelling.

Skyler nodded. «Gabriel and Francesca both explained it to me. They lose colors and emotions first. Over hundreds of years, honor can fade and they become dangerous, especially the hunters, any who take lives. And eventually they can become the vampire, the most evil of all creatures.»

«And you would leave your lifemate to this fate? You would be that cruel and inhumane? Should he suffer even more than he already has because you suffered?»

«Mikhail!» Raven whirled around, shock on her face. She's a child. How could you? Giving our daughter to Gregori before she was beyond a fledging was bad enough, but this child has suffered. And we have no way of knowing whether or not she is lifemate to one of our males.

She is experienced far beyond her human years, Raven. Allow her to answer.

Skyler carefully placed the glass on the table and stood up, folding her arms as she faced Mikhail squarely. «No, of course not. I wouldn't want anyone to suffer, but I can't seem to overcome the things in my past.» She held her trembling hands in front of her. «I don't feel comfortable in the presence of men. I'm not capable of being anyone's lifemate and I don't want to be forced into a position where I have no choice, no say in my life. I didn't come to this conclusion lightly. I love Gabriel and I certainly wouldn't want to think of him dead or suffering or a vampire, but I know I can't ever be powerless again. Male Carpathians are far too dominating, and I would find myself slipping back into that dark place where Francesca first found me.»

Mikhail frowned. «Do you believe our women are without power? Is that how you see Francesca?»

Skyler shook her head. «Francesca is loved and returns love. She can do what I can't– and never will be able to do. Gabriel promised me-as did Lucian-that they will never let another force my compliance, but I know a Carpathian male has the ability to bind a Carpathian woman to him. I want to be fully Gabriel and Francesca's daughter, but I don't want to be subject to the laws of your world.»

She doesn't know her lifemate could bind her to him in her human state. Mikhail reached out to Raven, suddenly at a loss as to what to do or say to this woman-child. Why would Francesca and Gabriel and even Lucian keep this information from her?

«Skyler,» he said aloud. «A Carpathian male must put his lifemate above all else. He would see to your needs, have patience with you. You are young yet. You have no idea how you'll feel in a few years.»

«I do know.»

«And you would sentence a Carpathian male, one who has given many lifetimes of service, to death-or worse-to the undead out of fear?»

«His decisions have nothing to do with me.»

«And what of the Carpathian race? Our species is nearly extinct. We cannot continue to exist without women and children. One woman makes a difference. One woman can save a male and give birth to a child.»

«I see Francesca struggling sometimes to be true to her nature, and she's a strong woman. Gabriel is very protective and dislikes her going anywhere without him.»

Mikhail slammed a barrier in his mind immediately to prevent Raven from reading his mind. Gabriel had to be concerned with their enemies striking at the women, yet he had allowed Skyler to go into the woods. Or had he? «Did you mention to Gabriel that you were coming to see us?»

Skyler scuffed the toe of her hiking boot on the kitchen floor. «I may have forgotten. He

was busy helping Francesca bake gingerbread for the house we're making for the children.»

Raven basted the turkey in silence, turning over Skyler's fears in her mind. «What is it Francesca struggles against, Skyler?» she asked.

Skyler shrugged. «What do you struggle against?»

Mikhail was slightly shocked at the human teenagers reply. She sounded far too mature for her age, and that in itself was a danger he hadn't considered. If Gabriel and Francesca had thought about the potential risks before bringing Skyler to their homeland, they would have mentioned her maturity to him. She was only sixteen-a virtual baby by their standards, yet her experiences had aged her far beyond her physical years. She looked-and spoke-like an adult. Would her voice trigger the terrible needs of the Carpathian male? If so, and she restored color and emotion to her lifemate before she could meet his needs, that might be as dangerous to the male, her not being ready to be with him, as not finding her at all. Often, being a lifemate-and intense sexual awareness and need-came before love or even affection.

Raven touched his hand-a small gesture, but it was enough to lighten his spirits. She smiled at the teenager. «I struggle with the terrible burden of so many lives depending on my lifemate and with the knowledge that so many want him dead. And I struggle with my own inadequacies. There are still aspects of Carpathian life I can't come to terms with, and it could present an added danger to my lifemate.»

She smiled up at Mikhail. The stark love shining in her eyes put an unexpected lump in his throat. «I have never, not once, not at any time, regretted that I am lifemate to this man. I think you underestimate your own abilities, Skyler. You're a very courageous young woman. You are far too young to contemplate taking on a Carpathian male, but eventually you will come into your full power and potential. Most of the men have no idea what they've gotten themselves into.» She winked at the girl. «It takes time to develop skills and power and most of us were too young, but we learned quickly by utilizing the mind bond.»

Skyler nodded. «Gabriel and Francesca teach me by sharing information telepathically, and I've found it's so much more detailed than conversation. I can see how you'd learn so much more quickly.»

«How's Baby Tamara doing?» There was a hitch in Raven's voice, and she didn't dare glance at Mikhail. Of course he would notice-he always noticed.

His gaze found hers-sharp-aware, sliding over her body with too much knowledge. She hadn't told him she could get pregnant-that it was the optimum time and if they let this chance slip by, it could be years before it happened again. Ashamed of being afraid, of the sorrow and grief that accompanied taking such a chance, Raven looked away from him. «And sometimes, Skyler, I struggle against my own weaknesses and fears, but never– never-against being lifemate to Mikhail.»

Skyler, obviously an empath, moved closer to Raven, as if by her close presence she could reduce the sadness. «I guess we all do that, don't we?» She looked to Mikhail for confirmation.

Mikhail touched Raven's hair, his fingers gentle. Raven, my love. His voice in her mind was infinitely tender. Every Carpathian male knows when his mate can conceive. You are everything I have ever wanted. When you are ready-only when you are ready-do we try again. He smiled at Skyler even as his gaze caressed his lifemate. «You are a very wise young lady.»

Dark clouds crossed the moon, momentarily darkening the skies and casting macabre shadows into the large kitchen. The silhouette of a large wolf passed in front of the window, as if a large creature had crept onto the wraparound deck and paced just outside. Instinctively, Mikhail, Raven and Skyler turned toward the second window just over the sink. Skyler gave a muffled cry as a great shaggy head, fur black and eyes glowing nearly red, stared at them through the glass.

«Stay inside,» Mikhail commanded as he shimmered-first into transparency-and then dissolved into vapor, streaming across the kitchen to slide under the door out into the night.

The wolf abruptly disappeared leaving the two women staring into the darkness.

«It could have been Gabriel or Lucian checking up on me,» Skyler ventured. «They often take the form of a wolf.»

Raven shook her head. «They would have come to the house, talked with Mikhail, let you know they were worried.»

Skyler put a comforting hand on Raven's arm, a difficult thing for Skyler to do when she disliked being touched or touching. «There are a dozen Carpathian males within hearing distance. If the prince needs help, he has only to call out.»

Raven smiled at her, one hand to her throat. «Of course he can. Whatever is out there doesn't really feel like a threat to me.» In the form of an animal, it would be easy enough for a skilled Carpathian-or vampire-to hide his intentions, but Raven wasn't going to acknowledge that to Skyler. «Mikhail will let us know if something is wrong. In the meantime, I have this turkey in the oven. Have you ever cooked before? It's been such a long time for me and I could use a hand.»

Skyler laughed. «We have a housekeeper. She does the cooking and lets me into the kitchen once in a while, but doesn't really like anyone underfoot. She pretends it doesn't bother her, but I know it does.»

«Of course you'd know. You're an empath, you can feel what she's feeling. That must be uncomfortable for you.»

Skyler shrugged. «Gabriel and Francesca are helping me to learn how to shut myself off.

So far I haven't mastered it yet, but I think eventually I'll be fairly good at it. Francesca helps to guard me during the time she's awake.»

«Why do you want them to convert you?»

«They're my family. I want to be with them.»

«And they've both exchanged blood with you?»

Skyler nodded. «It will only take one blood exchange for the conversion. Gabriel explained it to me, but he wants me to wait until I'm older. He thinks I need more time to think about it, but I know what I want. As long as the prince doesn't insist on me taking a Carpathian male as a lifemate, then I'm going to try to get Gabriel to do it as soon as possible.»

«It's difficult on your body, Skyler,» Raven warned. «There's a great deal of pain they can't protect you from.»

«I can feel that you're uneasy, Raven. There's something you aren't telling me.»

Raven had been completely human, just as Skyler had been, and she was a strong psychic talent. She could feel that the Carpathian blood had already heightened Skyler's awareness and senses. The girl was intelligent and powerful, with well-developed psychic talents. Raven still remembered those days, the sensation of someone else's emotions creeping over her, sharp and terrible. There was a scent to evil and depravity, and an empath as sensitive as Skyler needed to be sheltered from the continual assault on her. It was no wonder Gabriel and Francesca had both given her blood to help shield her.

«I think you already know what I'm not telling you, Skyler. You came here not to ask Mikhail for assurances, but to make him aware of your strong objections. Francesca and Gabriel would never try to hide the truth from you-that your true lifemate can bind you to him whether you are human or Carpathian. If you are the other half of his soul, he can seal you together. You know that, don't you?»

Skyler blushed as she nodded her head. «I'm sorry, I shouldn't have lied. Sometimes I learn more by pretending ignorance. Most people don't give a teenager credit for intelligence or maturity. I can ask for protection against him, can't I?»

Raven studied the too-old eyes. «Have you met your lifemate?»

Skyler shook her head, her gaze shifting away. «I have nightmares. I hear a voice sometimes and I'm afraid.» She hesitated. «When I was a little girl and men did things to me, I would scream and scream in my mind. I would hear a voice calling to me. At the time I just thought I was going crazy. But I know he's out there somewhere and he's looking for me.» She rubbed the spot between her eyes. «I didn't want to come to the Carpathian Mountains because I was afraid he might be here, but Gabriel and Francesca wouldn't leave me behind. Gabriel said I needed protection at all times.»

Raven's heart jumped. «He said that?»

Skyler nodded. «He's been strange lately, not wanting Francesca or me to go anywhere without him. I can see she gets upset, but she doesn't say anything. She works at the hospital and some of the shelters and I often go with her, but he doesn't like her going anymore.»

Raven busied herself with the turkey, basting it again, even though there was no need. «When did Gabriel start becoming upset about the two of you going off alone?» She kept her voice casual, but out of the corner of her eye, caught the girl's sharp glance.

«Since the attack on the prince.»

There is nothing to fear out here, Raven. One of the male's taking a run in the forest decided to drop by, but saw we had company. I am going to see my brother. Do not allow Skyler back into the forest without an escort.

Should I be worried about something, Mikhail?

Raven felt the brief hesitation. I do not know. I am uneasy, but have no real reason to be.

Be careful, Mikhail. Be safe. Tell Shea I'll see her soon. What are you discussing with Jacques?

Raven felt his sudden amusement. The image of Gregori dressed up as Santa Claus surrounded by children.

Chapter 2

Mikhail leaned down to kiss Shea Dubrinsky on her cheek. «You look just a little bit pregnant there, lady.»

His sister-in-law blew strands of bright red hair from her face. «You think? If I don't have this baby soon, I swear I'm going to explode.»

«You're also looking harassed. Is something wrong?» He glanced around the room looking for his brother. Jacques rarely strayed from the side of his lifemate.

A slow smile lit Shea's face. «He's in the kitchen-baking.»

Mikhail's eyebrow shot up. «I do not believe I heard you correctly.»

«Yes, you did. My back has been hurting on and off tonight and I'm having trouble with this recipe. The worst thing is-Raven, Corrine and I came up with most of the recipes for everyone. They were childhood favorites of Raven's and a few I remembered. Corrine filled in the rest and now I can't manage it. It's a little humiliating to admit, but I seem to be emotional. I keep crying, so Jacques took over the baking.»

Mikhail choked and turned away to politely clear his throat. «Jacques is cooking?»

Her smile widened. «Well-trying to. We aren't having a lot of success at the moment and I think he's learning new words.» She tilted her head, the bright red hair falling around her face, emphasizing her classic bone structure. «Perhaps you'd like to give him a hand. Go on in, he'll be happy to see you.» She rolled her eyes. «His Majesty has given me strict instructions to lie down for a while.»

Mikhail gave her a fierce scowl. «Then do so immediately, Shea. You are not in labor, are you? I will call Francesca and Gregori to examine you.»

«I'm a doctor, Mikhail,» Shea reminded him, «I'd know if I was in labor. I'm close, maybe the start-but it isn't happening yet.» She waved as she started toward the concealed door leading to the basement. «I promise to call them if I need them. I'd never take a chance on anything happening to the baby. I'm just tired.»

Mikhail watched her disappear before making his way through the spacious house to the kitchen. He stopped abruptly in the doorway to stare at his brother in shock. A cloud of white particles choked the air and fell to the floor like snowflakes. The powder was everywhere, on the floor, on the dishes and bowls covering the counters and in the sink. Jacques stood at the counter, an apron over his clothes, a dusting of white powder over his face, in his eyebrows, tipping his lashes and coating his midnight black hair.

Mikhail burst out laughing. Even with Raven, who constantly amused him, he rarely gave a deep, roaring belly laugh, but the sight of his usually grim-faced brother covered in flour and sweating bullets was too much even for him.

Jacques spun around, eyes glittering with warning menace-a fierce scowl, which should have intimidated the strongest and most courageous of warriors, on his face. A thin white scar circled his throat and marred his jaw and one cheek, bearing evidence of his past. It was extremely rare for a Carpathian body to scar, as they healed so easily, but Jacques's body bore evidence of brutal torture and probably always would, the thin scar around his throat and the jagged round hole in his chest marking where a stake had been driven deep into his body. «It is not funny.»

«It is very funny,» Mikhail insisted. It was the first time Mikhail could recall his brother ever looking so disconcerted. Shea had not only saved his life and his sanity, but had brought Jacques back to life with her joy and humor. Mikhail shared the image of his brother with Raven. Her soft laughter filled his mind and poured over him with love woven deep in the rich tones. There was such intimacy with Raven, an intimacy he knew his brother shared with Shea-and it had saved Jacques's life. For that alone Mikhail would always treasure his sister-in-law. «Even Raven finds the situation amusing.»

«Raven. Do not say her name to me right now. She's the one who got me into this.» Jacques blew upward in the hope of clearing the flour from his lashes.

«I believe it is Shea you are helping,» Mikhail pointed out, the grin refusing to leave his face.

«Shea was in here crying. Crying, Mikhail. She sat in the middle of the floor and wept over a stupid loaf of bread.» Jacques scowled and looked around him, lowering his voice. «I could not bear to see her like that.»

For one moment, Jacques looked utterly helpless, rather than the dangerous hunter Mikhail knew him to be.

«Who would have ever thought bread could explode? The dough rose up over the top of the bowl and became a volcano, crawling down the sides and across the counter until I thought it was alive.» Jacques shook a flour-covered piece of paper. «This is the recipe and it says cover with a tea towel. The tea towel did not have a prayer of containing that horrific bubbling brew.»

Mikhail pressed a hand to his side. He hadn't laughed so much in a hundred years. «I can only say I am glad I did not see it.»

«Quit laughing and get in here and help me.» There was an edge of desperation to Jacques's voice. «For some reason that makes no sense to me at all, Shea is determined to make this bread for the party. She wants it braided and made into loaves and put in the oven. This is my third attempt. I thought people went to stores and bought this stuff.»

«You hunt vampires, Jacques,» Mikhail said. «Making a loaf of bread cannot be that difficult.»

«You say that now, only because you have not tried it. Come in here and close the door.» Jacques rubbed his arm across his face, smearing more white flour everywhere. «I need to talk to you anyway.» He touched Shea's mind to ensure she was a distance away. His gaze shifted back to the dough, avoiding his brother's piercing eyes. «Shea's been corresponding with a woman who thinks she may be a distant relative.»

The smile faded from Mikhail's face. «How long?»

«About a year. The woman found photographs in her attic and apparently is into genealogy. She wrote Shea asking if they could be related. She thinks Shea is Maggie's granddaughter rather than her actual daughter. Shea wanted the pictures of her mother and wrote back to her.»

Mikhail stifled the groan that threatened. «Jacques. You know better. How could she have tracked Shea in the first place? We are careful not to leave a trail.»

«It is not so easy now with computers, Mikhail, and Shea needs them to do research. The path takes her many places.»

«She should never have answered the contact.»

«I know. I know. I shouldn't have allowed it, but she's given up so much to be with me. I'm not like the rest of you and I never will be. You know that.» Jacques's gaze shifted from his brother and pain rippled in the air between them. «She deserves better and I wanted to give her one small gift. Corresponding with someone who may be a relative and who claimed to have pictures of her mother-how could she possibly resist? And I could not bring myself to deny her.»

«You know it is dangerous. You know we cannot leave paper trails. Any contact with humans is risky, especially one on paper. It endangers all of us.»

Jacques slammed the dough hard onto the counter. «Shea has been researching why we lose babies even as she is carrying our child. She has investigated the deaths of thirty children under the age of one. What do you think that does to her?» His fist smashed into the dough. «She is about to give birth and she is terrified. She tries to hide it from me, but I have never been able to allow her even limited privacy.» The admission of weakness shamed him, but Jacques wanted his brother to know the truth. «She carries the burden of my sanity every moment of her existence.»

«Jacques, you love Shea.»

«Shea is my life, my soul, and she knows it, Mikhail, but it doesn't make it easy to live with me. I cannot stand other men near her. I'm always a shadow in her mind, and I have nearly driven us both crazy worried about this pregnancy-worried about her. If something should happen to her…»

«Shea will give birth and the child will be healthy,» Mikhail said, sending up a silent prayer that it was true. «Both Francesca and Gregori will see to it that Shea is in good health. I have every faith that you will not allow anything to happen to your lifemate during this time.»

«She begged me to promise to stay in the world and raise my child should something happen to her.» Jacques raised anguished eyes to his brother. «After her own terrible childhood, you can understand why she would need such a reassurance from me.» He rubbed the bridge of his nose, looking tired and weighed down with sorrow. «You know I cannot exist without her. She is my sanity. It is the only thing she has ever asked of me, and I cannot safely comply no matter how much I wish to reassure her.»

«What do you know of this woman?»

It was the only apology Jacques could give his brother. By allowing Shea correspondence with a stranger, a human unknown to their species, he had opened the door to endanger their entire race. «The woman, Eileen Fitzpatrick, sent Shea numerous photos of Maggie, Shea's mother, and a woman Eileen claimed was Maggie's half sister. Apparently the half sister is Eileen's grandmother.»

«How would she find Shea?»

Jacques shrugged. «The internet. Shea researches genealogy all the time.»

Mikhail's eyebrow shot up. «Why? She is no longer human, but Carpathian.»

«And apparently genealogy still matters in her research, Mikhail,» Jacques said. «Not only for Shea, but Raven and Alexandria and Jaxon-all of them as well as our families too. Gregori and Francesca take care of the Carpathian genealogy necessary for the research into the deaths of our children.»

«And this Eileen found her through the genealogy site Shea was working on?» Mikhail prompted.

Jacques nodded, all too aware of Mikhail's continuing censure. «Eileen was born in Ireland, but she happened to be living in the States. I asked Aidan to look into her discreetly. She owns a bookstore in San Francisco and spends a great deal of her time looking up her family history in the library, using their computers.»

«So at least this woman is far away.» Even as he said it, Mikhail scowled, his dark brows coming together and thunder rolling over his face-cracking in the skies. He read the truth on Jacques's face. «She's here?»

«She will be at the inn this evening. Eileen asked Shea what she would be doing for Christmas, and Shea thought it was natural for a human to be cooking food for the children and having a Christmas party, so she mentioned it.»

Mikhail watched Jacques roll a wooden pin over the dough to flatten it. «I like nothing about this party. I should have told Raven no. It has occurred to me many times lately that sooner or later our enemies will strike at our women and children. What better time than now with so many of us gathered in one place?»

«Raven was right, Mikhail. After the last attempt on your life, we all needed something to lighten our spirits. I will admit I have been more uneasy than usual, but I suspect it is because Shea is so close to giving birth.»

«Maybe,» Mikhail said. «Maybe.»

«I do not think our enemies will be able to rally this quickly to launch another concentrated attack on us, Mikhail, but of course we will take every precaution.» Jacques rolled the dough out with more enthusiasm than expertise and threw a handful of flour over it, sending another cloud of white particles into the air.

Mikhail couldn't pull his fascinated gaze away from the mess his brother seemed to be making. «Where's Shea now?» He lowered his voice another notch.

«She had better be lying down. She is not feeling very well.»

«It is possible the vampires cannot rally, but the society working against us has always

found us here in the mountains. They have spies, and it is entirely possibly they have heard of this gathering. One or more of the locals has to be in their pay. And of course, we cannot ever forget that the dark mage is still alive.»

Jacques's black eyes glittered with menace, ice cold and dangerous, reminding Mikhail that even with Shea to steady him, Jacques was a lethal and frightening man. The white flour dusting his face and on the tips of his lashes did nothing to soften the threat emanating from him. «We should begin regular sweeps through the town and surrounding areas and see what we can pick up.»

Mikhail inhaled sharply, and immediately began to cough as the flour particles entered his lungs. He liked most of the townspeople, had a genuine friendship with a few, and the idea of continually invading their privacy was repugnant to him, even though he knew it was necessary.

Jacques scowled at him. «I can handle it myself.»

«You know as well as I do that our enemies have been able to find a way to keep us from detecting them. Continual scanning or taking blood deliberately to monitor them will only rob our neighbors of the privacy they are entitled to. We would not want such a deliberate invasion of our privacy.» It was an old discussion, but one he always made to remind himself of right and wrong.

«We have more than a right, we have a duty to protect our women and children, Mikhail, and I shouldn't have to tell you that. You nearly lost Raven three times now.»

Mikhail tamped down his own rising beast. It would do no good to turn a useful discussion into an argument. Jacques had a valid point-as did Mikhail, and in the end, they would do what they had to do to protect their race.

Mikhail studied his brother's snarling face. Jacques had been on the verge of insanity when Shea rescued him, and after all the years with her, the demons still lurked very close to the surface. At the slightest hint of danger to Shea, the monster rose quickly, and anyone too close to Jacques could be in danger.

«Jacques?»

They both turned at the sound of Shea's voice. She stood in the doorway, her bright red hair tumbling around her face, drawing attention to her emerald green eyes and the dark circles beneath them. I felt your need of me. What is it, wild man? She sounded gently amused even as she wrapped him up in her warmth and love.

Jacques took a breath, calmed his mind, suddenly aware that he had inadvertently tightened his hold on Shea. I seem so sane to others, yet I am still fragmented without you. I am sorry I disturbed you. His voice was intimate and gentle, a wash of emotions as he took in the love of his life. Something softened inside, eased the roaring of the demons rising in

him-the deep rage that never quite left him no matter how hard he struggled to overcome his past. He would never be easy in the company of humans as his brother was, and he couldn't quite suppress the thought that invasion of privacy was well worth not only his own peace of mind, but his need to keep this woman safe for eternity.

«You look so cute,» she said.

Jacques blinked, avoiding his brother's eyes. «Carpathian men are not cute, Shea. We are dangerous. I look dangerous at all times.»

«No, honey,» Shea insisted, brushing past Mikhail as she entered the room. «You look so cute, I wish I could take your picture and show all the others how sweet you really are.»

Jacques turned on her, swooping her into his arms before she could protest, dragging her close, so that the flour rained down on her, looking like snow in her bright hair, coating her clothes and dusting her chin. He buried his face in her neck, deliberately rubbing against her as he nuzzled the warm bare skin, teeth nipping playfully.

Shea laughed, her arm circling his head, protesting even as she held him to her. Jacques's much larger frame nearly dwarfed her, and his long hair, tied with a leather thong, fell down his back in a wild mane in which she tangled her fingers to hold him even closer.

Mikhail felt emotion welling up, choking him. A rush of affection, of genuine respect and love, flooded Mikhail, and he shared that small moment with Raven. Shea O'Halleran had not only saved his brothers life and sanity, but she, with Gregori, had saved Raven and their child. Shea looked so fragile, with her small, delicate features and rounded stomach, but he knew the core of absolute courage and commitment, the iron will that lived and breathed inside her. While human, she had been a renowned surgeon and researcher, a brilliant woman as a human, and now, as a Carpathian, she turned all those skills to her work to try to save their species from extinction.

«In all honesty, Jacques, the flour and the apron does take away from the image of the dangerous predator,» Mikhail said, joining forces with her immediately, teasing his younger brother though laughter and jokes were rare between them these days.

Jacques turned back to his brother, far more relaxed than he'd been seconds earlier. Shea's calming influence had the tiny red flames receding from his eyes and the snarl gone from his lips. «Do not encourage her,» he protested.

Mikhail winked at Shea. She remained locked in his brother's arms, her head thrown back against his chest, uncaring of the white flour covering both of them. «I do not think she needs much encouragement at all,» Mikhail said. «I will leave you to your baking as I have to go. I want to talk to Aidan and Julian.»

You are checking on the woman claiming to be related to Shea.

Mikhail barely inclined his head. «Julian was friends with Dimitri at one time, wasn't

he?»

«A few hundred years ago,» Jacques said, eyes suddenly wary. «Why?»

Mikhail shrugged. «I have not seen Dimitri in his true form in decades. While he has been here, he stays in the body of a wolf. Many of the hunters use the body of animals to aid them when they are close to turning.»

He made you uneasy, Jacques said as he nuzzled Shea's neck and pressed a gentle kiss over the pulse beating there.

A little. I am just being careful. We are all a little on edge with this unfamiliar gathering Too many of our women and children in one place make me feel as if they are all vulnerable. I wish Julian to make contact with him to reestablish their friendship.

It is difficult to monitor one's childhood friends.

Yes, it is, Mikhail agreed with a soft sigh.

«Jacques!» Shea took his hand. «Our baby is kicking very hard. He's been so quiet tonight that I was getting worried.»

Jacques placed his palm over her rounded stomach in order to feel the thump of the baby's foot. He smiled at her. «Astonishing. A little miracle.»

«Isn't it?» Shea turned her face up to his for a brief, tender kiss. «I couldn't help but be worried. I've been talking so much with all the others working on the problem our people have keeping our children alive, and we all have different theories.»

«What is your theory, Shea?» Mikhail asked, his dark eyes compelling an answer.

She pushed back strands of red hair and turned her head to look at him, her face suddenly looking drawn and tired. Strain showed in the depths of her eyes. «Gregori and I both believe there are a combination of things causing the miscarriages and deaths. Soil is our mainstay. It rejuvenates us and heals us and without it we cannot exist for too long. We have to lie in it whether or not we allow ourselves to be completely buried. The composition of the soil has changed over the years. This place less than others, but chemicals and toxins have leached into the richness of our world and just like with other species, I believe it is affecting our ability to carry our children.»

Mikhail tried not to react. Soil. His people could not exist without soil for long. Even those who left the Carpathian Mountains sought the richest soil possible in other lands, but it made sense. Birds had problems with their young from contaminations, why not Carpathians? He suppressed a groan-a sudden reaching out to Raven. He wanted her to try to have another child-he needed her to try again-to lead the women after so many had suffered so much. The last thing he needed to do was to discourage her just when she was able once again to conceive. The time came so rarely, and an opportunity missed meant too

many years lost.

«You have been testing our soil?» he asked.

Shea nodded. «There are pollutants even here, Mikhail, in our sanctuary. We've been testing every one of our richest deposits to find the best soil possible for our pregnant women. And that is only one piece of a very complex problem.»

Hearing the note of anxiety in her voice, Jacques's hand came up to tangle in the hair at the nape of her neck. «You have made amazing progress, Shea. And you will find the answers to this puzzle.»

«I believe I will,» she agreed, «but I'm not so certain we'll be able to do very much to counteract the problems. And I'm not sure if I can find all those pieces to the puzzle and the answers in time to do us much good.» Her hand rested over her unborn child.

It was the first time both men had ever heard Shea sound so defeated. She was very single-minded-analytical. Always determined to keep moving forward believing science could provide answers.

She is tired, Mikhail. She will never give up.

Mikhail forced a small smile, deciding, with Shea so close to her time, it wouldn't be a good idea to bring up the infant-mortality rate. He needed a safe change of subject. «I forgot to mention a very important detail in tonight's festivities. Raven informed me it was my duty as prince of our people to play Santa Claus.»

Jacques choked. Shea coughed behind her hand.

Mikhail nodded. «Exactly. I have no intentions of putting on a white beard and a red elf suit. However…» He grinned evilly.

«What are you planning, Mikhail?» Jacques asked suspiciously. «Because if you think to pass this distasteful task on to your brother…»

The shake of Mikhail's head was slow and deliberate, his dark eyes dancing with mischief. «I have decided there is a use for a son-in-law after all. I will inform my dear son that it is his duty to wear the red suit.»

Jacques opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Shea pressed her hand hard against her lips, her eyes wide with shock. «Not Gregori. He'll scare all the children,» she whispered as if Gregori might hear her. «You aren't really going to ask him, are you? None of the Daratrazanoff brothers can play Santa. It would be… wrong.»

Jacques's smile widened, and Mikhail felt his heart squeeze hard in his chest.

What is it, my love? I will come to you if you need me. Raven's soft voice filled Mikhail's

mind with warmth.

Nothing now that you have touched me, Mikhail reassured her through their telepathic link.

«I want to be a little mouse in the corner watching when you ask him,» Jacques decided. «Let me know when you are going to his house.»

Shea glared at her lifemate. «Don't encourage him. Gregori is the bogeyman of the Carpathians. Even now, the children whisper his name and hide when he comes near them. I'm not certain I've ever seen the man smile.»

«I would not be smiling if I was wearing a red suit and white beard,» Mikhail pointed out.

«But you're gentle, Mikhail, and Gregori is…» She frowned trying to think of a word that wouldn't be considered offensive.

«Gregori,» Jacques supplied. «It is a wonderful idea, Mikhail. You do plan to tell his brothers? They will want to be there when you let him know the important part he will be playing in this night's activities.»

Shea gasped. «You two aren't serious are you? Joking is one thing, but Gregori as Santa boggles the mind.»

«I must have some pleasure from all of this, Shea,» Mikhail pointed out. «Just the thought alone of the look on his face when I tell him it will be his job to dress in this ridiculous manner is enough to improve my mood considerably despite the festivities.»

Shea put both hands on her hips. «Carpathian males are such babies.»

«I am off to see Aidan,» Mikhail announced. «Good luck with the bread, Jacques.» He looked around the kitchen. «I trust you do not have to use human ways to clean up the mess.»

Shea laughed and waved him away. «The bread is going to be wonderful.» When Mikhail left the house, Shea turned to face Jacques. A slow smile lit her face and mischief danced in her eyes. «Did you have fun talking manly Carpathian secrets with your brother? Because you do know you're going to tell me everything he said, don't you?»

«Am I?» Jacques turned her fully into his arms. «I can feel how tired you are, and your back is still hurting. You should be in bed resting.» He interspersed his order with small kisses all over her face trailing to the corner of her mouth. All the while his body subtly pushed hers so that she walked backward toward the kitchen door.

«You aren't going to get out of telling me, no matter how charming you are,» she warned. «And I'm turning white. How did you get all that flour all over the kitchen? It looks like a war zone.»

«It is a war zone,» he groused. «I do not know how these people do this on a regular basis.» He continued to nudge her gently through the hall toward the bedroom, concerned by the way her body-and mind-felt so worn out.

«I promised Raven I'd get the bread done for the party and I'd do it in a human way,» Shea reminded him. «I can't let her down.»

«First of all, little red hair»-Jacques swept her up into his arms-«you are about to have a baby and Raven would not care if you could not get the bread to bake. Fortunately, you have me and I will get it to work if it is the last thing I ever do.»

Shea smiled at the determination in his voice, relaxing against him. «You love a challenge.»

«Humans do this kind of thing every day. I should be able to do with it with no problem,» he groused, and moved with dizzying speed through the house to the tunnel leading to their chamber beneath the earth.

The room was beautiful, with shimmering light from multicolored crystals layered over the walls. The soil was dark and rich, the best they could find, imported from one of the healing caves. Other than having a dirt floor, and a large dug-out resting place in the soil, the room looked like a regular bedroom. There were candles in sconces on the walls flickering in a multitude of lights, filling the room with a soothing fragrance.

Jacques floated down into the deep depression in the earth and laid Shea gently into the rich soil. He stretched out beside her and leaned over to press a series of kisses along her rounded belly. The baby thumped his mouth and he laughed out loud.

Shea treasured the sound of his laughter, the warmth in his eyes and the love in his fingertips and mouth as he teased the baby into kicking more vigorously. Her fingers tangled in Jacques's long hair as he laid his head against her stomach to talk to the baby as he did every evening.

Come out and join us, son. We have waited long enough.

«More than long enough,» Shea said. «I want him where I can hold him in my arms. Tell him that when you're giving him his nightly bedtime story.»

Jacques pressed another series of kisses over her rounded tummy. «Your mother is telling you enough is enough. You will have to learn the codes women use, son, when they talk to men.»

«We don't have codes,» Shea protested with a small laugh. She closed her eyes, savoring the feel of Jacques's strength. The smile faded. «I'm really afraid. I really am. I can't bear the thought of losing him. Already he's such a part of me, Jacques. And I fear I'm the one holding up the process, not him. He wants to be born and I want to keep him safe.»

Jacques lifted his head to look at her, nuzzling her neck, breathing warmth over her cold hands. «You carried him when we thought that to be impossible. He wants to survive. We have a strong bond with him. You know we cannot feed our children in the natural way our ancestors have done, and you have developed a formula that has kept Gabriel and Francesca's child alive as well as Dayan and Corrine's little one. You have made great strides, Shea.»

She pressed her fingers to her eyes. «I thought Raven was being so selfish not wanting to try again after she lost her baby, but now I understand. Our son moves and kicks and even more. I feel him puzzling things out. We can communicate with him. I didn't know we'd be able to do that-to get to know him before he was born. He knows us just as we know him. If we lost him now, it would be so difficult, Jacques-so difficult-perhaps unbearable, just as I know it was for Raven and all the other women who came before us.»

«Don't do this to yourself. Our baby will be born healthy and he will survive.»

Shea turned her face into Jacques's chest, closing her eyes again against the pain in her heart. «Will he? Once he leaves the shelter of my body, will he survive, Jacques? And if he does survive, what kind of a future is he facing?»

«Tamara appears to be quite healthy, as does Jennifer.»

«And while we go to ground, another has to watch over our children. Does that make sense to you? Why can't our children go to ground as they should? Even if the soil contains some toxins, shouldn't they be able to tolerate the very thing they will come to need?»

Jacques stroked back her hair, sensing the rising fear in her. The persistent ache in her back told her birth was near-was inevitable. She couldn't protect their son much longer. «Our people have gathered in joy for this occasion, Shea.» He kissed her soft skin, his hands tender as he continued to tangle his fingers in her brightly colored hair. «Each Carpathian, near and far, has one true purpose at this time-to see to the life of our son. He will survive. The blood of the ancient line runs in his veins.»

She rubbed her face over Jacques's heart. «I know. Every day I think about how you survived those seven years-trapped so close to the earth that would have saved you, starving and tortured and so alone-but you refused to succumb.» She lifted her chin to look into his dark, tormented eyes. «He has your blood, my beloved wild man. And your iron will. I'm so grateful that you're my lifemate, Jacques. If anything keeps our son alive, it will be because you are his father.» She rolled onto her side and framed his face with her hands. «I feel you in him.»

He groaned softly, a small smile flirting with his mouth. «Then God help us when he is a teenager, Shea. Have you ever been introduced to Josef?»

«Byron's nephew? The young rapper?»

«That would be the one. I fear we have been given a brief glimpse of our future.»

Shea laughed, the worry fading from her eyes. «Oh, dear. I believe Josef has been practicing to perform tonight.»

«It will be almost as good watching Mikhail's face when Josef does his rap tonight as it will be watching Mikhail break it to Gregori that he is expected to play the part of Raven's Santa Claus.»

Shea shook her head, her green eyes dancing. «You're a very bad man, Jacques.»

«I keep telling you that, but you persist in thinking I am cute and cuddly.»

The desire and hunger in his eyes took the breath from her lungs, and Shea circled his neck with her arms. She pressed kisses along the corner of his mouth. «I'll pretend around the others, Jacques, if that makes you feel better, but when we're alone, you'll just have to put up with my thinking you're extraordinarily cute and cuddly.»

He heaved a sigh, amusement creeping into the depths of his eyes. «I have no idea how I ever existed before you came into my life.»

Her answering smile lit up her face. «I feel the same way about you, Jacques.» She laid her head against his chest over his heart. «I wouldn't be able to get through this without you. I've never been so afraid, but you steady me.»

He stroked a caress over her shiny ribbon of hair. «And all this time I thought it was the other way around.» Above her head, the smile faded from his face, leaving the lines deep and his eyes once more dark with worry. «This woman we are meeting tonight, Shea…» He hesitated, trying to choose his words carefully. «You must be very, very careful. We cannot have her suspecting even for a moment that you are anything but a human.»

Shea rolled away from him in a small spurt of temper. «You know, Jacques, not all humans are monsters. Look at Slavica and Gary and Jubal. Why should she be suspicious that I am anything but human? Do you think most people go around thinking there are vampires and Carpathians in the world? I thought I had a rare blood disorder for years and I'm a doctor.»

His fingers shaped the nape of her neck. «Do not be upset, Shea. I have a duty to protect our people.»

«You mean Mikhail didn't like me contacting her.»

«I mean I didn't like it. Maybe I have had you to myself these years and the idea of sharing you with an outsider sets my teeth on edge.»

She turned her head in time to see his white teeth snap together, very reminiscent of a wolf. She began to laugh again. «I love you very much, Jacques Dubrinsky. I really do.»

Her hands framed his face. «Are you ever going to get over that silly jealous streak?»

«Is that what it is? I thought it was feelings of inadequacy-that you might suddenly wake up one morning and realize I am more trouble than I am worth.» He turned his head to brush her fingers with a kiss.

«That could never happen, Jacques, not in a million years. Don't worry about Eileen Fitzpatrick. I'll know if she's lying to me.»

«You want family so much, Shea, maybe you will not be able to tell.»

«I have a family, Jacques. You are my family. You and our son and Mikhail and Raven and Gregori and Savannah. I am not deprived. And despite my hormones running amok, I would not endanger our loved ones for a stranger even if she is a relative. I had hoped she would have stories of my mother's childhood, but if not, I will only be disappointed, not devastated.»

Jacques turned his face away, happiness bursting through him like the unexpected eruption of a volcano. «Roll over,» he instructed gruffly. «I'll rub your back for you.» He couldn't look at her, couldn't face her when his vulnerability would be so starkly naked. Men just shouldn't be so dependent on their women, not even lifemates.

«I have a beach ball for a stomach, Jacques,» she pointed out. «There's no rolling.»

«On your side then,» he suggested.

Shea was silent for a long moment before catching his face in her hands and forcing him to look at her. «You're my life too, Jacques, my entire world. All those things you feel for me-I feel for you.»

«Even though I can't let go of you and always have to be a shadow in your mind?» He forced himself to look into her eyes-into her heart-to read her mind.

He found unconditional love.

«Especially because you stay with me. I treasure that in you.» Shea traced his mouth with her fingertip. «A woman cherishes being loved, Jacques, and you know how to love me.»

Chapter 3

«What is that terrible racket?» Mikhail said in greeting as Aidan Savage opened the door to the large cabin. Mikhail hadn't seen him in several years and he couldn't help smiling as he clasped Aidan's forearms in a warrior's greeting.

Aidan's unusual eyes glittered like two ancient gold coins. «You honor us, Mikhail, with your presence.»

«Please tell me Byron's nephew, Josef, is not already here visiting.» Mikhail hesitated in the doorway, the lines in his face deepening in disapproval.

«This seems to be the place to gather. Josh has a new video game Alexandria designed and everyone wants to try it. Josef is definitely here,» he added in warning as he stepped back to allow Mikhail entrance.

Mikhail paused, one foot in the air. «Perhaps we should have Byron send for him immediately.»

Aidan smirked. «You say that as if he's a vampire.»

«I would rather face a vampire. I was hoping he might stay in Italy. Byron probably brought him along as a practical joke.»

«He is rather entertaining once you get past his exuberant manners,» Aidan said.

Mikhail's dark eyebrows drew together. «He draws attention to himself, and does not practice the most basic of our skills.»

«I did see him take a plunge off the roof this evening and when he shifted shape, he only made it partway.»

«You sound amused,» Mikhail said with a sigh. «He is in his twenties. We can no longer afford for our children to take so many years to grow up.»

Aidan shook his head. «He's a mere teen in our years, Mikhail. We have lived far too long in the world of humans and have begun to think as they do. Our children deserve a childhood, Mikhail. I enjoy watching young Joshua grow. Josef is happy and healthy…»

«Joshua is human. Josef is not. And the world has become a much more dangerous place for our kind, Aidan,» Mikhail pointed out. «We are surrounded by enemies and our women and children are the most vulnerable. We need Josef and in order to ensure his safety, he must learn the ways of our people. Can he even weave his own safeguards?»

Aidan nodded. «You are right, of course. I have been concerned ever since the concentrated strike against us, since the assassination attempt on you-that our enemies will decide to strike against our women and children. I will speak to Byron about Josef's training, make certain he is being schooled adequately to prepare for an attack.»

«It has occurred to me that our women must be prepared as well.» Mikhail lowered his voice, taking Aidan by the arm and leading him to a quiet corner away from the ruckus in the living room. «We have always protected the women.»

«They are of the light,» Aidan said. «They do not have the darkness needed for the kill.»

«So we all thought, but self-preservation and dwindling hunters may bring new needs.

Times change, Aidan, and frankly, we are facing extinction. We can no longer rely on the old ways. We have to be prepared to face the new challenges with new ideas.»

«The ancient ones may not like your progressive thinking.»

A small smile softened the hard line of Mikhail's mouth. «I think the ancient ones are far more progressive and flexible in their thinking than we are. However, I do have some concerns with this Christmas party Raven has insisted on.»

«Alexandria thought it was a good idea as well,» Aidan said. «It gives her a chance to meet with the other women. She also feels it will aid Shea in giving birth. With so many of us here, there is a better chance the child will survive.»

«Shea is close, this night or the next. Raven, like Alexandria, feels the party will create a feeling of family among the Carpathian couples and give hope to the remaining males, especially with the female children and Shea having a successful birth.»

«Alexandria is in the kitchen. Joshua and Josef invented a high-speed mixer to help her prepare the dish she is making for tonight's event. I think they wanted out of peeling potatoes. You will have to come in and meet her, although she's a little anxious about meeting you.»

«Me?» Mikhail scowled. «Why would she fear meeting me?»

«I have heard you can be intimidating,» Aidan said with a small grin.

Mikhail's smile was slow in answering. «These women.» He shook his head, then paused, looking suddenly hopeful. «Unless it was Josef…» He watched the furious battle taking place on the television screen. Alexandria's brother Josh, curls bouncy on his head as he used a controller, laughed aloud as his character did a backflip over Josef's character. Josef, directing his character with his mind, had the man whirling around so fast he nearly tripped over his own feet.

«Alexandria came up with this game? It is good practice for Josef-for any of our people,» Mikhail said. «How did she think of such a thing?»

«Josh and I like to play video games together and we make poor Alex watch us all the time. She still does graphics for a video company and when she realized I could direct the characters with my mind, she came up with this game for Josh and me as a Christmas gift.»

«She is a very intelligent woman. Are you thinking of marketing these games?»

«Yes. So many of the others have seen it and wanted it. Alexandria already has ideas for a couple more of them. Because we have Josh, who is human, and Falcon and Sara have the seven children they adopted, she is planning to set the game up to be able to use controllers if necessary. It gives us one more thing we can interact with and appear human. We'll be able to play online with one another as well.»

«It is a wonderful idea. Hopefully, it will help bring us all closer when we live such distances apart.» Mikhail rubbed his jaw. «I need to speak to your brother about Dimitri. As I recall, Julian and Dimitri were fairly good friends in their youth.»

«Yes they were,» Aidan said. «Is Dimitri here?»

«He has come from the forests of Russia to join us, yet he remains in the form of a wolf most of the time and is prowling the woods. If you see Julian before I do, have him make contact. I believe he knows Dimitri better than any other Carpathian. They may have even exchanged blood after a battle. I want Dimitri monitored while he is in such close proximity to our women.»

Aidan's head went up alertly. «You are concerned that Dimitri has turned?»

«We can no longer count on reading minds and feeling the disturbance of power or evil. The vampires could very well send an enemy into our camp. I do not believe Dimitri has turned, but I am concerned that he is struggling. With so many women close to him, it is possible he will have the necessary hope to continue his struggle, or it will push him in the wrong direction. It is just better to be careful.»

«He has long battled the vampires alone in his area,» Aidan agreed. «Too many kills so often take its toll on the hunter.»

Mikhail sighed. «I cannot save them all, Aidan.»

«No, but you do what is necessary for saving our people, Mikhail, and that is all you can ask of yourself. Come meet my lifemate.»

Mikhail followed Aidan down the long hall toward the kitchen. «Raven asked me to play Santa Claus. St. Nick. You know, the character in the red suit with the long white beard.»

Aidan halted so abruptly that even with his graceful, flowing strides, Mikhail nearly ran into him. «You are going to play Santa Claus?»

Mikhail shook his head, wicked amusement gleaming in his eyes. «That is what my son-in-law is for.»

«Gregori?» Aidan's white teeth flashed. The clouds shifted and the light from the moon spilled across the Carpathian turning his hair and eyes to an ancient, antique gold. «I have to be there when you tell him.»

«I suspect his house will be overrun with spiders, mice and a few birds,» Mikhail said with evident satisfaction. «I would enjoy meeting your very talented lifemate. Lead the way. Just the thought of Gregori in that ridiculous getup has lightened my mood considerably. Alexandria will not find me in the least intimidating.»

Aidan hesitated, his hand on the door. «Alexandria first knew of our race through the

vampires. She was captured along with her little brother. The vampire chained her and fed on her, wanted her to kill her brother and both would feed on him. She still has nightmares. I catch echoes of them when she is in between our sleep and waking. Joshua no longer remembers, but she doesn't want to hide what we are from him. And that means he has to know we are hunted. It was courageous of her to come here-to put aside her fears and meet the other women.»

«Have you discussed having children?»

Aidan shook his head. «Not yet. She is well aware of the mortality rate of our infants and she lost so much so young.»

Mikhail nodded. «Gary has mentioned that it is possible that the closer the birth of the baby is to conversion, the less likely it is that we will lose it. He thinks the longer the women are Carpathian, the more likely miscarriages will occur and the less likely there will be female children, but why that would be we have no answers, especially as Francesca had a daughter.»

«At least we have Joshua, who is more of a son than a sibling to Alexandria. So far she has been unable to conceive, so there has been no choice for us one way or the other.»

Mikhail continued to look at him, straight in the eye, a relentless, driving command. Aidan sighed. «I will discuss it with her.»

«You do that. Our people need every child, every female we can possibly get at this point. Our hunters are desperate, Aidan.»

«I was one of the desperate hunters, Mikhail,» Aidan said quietly. «I know my duty to our people.»

«Aidan!» Joshua come up behind him and tugged at his arm. «Aren't you going to play with us? Josef put the game on pause so we could wait for you.»

Aidan affectionately ruffled the boy's hair. «In a minute, Josh. Alexandria hasn't met Mikhail yet. He is the leader of our people, a very important man.»

Josh's eyes widened and he stared up at the prince.

Mikhail looked down at the boy with his slight build and head of curls, at Aidan's hand tugging at a curl, and he felt a sudden ache in his chest. He wanted another child. One that looked at him the way the boy was looking at Aidan. He wanted a village filled with children, with their laughter and their bright eyes and hope shining on their faces.

His gaze rested on Josef who had followed Joshua, and for the first time he felt kindly toward the boy. Josef had gained a few inches in height, taking on more of the look of the Carpathian male with broad shoulders, but he was still gangly, as thin as a rail, and with his black hair cut into spiky sticks with the tips dyed blue, he looked like a bizarre scarecrow.

«Hello, Josef. It is good to see you again.»

The boy looked scared for a moment, and then he flashed a cocky grin. «You too, Your Royal Highness. Are we supposed to bow?»

Aidan smacked him on the back of his head with a low warning growl, and Mikhail scowled, his black eyes glittering with sudden menace. The house pulsed with sudden energy and the walls undulated.

Josh pushed open the kitchen door and ran. «Alex! There's someone here.»

At the fear in her younger brother's voice and the danger shimmering in the room, Alexandria whirled around with preternatural speed, her body a blur. The high-speed, souped-up mixer was in her hands, still on. Garlic-cheese mashed potatoes splattered onto the walls and ceiling. One glob hit Mikhail squarely on his left cheekbone. Alexandria gasped aloud and stood frozen, holding the mixer upright-sending more potatoes flying around the room. Her horrified gaze remained fixed on the prince.

For a long moment there was only the sound of the mixer and the potatoes striking surfaces all over the room-and the prince's wide chest. Josh giggled. Josef let out a strangled cough, and both boys grabbed their midsections and doubled over laughing. The sound galvanized Aidan into action. He waved to knock the power out of the mixer, and moved across the room with dizzying speed to remove the appliance from Alexandria's hands, placing himself between his lifemate and his prince.

For a moment there was only the sound of the boys' laughter. Alexandria twisted her fingers in the back pocket of Aidan's jeans. I cannot believe I did that. Whatever is he going to think of me?

It was obvious she was trying to hold back her own laughter even though she was mortified.

Aidan turned slightly to brush his knuckles down the side of her face gently, all the while keeping a wary eye on the prince. It was a small accident, nothing more, he assured her. He could feel his own laughter bubbling up. It was difficult to stand still and keep a straight face with gobs of cheesy garlic potatoes speckling the prince's clothes and his left cheek.

Mikhail's mouth twitched and he covered his lips with his hand. «It is unnecessary to stand in front of your lifemate as if I might incinerate her on the spot for decorating my clothing, Aidan.»

«Is that how I look?» Aidan's eyebrow quirked upward.

Josh nodded, still laughing. «Like you're going to hit someone.»

Aidan held up the mixer, aiming it toward Josh. «I am thinking about it.»

«Point it more toward Josef,» Mikhail suggested.

Alexandria cleared her throat, trying to sound sincere when she really wanted to laugh. «I'm terribly sorry,» she said aloud to Mikhail. «The mixer got away from me.»

«You look a great deal like your brother,» Mikhail pointed out as he calmly brushed the potatoes from his face and chest. «Fortunately, I am Carpathian and these things are of little consequence-other than to provide amusement for our younger children.» His black eyes narrowed, turned dangerously green-yellow-a wolf's eyes-glowing as his gaze settled on Josef. A low growl rumbled through the room, impossible to tell where it came from-but distinctive all the same.

Josef swallowed his laughter and straightened up, moving away from Mikhail. The prince kept his face like stone, although amusement welled up, threatening to spill over. How long since he'd heard the sound of young children laughing? He needed to spend more time with Falcon and Sara's adopted children. The young always brought hope and the ability to see with fresh excitement the world around them. He needed another child in his home, clinging to his leg and looking up at him the way Joshua was looking up at Alexandria.

Mikhail. Skyler wishes to go home. Do you come back to escort her, or should I? Raven's voice interrupted his thoughts. He had much to do, but so did Raven. «I had hoped to speak with you some more, Aidan, but Skyler is in our home and needs escorting back to her home. I will return as soon as I am assured she is safe.»

«I was about to go over to see Desari,» Alexandria said quickly. «I can get Skyler safely home. I'd like to walk in the fresh air anyway. I'm a poor cook…»

Joshua snickered. «She's always been bad. Burns everything.»

Alexandria tugged on one of his curls in retaliation, laughing softly. «Sadly, it's true. I'm a terrible cook, but perhaps you and Aidan can rescue the potatoes.»

Mikhail's hand stopped in the act of brushing the last of the white globs away. «Me? Cook?»

«I can do it,» Josef said. «I've wanted to try out the mixer. Watch this, Josh.» He waved his hand and the bowl of mashed potatoes rose in the air. The bowl jerked awkwardly as it made its way past Aidan toward Josef and Mikhail, almost head level with the prince.

Aidan caught it before it could get more than halfway across the room. «Alexandria worked hard on this-ah-stuff.»

«Stuff?» Alexandria echoed. «And it was Josh and Aidan who were supposed to rescue the potatoes.»

Mikhail stepped back and turned to glare at Josef. «I hope you were not thinking to drop

that on my head.»

Joshua erupted into another fit of giggles. «If Alex made it, stuff is a good word to use, Aidan.»

«Hey now!» Alexandria produced a mock glare. «Pipe down or you'll be doing the cooking.»

I can escort young Skyler back, Aidan offered.

I need some peace, Alexandria told him. I love Josh, but the video games, mashed potatoes and Josef are a little much right now. Her mind brushed up against his with love and warmth. I'm perfectly fine. It wasn't altogether true. It was impossible to hide anything from her lifemate, and Aidan was well aware she had faced coming to the Carpathian Mountains with trepidation.

My only love. I will come with you.

You will stay and entertain the prince. I really need some alone time. She loved Aidan with all of her heart, every cell in her body-her very soul, but it was sometimes difficult for her to accept that he could know her every thought. It was bad enough that she felt inadequate at times, and very leery of the other Carpathians-it shamed her. She hated that Aidan knew her smallness.

Not smallness. You have every right to fear for Joshua's safety. Few have been captured by a vampire and survive. Aidan leaned down to press a kiss against the back of her neck. You are my world.

As you are mine.

Alexandria flashed a small smile toward the prince. «It's an honor to meet you-even covered with mashed potatoes. Please stay and talk with Aidan. He's been looking forward to some time with you. I'll see that Skyler gets back safely.» Before either man could protest, she smiled brightly at Josh. «Would you like to come with me?» She resisted the urge to send a compulsion against walking with her. She really needed the quiet of the night.

«Josef and I are playing the new game, Alex,» Josh said. «It's really cool.»

«I'm so glad you like it! I thought you would.»

«Alexandria…» Aidan's voice trailed off. He didn't want to further embarrass her by protesting her going alone. It was a short walk to Mikhail's home, and since quite a few Carpathians had returned and were scanning continually for enemies, she should be safe– but… Aidan sighed. He didn't like her out of his sight. «I do not mind walking with you.»

I just need a little air. I don't know why I'm so nervous around everyone, but I am. I need

to work things out on my own this time-please, Aidan-understand. Alexandria sent him a flood of reassuring warmth.

She loved Aidan with all of her heart, but she had always been so independent. In San Francisco, he had seemed more relaxed and easygoing, but since making the trip to his homeland, he'd been on edge. Joshua and Alexandria both were having nightmares, Josh in his sleep, Alexandria just as she was waking. The terrifying dreams were heightening her own fears and that was rousing Aidan's protective instincts, making him try to hold them even closer. She nodded to the prince, blew Aidan a kiss and skirted around the boys, donning her jacket and gloves as she hurried out the door before Aidan could change his mind.

Alexandria dragged in a lungful of cold, crisp air and turned her face up to the sky. Small snowflakes fluttered down, floating with lazy whirls, turning the sky white and muffling the sounds around them. She held out her hands and opened her mouth to let the flakes drop on her tongue. Life with Aidan was unbelievable. He treated Josh like his own son, and her like a queen. She had no idea why, since coming here, she felt sad and inadequate.

Even worse than that was her growing fear. It was silly and very unlike her, but sometimes she found herself looking into shadows, her heart lurching with dread. It had to be the nightmares, the revulsion she felt whenever she remembered the feel of the vampire's touch, the way his tongue felt rasping on her skin and the pain of his teeth as he tore at her neck. She pressed her hand to the spot burning in her throat. He was dead. Aidan had killed him and he would never be coming back. Not for Josh-and not for her. So why was her throat throbbing in the exact spot the vampire had torn open?

Alexandria shook her head to clear her mind. This was Christmas and they were going to have a beautiful one. She didn't get snow in San Francisco and Joshua was thrilled with being in the Carpathian Mountains. He'd met so many of the men online and couldn't wait to see them in person. She wasn't going to ruin it for everyone because of silly nightmares.

Determined, she pushed the too-vivid memories away and began to walk along the faint path leading to the prince's home. She knew the way, had seen it a hundred times in Aidan's head and had memorized every step. He had wanted her to feel comfortable in his homeland and he had shared every memory with her, giving her a virtual map so that she could move around with ease.

The wind touched her face with gentle fingers, flakes coating her hair. She should have drawn up her hood, but she felt free, excited to be walking in the night surrounded by the thick expanse of forest, breathing in fresh, crisp air, peace stealing into her at last.

Skyler was waiting impatiently on the porch. «I think it's ridiculous that Gabriel and Lucian don't want me walking around by myself,» she said. «I managed to make it over here all by myself, before anyone noticed I was gone. No one makes Josef wait for an escort.» She wrapped her scarf around her neck and tossed the ends over her shoulders with a small dramatic sniff. «I am so not ever going to have someone telling me what to do all the time.

Gabriel and Lucian are the worst.»

Alexandria frowned. «Josef contacted you and teased you about this, didn't he?»

«He called me a baby. I walked over here by myself and I certainly can walk back by myself.» She dashed her hand across her eyes.

«Josef can be most annoying, can't he? I think you should make it a priority to ask him to show you how he turns into an owl.»

Skyler regarded Alexandria with a suddenly thoughtful gaze. «Really? You think I'd enjoy that?»

Alexandria nodded. «I think it will make your day.»

A slow smile lit up Skyler's face. «Thanks for the tip. Raven says hello. I think her turkey gravy wasn't coming out the way she wanted.»

«Neither did my mashed potatoes. At the moment, the prince is wearing them.»

Skyler halted abruptly and blinked up at Alexandria. «Wearing them? The potatoes? Did you throw them at him?» A slow smile transformed her face. «I wish I could have been there.»

«I wish I hadn't been there. Josh ran to me frightened and I turned around, forgetting I had a high-speed mixer in my hand, a mixer Josh and Josef had revved up for me. The potatoes splattered all over Mikhail.»

She met Skyler's gaze and they both burst into laughter. The sound drifted through the forest, rising upward to meet the floating snowflakes. Somewhere an owl hooted, the sound lonely. A wolf answered, the howl long and drawn out, as if he might be calling to a long-gone pack.

«Alexandria,» Skyler said, and abruptly fell silent.

Something in her voice caught Alexandria's immediate attention. «What is it?»

Skyler shrugged, attempting to look casual. «A silly question really. Do you ever hear the earth screaming?»

«Screaming? The earth?» Alexandria echoed.

«I know it sounds crazy. I shouldn't have said anything, but sometimes»-she wasn't about to admit how often since she'd been in the Carpathian Mountains-«I hear screaming.»

Alexandria shook her head. «I've never experienced that. Have you talked to Francesca

about it?»

Skyler shrugged. «I'm probably being silly. I do that a lot, sort of a leftover childhood thing.»

The wolf howled again, and this time another answered it. It sounded like a challenge. Alexandria glanced into the darkened forest interior, a small shiver running down her spine. She began to walk faster.

«I played your new video game,» Skyler said. «It was awesome. Josh and Josef and I play late at night online. Some of the men join in too. I'm just as fast as Josef. Gabriel thinks it's because he and Francesca gave me their blood, but I think it's because I can focus so well. I have the ability to just go into my mind and it's like I'm in the game. Josh told me you were working on something special for us. Is it finished yet?»

Alexandria pressed a hand to her burning throat. The nonexistent wound throbbed as if it was still raw and the cold affected it. «Almost. I was hoping to give it to Josh for Christmas, but I wanted to tweak it a little bit. The graphics are almost too real. I think I may tone them down a bit. Do you play with others beside Carpathians on the internet?» She knew Joshua wanted to, but she didn't allow him the contact with anyone on the internet other than the Carpathians Aidan knew.

«Josef does. He plays all sorts of games with people from all over the world. He has a really high ranking. He's really good on a computer too. He can hack into anything-at least he says he can. Once he hacked into some Russian site he swore was a message center for a group of assassins for hire.»

Alexandria frowned. «Is he telling these stories to Josh?»

«Probably. Josh really looks up to him because he's so good at video games.»

«Great. That's my fault.»

Leaves rustled and branches hit together with a muffled clack. The sound sent a shiver down Alexandria's spine. The path to the house where Gabriel and Francesca were staying was little used and much more overgrown than the trail leading to the home of the prince. Alexandria tried to watch the forest, but there were rocks and long stems from wild bushes making the ground uneven and treacherous. If Skyler hadn't been with her, she would have taken to the air and returned home.

«Josef is going to get himself into trouble. Hackers can be traced.»

«I told him that.» Skyler deliberately stepped on several small puddles so that the thin ice crunched beneath her feet and cracks veined out toward the expanse of snow-covered ground. For good measure she jumped onto the next one, splattering ice and dirt out onto the snow. «He thinks because he's Carpathian he's invincible.»

«Well, he isn't.» Alexandria tried not to look at the spreading mud over the pristine snow. It looked too much like the long shadowed arm reaching for her-reaching for victims-in her nightmares. She took a deep breath, trying to push down the familiar dread building. Movement caught her eye and she glanced once more toward the forest. She was sure she saw a large wolf slinking along parallel to them.

«What is it?» Skyler asked. She had gone suddenly silent as well, her gaze sweeping the forest as if she too sensed an enemy.

«I don't know, honey, but take my hand.»

Skyler swallowed hard, staring at the gloved hand. «I'm sorry. I can't. I never touch people. I feel everything they're feeling and I overload.»

Alexandria dropped her arm to her side. «I'm the one who is sorry. Don't look so distressed. I should have remembered that about you. Just stay closer to me. Has Gabriel or Francesca ever flown with you before?»

«Of course. I'm not afraid of it. I like to fly. Did you see something?»

«I'm not certain, but if I did, I want to be able to get into the air fast.»

Skyler took a careful look around. «I don't see anything.»

«Neither do I-now? Aidan. I'm a little uneasy. I thought I saw a wolf, but I don't know for certain. I'm going to get Skyler to safety, but meet me at Gabriel's house. I don't want to come home alone. I will be there. Aidan's voice was warm, reassuring. Do not take chances, Alexandria. Gabriel or Lucian will be coming to meet you.

I don't know them. She sent her preternatural senses out into the region around her, trying to ferret out anything that might be the scent of an enemy. Wolves were abundant in the forest, but stayed away from the Carpathians. Many of the men had a preference for shifting into wolves. Seeing one shouldn't be enough to trigger her alarm system, but it was shrieking at her.

«We challenged the males to a paintball game,» Skyler said, continuing walking toward the cabin. «It was Josef's idea and should be fun, but Josh and I can't shapeshift and neither can the other children. I told Francesca we need rules. Like no shifting and no communication between the males; otherwise, they have too big of an advantage, don't you think so?»

Leaves rustled again, just a whisper of sound. A twig broke. Alexandria turned her head toward the sound. «There's no wind. Something or someone is moving in the trees just to our left, Skyler. I think we should take to the air. I thought I glimpsed a wolf again through the trees. He was quite large, and moving at our pace, but it could have been my imagination.»

«Well, then, we're both imagining the same thing,» Skyler said, moving closer to Alexandria. «I sometimes can feel things near. Let me just…»

«No!» Alexandria said sharply. «You have no way of knowing if it is a friend-or monster. If you open your mind, you might lead him right back to you. I've called Aidan to us and he is sending Gabriel as well.» She spoke as Skyler stepped into another ice-covered puddle. The crunch was loud in spite of the snowflakes, and muddy water spurted out in a long spray.

A shadow fell across the snow, a dark stain looking all too familiar to Alexandria. An arm reaching-stretching obscenely-growing as if made of rubber. Insubstantial-shadow only-yet she could see it reaching toward Skyler, slithering over the rocks and through the shrubbery like a snake. If it hadn't been snowing she would never have seen, but with the white background, the fingers of the hand appeared bony and gnarled, an old hand with talons for fingernails.

To her horror, the dirty water from the puddle moved as well, ringing a tall tree like a dark noose, cutting into the trunk as if it were a garrote.

«Skyler!» Alexandria leapt forward even as Skyler instinctively jumped back. The tree splintered and cracked, the earth rocking beneath them. Alexandria could have dissolved into vapor, but she refused to leave the teenager exposed. She hurtled herself at the girl, intending to use her blurring speed to sweep them both to safety, but the shifting ground split, taking Skyler from her grasp. The best she could do was shove Skyler as far from her as possible, hoping to keep her from being smashed by the tree toppling down.

Even as the tree trunk groaned and splintered and the earth rolled, there was a terrible sound as the tree broke in half, knocking the top from the tree and driving the large, heavy branches straight down on them. Alexandria felt the blow to her head, the branch that picked her up and swept her down with alarming force. For one moment she thought she heard voices murmuring in a foreign language quite close, but she couldn't make out what they said. She tried to turn her head, to see where Skyler was, but the movement brought on pain, a haze of stars that faded away to leave a black, yawning void.

«Alexandria?» Skyler tried valiantly to control the tremble in her voice. Gabriel! Francesca! She called her family to her, a shattering cry that swept across the night. They're coming. She was pinned down under a heavy branch, her legs trapped, one hurting so much she had to fight back nausea.

Baby. We are coming. Hold on. That was Gabriel, his voice strong and vibrant, a rock to lean on.

You're hurt. Francesca's tone was gentle and soothing. Tell me how bad.

They were trying to reassure her, distract her, but Skyler felt danger surrounding her, pressing in on her with a suffocating presence. Her leg was bleeding, spilling bright red

blood across the snow. If she moved, bones rubbed together with excruciating pain, radiating through her entire body until she broke out in a sweat.

Something moved in the bushes quite close to her. She couldn't turn around to see what was creeping up on her. Hot breath exploded on the back of her neck and she cried out, trying to fling herself out of reach. Fur brushed her face as a huge wolf pushed through the maze of branches to inspect her wound.

Skyler froze, held her breath as the animal turned to look at her. The eyes were a brilliant ice-blue, startling in the midst of thick black fur. «I know you,» she whispered aloud, her heart in her throat. «I've seen you before, haven't I?»

The wolf shifted. The heavily muscled, furred body gave way to a tall, broad-shouldered man with shining black hair streaming down his back. His face was harshly sensual, a carving of stone with lines etched deep and a strong jaw and masculine mouth. His eyes were so blue they seemed to burn over her.

«Why would they allow you to come out alone?» he asked. «It was foolish of them. If they do not guard you better, I will no longer allow you to stay with them.»

As he spoke, his gaze held hers, but she could see he had separated himself from his body, becoming a strong dominant spirit. She felt his presence the instant he entered her body. She wanted to scream, to fight, to evade his spirit. He moved through her with speed and purpose, repairing the damage to the nick in her artery, the bone, and lastly the flesh. All the while she shared his mind. Knew his memories, his implacable resolve.

Dimitri. Relentless hunter of the vampire. Protector of wolves and lifemate-to Skyler.

«No!» She shook her head vigorously in denial. She wouldn't be anyone's lifemate, least of all this man with his burning eyes and his dominant nature. She couldn't conceive of being with a man so hard, so utterly certain of himself. Emotions poured into her, colors vivid and bright, so bright she feared she might go blind-or maybe it was his fear, his colors, his emotions. She couldn't separate herself, as if by entering her body to heal her, he had wrapped himself around her insides, burrowing deep to find her soul.

His mind opened to hers, a dark place of haunting sorrow and hundreds of years of dealing death without remorse. He acted swiftly, violently-with absolute resolve. If those deaths were a part of his aching loneliness and terrible sorrow, she couldn't tell. This was not a man to be swayed from his path. He followed his enemies with tenacity and ruthless, unrelenting persistence. Violence was his world and she would never-never-go back to that kind of life. She wouldn't survive. As it was, just brushing his mind and finding the darkness, the coiled demon waiting-and willing-to strike, was so terrifying she wanted to retreat to that safe place inside her where no one else could go.

«You will not.» He made it a decree, pulling out of her body and back into his own. «You need blood.»

She shook her head. «Gabriel and Francesca will give it to me.»

He turned his ice-blue eyes on her, his look so cold it burned her skin. Skyler shivered, unable to look away from him, so frightened-of what-she wasn't certain. That this man would change her life for all time. That he would consume her, swallow her whole. That he was harsh and unyielding, a man without compromise. Skyler had fought hard to belong, to come back to life when she had retreated so far. Dimitri wasn't evil, not like her father, but he was a man of violence, of strong emotions and passions, yet capable of turning it all off so that he felt nothing at all.

She shrank away from him when he reached for her mind. Skyler felt the steady, relentless pressure and tried to build a wall, thick and made of steel, impenetrable, but he was too focused and too strong. She raised her arms up defensively as he reached to draw her close to him, a small sound of fear escaping before she succumbed to his control.

Dimitri drew her into his arms, allowing pleasure to burst through him, comfort-even peace. In hundreds of years he had never expected to find her. Necessity had made him cold –brutal even, but the warmth of her body, the sound of her voice, the softness of her skin brought hope where there had been none. He could barely see with the colors so bright– barely think with emotions he hadn't experienced in centuries.

He bared his chest and whispered a command. His blood would replace that which had been lost and it would encourage rapid healing. He sensed the others coming with all speed, but he closed his eyes and gave himself up to the ecstasy of her mouth moving over his skin, taking what he offered her, forging an even stronger bond between them. Because he had so little time, he bent his head to her neck and took what was rightfully his-not enough to convert-enough only to always find her, always be able to reach into her mind.

He raised his head and looked into the eyes of Gabriel Daratrazanoff. Legend. Swift, merciless killer.

Chapter 4

Gabriel let out a long, slow hiss of anger. «How dare you touch her. She is a child and under my protection.»

Dimitri slowly shifted the weight of his body, whispering a command to stop his blood from flowing into Skyler. He rose to his full height, his lifemate in his arms. «She is no child, or she would be unable to restore colors and emotions. She is my lifemate and subject to the laws of our people.»

«She is human-a teenager, barely sixteen,» said Francesca. «It is true they mature faster than our children, but she is too young.» Francesca brushed aside Gabriel's restraining hand and held out her arms. «Give her to me before you bring her out from under your enthrallment. I don't want her to wake frightened.»

Gabriel stepped forward, his black eyes glittering with lethal menace. «I remember you, a boy who ran from us many long years ago.»

Dimitri turned his head to look at the legendary twin, blue eyes clashing with black like sharpened rapiers. «I am no longer a boy nor do I run from anything-or anyone.»

The earth shuddered, rolled slightly. «Have a care, Gabriel,» Mikhail snapped materializing with Aidan beside him. «Alexandria is trapped beneath these branches.» He searched frantically through the branches of the fallen tree for a glimpse of Alexandria.

Aidan simply burst through the labyrinth, pulverizing the wood into dust until he reached her. She lay still and white, her face turned toward him, blood trickling from her temple to streak her blond hair.

Aidan's heart nearly stopped beating. For a moment there was silence, as if the world itself stopped breathing. Images of Alexandria filled his mind. Her smiling at him, gaze filled with love, her voice teasing him, the touch of her fingers on his skin when he first woke and faced that moment of memory of his life before her existence.

He raced forward like a madman, breaking through branches as if they were mere twigs, his throat tight and his heart pounding. Her skin looked translucent, cold, her lips blue, and she was utterly still, so much so he couldn't detect breath or heartbeat. She had to be dead. He halted abruptly, his hand on his own heartbeat. No air moved through his lungs. His chest refused to rise and fall. His own heart stuttered.

He could not go on without her. There was no life without her. No happiness. Nothing but endless nights that dragged into a black empty void. He couldn't do it again-go back to the place he'd been before he found her.

«Aidan!» Mikhail caught his arm and gave him a little shake. «You look as if you are in a trance. We have to lift the heavier branches off her.»

Alexandria moaned. The sound was barely discernible, but it was enough to throw off the chilling fears that haunted Aidan. He leapt forward to smash his way to her side, waiting for Mikhail so they could easily float the remaining branches from her body.

Crouching low, Aidan swiftly moved his hands over her, grateful that she responded to his touch with her eyelashes fluttering. Her lids suddenly opened and he found himself mesmerized by her gaze. «Aidan. I knew you would come. Is Skyler safe? I tried, but…» She trailed off in an attempt to turn her head toward the teenager, but she groaned and her lashes fluttered down.

Once again, Aidan's heart reacted, faltering, his breath catching in his lungs.

«She has a concussion,» Mikhail said gently, laying a restraining hand on Aidan. The man seemed about to come apart. «Easily fixed, Aidan. Francesca is here with us, one of our greatest healers, should there be a problem.» Mikhail struggled to keep from racing

away to Raven, certain now his worst fears were confirmed. Their enemies were attacking their women and children. It took centuries-old discipline to remain where he was. He was slightly shocked that Francesca had not hurried to them, offering her services as a healer, rather than blocking Dimitri's path and trying to take the girl from him.

Aidan stroked back Alexandria's hair. «I will heal her myself.» He wanted no other to touch her. He had failed to protect her, his greatest and most cherished treasure, and he needed to merge with her, hold her close to him. He needed to watch her closer and see that no harm ever came to her.

Aidan glanced over the top of Alexandria's head to the two men standing so close, the heat of the argument shimmering in the air around them. He closed his arms protectively around Alexandria and allowed his body to slip away, leaving only white-hot energy, pure selfless spirit. He streamed through her with a quick examination before finding the bruise, already swelling, blood pulsing and pushing to leak out. He repaired the damage, making certain that she was completely healed before once again coming back to his own body and the furious argument taking place so close to him.

Aidan held Alexandria in his arms, rocking her gently back and forth all the while keeping a wary eye on the two combatants.

Gabriel took another aggressive step toward Dimitri. «Would you like to tell us exactly how this happened and how you came to be here at the same time?»

Dimitri bared his teeth. «Push me too far, Gabriel, and I will take her with me now.»

Gabriel's hand shot out, fingers locking around Dimitri's throat. «Do not threaten me or my family.»

Dimitri didn't so much as flinch beneath the crushing fingers. His gaze focused on Skyler's face. «You are my lifemate.» His voice came out husky, but it came out all the same.

«Stop! Stop, Dimitri. Gabriel, let him go now.» Francesca tugged at Gabriel's arm. «He has a blood bond. Before you could kill him, he could take her with him. Please, Gabriel. Show some sense.»

«Gabriel.» Mikhail's voice was calm. He stood beside Dimitri. «Release your daughter's lifemate. Of course you are protective of her, but this is the man who is the other half of your daughter's soul. If you kill him, you condemn her to a half-life. Be reasonable.»

Gabriel didn't feel reasonable. He wanted to tear out Dimitri's throat. The man was stealing his child. The demon rose swift and fast, roaring to be set free. He could feel Dimitri's rising rage in direct proportion to his own.

«We all need to calm down,» Francesca said. «Dimitri, give her to me. She's my daughter now, and you have no idea of the things she's suffered.»

Dimitri's face rippled with anguish-with torment-for just a split second, and then seemed a stone carving once again. «I know exactly what she's been through. She is my other half and when she cried out in fear, in rage and in desperate need, I tried to follow the path to her, but I was too far away and she was merely a child and didn't know I was trying to help. She fought me, blocking my every effort. When she suffered, believe me, I was well aware she was suffering and my torment-my humiliation that I must bear for all time is that I was unable to aid her.»

Men touching her. Abusing her. Hurting her. Her fragile spirit retreating until even he couldn't find her. The memories would haunt him for eternity, worse than any kill he'd ever made-his failure to protect the one being who it was his duty-his privilege-to protect. He had been so certain that Gabriel could see to Skyler's safety while he stayed away, making certain not to trigger the demon's need for a mate, but Gabriel had failed in his duty as well. «You did not protect her adequately,» he said accusingly.

Gabriel and Dimitri stood toe-to-toe, Skyler still cradled in Dimitri's arms, held high against his chest. «What happened here?» Gabriel demanded.

«You think I did this?» Dimitri asked.

«Didn't you?» Gabriel countered. The branches around them trembled and the air thickened.

«I did not. Her leg was broken and she was losing too much blood. I healed her as quickly as possible and gave her the necessary blood to replace what was lost-not that I owe you an explanation.»

«Please,» Francesca begged again, struggling not to cry. Her tears would set Gabriel off as nothing else could. The situation was explosive. «Let me have my daughter.»

«Do not make her ask again,» Gabriel said.

Dimitri's face darkened. «You think to keep her from me?»

The earth rolled and the trees around them shuddered. Small red flames began to flicker in the depths of Gabriels eyes. «She chooses not to be with you.»

«She is too young to know what she wants. It is not a matter of choice and well you know it. If you persist, Gabriel, I will claim what is mine now and bind her to me.»

Francesca drew in a sharp breath. «Dimitri, no. She cannot go with you and she would suffer more without you. You cannot be that cruel.»

«I will not allow you to keep her from me.»

Once more, Gabriel's hand shot out and circled Dimitri's neck, fingers crushing in warning. «Give my daughter to her mother.» Each word was accompanied with a hiss.

Dimitri didn't release Skyler, but did release the enthrallment so she woke to the turmoil roiling around her. Instantly, she was aware of what transpired.

«Stop it! What's wrong with everyone?» Skyler shouted. She rubbed her wrist as if it ached. «Can't any of you feel it? Alexandria? Francesca? Something is here with us, I can feel the surge of power. Dimitri, put me down now.»

Alexandria suddenly pushed Aidan away from her, stumbled and caught herself, one hand pressed to her throbbing head. «Skyler's right. Something is here.» She looked around her at the men with their grim, angry faces. «Can't any of you feel it? Francesca?»

Blood still trickled down one side of Alexandria's face as she picked her way through the branches to Francesca. Aidan stayed closed to her, keeping a wary eye on the others, his body posture more than protectively aggressive.

Mikhail crouched low to study the ground around them. He straightened slowly and held up a hand for silence.

The snow continued to fall, soft floating flakes blanketing them. Small rodents rustled leaves along the ground in an effort to find a hiding place.

There was no wind, yet the branches of the trees around them swayed subtly. Gabriel immediately took up a position in front of the women, Aidan on the other side to cage them in. Dimitri handed Skyler to Francesca as if giving her a peace offering.

Francesca lowered Skyler to the ground, holding her close to comfort her. «I feel it too, Gabriel, a subtle power disrupting the natural flow of nature around us.»

«The one thing I consistently have nightmares about is the shadow of an arm with long sharp talons reaching for me,» Alexandria whispered. «I saw it on the ground, reaching for Skyler.»

Dimitri crouched lower in reaction, his eyes flickering with flames. A soft warning growl escaped.

Alexandria shook her head. «It had to be an illusion. What I feared most. I feel the power feeding us, enhancing our fears, our emotions. Gabriel is angry, so is Dimitri, and the energy is feeding that anger.»

Francesca nodded, taking a wary look around her. «I can feel it too. It's very subtle. I can't trace it backward. Can you, Alexandria?»

Alexandria shook her head in frustration.

«I feel it now too,» Gabriel said, «through Francesca. I will recognize it again if I come across it.»

«Could it be one of the children practicing?» Mikhail asked. «We used to make all sorts of mistakes all the time and accidents happened. Although if it is Josef, I intend to box his ears.»

There was a small silence. Skyler took a deep breath and clutched Francesca tighter, all the while rubbing her wrist along her thigh. «They're blocking Carpathian blood. It's hard because I carry the blood, but I'm not fully Carpathian. The flow is coming from the direction of the inn and…» She broke off, color stealing into her face. «I'm sorry. They caught me and stopped. I should have been more careful. It was no child. I've been doing this all my life and I can tell you whoever it was is very adept, but I couldn't tell if it was male or female.»

«Can you usually tell the difference?» Aidan asked.

Skyler nodded. «The touch is different, but this was too subtle-peculiar.» She frowned. «Maybe more than one person.»

«Why do you say that?» Mikhail asked.

She shrugged. «Parts of the weave felt different to me, as if more than one hand had woven it or as if the person was split into more than one personality. I'm sorry, I tipped them off and didn't get enough information, but whoever it was is a powerful psychic and they touched me.» She glanced at Gabriel. «They knew I was there.»

Gabriel spat a Carpathian curse beneath his breath. «We know our enemies have joined, mage as well as vampire. And the society dedicated to kill all vampires has spread worldwide.»

«And they can identify you?» Dimitri demanded of Skyler.

She remained silent for a long moment, but the ice-blue eyes burned into her, forcing an answer. «Yes.» She backed away from him, her small body trembling. One hand came up to defend herself, and the scars of a lifetime of torture were plain to see, both physical and mental.

Dimitri's face hardened into a mask. Only his eyes were alive, glittering with such intensity Skyler had to look away. «Do not do that,» he said. «There is no reason to fear me. We have enemies surrounding us and you have been marked, singled out, yet you turn from the one person who has every right to protect you.»

«Dimitri.» Francesca said his name aloud to gain his attention. «Now is not the time for this. You are welcome to come to our home and talk about things. I know you have a large wolf preserve and are caretaker of several packs. Skyler is very interested in wolves and probably would enjoy hearing some of your stories.»

Francesca! This man is threatening to take our daughter from us. Gabriel bristled, although in truth, he was ashamed to be caught so much in an enthrallment that he had

nearly killed a man. Not just any man-lifemate to his daughter.

And you did not use every means at your disposal to bind me? He is acting on instinct. She triggered his response to her and what can he do but try to protect and bind her to him? You cannot forbid him seeing her. After all, he will be your son-in-law.

Gabriel did the mental equivalent of a snort. Not if he's dead. If he lays one hand on her, I will remove his heart. It was an empty threat now, and he knew it. He couldn't really fault Dimitri, although he didn't think anyone would ever be good enough for his daughter.

Francesca sighed. We should have had boys. He is her lifemate, Gabriel. He healed her leg and gave her blood when it was needed. He did not bind her or touch her inappropriately. Now stop trying to intimidate him.

Gabriel sent her a low, rumbling growl of warning, but remained silent.

«You have no choice but to cancel the celebration tonight,» Dimitri said. «Skyler cannot go to the inn when she has been identified. And every one of our women would be in danger.»

«Mikhail,» Alexandria protested. «You cannot cancel our celebration. The children are so excited. We can take precautions. It isn't like we don't live under a threat every single day of our lives. We don't even know what this is.»

«Exactly» Dimitri said. «We don't know what this is.»

Mikhail shook his head. «We need to be calm and think clearly. Skyler, if this person or persons uses psychic talent again, will you be able to tell, or can they block you now that they know you are close by?»

«I doubt they could stop me from feeling the disruption in nature, but I carry Carpathian blood as well. I didn't feel it right away when Alexandria and I were walking in the forest. She knew something was wrong before I did.»

«Not exactly,» Alexandria said. «I felt the effects, and bought into the illusion my mind created, but I didn't realize I was being manipulated.»

«Skyler cannot go anywhere near that inn,» Dimitri decreed, glaring at Gabriel, his body posture clearly challenging the other man.

Before Gabriel could respond, Mikhail held up his hand. «I'll send Jubal to the inn. He's human and is a very strong psychic. Manolito De La Cruz will go with him. His wounds from the battle are healed, and he is a very powerful hunter. Together perhaps, they can pick up any signs of treachery. We will all be on our guard. As for Skyler, she has Lucian and Gabriel as well as you, Dimitri, to look after her. I doubt with the three of you guarding her, anyone could do her harm.»

Mikhail beckoned for the teenager to approach him. «You understand the danger you are in? Because our enemies might be able to find you, everyone in your household is in danger. You must be guarded at all times. Francesca, I suggest you talk to her about what a Carpathian male suffers when he is alone without his other half. She should have some understanding of the situation.»

Dimitri, you will learn about this young lady, what she has suffered, the trauma in her life, and you will also avail yourself of Raven's knowledge of human children. Mikhail made it a command, emphasizing what he knew Dimitri was fully aware of. Dimitri had to understand the girl was too young and had been through too much for him to bind her to him. «Skyler is cold and Alexandria needs to get back to her home. Thank you, Alexandria, for your quick thinking in shoving Skyler out of the way. She could have been hurt a lot worse.»

Alexandria's gaze jumped to the face of the prince. «How did you know?»

He indicated the ground. «I can read signs just as well as the next person. You pushed her away from the larger branches.»

«Thank you,» Gabriel said. «We owe you a great debt.»

«The debt is to Dimitri,» Alexandria demurred. «He saved her life by stopping the bleeding.» She leaned against Aidan for support. «Whoever was able to find my fears and amplify them did a good job. I was very frightened.»

«What made the tree come down?» Mikhail wondered aloud.

«There was a small earthquake right before it began to crack. I felt the ground roll,» Dimitri said. «I did not feel a surge of power. It felt natural to me, but we cannot know for certain.»

«I was so scared I think I imagined most things,» Alexandria confessed. «I was certain a vampire was hunting us, but Skyler didn't feel it.» She couldn't help herself, she had to examine the base of the tree. There was no sign of a garrote, shadow or otherwise. The trunk remained untouched and solid, the top having cracked and fallen in the bitter cold. She looked up at Aidan. «It was my imagination. I should have recognized the flow of power. I feel so foolish.»

His hand crept to the nape of her neck. «There is nothing foolish about you. Gabriel and Dimitri nearly came to killing blows and neither recognized the flow of power feeding their anger. And when I saw you lying so still covered by the branches, my emotions swung out of control. For a moment, I wanted to seek the dawn, thinking to join you.»

Her breath caught in her throat. «Aidan.» She brushed her fingertips down his face. «You thought I was dead?»

«It is my worst fear,» he admitted, catching her finger in his mouth. «I always fear I

might lose you.»

«Well, you won't. I'm strong, Aidan, and my skills are growing every day. I would have turned to vapor, but I needed to get Skyler out of harm's way. It seems I pushed her right into a compound fracture.»

«If she had remained where she was, she would have died,» Dimitri said. «The heaviest piece of the trunk fell directly over where she was standing. I owe you much.» He bowed slightly toward Francesca. «I apologize for causing you distress. I did not feel the subtle disturbance in nature and should have. I was consumed with the need to protect Skyler.»

«Women cannot be put in a bubble on a shelf somewhere, Dimitri,» Francesca pointed out. «We have to live our lives as well as you men do.»

Mikhail interrupted as Dimitri opened his mouth in what obviously was another protest. «We cannot cancel the Christmas party. If we do our enemies might guess who in this region is human and who is Carpathian. By cooking and 'eating' food, we appear as normal as the villagers around us. Now that we know there is danger close at hand, we will be able to keep our loved ones safe.»

Dimitri's fangs glistened as he bared his teeth and took a step toward Skyler. «She has suffered enough at the hands of human men. I will not allow this.»

Skyler pressed closer to Francesca, gathering her courage to defy a man who seemed too tall, too strong-too invincible with his hard face and burning cold eyes.

Do not rouse Gabriel's anger against Dimitri, Francesca cautioned. Let us handle this. She smiled at Dimitri. «Every child looks forward to a celebration such as this. Surely you can watch over her with us and give her this opportunity to relax and enjoy meeting the others as she has looked forward to doing for so long. She needs every good memory, every chance at laughter and a childhood she can have. Remember, Dimitri, she was robbed of that when she was young.»

«There is no chance I will ever forget,» he bit out between his teeth. He turned the full intensity of his glittering eyes on Skyler. «This is important to you? It is not an act of defiance because your lifemate does not want you to attend?»

She sucked in her breath, feeling the impact of his gaze all the way to her toes. She could never be with this man. She wanted to scream her denial. She wouldn't be a lifemate to any Carpathian, least of all this man. He terrified her. Desperation filled her with panic.

At Gabriel's soft warning growl, Francesca squeezed her shoulder.

Skyler forced air through her lungs and clutched Francesca's hand tighter. «I would very much like to go.» She wouldn't ask permission. She had done enough begging from men. As a child, she'd had to perform vile disgusting acts for food. She'd had to seek permission to sleep, to go to the bathroom, just to speak. Her life had been hell and she would not return

to that-she'd rather be dead.

Never, baby. Francesca's voice whispered through her mind. A pure love, unconditional, a promise that would always be kept. No one will ever hurt you like that again and live. I am your mother now and will protect you with every fiber of my being. Dimitri seems cruel and unfeeling, but in truth, his emotions are too overwhelming for him to control, so to protect you and all of us, he has to push his feelings aside and become a ruthless warrior. It is what he knows.

And who he is, Skyler said. He's violence personified. I've seen into his mind. He merged with me and I could see him killing without thought, without remorse. He thinks to control me. To make me do as he says.

All Carpathian males think that way. They are control freaks. Even our beloved Gabriel. You are too young and although his every instinct is pushing him to take you now, Dimitri is trying to hold back and give you what is yours-time.

«I will confess I do not like it, but I am probably being overprotective. I cannot bear to see-or feel you suffer.» Dimitri bowed slightly from the waist in an old-world gesture. «Then you shall go.»

Skyler bit back her retort. She would have gone anyway. She didn't need him-a virtual stranger-telling her what she could or couldn't do.

«I was on my way to see Julian,» Mikhail announced, deciding it was time to ease the obvious tension. «I know he loves a good time and I wanted to alert him to tonight's main surprise.»

«There is a surprise?» Gabriel sounded wary.

«Raven wants St. Nick to show up, dressed in red,» Mikhail said smugly. «The children will be expecting it.»

Francesca bit her lip, suppressing a sudden smile when Gabriel actually stepped behind her as if for protection. Big baby.

Mikhail is up to something. I am not going to play dress-up in red tights.

Francesca burst out laughing. «Santa Claus does not wear red tights, you nut.»

Mikhail flashed her a smile. «Do you think Gregori is aware of that? He is, after all, my son-in-law, and has a duty to do as I ask. Red tights might look good on him.»

«You wouldn't,» Gabriel said, a slow grin spreading across his face.

Dimitri raised an eyebrow. «Gregori? The bogeyman of Carpathians?»

«He'll scare the children, Mikhail,» Francesca objected. «You aren't really going to ask him to be Santa Claus, are you?»

«Yes, of course.»

«I want to be there. I think Lucian and I need to go visit our younger brother,» Gabriel said. «Be certain to let me know when you are going to his house so I can drop by at the same time.»

«That's just mean,» Francesca scolded laughingly. «And don't you dare tell him Santa wears red tights. Just the idea of Gregori in red tights is enough to scare everyone.»

«There are benefits to being prince after all,» Mikhail said.

Skyler cleared her throat. «This is a joke-right?»

Mikhail looked smug. «A fine joke on Gregori, little one. I had better go. I have too many things to do. I have sent the word, Dimitri, to all the others that our women and children must be guarded at all times, especially our Skyler.»

Skyler tipped back her head to look up at Dimitri. In spite of herself, she had to admit he was handsome, with the face of man, not a boy. His eyes were so alive, so deeply blue they could either burn or freeze one. He lifted both hands and ran them through his shiny black hair, pushing it back away from his face. Muscles flexed and rippled. He was standing away from her, but she felt his fingers touch her own hair, sliding through the silky strands in a slow, intimate way. Her stomach did a curious flip. Far off she heard a wolf howl. Dimitri turned his head toward the sound.

«He sounds so plaintive-so lonely,» Skyler whispered, the mournful howl drawing her instant sympathy. She wanted-almost needed-to find the animal and comfort him.

«He is lonely,» Dimitri said. He pulled a black cord from around his throat. «I ask that you wear this, Skyler. For me.»

Skyler took a step back, but her gaze fell on the necklace he held out to her. The tiny wolf was exquisite, head thrown back, fur black and shiny, eyes deep blue, like sapphire gems glowing at her. She hesitated only a moment, her hand slowly moving towards his until their fingertips touched. Heat spread through her body, warming her in spite of the cold.

Instead of dropping it into her palm, Dimitri pulled the cord over her neck, lifting her hair and letting it settle back around her shoulders. The cord was still warm from his skin and the small wolf nestled in the valley between her breasts. Dimitri reached behind her where she couldn't see and immediately enveloped her in a soft red cape. The cold receded instantly.

«Now you look like Little Red Riding Hood,» he murmured as he bent down to draw the

hood over her hair.

She inhaled his scent, wild and masculine and unexpectedly familiar. She felt the touch of his lips on her cheek. He left a burning trail to the corner of her mouth, and her body responded with an odd tingling, a heightened awareness, even a reaching toward him. Even as she stood still with his arms caging her in, she felt something within her rising toward him. Before it could break free and respond, he shifted, once more the wolf, springing away from them to run into deeper forest. Skyler caught the small wolf pendant in her hand and held tightly.

She wanted to chase after him. Call him back. Her lungs seized and her heart stuttered. She knew she didn't want a Carpathian male. All of her life she had known what people really felt, really thought-and most of it wasn't good. Gabriel and Francesca gave her respite, provided a safe haven, but Dimitri would take that from her. She took a deep breath and turned away from the path he'd taken.

«I want to go home, Francesca,» she said softly, feeling a coward. «Please take me home.»

«Of course, honey.» Francesca gathered her close, cape and all, and took to the sky, leaving it to Gabriel to shield them from prying eyes.

«Far away,» Skyler murmured, «back to Paris.» She turned her face up to the snow floating down in endless silence. The world seemed filled with sparkling gems as the moonlight glinted off the ice crystals and snowflakes. She focused on the treetops and the pristine surfaces as they flew to the house, Gabriel close behind them.

«The baby always soothes you,» Gabriel said. «Why don't you go see how she's doing?» Their trusted housekeeper-nanny had come with them and was with the children during the day. He kept his hand on Francesca to keep her from stealing away from him.

Skyler kissed them both and, still wrapped in the hooded cape, went to pick up Tamara and hold her close. The minute she was out of the room, he turned to his lifemate with a deep scowl of impatience.

«Did you see that? Did you see him kiss her? Touch her? He did not simply touch her skin, he left his mark on her. I will not stand for this, Francesca.»

«Gabriel.» She rubbed his arm gently. «He walked away.»

«He didn't walk away. He marked her, he gave her blood, he took hers. It may not have been an exchange, but you and I both know he has imparted a warning to every other male to leave her be.»

«As he should. As you or any other male would have done with your lifemate.»

Gabriel frowned. «She should have a full childhood. He can wait two hundred years just

as all Carpathians did in the past. Sixteen. Who ever heard of such a thing?»

«Savannah was but twenty-three when Gregori claimed her,» Francesca reminded him. «It is a different world and Skyler is not fully Carpathian. If he waits two hundred years, she might be dead.»

Gabriel scowled. «She will be brought fully into our world. She is our daughter.»

«We said it was her decision. The blood exchanges were to help her overcome the trauma, not to take away her choice. You're sounding as bad as Dimitri.»

«She is our daughter. I am not about to let her be foolish out of fear. I refuse to lose her to human aging or that inconsiderate lout, who, by the way, is not nearly good enough for her. She is ours, Francesca. I love her as much as I love Tamara, and she is under my protection. All this freedom you keep talking about is ridiculous. We all live under certain rules, and Skyler does as well.»

«Dimitri showed great restraint in not doing a full blood exchange with her. He could have taken advantage and did not. Our women, until Savannah, do not become sexually mature so quickly. She is, Gabriel, whether you like it or not.» Francesca held up her hand when he would have protested. «Of course she's too young to be bound to him, but that doesn't mean that technically it couldn't happen. She has to overcome her past and who knows if she is going to be able to do that. She has scars in her mind that even I can't erase. I can't even find her memories of her childhood before the atrocities started. He has to know that. He has to be prepared to be gentle and kind and patient with her. It's inevitable that they will be together, Gabriel.»

He turned away from her, fists clenched. As he turned, she caught the flash of fangs and he suddenly opened his hands-his fingers curling into lethal claws. Gabriel threw back his head and roared with rage. The sound shook the house and in the next room, Tamara began to cry. He whirled back to face Francesca. «She is not going to be forced by this-this werewolf into anything.»

Francesca gasped at the insult. «You're acting like a crazy man, Gabriel. Is this how it will be with all of our daughters?»

«No daughter of mine is going to be forced into anything.» He turned back to her, black eyes blazing with anger.

«Like I was?» Francesca pinned him with her gaze.

«That is entirely different.»

«Why? Because it was you? Gabriel, you have to be reasonable about this. We have to handle this right for both of them. Skyler isn't going to be able to accept him, especially if you act like a crazy father sharpening your fangs.»

«Gabriel? Francesca? Is everything all right?» Skyler stepped into the room carrying the baby. «Tamara is distressed. She's never heard her father upset like this before-and neither have I.» She looked about to cry. «Are you fighting over me? You never fight. Never. I'll do whatever you want me to do.»

Francesca went to her immediately and wrapped her arm around the girl's shoulders, baby and all. «Of course we argue, Skyler. Just not out loud. I'm sorry we upset you. Adults often have differences of opinions.»

«We wouldn't if you'd agree with everything I say,» Gabriel groused.

Francesca rolled her eyes at Skyler and flashed a small half smile. «Ignore him. I'm always right and we both know it. And right now, we have things to do that are fun. Fun, Gabriel.» She flashed him a small warning look. «Skyler, come help me make these gingerbread houses for tonight's dinner. Gabriel is going to help us.»

Gabriel took a deep, calming breath, forcing the air to move through his lungs, to remove the swirling rage that seemed to boil in his veins and churn in his gut. He breathed it away and tried to find his center. The last thing he wanted to do was upset Skyler further or get the baby crying.

«That's blackmail,» he grumbled, but winked at Skyler. He held out his arms for the baby, took her and bent to kiss the top of Skyler's head. «We were not fighting over you, little human chickie, only over what is best for you. And it was not a fight, simply a heated discussion. We are both in agreement. No man is ever going to be good enough for you and you need to stay with us forever.»

Skyler's look of alarm faded and she burst into laughter. «Forever?! think by the time I'm eight hundred you would want to throw me out.»

«Never, baby,» Francesca assured her, brushing back strands of hair from Skyler's face. She touched one of the crescent shaped scars that had failed, even with Carpathian blood, to heal. And Skyler's worst scars were where no one would ever see. «You will always be our beloved daughter.»

«You want to lick the frosting bowl instead of giving it to me, don't you?» Skyler teased.

«Too much sugar for you,» Francesca said, laughing. «Come on, we don't have a lot of time to put this together. I hope the instructions are easy. I've never actually constructed a gingerbread house before and Raven wanted several to use as the centerpieces for the tables.»

«The pressure is on,» Gabriel taunted. He kissed Tamara and winked. «Let's see how the female members of the household do.»

«Like you're going to get out of helping us,» Skyler said, grabbing his hand and tugging. «I'm going to paint your face with frosting while I'm at it. Tamara will love that, won't you,

baby girl?»

The anger was gone, but apprehension at the future had taken its place. Gabriel pretended reluctance as his lifemate and daughters dragged him into the kitchen, laughter bubbling around them and driving away a little bit of the fear of losing them.

Skyler entered the kitchen, inhaling the aroma of gingerbread. The pieces were already shaped into the walls and roof of the houses. They just had to put them together.

There was no warning at all. As she pulled the various colored frostings from the refrigerator, devastating sorrow nearly drove her to her knees. She kept the door open to prevent Francesca and Gabriel from seeing the tears welling in her eyes. Grief was sharp and painful-a blade cutting into her heart. Her throat swelled as the sorrow seemed to expand and take over every cell in her body until she wanted to weep uncontrollably. Rage crept in, dark and terrible, a savage need for vengeance, a need to strike back-to kill. The feeling was so strong, her hands shook and she dropped one of the bowls, shattering it.

«Skyler?» Francesca was there in a moment, wrapping her arm around Skyler's waist and pulling her away from the glass.

The frosting was white, but the bowl had been red and with the shards embedded in the icing, it looked to Skyler like bloodstained snow. She felt the urge to run to the window and check that no one was hurt outside. Her breath caught in her throat and she pressed a hand to her aching heart. Not just anyone-Dimitri. She had connected to him-she was certain of it-and he was suffering.

«Francesca? I have to find him. I have to find Dimitri.» Her voice was barely a whisper. She had no idea tears streamed down her face until Francesca touched her cheeks. «He's– it's so terrible. I can't explain it. I have to go to him. You have to go to him and ease his suffering.»

«I'm sorry, baby, I can only ease your suffering. He has to find a way to live with the emotions he is now feeling. He had knowledge before, but could not feel emotion.» She leaned close to Skyler to murmur softly, to ease her burden, «I can provide distance for you and it will help.»

Skyler abruptly pulled away. «No.» She shook her head. «You and Gabriel always shield me. Not this time. If I did this to him, I want to be able to feel it as well. I need to know these things, Francesca. I am already Carpathian in my heart. I need knowledge as well as emotion.»

Chapter 5

Mikhail streamed through the forest-a white vapor trail concealed by the snow– staying high up in the trees as he tracked the wolf loping across the ground beneath him. Mikhail could see that, in spite of taking the form of the wolf, Dimitri was in trouble. The

wolf paused every now in then, shuddering in pain, the shaggy fur, usually so shiny with health and strength, dull and wet with sweat. In spite of the animal form, waves of grief poured off the man, and to Mikhail's horror, small beads of blood were left behind in the paw prints in the stark white snow.

Mikhail dropped down through the canopy to fall more gently with the drift of the snowflakes as he approached the Carpathian male cautiously. Dimitri had gone through hell in the forests of Russia with his beloved wolves. Hunted by vampire and mortals alike, pursued by poachers and superstitious people, he had faced endless centuries of protecting both humans and wolves alone without the comfort of his homeland-the soil-or its people.

The wolf stopped running and stood with sides heaving, head hanging and blood-red tears dripping into the snow. He suddenly threw his head back and howled his unrelenting sorrow to the heavens and whatever deities might hear him. As the mournful notes faded into the night, he resumed his own shape, the wolf falling away to reveal the man. Dimitri covered his face as he sank down onto a boulder.

«You are feeling her pain,» Mikhail said softly. «It is both a miracle and a curse for you.»

Dimitri sprang up, whirling to face the prince, his fangs exposed in a snarl, his eyes glowing with red flickers of flame. He stood in a fighters stance, hands up, the air around them charged with electricity-with danger. «I had no idea I was not alone,» Dimitri said. «I would not have displayed such emotion.»

«Allow me to summon Gregori to you,» Mikhail offered. «He could help to ease this suffering.»

«No one eased it for her,» Dimitri growled. «I knew when they laid their filthy hands on her and I knew when they hurt her, and beat her and cut her. I even knew when they burned her, but I never felt it. Not the pain, not the rage, not her despair. When I touched her, drew her into my arms and merged my spirit with hers, it was there, behind the wall Francesca and Gabriel built to distance her from it, but it was all there and this time-God help me, Mikhail-this time I felt it all. Every agony, every humiliation, every depravity. The rage and guilt and I heard her begging-pleading-for someone to save her. Where was I?»

«You were doing your duty, Dimitri, as all of us must. Skyler is strong and grows stronger every day. I do not pretend to understand why some men brutalize women and children, I will never be able to comprehend such a thing, but I do know it is common. She is safe now, and happy. Gabriel and Francesca are seeing to her education, and eventually they will bring her wholly into our world.»

Dimitri rubbed his hand over his face. «When I saw her, she looked an angel, Mikhail. I never knew what that meant when I heard the description, but there is purity there and goodness. I need her. The darkness is closing in on me and I fear my ability to do the honorable thing.»

«Every one of us has moments of weakness, Dimitri. Skyler is your lifemate and as such, you must do what is right for her. Survive and maintain until such time as she is able to come to you. Work with Gabriel and Francesca, not against them. Kidnapping her or binding her will only hurt you both in the end, and I think you know that. At least you have hope where so many others have nothing.»

«Hope? When she is a child and I must return to the emptiness of my existence? When I know if I stay I will claim her? When I can feel every brutality inflicted on her and am helpless to take it away?» Dimitri sank once more down onto the boulder and shook his head. «I am lost, Mikhail.»

Mikhail crouched down beside him. «You cannot be lost. She must live with what happened to her and as her lifemate, so must you.»

«Shamed for all eternity that I could not protect her?»

«You are feeling rage-impotent rage-on your behalf, not hers. You should be able to extract vengeance, mete out justice, and because there is only the aftermath, the burden and scars of these terrible crimes, you rail to the heavens for your inability to protect her. She was a child and you were a thousand miles away. You did not know of her existence. You are a hunter of the vampire and you know duty and honor. Behave in an honorable manner. Court her as she deserves. Allow her to heal with Francesca and Gabriel that she might come to you wholly and of her own free will. That is the gift that you can give her-and it is much more than most of us have given our lifemates.»

Dimitri dragged in a deep breath. «I used to stare up at the stars each night and imagine that she was somewhere in the world looking at the same stars. I tried to picture her, to build an image in my head, but she was so elusive. And then I looked at her with her soft skin and her beautiful eyes and knew I could never have conjured her up, no matter how vivid my imagination.»

«Will you allow Gregori to aid you?» Mikhail repeated.

Dimitri ran both hands through his dark, sweat-damp hair. «I have to work this out in my own way, Mikhail. I have been alone many centuries now and it is difficult for me to interact with anyone-even my own people. I spend much time in the form of a wolf, running free with my pack.»

«There is danger in that-taking on the wild ways.»

Dimitri nodded. «If it becomes too big a burden, I will seek the Dark One. I cannot stay away from her while I am here.»

«Do not provoke Gabriel.»

«He should not provoke me. I am no longer the shy boy he thinks me. That boy is long gone from this world.» Dimitri spread out his hands and curled his fingers into two tight

fists. «I am a killer and damned for all time. She saw that in me, you know. She sensed the darkness and retreated.»

«You are a hunter. One of my best,» Mikhail corrected. «Never think any different. Skyler is now your responsibility and she is tied to your fate. You cannot meet the dawn nor can you embrace evil. You must endure until she is old enough-and strong enough to accept your claim on her.» He straightened and looked up at the sky. «I am going to see Julian Savage. He was your boyhood friend. Perhaps you would care to accompany me?» His teeth flashed white, but the smile never reached his eyes. He could feel sorrow for Dimitri and try to aid him, but he could never forget that Dimitri was a danger and always would be until he had bound his lifemate to him. «I thought he, of all Carpathians, would most enjoy knowing I intend to see that Gregori wears the ridiculous red Santa Claus suit.»

«Julian always loved a good prank,» Dimitri admitted, «but I will visit him later when I am in more control. Isn't his lifemate kin to Gregori?»

Mikhail nodded. «Desari is Gregori's younger sister. She's very talented.»

«Have you met the man who kept them all alive when we thought they were lost to us?» Dimitri asked. «He must be a powerful Carpathian.»

Mikhail nodded. «Ah, Darius. Elusive. Quiet. Says what he means. Few would ever think to cross him. He is much like his brothers. Confident in his abilities and powers. It is interesting to witness the Daratrazanoff brothers together. There is no jostling for leadership. Each is his own man, yet blends well with the others. It is a strong lineage.»

«I heard Dominic of the Dragonseekers had returned.»

«He was gravely injured in our last battle with the vampires and the mage, Razvan. Dominic still rests beneath the ground. Francesca and Gregori would very much like to have a healing session for him before she leaves for Paris.»

Dimitri stood up, squaring his shoulders. «Tell Julian I will see him later, at the party. I will patrol the forest and try to pick up the scent of our enemies. The wolves may have information for me.»

«Be very careful, Dimitri. They followed the trail of energy back to Skyler, but if blood is calling them, remember you also carry her scent as she does yours. You could be marked as well.»

Dimitri's mouth hardened into a cruel line. «I would welcome the chance at them. They will not find me as easy a target as they would find Skyler.»

Before Mikhail could respond, Dimitri turned and sprinted away, shifting on the run, going to all fours without breaking stride, the movement so seamless and fluid that Mikhail knew no one could have matched him. The ripple of power was breathtaking, and Mikhail stared at the spot where Dimitri had shifted, the tracks in the snow, one moment man, the

next wolf. The wonder of his species struck him as it did so often, but as always, on the heels of that wonder came the inevitable burden of responsibility.

My love. You are worried. Raven touched his mind with her warmth. At once the rush of love filled his mind bringing him comfort.

It is nothing. I will be with Julian and Desari. Would you like to join us?

I cannot. I do not like the look of this gravy. It is… lumpy.

Mikhail found himself smiling at the annoyance in her voice. If the gravy didn't behave, Raven was going to throw it outside in the snow and use it for target practice. The woman had a bit of a temper, and apparently the cooking wasn't going very well.

I do not find your amusement in the least bit helpful.

Amusement? Mikhail took to the sky, his body reshaping into that of an owl. He winged his way over the forest toward the house where Julian was staying. I am certain I did not feel in the least amused over you muttering threats to human gravy you are not going to be consuming yourself.

There was a heartbeat of silence. Alarm spread through him. Raven? You are not going to attempt to eat human food, are you?

I'm considering whether or not it would add to the illusion that we are human. Some of the villagers will be there as well as a guest or two.

Mikhail drew in his breath, his wings beating ferociously as he dipped through the trees, the snowflakes on his feathers. You go too far with this silly feast of yours, woman.

Her retaliatory amusement washed over him, bringing a flood of warmth. Only Raven teased him like this-unexpectedly, lovingly-daring the wrath of the prince of the Carpathian people. He sent her an impression of bared fangs, but it didn't do much to intimidate her. She only laughed and went back to her lumpy gravy.

Below him, Mikhail spotted Julian Savage running in the snow, his long blond hair like his brother Aidan's-streaming behind him, something tucked under his arm, while a woman chased after him and another man raised his hand, calling out. Julian launched the object into the air and the man caught it, waving it triumphantly over his head. Mikhail landed on the railing of Julian's home and shifted back to his normal form.

«It isn't funny, Julian,» the woman called out with a small sniff of disdain. «That's for the midnight dinner.» She glared at the other man. «Barack, you give that to me right this minute.»

«No one could eat it, sweetheart.» Julian circled around her, careful to keep out of reach. «Unless they plan on using it for shoe leather.»

Barack flashed a grin. «We could start a new fad with this stuff, Desari. You cook the roast and we'll make the soles of shoes and after they walk for a while, they'll never go hungry.»

«Eeeww! That's just sick, Barack. You've been around Julian way too long.»

«Seriously, honey, it is much better used as a football.»

«Don't you sweetheart and honey me, Julian,» Desari protested. «I can't very well have people eating that roast after you've been throwing it around.» She glared at the two men, hands on hips.

«Go out for a pass,» Barack directed Julian.

Julian took off running and Barack launched the roast high into the air. Julian sprang up and caught it, pulling it into his chest. Before he could land on the ground, Desari began to sing and the notes danced silver in the air around Julian, hooking together to form a net. He bounced as if on a trampoline and slid off onto the ground, landing hard in an inelegant sprawl.

Barack doubled over with laughter, but undeterred, Julian lifted the dried out roast over his head in triumph. «Touchdown!»

Desari sang a few more notes. The silver and gold notes danced and dipped, hooking around one another to form a noose that slipped over Julian's head. Mikhail's breath caught in his throat. In the darkness, with the snow falling, the musical notes were beautiful, shimmering and glowing with life and energy. All the while Desari's voice pulsed through his body, making his heart and mind glow with warmth, happiness and, most of all, the love she felt for her lifemate.

Desari suddenly turned her head to smile at Mikhail. She was beautiful, dazzling even, her voice fading into the night, a part of nature itself «I suppose I shouldn't strangle my lifemate in front of the prince, should I?» she asked. There was no embarrassment in her voice, only laughter and welcome.

Desari is a true Daratrazanoff. She exudes confidence. He shared with Raven the image of the Carpathian woman with her flowing hair, soft features and her musical voice and the dancing silver and gold notes casting a noose around her lifemate's neck.

And she is beautiful.

There was no edge to Raven's tone, but Mikhail smiled at her through their telepathic link. Perhaps you should come and join me and leave that gravy to insects-although poisoning any creature is never a good thing.

You are so funny, my prince.

Mikhail winced. Raven never referred to him as a prince unless he was skating the edge of trouble. He smiled at Desari. «I have always wanted to strangle Julian.»

«So has my brother, Darius,» Desari said, walking over to him, her every movement graceful.

A slow smile softened Mikhail's mouth. «I can well imagine if Darius is anything like Gregori. Julian used to drive Gregori right up the wall. Even as a boy, Julian had little fear in him. He went his own way and got into more trouble than most of our children could ever conceive of doing.»

Julian swept his arm around Desari's narrow waist. «Do not listen to him. I was not the bad boy of the Carpathians. Just independent-and for good reason. I had a vampire using my eyes to spy on our people. I could not very well stick around.»

«And you have since destroyed this vampire?» Mikhail asked.

Julian nodded. «I had built him up to be so powerful. As a child, to me, he seemed so, but like most monsters in our lives, once I became an adult, he was not nearly as powerful as I remembered. Looking back, I should have told an adult and perhaps they could have hunted and destroyed him, giving me back my childhood, but I thought he would harm our hunters.»

Mikhail shrugged his shoulders. «It is easy for us to look back and say what we should have done, but that is because later we have different information and, of course, knowledge always changes our decisions.»

Julian flashed a faint smile. «I would have wanted those years back with Aidan. He has been so good about it, but I know it hurt him to be separated.»

Desari reached for his hand in an offer of comfort. «We see him as often as possible now, Julian,» she reminded him, and then jerked her hand away to rub her palm on her thigh. «You're all greasy.»

«The infamous roast,» Julian said, presenting the large, dried up hunk of meat to her with a small courtly bow.

Mikhail covered his reaction with a small cough, turning his face away as Desari glared at her lifemate.

«It's all squishy, Julian, you ruined my roast. What am I going to do now? I have to provide something for tonight's dinner.»

«Ask Corrine to help,» Barack suggested. «She told Dayan she cooked quite a bit before he claimed her.»

«There is nothing squishy about that roast,» Julian protested. «It has turned to leather.»

Desari made a face at him and then down at the roast. «Disgusting stuff. I think I will ask Corrine to help me make something else.»

Barack held out his hands. «Throw it, Desari, we may as well finish our football game.»

Mikhail shook his head. «I wanted to let you all know that Alexandria and young Skyler ran into trouble a few minutes ago. We all need to be on alert and give added protection to our women and children.»

«Syndil was at the house, thinking she might prepare something for the party. I think I will check on her. If I reach out, she will simply say she is fine.» Barack sketched a small salute and immediately took to the sky.

The smile faded from Julian's face. He stepped closer to Desari. «What kind of trouble? Aidan did not send word that Alexandria was hurt.»

«She is fine now, but both she and Skyler felt the presence of a subtle flow of power, enhancing emotions to the point of irrationality. Even Gabriel was affected, losing his temper with Dimitri.»

«I knew Dimitri had arrived,» Julian said. «I can feel the darkness in him growing by the hour. He is unstable and we have to find a way to keep him safe. Gregori gave me a task to keep me going when I thought to give up my existence, and perhaps if one was given to Dimitri…"Julian sighed. «He is alone, killing more often than a hunter should have to, and that is slowly destroying him.»

«Skyler is his lifemate,» Mikhail stated.

Desari gasped. «Oh, dear, she's just a babe. Is he certain?»

«She restored colors and emotions.»

«That cannot be good,» Julian said. «At best emotions can be difficult to deal with, and in this situation when she was so brutalized, he must be going through hell. I should go to him,» he added, «see what I can do. Desari has amazing power with her voice. It might help him get through this.»

«He cannot bind her to him,» Desari protested, her hand to her throat. «She is much, much too young and from what Francesca said, far too fragile. It takes both Gabriel and Francesca to distance her enough from her past to allow her to function normally. Do you know that she has no childhood memories in her mind they can bring out to aid her? It must be so difficult for Dimitri to suddenly feel all these things. For a time, he will be raw and wounded with her old scars.»

«It is a very dangerous situation,» Mikhail agreed. «If Dimitri stays near her, he will continue to fight his need to claim her. If he chooses to return to Russia, the danger to both increases.» He rubbed his temples, suddenly feeling old. The weight of his responsibilities

was wearing on him far more these dark days.

In the midst of the Christmas season, when he should have been feeling joy and hope, he felt tired and the beginnings of despair. How could he save them? Two or three children were not enough. Even if Shea gave birth to a female and the baby survived, it would be years before a male would be saved. Too long to wait in darkness. Too many males. One or two lifemates were not going to keep their species from extinction, especially as their enemies were banding together and becoming bolder and bolder in their attacks.

«We had the advantages for so long,» he murmured aloud. «We could scan and know the thoughts of our enemies, but now they've found a way to block us. We could smell the evil stench of the vampire, sense the presence of such an abomination, yet now we can no longer trust our own senses to guide us.» He spread his arms out wide. «Before, they would never have come here after us, fearing our power, yet now they chip away at us on nearly a daily basis. Our enemies outnumber us and as we grow weaker-they grow stronger.»

Desari glanced at Julian. His amber eyes seemed to glow as he stepped forward to put his hand on the prince's shoulder. He looked very much a warrior, and she couldn't help that small rush of pride in him.

«We grow stronger too, Mikhail. Under your leadership, we have come together when before we were scattered and apart. You have worked tirelessly to get the word to any of our ancients, to continue to look for any lost as Desari and the others had been.»

«The women are reluctant to become pregnant and give birth,» Mikhail pointed out, shaking his head. «Without children, Julian, no matter our longevity, our species will not survive.»

Desari smiled at him. «We will survive. This is the season of miracles, remember? I thought you were a believer, Mikhail. Where is your faith?»

There was a small silence. The hard lines in the prince's face softened. «Perhaps this celebration of Raven's is just the thing I need to restore my faith, Desari.» He rubbed the bridge of his nose thoughtfully. «Should Josef decide to give us his rendition of any carol, please do volunteer to sing. Is it possible your dancing notes can muzzle the boy?»

«Josef's reputation precedes him,» Desari said with a laugh. «I understand he's quite a handful.»

«Let us just say I do not envy Byron and Antonietta trying to keep an eye on the boy. They say he is quite intelligent, but not very diligent when it comes to mastering any of our practices. I think he has been spoiled and allowed to mix so much with human children that he has forgotten his duty to our people.»

Julian flashed Desari a secret smile at the sternness in Mikhail's voice. As a child, he'd often heard that same edge to the adult male's tones. «He will grow to a fine man,» Julian

assured him. «Perhaps not a hunter, but we need our society to return to progress once more. We need men who look to business and the arts and especially science.»

«I have no doubt Josef will succeed in anything he does,» Mikhail said dryly. «But the rest of us may not survive his youth.»

«I seem to recall Gregori said the same thing about me-many times.» Julian grinned at him, his strange-colored eyes glinting like gold. «The man needs a sense of humor. Now, I am his brother-in-law. Fate has a way of playing little jokes.»

A slow answering smile lit Mikhail's face. «I must confess, Julian, I did not think of that at all. His brother-in-law. He is also my son-in-law and as I am Dear Old Dad, I think it is time the man performed some family duties. He will be perfect in the part of Santa Claus tonight.»

Julian's eyebrow shot up. «My prince.» He bowed low. «I acknowledge you as the master in this game we so often play with the Dark One.»

Desari looked from one man to the other. «I can't imagine you asking Gregori to be Santa, and if Julian is endorsing it, that's a bad thing.»

«I see she knows you well, Julian,» Mikhail observed.

Desari rested her head on Julian's chest. «Was he the resident bad boy growing up? I can well imagine that he would have been.»

Mikhail shook his head. «Independent. A smart mouth. He loved knowledge and had little fear in him. But no.» He frowned. «There was a young man, a few years older than Julian, who Gregori had to stay on top of all the time. He was far worse than Josef could ever conceive of being. He questioned authority all the time.»

«I remember him,» Julian said. «He was amazing with weapons even as young as he was. Tiberiu Bercovitz. I haven't heard or thought of him in centuries. Did he come to the celebration? He was good friends with Dimitri.»

There was no real inflection in Julian's voice, but Mikhail caught a flare of wariness in the hunter's eyes. The man shifted subtly, but protectively toward his lifemate.

«This is what our lives have become,» Mikhail murmured aloud. «We can no longer trust our friends, men who have dedicated their lives to honor, to saving Carpathian and human alike. We treat our best hunters with suspicion.»

«It is the way we have always lived,» Julian remarked.

Mikhail shook his head. «There was a time, Julian, long ago, when only nature balanced us. There was harmony and peace in our world and we held celebrations such as this one often.»

«And we are holding one this night,» Desari pointed out. «A unique reunion with all Carpathians welcome to participate, celebrating strengthening our friendship with each other as well as our human friends. We have not done so in centuries. It sends a message to our people that we are once again united, and a message to our enemies that we are strong together, and will continue to grow stronger. It is a start, don't you think? You have given us that gift, Mikhail.»

A small smile teased at the curve of the prince's mouth. «Raven has given us that gift. Carpathians never celebrated Christmas before, but she used this time of year as an excuse to bring us all together. I thought she was wrong-but I see that I was.»

«We have the chance to get to know one another,» Desari said. «My family, well, not the Daratrazanoffs or my lifemate Julian, I mean our band-the Dark Troubadours-was not raised with other Carpathians, and this is truly a unique opportunity for us. We didn't even use the same common mental path as all of the rest of the Carpathians.»

«Your brother, Darius, is truly a miracle worker in that he kept so many young children alive when he was merely a babe himself. Shea and Gregori wanted to meet with him to discuss the various herbs and plants he used to keep so many of you alive.»

Desari nodded. «All three of them have been together until the early morning hours since we've arrived. I think it is only today that the others have taken a break from research to cook. I heard Shea was not feeling very well. She must be so frightened to be having a baby when our infant-mortality rate is so high.»

She flicked a quick glance at Julian, who tried to catch her eye, but she refused to meet his gaze. Julian reached out his hand and took hers, bringing her palm to his heart. If you choose not to get pregnant this night, so be it, Desari. I would never take away your choice.

Desari turned her head away from the prince, blinking back tears, rubbing her cheek along Julian's shoulder as she did so. I do not know if this year is special or if returning to our homeland has caused a leap in fertility, but many of the women have said they can get pregnant, though few wish to try.

Desari, we will have children when you are ready. If the miracle happens, and I believe it will, it is meant to be. If not… Julian shrugged his shoulders and sent her a wealth of love and reassurance. So be it. He was not a man to follow the path of others. If Desari didn't want to chance the heartbreak of losing children, he was not going to take her to task, or point out her duty to their people.

Desari smiled at him. She knew he would never pressure her, and she loved him all the more for his patience-for his complete faith in her.

«Julian, I ask again that you reach out to Dimitri,» Mikhail said. «I am on my way to speak with Darius. I wish to question him more on how he kept you all alive.»

Julian nodded in agreement, and watched as Mikhail shimmered into transparency and streamed upward through the snow toward the house Darius had chosen to stay in. He dropped his arm around Desari's shoulders, sweeping her long hair away from her neck. «We are actually alone.»

A slow smile teased the curve of her mouth. «Really?» She quirked an eyebrow at him. «We may be alone, but since you ruined my contribution to tonights feast, I have to cook. Or better yet, you should do the cooking.»

His golden eyes gleamed at her. «I would very much like to oblige.» He swept her into his arms, tossing her over his shoulder as if she weighed no more than a feather, and sprinted for the house.

«Julian! You savage!» She gripped him around the waist as he vaulted over the railing and kicked open the front door. «Stop being a caveman.»

«Ha ha ha.» He brought his hand down on her squirming bottom as he strode through the house toward the bedroom. «As I recall, technically you are a Savage as well.»

She laughed and deliberately wrapped her arms around his waist, fingers sliding over the front of his jeans in a stroking caress. The action distracted him immediately so that he nearly stumbled, losing his long strides. Desari took the opportunity to dissolve, leaving him holding empty air as she streamed through the house, a comet of flashing colors. Her soft laughter teased his senses, while her fingers seemed to brush over his face and down his chest.

«That's not nice, Desari,» Julian objected, following the prism of colors at a more leisurely pace. «And definitely unfair.»

Back off big boy, she warned, trying to give the impression of a snarl, but instead it came out laughter. Can I help it if you re so susceptible to a little accidental touching?

«Accidental? I think not.» He raised his hands and wove a complicated pattern in the air. The streaming colors collided with a solid net, and immediately Desari's natural form landed on the floor. She sat at his feet laughing, blinking up at him, her dark hair spilling all around her making her look more alluring than ever.

Julian's heart clenched in his chest. The sensation was so strong that he pressed his palm over his aching heart, drawing in a deep breath. «Every single night I wake up thinking I cannot possibly love you more, Desari. And every single night, when you awaken and look at me, the love I have for you grows stronger-so much so that sometimes I think I cannot contain it.»

The bright laughter faded as she extended her hand to him, allowing him to pull her up, to pull her into the shelter of his arms. She framed his face with her hands. She was tall, but he was taller, forcing her to look up in order to meet his burning gaze. His eyes had gone

from amber to burnished gold, the hunger there taking her breath away. «You are my beloved, Julian, always my beloved.»

«I hold you like this, safe in my arms, your body fitting so perfectly into mine.» He turned his head away, ashamed of the welling emotion he could never control in spite of all his centuries of discipline. «And you sing to me as we lie together and there is no other peace in the world like the peace you bring to me.»

She took a deep breath, love shaking her with its strength. «Do you want a child, Julian? Do you want to try when we know the heartache that most likely lies ahead for us? Are you willing to take a chance that the greatest sorrow-losing our son or daughter-will take from us what we have?» She had to know the truth before making a decision. There was a part of her that wanted a child, a boy with bright blond hair and gold for eyes-a child who would play pranks on her and tease her, reminding her all too much of the man who was her other half. But the price was so high. So very high.

«Is that what you think, Desari? That if we lost our child, we would lose what we have between us?» He shook his head. «Never. It is impossible.»

«Our love is so strong, Julian, the emotions we feel so intense, the sorrow of losing a child would be devastating.» The lump in her throat threatened to choke her.

«Any parent knows losing a child is devastating,» he replied gently. «The sorrow would be great, yes, but if you're asking me would the risk of that sorrow be worth the chance of having a son or daughter with your eyes and your smile-then I have to say it would be worth it to me. But the decision is yours to make. You are enough for my happiness. A child is a miracle, but I will always survive as long as I have you.»

«I'm not a coward, Julian,» Desari said, her fingers tangling in his hair. She rested her body against his, laying her head over his heart, listening to the steady rhythm. «I'm not hesitating because I'm a coward.»

He stroked a caress down the length of shining black hair. «I could never, for one moment, think of you as a coward, honey. We will have a child when we're ready, not one second before. I have done my duty for my people-a thousand times over-and I will not have a child out of duty. Our child will be conceived in love and wanted more than any other by both of us.»

Her heart matched the rhythm of his. Her blood heated in her veins. She lifted her face to press kisses along the column of his neck, nipping gently, her tongue tasting his skin. «Well, then, since I would love to have a baby, I say let's go for it. Let's try, Julian, and enjoy every moment of conception and pregnancy and not let worry rule us. Our child will be our Christmas present to one another.»

His body was already stirring, his blood heating to match the fire in hers. «You're certain, Desari?»

Her mouth took his, pouring love into him along with her sweet, addicting taste. Every cell in his body responded. He lifted her into his arms without breaking the kiss. Christmas may really bring miracles.

Her loving laughter teased his senses. Don't think this will get you out of helping me come up with something else to cook for tonight's celebration.

Tonight's celebration is happening right now, he told her.

Chapter 6

Darius Daratrazanoff glared at his lifemate as she very accurately threw several rounds of snowballs, peppering him in the face and chest. «Tempest, I am giving you a direct order. Come back here now!»

Tempest packed the next snowball tight and launched it at his face. «You and your silly direct orders.» She tossed her snowflake-covered red hair and gave a sniff of disdain. «Honestly, Darius, I'm not one of your brothers or sisters who do whatever you tell them. You made fun of me, you snake. Just because I blew up the oven doesn't mean I can't cook.» She threw another tightly packed missile, running backward as she did so. «Take it back.»

«You cannot cook, and who cares? Certainly not me. The oven, however, blew a rather large hole in the house and I need to repair it, so come back here where I can keep an eye on you.»

«Take it back.»

«For heaven sake, baby, you set the house on fire. The entire kitchen is black. What did you think you were doing?»

«The oven wasn't working right so I fixed it.»

Darius dodged another snowball. «Tempest. It is not fixed. There is a hole the size of our tour bus in the wall and the kitchen is black with soot. Whatever that purple gooey concoction you were making is, it's now all over the ceiling and walls.»

«Okay.» She held up her hand, indignation on her face. «That was so not my fault. The stove shorted out and blew a hole through the pot and sent berries all over the ceiling and down the walls. I had nothing to do with that. And if you ask me, that probably did something to make the heating coil melt in the oven as well. So take it back!» She scooped up snow on the run and packed it into weapons.

«Even if the stove did short out, it does not take away the fact that you cannot cook. You have never been able to cook. Not even when you were on your own. And if you keep going and I lose sight of you, you will be instantly lost. You know you have absolutely no sense of direction.»

Her red-gold eyebrows drew together in a furious frown. «First, you accuse me of blowing up the house and setting the kitchen on fire. Then, you tell me I can't cook, and now you say I have no sense of direction! I have a perfectly keen sense of direction.»

Darius looked up at the sky to see if lightning was about to strike his lifemate. When none was forthcoming, he chuffed out his breath and changed the subject, afraid if they continued and she told any more whoppers like the last one, they would be in for the strike of a lifetime. «What was the purple sauce all over the wall?»

«Berry pies. I made like ten of them and they blew up.» She eyed him with suspicion. «Did you mess with that old stove after I told you something wasn't right with it?»

«I did not go near that kitchen. It was a ridiculous idea. I told you if you wanted the silly things made, I would look at the recipe and reproduce it for you.»

«The idea was to cook, smart one, you know, like a human.»

«It was a stupid idea, Tempest,» he said with patient persistence. «Now come here to me this minute.» He was beginning to feel a little desperate. His lifemate seemed to be the only one capable of making him feel that way. There were times, like now, when he would much rather face a vampire than Tempest. She was halfway between tears and laughter and that was never a good thing.

She had been an independent human nearly her entire life before he converted her, and he had been the sole commander for most of his. He had been responsible for the safety of his family for so long, the protective urges couldn't be suppressed. In truth, he wouldn't have wanted them to be. He had a good alarm system and it was shrieking at him. He tried to gentle his voice. «Baby, do we really care so much about this dinner? We are not even going to be eating it.»

«Every woman is bringing a dish.» She gestured through the snow toward the house. «And do you think Barack and Julian are going to stay silent about that big mess? I will never hear the end of it.»

Darius swore under his breath. He was going to have to do something different, unexpected, completely take her by surprise if he was going to get her out of her mood. He took off running toward her, scooping up snow as he ran, shaping the flakes into loose round missiles. Tempest's eyes widened in shock and as he fired off his ammunition at her, she shapeshifted on the run, her small, compact figure taking on the shape of a snow leopard. Soft gray fur adorned with black-brown spots covered the compact, muscular body and yard-long tail.

«Tempest! What are you doing?» He called gruffly, his black gaze shifting to search the area around them. As often as he scanned, he couldn't find danger, yet he couldn't quite shake the edginess, the need to hold his lifemate close to him. His silly attempt at being playful had backfired on him. Her mood had been mercurial lately, swinging from one end

of the spectrum to the other.

The leopard looked back at him and took off, large furry paws making it easy to run through the snow, and worse, with the form she'd chosen, powerful hind legs helping her spring a distance of thirty feet or more with ease. He leapt into the air, shifting as he did so, the male snow leopard landing on the steeper side of the slope away from the trees to follow closely in the tracks of the female. He was a good thirty percent larger, and used his size to shoulder her back in the direction he wanted her to go.

The female snarled, showing her teeth. Inside the cat's body, Darius frowned. He could have sworn that, in spite of the leopard showing temper, deep inside she was weeping.