Dark Song

9

What went wrong this time?” Ferro asked Gary. “Surely Dragomir didn’t throw a tantrum the way Sandu did.” “I do not throw tantrums,” Sandu denied with great dignity. “Dragomir, however, has long been jealous that down through the ages no one has sung his praises over the campfires. He most likely was bemoaning the fact, and young Josef could no longer listen. I believe it was the young Carpathian who flung the tablet at him.”

Ferro turned his attention to Dragomir. “Is this true?”

Dragomir gave his blackest scowl to Sandu. “Of course, it isn’t true. Why would I care whether songs are sung over the campfires of my exploits? Ancient hunters do not expect songs of their legendary battles. Only those vain carry on about them.”

“I was referring to young Josef throwing a tablet at you,” Ferro said, striving for patience.

“Yes, well. That part might be true. He muttered something along the lines of ‘dim-witted blockheads’ and flung the tablet at my head. Fortunately, I am very fast and caught it before it could fall to the ground. The little upstart thought he might go toe-to-toe with me.”

Ferro ignored the taunting amusement in Dragomir’s voice. He could see that Tariq, Maksim and Traian found the young Carpathian’s behavior laughable, but he found himself uneasy. He had known Dragomir for centuries and never once had the ancient had that particular mocking, almost snide tone when he was referring to the young tech. Ferro tried to change the sound in his mind but it always came out slightly sneering. The others around him didn’t seem to hear it, or at least if they did, no one reacted.

“You thought this warranted calling for Elisabeta to calm the situation? Dragomir, you have a lifemate, and unlike Sandu, there is no way for you to turn. Josef is not yet fifty years of age, his emotions have not begun to fade. When using any psychic gift there is a price the user pays. What about this situation did you feel made it worth Elisabeta paying this price?”

The amusement faded instantly from Dragomir’s expression to be replaced by pure ice in his golden eyes. He straightened to his full height, the lines deepening in his face. “What are you saying, Ferro? That I would hold your lifemate in less esteem than my own? Or that this child the new prince sent to force us to learn technology he didn’t bother to learn when he should have should be able to call me names? I should put up with the indignity of that after centuries of serving my people? I should have torn his head off his shoulders and thrown it into the lake.”

His voice was so cold that ice particles drifted in the air between them. Sandu coughed and moved back, away from the specks, and Ferro turned Elisabeta around.

Do not breathe those in. See if you can connect with him as you did Sandu and tell me what is happening to him.

“Dragomir.” Ferro pitched his voice very low even as he flicked his gaze around to his brethren.

They closed in around Dragomir, walling out Tariq and the others. To his relief, Gary removed Tariq altogether, although the leader the prince had chosen to represent him there in the United States stayed within viewing distance of the unfolding drama.

Emeline, Dragomir’s lifemate, raced unchecked from their home toward them. Dragomir saw her coming and stepped back, frowning. Shaking his head. Ferro felt Elisabeta instantly reach out to Dragomir and surround him with her soothing peace. He knew the moment all the brethren felt her gift and then when it encompassed Emeline as well. Emeline shot her a grateful glance. She’d skidded to a halt when Gary raised his hand and then stepped between her and her lifemate.

“Dragomir, your lifemate will breathe ice into her lungs. Get a hold of yourself. Let me in to aid you. Let the healer in.” Ferro kept his voice pitched very low.

Dragomir shook his head again, his gaze on Emeline. She held out her hand to him in entreaty. He pressed his lips together to keep from breathing ice particles, and then those golden eyes jumped to Ferro and the healer. He nodded.

Ferro and Gary used their blood-bond with Dragomir to enter. Elisabeta, merged with Ferro as she was, slipped in as well. Ferro found weird streaks of color in a ferocious red across Dragomir’s mind, almost like the vicious claw marks a cat might make. The lines were thin and already fading. Elisabeta’s gentle breeze sent them drifting away, thinning until the claw marks wore away to nothing. Gary’s healing spirit moved through Dragomir’s brain carefully, looking for any sign of damage or an intruder that had somehow managed to slip past their safeguards. Other than them being uneasy, they could find nothing.

Dragomir scowled and shook his head several times as if he could shake loose whatever was inside his mind. “What happened to me, Ferro? I cannot turn vampire, and yet I could not stop wanting to rip that imbecile child’s head off, or worse, yours.”

Elisabeta, you said something to me about Sandu, and I dismissed it thinking, rather arrogantly, that I knew what you meant. You said there was something else at work here other than a dislike of modern technology. What did you mean?

Josef didn’t have a dislike of modern technology, and Dragomir could not possibly turn when Emeline was his true lifemate. Gary had not found even the slightest shadow in Dragomir’s brain.

The feel of evil was prevalent in Sandu’s mind, an overwhelming need for violence. It was there in Dragomir’s but not nearly as bad. She hesitated. Not evil exactly. That taint was there faintly, but more like malevolence. The need for violence.

Ferro turned what she said over and over in his mind. Ancients had no emotions. Sandu was incapable of feeling a need for violence. If Elisabeta said that was in his mind, then it had to have been there.

What do you think, Gary? he asked the healer.

Women often feel the emotions in the ancients that we cannot.

Ferro heard the speculation in his voice. Elisabeta didn’t say anything more. She didn’t weigh in one way or another, nor did he expect her to. He kept his arm firmly around her, holding her close there in the middle of the compound, trying to decide what was the best course of action, because something was very much off.

“Has anyone examined the boy?” he asked. “This is now two of our ancient warriors that have had a similar reaction after an encounter with him.”

Traian frowned. “Do you believe that Josef has managed to do something to introduce something evil to ancient warriors that would make them turn even if they had lifemates? A boy? A Carpathian boy who has worked hard to identify potential lifemates for those without them before the vampire can get to them? He’s placed himself in danger numerous times and proven himself over and over.”

“No one has accused him,” Gary said, his tone, as always, mild. “But something is wrong here. We have to make certain this compound is safe for our women and children, including Josef. There is no question that he is a valuable asset to our people. Like with Sandu and Dragomir, it is best, given the circumstances, that we examine him. I will need Elisabeta, Ferro. We will need to go to Tariq’s home to conduct the examination.”

Ferro gave an exaggerated sigh in order to make his woman laugh when he knew she would be nervous. “Of course you will. Is there anyone here who does not need my lifemate?”

He flicked his gaze at Sandu and Benedek, two of his brethren from the monastery. Entering Tariq’s home with his bodyguards close meant exposing Elisabeta to danger without anyone at his back. Gary was Tariq’s second-in-command and sworn to protect Tariq. As much as he would want to count on the ancient and the fact that their souls were tied together, he couldn’t do that, not when it came to Elisabeta’s safety, not when he still felt that strange, vague threat to her.

“I will need Sandu and Benedek with us,” he said.

Tariq had started toward his home but he spun around, his face darkening, as if his honor had been called into question, which—Ferro conceded—it had. “You do not feel as if you can bring your lifemate into my home, where Charlotte resides, without two of your brethren with you?”

It was a direct challenge and one Ferro hadn’t expected. Tariq was a man born to lead, one very careful of his tone and his wording. He wasn’t a confrontational man. In all things, he was diplomatic. He was also an ancient with an ancient’s patience. Having Sandu and Benedek in his home seemed a small thing and something often required when examining for any type of evil entity, especially if a lifemate was close. It was not an unreasonable request.

Do not answer him, Ferro, Gary said immediately. The healer glided in between the two ancients. Something is going on here that I do not understand.

“Tariq, you must have misunderstood Ferro. Elisabeta will have to be present when we examine Josef for any hidden evil intrusion. That presents a danger to her. Naturally, she will need to be guarded, as will you. Your safety is paramount and he knows that. We all know you chafe under the restrictions placed on you by the prince, but it can’t be helped. You must have guards.”

Tariq rubbed at his temples in much the same way Sandu and Dragomir had. Ferro and Gary exchanged a quick, uneasy glance. Something malevolent was invading the compound and it was spreading among the ancient warriors, even those with lifemates to anchor them. How could they possibly examine Tariq without offending him deeply and triggering the aggression that seemed to be pervading his mind?

“Yes, of course. I don’t know what got into me. Forgive me, Ferro.”

Sandu, make certain none of the brethren take their turn learning this new technology from Josef until we know what is going on, Ferro warned.

He used their private telepathic pathway rather than that of the brotherhood or the one established by the soul-bond. He didn’t know why he wanted to exclude the healer, but for the moment, he needed to count on those he had formed a bond with in the monastery. Gary, sent by the prince, was loyal to Tariq.

Until we know what is going on, we cannot go outside of our circle. Something is not right and the danger is spreading.

They had to know where each of the brethren stood. Dragomir was the biggest question mark, as he had a child with Emeline and she wanted to stay in the protection of the compound. If his loyalties were to Tariq rather than the brethren if they decided to leave, they would have to withhold that information from him. That would forever weigh heavily on him.

As they walked across the compound grounds, Elisabeta clamped to his side, her face buried in his ribs so she didn’t have to look at the wide-open spaces, he scanned continually, searching the ancients surrounding them for signs of emotions that shouldn’t be there, whether they had lifemates or not. He didn’t need to be able to get into their minds, just read the energy surrounding them.

Maksim seemed fine to him. He walked with Gary, Tariq between them. Dragomir sat on his porch with Emeline, holding hands. Ferro could no longer detect any surge of violence in Dragomir. Benedek hadn’t been near Josef, nor had Petru or Nicu Dalca. The three had spread out, but kept pace with Ferro and Elisabeta as they made their way to Tariq’s home. Ferro found himself slowing his steps, reluctant to enter and put his woman in the position of danger he had a feeling she would be in.

I do not like this, Sandu. Something feels very wrong to me.

A trap? Is it the vampire? We know he will come for her. The safeguards on this compound have been woven and interwoven again and again. We provided extra layers over those after Tariq and the others used their strongest. We provided for every eventuality we could conceive of.

And yet Elisabeta summoned him and he was able to slip in like a worm from the netherworld right under our very noses, Ferro pointed out. He still had that feeling that Gary and Tariq regarded Elisabeta as a threat to them. He just wasn’t certain how or why.

Elisabeta winced. He tightened his arm around her. That is not a condemnation, piŋe sarnanak. We are grateful to you for showing us one of the many weaknesses a fortress this size holds. We need to find them all.

Ferro let his mind expand, reaching as he had done for centuries, looking for hidden ruses, a deception or illusion that his eye might miss. He knew the brethren at his back were doing the same.

Elisabeta, we are not necessarily safe. I want you to be very alert at all times. If you feel anything you are distrustful of, no matter how small or elusive, you alert me. Do you understand? Even if you think it is coming from someone I trust. That is an order and I expect obedience. He poured command into his voice. He disliked sounding as if he was controlling her, doing anything that in any way resembled Sergey, but this was too important and she responded to clear guidelines. Tell me you understand.

Yes, of course, I will tell you.

Pay particular attention to the healer, but be cautious, Elisabeta. He is extremely powerful and he will know if you are touching his mind. Anyone or everyone in that room is a potential enemy or they may be marked by the enemy to use against all of us here. We have to know to be able to help them.

They were right at the door, the entrance to Tariq’s home, and Ferro knew he couldn’t hesitate to enter. He’d already gotten Tariq on edge just by making a common and proper request. He stepped across the threshold, lifting Elisabeta as he entered so that her feet didn’t touch the floor. She didn’t protest. If anyone noticed and became upset, he had the perfect excuse; he could tell them that she was unused to walking. He was certain Gary would notice.

Tariq and Maksim led the way to the conference room and took their places at the large oval table where often they had to hash out war plans against the vampires who were already in place, doing their best to stamp out the existence of the Carpathian people.

“We’ve sent for Josef,” Maksim said. “Traian and Joie both have said they are willing for Gary and Elisabeta to examine them if Gary feels it is necessary. They traveled together.”

“If it comes to that,” Gary said smoothly. “I think all of us are in trouble, Tariq. I think there is something working against us within this compound that is not yet known to us.”

Tariq rubbed at his temples. “Something is happening. We never seem to be able to have five minutes before we’re attacked by something new.” There was an accusation in his voice, as if he blamed Gary. He even narrowed his eyes at the healer. His face was flushed. His heartbeat accelerated. It was clear to those in the room that his blood pressure was rising and his body was preparing to take physical action against some unknown threat.

Elisabeta’s hand slid up Ferro’s chest. His head is hurting very badly. He feels . . . anger mounting to rage and is not used to such an emotion. He is fighting against it. It flared bright and hot when the healer suggested there was a problem here. He is very strong and does not like the idea that he cannot control his emotions.

Can you soothe him without touching his mind?

Elisabeta tilted her head and suddenly Ferro found himself looking down into his lifemate’s dark eyes. His heart stuttered at what he saw there. Amusement. Warmth. She looked at him as if he might not be quite as bright as she first thought. He was concentrating on her safety, not paying as much attention to the details of his woman’s abilities. Of course she could soothe Tariq from a distance. She had that gift from when she was a child. As she had grown, so had that talent and that need in her to bring peace when those around her were agitated or lost. Tariq seemed both.

Ferro had never forbidden her to use her talent. If anything, he had encouraged her. He had told her he was proud of her for it. He should have known she was already sending those waves of peaceful energy into the room, encompassing everyone, not just Tariq. Every ancient felt the way her gift penetrated straight to the soul and healed the centuries of shredding, of that gray void of emptiness.

Scents of Italian bergamot and rare camellias mixed with extract of orange, lime, vetiver and sandalwood, drifting across the room in just a hint of a blended fragrance. Ferro knew it was all Elisabeta. It was impossible for any negative emotion to persist under the onslaught of that gentle persuasion.

I realize now that you will always have the upper hand between us, piŋe sarnanak. How will I ever stay annoyed with you when I inhale and you smell like the breeze that takes all cares away? He ran his hand down the back of her head, making certain she knew he wouldn’t ever mind that she would have the upper hand between them.

Elisabeta had found her way into his heart with her quiet stillness. With her gentle compassion and this—that need to bring peace to his brothers, the other hunters weary from holding on to honor over so long. Not just those in the monastery, but all Carpathian hunters. It was his lifemate’s nature and he loved her all the more for it.

Why would you become annoyed with me? Do I do anything that already makes you believe I will upset you?

The anxiety in her made him want to groan. She was very literal with him. She was programmed to want to please him. Naturally, she would take him seriously in spite of the fact that he was all but petting her hair in an effort to show her he was teasing her, trying to keep a balance when he didn’t know what they were going to find and what the others were going to expect from his lifemate.

“Perhaps everyone should be examined again,” Ferro said. “Starting with me. Starting with all of us from the monastery. Is it possible, Tariq, that we carried an unknown shadow with us that Xavier or another mage cast upon the gates without our knowledge? I do not want to take chances with the women and children here in the compound. If there is the slightest possibility that you believe we are putting them at risk, we will be examined or we will plan our escape. We can get past Sergey and his spies and cross back to the Carpathian Mountains. Once there, he cannot get to us.” He poured confidence into his voice. All the while he kept his gaze fixed on the leader’s eyes, needing to see what was going on with him.

Tariq once again rubbed hard at his temples and once again the flare of his rage filled the conference room. They all heard his elevated heartbeat. Gary glanced at Ferro as if he knew the ancient was doing his best to get Tariq to suggest that all warriors in the compound be examined. Clearly that wasn’t going to happen. Before Tariq could speak, Gary did.

“We need every warrior here, Ferro. Had there been a taint on those of you from the monastery, we would have known. Valentin and Dragomir have been here for some time, as has Siv. All have the code of honor scarred into their skin as brethren.”

Maksim nodded. “That is so. I agree, though, Ferro, that we should all be scanned again. First young Josef and then the rest of us, starting with Gary so we clear him to look at the rest of us. Tariq and I can go next.”

He is aware something is wrong with Tariq, Ferro said to Elisabeta.

You have not told me what I have done to upset you.

She sounded on the verge of tears, although none glittered in her eyes. He still felt them in her mind. She kept her face turned away from the others, buried in his rib cage, pressed deep.

I was teasing you, letting you know that you will always be my greatest treasure. I should not tease you when we are in the middle of serious business.

Her fingers crept up his belly to fist in his shirt. I do not mind. I am learning.

Josef strode in, deliberately slamming the door behind him. He had piercings in his lip and eyebrow and a bar in his nose. “I can’t imagine what you want from me now,” he snapped. “It isn’t like you aren’t already working me like a dog. You said your computer system was the latest and yet I’ve been updating it for hours. You said your people could learn and they all have the IQ of a peahen.” He put his hands on his hips and glared at Tariq.

Tariq surged to his feet, the chair falling over backward. Maksim and Gary stood as well, Gary gliding to put his body between Tariq and the young Carpathian boy. Ferro calmly rose, taking Elisabeta to the other end of the room out of harm’s way. All the while, he kept his gaze fixed on Tariq. He didn’t know Josef, but he was somewhat familiar with the leader of the Carpathian people here in the United States. He was acting very far out of character.

There are flashes of red around him, also around the boy, Elisabeta informed him.

Do you see it in anyone else in this room? Concentrate on the healer. Really look at him. Do you see anything at all off about him? Ferro hadn’t detected anything, but Elisabeta was very sensitive. She picked up the slightest nuance when he didn’t.

Elisabeta took her time, studying Gary while he was preoccupied, doing his best to keep Tariq from ripping Josef’s head off.

I do not detect anything at all different about him. He gives off a powerful energy, but not a violent one. He is capable of great violence, but so are you. No one else in the room has those flashes of red that I can see.

Gary, Elisabeta is seeing red flashes around both Tariq and Josef. Whatever infected Sandu and Dragomir has also gotten to the two of them, Ferro reported, allowing Sandu and Benedek to hear as well.

Gary waved his hand at Josef, stopping the young Carpathian in his tracks as he aggressively took several steps toward Tariq. The boy froze, his expression one of belligerence. He would have been a lot more hostile if he could have seen that the healer had removed his piercings in an effort to help calm Tariq.

Allow Elisabeta to flow with you into Tariq’s mind, Ferro instructed Gary.

The healer hesitated. He was second-in-command to Tariq, sworn to protect him. Ferro was an extremely dangerous man, one few—if any— could best in a fight. Opening Tariq up to him, even through Elisabeta, could be construed as betrayal. On the other hand, Gary’s soul was tied to Ferro’s. Ferro could always use that entry to anyone Gary had a blood-bond with.

Tariq didn’t seem to care that Josef was frozen in place. He let out another roar and threw the chair toward the boy. Gary blocked it in midair. That only served to make Tariq angrier. Gary opened his mind to Elisabeta.

Immediately she flowed into the healer, Ferro merged with her. He wasn’t about to allow her to go anywhere without him. She was that same light breeze, moving toward the bright red streaks that were slashed across the front of Tariq’s brain like a canvas of rage. Ferro could see that Gary was doing his best to study the streaks, to find their origin. Ferro did as well. They seemed to be burned across Tariq’s amygdala, the part of his brain that handled emotions. The red slashes reached to the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for judgment. Tariq had that in abundance and the burns were hindering his ability to control the rage, although he was fighting it with his natural character.

Elisabeta’s soft breeze moved through Tariq’s mind, a gentle stream that carried just a hint of her scent, that natural fragrance that brought such peace. She was a soothing balm impossible to ignore. Like in Sandu and Dragomir, the burns began to thin and then dissipate. There were so many more of the angry slashes than had been in either of the other two ancients, and instinctively she seemed to know to take the one away from Tariq’s prefrontal cortex to aid him in fighting the rage. Once he was able to get his judgment back, Tariq’s leadership would come to the forefront. He would aid them in his recovery. Ferro had every faith in him.

Ferro could see the burns were etched a little deeper into Tariq’s brain, as if they’d had more time to take hold. He stayed quiet, watching the healer examine the burns closely in the amygdala area of Tariq’s brain while Elisabeta continued to slowly and gently dissolve the angry red slashes as if they were mere paint marks that could be erased from a canvas. Her presence was calming enough that even the brilliant red dulled in color over the amygdala.

Ferro called up the images of Dragomir’s brain. The burns hadn’t been nearly as deep or as numerous as in Sandu’s brain. None had been on the prefrontal cortex. All the slashes of red had been concentrated on the region that controlled emotion. In Sandu, there had been quite a few more burns and much deeper scoring across the amygdala, but again, none on the prefrontal cortex.

That is not so, Ferro, Elisabeta corrected. When I first entered, there were several surface burns I erased before moving to the worst burns.

Ferro was a little shocked at the ease she displayed communicating with him only. There was no elevation in energy at all. No one would know she was talking to him. He doubted that Gary, who was sharing a mind merge with them, would know she was that adept.

You found burns on the prefrontal cortex of Sandu’s brain but not on Dragomir’s?

On both, but Dragomir had barely any and not at all deep. Sandu had surface burns, but more than Dragomir, she explained.

Ferro turned her clarification over in his mind, trying to figure out what it meant. The entire time she had had that very calm discussion with him she had never stopped that sweet, soothing breeze that swept gently through Tariq’s mind, pushing at the deep scores of red slashes across his brain. The deeper burns were stubborn, but she kept at them, just filling him with her gentle presence and restful, relaxing aura so that it was impossible to feel anything but composed and tranquil. Sharing Tariq’s mind as he was with her, Ferro felt that same serenity.

Elisabeta might not think of herself as powerful, but her gift was astounding. Carpathians healed by shedding their egos and bodies to become only spirit. Elisabeta was selfless by nature. She didn’t need to shed her physical body. She didn’t have an ego when she was helping others. That was when she was completely confident in herself. She gave without thought of what she would get back or the consequences to herself. She simply gave.

She was also adept at reading others. She had to be. She had been a prisoner for centuries and she had to know exactly what her captor was thinking or feeling at any given moment to stay ahead of him. She relied on emotions and subtle feelings, unlike Carpathian hunters. Ferro considered that. He had a huge asset in his lifemate. Whatever was happening to his fellow Carpathians, she had a better chance of picking up the nuances that might lead to the discovery of its origins. Gary was already indicating that he could find no shadow, no blemish that might signal a vampire had planted a threat against them.

The last of the red slashes was gone and still Elisabeta continued to fill Tariq’s mind with her healing fragrance and that gentle breeze. Ferro moved closer to see what she was doing. When he did, Gary did as well. It was difficult to stay apart from one’s body for so long and give unconditionally. It took a toll. Both would have left the leader and moved back into their own bodies believing Tariq healed.

On closer inspection of Tariq’s brain, Ferro could see the scoring from the burns was deeper than he’d thought. There were no longer the angry red slashes, but the pitting was deep and worrisome.

Can she heal scars like that? Gary asked Ferro.

Ferro had no idea. You will have to ask her. He found his lifemate fascinating. Alluring. Her spirit was so pure and beautiful to him.

Gary didn’t interrupt her with questions, he simply stayed in the background like Ferro, watching her flood that deep scoring with cool, fresh, pure energy. By turns, scents of Italian bergamot and rare camellias vied with sandalwood and vetiver. Next it would be orange or lime, the fragrance so subtle it was barely there, but carried on that faint breeze that was ever present.

Ferro was a little shocked when he saw the deep burn marks slowly disappearing as if they had never been. It didn’t make sense. What had she done? Just willed the scarring away? No one healed that way. She was patient, taking her time until there was no evidence of any damage at all on Tariq’s brain. Then she was gone, and Ferro went with her, slipping back into the room.

Elisabeta felt light and insubstantial, as if she might slip away from him at any moment. Sandu was there instantly, holding out his wrist to her. Even in her need, she tipped her head up, her dark eyes meeting Ferro’s as if asking for permission or needing him to command her to take sustenance from another male.

Take his blood, piŋe sarnanak. You are so pale you look as if you might disappear.

She did as he instructed, politely taking what Sandu offered. Benedek gave Ferro blood while Maksim offered Gary his wrist. Tariq sat quietly at the table, his eyes on the young Carpathian boy still standing frozen in place by the healer’s command. There was a look of belligerence on Josef’s face.

Tariq waited until the three finished feeding before he spoke. “Clearly, whatever infected Sandu and Dragomir infected Josef and me as well. Have you any idea what it is, or how it is getting to us?” He looked across the table to Elisabeta. “Thank you, Elisabeta. I owe you a great deal. All three of you, but clearly, you seem to be able to deal with the violence this infection is causing.”

Elisabeta attempted a small smile but Ferro could feel how uncomfortable she was with the spotlight on her.

“Gary might be better at explaining what is happening than I am,” Ferro said, more to shift the attention away from Elisabeta than for any other reason. “Elisabeta, when you feel ready, you and I will do our best to aid young Josef.”

“Before you do, I’d like to see just how deep the burns are and where they are on him as well,” Gary said. “Tariq, did you train with Josef? Use his tablet?”

Tariq shook his head. “No, I’ve been using these programs from the time they were first developed. Josef actually wrote some of the software programs a year or so ago, and I trained myself to use them by the tutorials.”

Show-off, Sandu whispered into Ferro and Elisabeta’s shared merge.

Elisabeta’s expression didn’t change, but Ferro felt the amusement flare briefly in her mind and he was grateful to Sandu. Elisabeta really was uncomfortable in the presence of the others, even when they were saying things complimentary. He knew she just wanted to go back to their home and be alone with him. He was grateful. He felt the same way.

“Sandu, you and Dragomir both used the tablet and trained on the same program?”

Sandu nodded. “We compared notes. It really was not as difficult as it seemed at the time. We pulled the knowledge out of Josef’s mind and then went over it several times. It seemed easy enough. Neither one of us could figure out why we had problems with it.”

“This evening, Tariq,” Gary continued. “How did the trouble start between you and Josef?”

Tariq frowned, tapping the table. “I barely remember, only that I had a major headache, but truthfully, I’d had one for several risings. Charlotte had tried to get rid of it for me. This rising, Josef stormed in very angry because he didn’t want to work with any of the ancients tonight. I told him to get out. He did, but he was muttering under his breath. He had those piercings, and for some reason I felt like he was being deliberately disrespectful to me by wearing them. I yelled after him to get rid of them before he came back around. Then I sent someone to him to train. I don’t even remember who right now, but I do remember I wasn’t going to let some kid tell me what to do in my own home.”

“All of that is completely out of character for you,” Maksim pointed out. “Were you aware that it was?”

Tariq nodded. “I couldn’t stop myself. I kept feeling this intense rage, so much so that I told Charlotte to keep the kids away from me and not to come around, either. I didn’t tell her why. I tried to have the house quiet and just get work done.”

“Work?” Gary prompted.

Tariq nodded. “I’ve been neglectful of the nightclubs and needed to oversee them. I try to be hands-on as much as I can, but lately, with everything going on, I’ve left them in the hands of the managers. I thought I could go over the books, the orders, that kind of thing. My head hurt so much, it was nearly impossible.”

“Has anyone new come to work here at the compound? For the security team? Sergey has recruited human male psychics,” Ferro said. “Could he have planted someone?”

“The humans working here are scanned on a nightly basis,” Maksim explained. “Even if Sergey shielded them, we would find the shield.”

Gary sighed. “Ferro, Elisabeta, let’s help young Josef. It will be interesting to see how deep the burns are in him.”

Elisabeta didn’t wait, and Ferro realized it had been difficult for her to remain still when she knew the boy needed her help. He’d attributed her discomfort to being in the room with all the Carpathians, but it had been so much more than that. Someone had need of her. That was what mattered to her. Elisabeta’s entire concentration was centered on Josef. Still, as much as he found himself loving her all the more for her compassion, he was going to have to caution her to wait for him to ensure her safety. For him, making certain his lifemate was safe took precedence over everything else.

The red in Josef’s brain was dark and angry, even more so than in any of the ancients. The scoring seemed much deeper and there was much more of it, as if he had been exposed to the infection for a longer time than any of the ancients. He had been at the compound for only two risings, so did that mean he had been exposed prior to coming? Had he brought the infection with him? Ferro hoped Gary had more of an idea than he did, because he was at a complete loss. Nothing made sense. Now, for certain, they would have to inspect Traian and Joie, as well as everyone Josef had come into contact with. It was going to be a long night and he doubted the things he had planned for his lifemate would come about.

I do not like you feeling as if you have failed me yet again, Ferro. You have never failed me. I do not mind helping these people.

He knew she didn’t. But in helping them, she wasn’t able to have the time to learn the things necessary to help herself. Minan piŋe sarnanak, there is so much for you to know of this world to make you comfortable. I do not want you to ever feel as if you are less than anyone else. You are more. You are beautiful and kind and powerful. As your lifemate, I wish to show you the things that will help you to realize this about yourself, but each rising you are called on to sacrifice what is best for you for the good of others.

She was silent while she concentrated on sending her fresh, soothing breeze to a stubborn slash of deep, violent red that didn’t want to dissipate. When, at last, the scoring thinned, tattered in places and finally beginning to slowly pull apart, she surrounded Ferro with her signature fragrance.

I have you. Each rising, kont o sívanak, I have you, and you give to me everything I need to learn to be confident. I am learning to trust. That is the most difficult of all things to learn. I am beginning to feel safe where for centuries I did not know what that was. Now, that word means you. You are my safety. While you and the healer inspect the others for the burns, I will do my best to be brave and stay with Lorraine and Julija as you wish.

Ferro knew just how difficult that was for her to say to him, and how much trust in him it required. He could feel her trepidation, and yet at no time did it change the sweet, soft breeze moving through Josef’s mind as she worked at removing the terrible burns marring his amazing brain.