“Are you returning with me?” Gregori asked aloud.
Fen shook his head. “I need to attend my brother. He isn’t doing as well as I would like. In the first battle, he and Zev fought off the rogues in order to allow me to get to the Sange rau. His belly was ripped open, his wounds severe.”
Immediately he felt Gregori’s sympathy as the Carpathian fell into step with him. “Do you have need of a healer?”
“I don’t know yet. Allow me to examine him. Should I need your aid, I will call.” Fen was reluctant to disclose Dimitri and Tatijana’s resting place to anyone.
Gregori nodded. “I will tell Mikhail to expect you, unless, of course, you call for my aid.”
Fen studied Gregori’s face. He was pale, with lines etched deep. He wasn’t completely healed from the battle, yet he had come himself to ensure the prince was safe. Fen’s respect for him went up another notch.
“Thank you. Should Dimitri require your skills, I will call. I’ll come to speak to the prince as soon as I can.”
Should Gregori have to aid him in healing his brother, Fen would move Dimitri just as a precaution. Gregori would discover Dimitri’s blood was different. How could he not if he entered the body to heal it? Dimitri was too vulnerable, and with the elite hunters either drawing close, or already there, both Fen and Dimitri were already at great risk. Fen preferred not to take chances with his brother’s life.
As if reading his mind, Gregori touched his arm to slow him down. “There are six strangers in the village. All of them met with the man you call Zev. They’re all staying at the inn. They look . . . tough.”
Fen nodded. “They are best left alone. I cannot be anywhere near them over the next few risings.”
Gregori frowned. “This has to do with your Carpathian blood mixed with their Lycan blood?” He made it more of a question than a statement.
Fen shrugged. “When you first came upon the battle, were you certain I was Carpathian?”
“No,” Gregori admitted.
Fen knew that was most likely the reason Gregori remained suspicious of him.
“It is the same with the Lycans. Until the week of the full moon, they cannot detect me, but during this phase, they know exactly what I am. They call a vampire/wolf cross a Sange rau and they do not distinguish between that monster and me.”
“The strangers who have come to our village?”
“They are the elite of the Lycans. Their best hunters with superior speed and gifts. Zev is their true alpha. They have a leader, but all of them answer to him. They were summoned to hunt and destroy the rogue pack, just as we send our hunters out to kill the vampire. Zev is aware that there is one Sange rau running the pack. He doesn’t yet know about the second.”
“They’ll need the information to successfully hunt them,” Gregori pointed out.
Fen nodded. “I cannot deliver it to them, at least not for a few more risings. You will have to find another way.” He turned his face toward the forest. His unease had been growing. “I need to get to my brother.”
Gregori stepped away and lifted a hand to him. “I’ll see to it that this farmer gets his family to safety.”
“Thank you.” Fen inclined his head and then leapt for the sky. He shifted in midair, sprouting the feathers of an owl, the talons and curved beak. He circled the farm and the outlying area just to double-check that no more threats were close, before winging his way back to the forest.
Again, he was very careful, making certain no one had followed him, before he dropped down, shifting again as he opened the earth beneath him. Tatijana lay in the rich soil, her face pale, skin nearly translucent. She looked like an ice princess, elusive and beautiful. Her hair was very long and thick, still twisted into that flowing endless mass of an intricate braid. Ribbons woven into her hair bound the long length, adding a touch of the dramatic.
He gathered her into his arms, inspecting her body carefully to ensure the wounds were healing properly. The dragon had sustained heavy damage to her belly, just as Dimitri had. The dragon had, for the most part, protected Tatijana. Dimitri hadn’t had his body encased within dragon skin and scales. The werewolves knew to rip softer underbellies, and they’d done their damage, but she would be fine.
Fen woke her with a single word, pressing her mouth to his chest. She moaned softly, her eyelashes fluttering before awakened fully and he found himself staring into her multifaceted emerald eyes. He smiled at her. “There you are. I was beginning to think you were going to sleep your life away.”
She smiled back at him, relaxing into his arms. “Not a chance.” Her cheek rubbed along his chest, sending little darts of fire racing through his bloodstream.
His entire body reacted to that small move. As he pushed back stray tendrils of hair from her face, he thought it a miracle to feel such deep emotions. The experience was unexpected, new and exhilarating. Everything about her was exhilarating. “Aside from being courageous and a warrior, you’re a truly beautiful woman, Tatijana Dragonseeker,” he whispered. “I’m honored to be your lifemate, claimed or unclaimed.”
“I must say, sir, I am beginning to feel much the same, which is rather a surprise to me,” she admitted.
The honesty in her voice and that low, sultry tone added to the hot surge of his blood, racing to pool low and wicked. He savored his ability to feel such a new extremely exhilarating flood of feelings, both physical and emotional. He knew immediately the two things were tied together inexorably. Even the Lycan blood mixed with his Carpathian blood had not dampened his drive to find the other half of his soul. No other woman would do. He’d never felt such an urgent desire. He’d learned about sex, who couldn’t after so many centuries, but he’d never understood the rush. The joy. The urgent hunger.
He smoothed his hand over her hair. “Drink from me, my lady. I need you at full strength this rising. Dimitri is in desperate need and I fear it will take two of us, if we have any chance at all of saving him.”
She looked into his eyes—into his mind. He hid nothing from her. She reached up to smooth away the line of worry on his brow. “You did not ask the healer to aid you.”
“I am a skilled healer as is Gregori. Dimitri is beyond both of our abilities. I know this. He lingers, but he still slips an inch at a time toward the other side. Gregori is severely wounded, and yet he rises to do his job guarding the prince. His job is too important to risk his life needlessly. His skills—and mine—will not save Dimitri. He needs Mother Earth to intervene on his behalf.”
He will be saved if possible.
Tatijana whispered the words into his mind as her teeth sank deep into his chest. The flood of need was so strong, the hunger for her almost out of control. He closed his eyes and breathed, as his rich blood filled her veins and rushed through her body to every wounded organ, helping to accelerate the healing process.
He’d fed hundreds of Carpathians wounded in battle. He’d given his blood to a trusted Lycan friend who fought with him over and over to defeat a common enemy. He’d taken blood from men, women and his own kind, both Lycan and Carpathian. Never had there been a sexual component until now. He breathed in and out. Listened to his heart beating hard in his chest. Heard the roaring sound of thunder in his ears. Felt his cock grow, lengthen and harden with a never before felt desperate urgency.
He was alive for the first time in his life that he could remember. Fully alive. The claiming words, imprinted upon him long before his birth, pounded through his mind. He heard those ritual binding words, that fateful chanting that would forever bind them, but he refused to speak them to her. He would never make such a decision for her, not until he knew for certain she wouldn’t be at risk if she became what he was. Even this small exchange was a little frightening for him. There was no knowing how much blood it took before the recipient became as he was.
With one last sensual sweep of her tongue, Tatijana opened her eyes a
gain and smiled at him. “This one would be honored to become as you are. Stop worrying so much.” Her expression changed, going solemn as she sat up. “Let’s save your brother. I would never want to lose my sister.”
“She doesn’t want to lose you. When we’re finished here, you must go to her and reassure her that you still live.” Fen couldn’t help himself. “I’m going to kiss you again. If you need a reason this time, it won’t sound reasonable, but I can’t help myself.”
“Well, then, certainly you must.”
He closed the gap between their mouths, half lifting her in his arms and bending his head to hers. Her lips were warm and soft. He stroked his tongue across that small seam and she opened her mouth in invitation. His heart nearly exploded in his chest as he sank into her. He poured himself into her like liquid gold.
Her mouth was warm honey. Dazzling diamonds. A sky filled with brilliant sapphires and just sheer paradise. It made no sense at all—he wasn’t a poetic man—but the world around him exploded in an amazing array of the most beautiful natural caves he’d ever seen with their gem-studded walls glittering behind his eyes. How could she do that? So simple it seemed. All she had to do was open her mouth and let him kiss her.
He reluctantly raised his head, shaking it, a little bemused. If her eyes were anything to go by, she was feeling the same. He hadn’t shared her mind because he was already so hungry for her, the ritual words pounding at him, that he feared he wouldn’t stop—and his duty was to his brother. Kissing once was perfectly fine, but he needed long, endless nights with Tatijana to do her justice.
Her hand crept into his as she sat up all the way. “We can save him, Fen. Together.”
He nodded, and they floated just above where they had rested and once again peeled back the earth to reveal Dimitri. He lay as still as death. His skin was almost pure white. He looked already long gone from their world. Fen felt his heart plummet, knowing, for the first time in his life, he’d put off the inevitable.
“He has a lifemate, Fen,” Tatijana reminded. “There is always hope. What cannot be done for one’s self, can often be done for one’s lifemate, no matter how extraordinary it seems.”
“Or miraculous?” He could barely get the words out, a lump in his throat threatening to choke him.
“Especially miraculous. Isn’t simply finding one’s lifemate a true miracle?” Tatijana smiled at him. “At least that is how Lara explained it to me, and she would know. She is my nephew’s daughter and is very wise. Call to his lifemate.”
“She is young. Far away. Another country it felt. A great distance.”
“And yet she came when needed. Gain entrance to his mind and follow the path back to her. She will answer your summons. She has to be strong if she can bridge the distance you speak of.” Tatijana knelt on one side of Dimitri’s body and waited.
Fen slowly sank to his knees on the other side. Placing both hands on his hips he reached for the strong telepathic connection he’d had with Dimitri since Dimitri’s birth.
Warrior. My brother and friend, hold steadfast for me. For your people and most of all, your beloved lifemate. He spoke formally, using their ancient tongue, relying on the Carpathian past as well as present memories so carefully imprinted upon them. He had a lump in his throat, something hard threatening to choke him.
He felt the smallest of flickers, and took advantage, slipping into Dimitri’s mind. He found darkness and cold, as if light after light had slowly faded away, leaving only shadows of memory, but that was enough to work with. He quickly found the one he needed most. She was the brightest of the fading lights. The starlight beacon was still pulsating, although much dimmer than Fen had hoped, but brighter than he believed possible. He followed the path for endless time, a narrow comet lighting the dark as he arced across cold space. The distance was far longer than he’d ever traveled telepathically.
She is Dragonseeker. Tatijana breathed the words into his mind, a propulsion of warm air and peace in the terrible, stunning cold. This child. This human, she is Razvan’s daughter, yet she is human and so powerful? I am in awe of her.
He felt Tatijana’s breathless surprise and welcomed the added boost of strength to his mind as it crossed that space on its journey. He found her almost abruptly, one moment in that arcing cavern of cold and the next in a warm, magical mind.
Little one. Lifemate to Dimitri. I have urgent need of you. Fen did his best to slowly pour into his brother’s mate’s mind, afraid of scaring her. It was always uncomfortable to know another had access to your every thought, word and deed—unless that man or woman was one’s other half.
She surprised him. No, more than mere surprise. Shocked him. Even humbled him. There was no hesitation. Tell me.
He is slipping away from us and I cannot alone save him. I know the journey is long, but you must help me keep him in this world.
Tatijana’s whisper in his mind was soft. Awed. She is . . . amazing. Strong.
Tatijana’s entire attitude had gone to one of absolute respect. She heard, maybe even felt, more of the steel in the woman/child than he had—she shared the same bloodline.
I can maintain my own path. Save your strength for healing him.
She made it a command, every bit as confident as Tatijana had been. And she was only nineteen—and a human at that. Fen was amazed all over again.
I will need to see him through your eyes.
That, at least had been a plea rather than a demand. She even understood the concept of possessing one’s body enough to share vision, hearing or other senses. That gift, too, was rarely used. One had to have complete trust and faith to allow another to possess their physical body.
I have much to learn about you, little sister, Fen said, allowing his awe to show as he opened himself more fully to her. You show remarkable skill and training in a woman so young.
He caught glimpses of her family in her memories. There was a strange young man with black hair and wild blue tips spiked all over his head, and then she abruptly pulled from his mind and he felt her connect to Dimitri. Through Fen, Tatijana was also connected. Both heard her gasp of alarm.
Beloved. Heart of mine. I know you are weary. Forgive me. I cannot let you go. There is no other for me. You can do this—for me. For us. Fight for us, beloved.
Fen glanced at Tatijana. Skyler hadn’t actually seen Dimitri’s horrific wounds and yet she was already fully aware of what they faced. He heard the raw love. The softest of intimate whispers only true lifemates could establish between them. He feared once she saw the wounds, the daunting sight would shake her confidence.
Still, Dimitri responded more to that soft little confession and flow of pure love washing through his mind, than anything else Fen had tried so far. Fen felt a small portion of that darkness and cold recede.
Please.
This time, she had found her way into his mind without any assistance at all. Skyler poured into his mind and nearly instantly found his connection to Tatijana—was well aware she was there as well.
I greet you as sister-kin, though I am more than your aunt, Tatijana identified herself. I am lifemate to Fen.
Yet unclaimed, as am I, Skyler said. Thank you for your aid.
He felt Tatijana wince just a little that Skyler should find her unclaimed when her lifemate was right there, yet there had been no accusation in Skyler’s voice. In fact, he felt it helped her identify with Tatijana and make her more comfortable.
A flood of reassurance washed over him. He glanced at Tatijana kneeling across from him, there in the soil, her hands already moving into Dimitri’s horrendous wounds. He placed his hands there as well when she flashed him a very small, reassuring smile.
Look at his wounds.
Slowly, reluctantly, he allowed Skyler to “see” through his eyes. He focused his vision wholly on the extent of Dimitri’s wounds. She understood instantly. The pain went far beyond
what any physical body could tolerate, human, Lycan or Carpathian. Now there was no denying what she was dealing with.
Skyler showed no hesitation. I am in the library of the university where I am studying. I will need my friend to come to me. When we are done here, I will no longer be able to maintain my own body. Give me just one second to contact Josef. I am fortunate that he came to visit me this evening. I didn’t even know he was in town.
There was a moment’s pause. He will come to me right away.
She joined closely with Tatijana and Fen. He felt her take a deep breath.
We call upon the power of the Earth—she who creates us all.
Tatijana and Fen answered. Fen, only because he knew the words through his lifemate. Hear our call, Mother.
We beg you for clear sight, the ability to be seen, that which seeks not to be seen.
Guide us, Mother, take our hands, make them your own.
Use them as your tools to mend that which has been broken and torn.
Guide us, Mother. Provide rest and healing to a tortured soul.
Skyler’s voice nearly cracked, but she took another deep breath and continued. Embrace him as your own, Mother. Heal him of all injuries. Guide him, Mother.
Her voice did waver, and Fen heard her tears for the first time. He felt her terrible growing sorrow even as she tried desperately to hold herself together. He couldn’t imagine her all alone in the college library, yet not alone. She had to be surrounded by human students studying. She couldn’t portray emotion, or her draining strength to anyone. The distance was nearly incomprehensible, and yet she persisted.
We three, your daughters and son, call upon the higher power. Use us as your vessel. See through our eyes.
Look into our souls. Use us as your tools. Guard him, great one. Take him fully into your care. Nurture him as you would your child, this great gift we bring even as we humbly beg your service. He will serve you as we do and rise once again to fight. Guide us with your knowledge.
Around him, the soil began to move on its own. So rich the loam looked as if it was ebony in color, Fen could see minerals glittering throughout, like gems. Before he could identify any of the properties, the soil rose to cover Dimitri, pouring into him.
Dark Lycan (Carpathian) Page 12