Raven laughed. “He’ll definitely enlist the aid of the twins and they’ll be happy to help.”
A small, curvy woman who looked a lot like Raven approached them. Mikhail held out his hand to her and pulled her to his side. “This is my daughter, Savannah. I don’t know if you had the chance to meet Tatijana yet, but she is Dragonseeker, Razvan and Natalya’s aunt.”
“It’s such an honor to finally meet you,” Savannah said instantly, taking Tatijana’s outstretched hand. “Gregori and my father think so highly of you.”
“She saved several of our warriors nasty wounds with her quick thinking,” Mikhail said.
“I think everyone was helping out,” Tatijana said.
“And this is Fenris Dalka, Dimitri’s older brother,” Mikhail continued with the introductions. “No doubt Gregori has spoken of him as well.” His tone turned droll.
Fen couldn’t help but laugh. “No doubt.”
Savannah joined in Fen’s laughter. “Actually he has spoken of you at great length,” she admitted, “but it was all good. My father replayed the entire battle for him and Gregori was very impressed with your skills. I’m so glad you’re here. Sara and Falcon’s children”—she indicated the small group of older children gathered together to listen to the storyteller—“are all human with psychic abilities. They were living in sewers when Sara found them. They’d already banded together and formed a family, working together for survival before she found them and brought them here.”
“Who takes care of them during the daylight hours?” Fen asked. “How would something like that work?”
“Gabriel and Francesca also adopted a human child,” Mikhail pointed out. “Young Skyler, and they’ve done quite well.”
“Aidan and Alexandria are raising Alexandria’s younger brother, Josh,” Savannah added.
“Colby and Rafael De La Cruz have Paul and Ginny,” Raven said. “It can be done with a little help and being creative about the hours you spend with them. Sara and Falcon rise as early as possible and the children sleep in and start their day later so they can stay up later.”
“Who watches them?” Fen persisted. More than once he’d run across a child he would have liked to help, but it was necessary to go to ground. Who would ensure their protection when he was immersed in the soil as if dead?
Tatijana brushed his mind with love. You are so compassionate, Fen. Few men think of taking in a child when they live a lifestyle like yours.
Sadly, vampires, rogue packs and the Sange rau leave behind a number of orphans. He looked down at her. If we can’t have our own children, would you consider a family such as Sara’s?
Even if we have biological children, I would love to incorporate other children who need us into our family, she assured.
Even if they are human or Lycan?
I would expect that they would be human or Lycan as Carpathians have so few children.
Tatijana’s voice was so loving it took discipline not to lean down and kiss her. Instead, he brushed a kiss over her mouth in his mind.
“Sara and Falcon have a few people who help them out during the daylight hours when they can’t be there. There’s Maria, who is their full-time nanny. Slavica and her daughter both help as well. Slavica and her husband, Mirko, own the local inn and she’s very busy as a rule, but when there’s need, she comes. If there’s trouble during the afternoons, we have Jubal and Gary and Slavica’s husband to guard them,” Savannah explained.
“The oldest boy, Travis, is eleven now. He’s the oldest of the seven,” Mikhail said. “He’s Falcon’s shadow and he’s already learning how to fight. Falcon and the other adults work with all the children. They have to know our enemies, just as all of us were taught. Travis looks out for the others. The little girl he has his arm around is Emma. She’s the youngest girl.”
Fen could see the boy was older beyond his years. Even while he seemed to be taking in every detail of the story, he was watching his siblings. When two of the boys began punching each other and then knocked into one of the girls, he pinned them with a very adult look and both stopped their antics immediately. One whispered an apology to the girl seated beside him.
He indicated the byplay with his chin. “He definitely has their attention.”
“That’s Peter and Lucas. They’re both ten and a handful. Jase, the youngest boy, is sitting very close to him and keeps scooting closer,” Raven told them with a little laugh.
As the story progressed, Fen could see the littlest boy with a mop of blond hair inch closer and closer to Travis. “Chrissy is the one Lucas bumped into and Blythe is sitting beside her. They’re all human, but the psychic talents they possess are extraordinary.”
“Where in the world did Sara find them?” Tatijana asked.
“She read an article in a magazine about children living in the sewers because they had nowhere else to go. These children are all throwaways. They had to scavenge for food. There were much older children who also lived in family units or gangs, whatever you prefer to call it, and they robbed this group often. It was Travis who protected them and stole most of the food for them,” Savannah explained. “They’re extremely loyal to him.”
“Travis is still a little shy around me,” Mikhail admitted. “A couple of years ago, he was used by a vampire to spy on us.”
“Worse,” Raven said, “he was possessed. The vampire used him to try to kill Mikhail. He blamed himself when there was nothing he could have done.”
“That’s why he works so hard to learn everything he can about the vampire and how to fight him,” Mikhail continued. “It’s hard to convince him it wasn’t his fault.”
“How sad,” Tatijana said. “He’s just a little boy. He shouldn’t have to contend with monsters at his age.”
“Unfortunately,” Mikhail said, “None of us have a choice. This is our world. It would do no good for Travis and the rest of the children to be kept in the dark about the existence of vampires. They come under attack every time we do. When they’re older, we’ll give them a choice to convert, but for now, it’s better to train them how to fight.”
“I agree,” Tatijana admitted, “but it’s still sad.”
Savannah smiled up at her. “Don’t be sad tonight. Those children are happy and are very loved. We help raise them as a community and they know they can come to any of us if they’re in trouble or upset about anything.”
“They’re beautiful,” Tatijana said. “How’s Sara’s pregnancy coming along this time?”
“So far, she’s hanging in there. We’re hoping she makes it to full term, although Gregori says it’s doubtful. Nevertheless, he says the baby is strong and has a good chance of survival. She’s taking it one rising at a time,” Raven added.
“Are the children excited about the baby?” Fen asked.
Mikhail nodded. “We’re a society that believes every single child born is a gift and they believe that as well. So far even Jase hasn’t shown any anxiety, just excitement.”
Fen noticed how all the Carpathians, men and women alike stopped by the storytelling circle, dropping a hand on a child’s shoulder or affectionately ruffling their hair. The gestures brought back long forgotten memories of his own childhood and the fire circles with the elders telling the stories and the warriors and lifemates assuring the young children by those silent gestures that they were safe and surrounded by those who loved them.
Time might have marched on. Centuries had gone by and tremendous strides had been made in technology. Huge changes had taken place in the world. Still, he found it comforting that his people held certain things close to their hearts. The trappings around them may have changed, but the love for their children remained.
Raven and Mikhail were called away by another couple and Savannah laughingly rushed to go to the aid of her lifemate as the twins, the prince’s son and nephew all tried to topple him so they could use him
as a jungle gym.
“Tatijana.” Natalya rushed up to them. “I’m sorry I’m so late. We were trying to locate Razvan and Ivory. I know they’d want to see you.” She looked around her, disappointment showing for a moment in her eyes. “Branislava didn’t come with you?”
“She may come a little later,” Tatijana said. “I’d love to see your brother and his lifemate,” she added to take the attention away from her sister. “I’ve missed Razvan, and there’s so much we have to talk about.”
Natalya glanced around at the crowd laughing and talking together. Many conversations were taking place in small groups. “Would it bother you if I asked you a couple of questions about Xavier and Razvan? It would mean a lot to me.”
Fen reached for Tatijana’s hand, feeling the sudden distress in her mind. Outwardly she looked perfectly serene. Even her smile was welcoming and gracious.
“What would you like to know?”
Natalya pressed her lips together tightly. “Razvan and I were always so close. He didn’t want Xavier to know that I was the one capable of spells, so he took my place and saved me. Did you know that?”
Tatijana nodded. “Yes. It was his choice, Natalya. He discovered early on how evil Xavier was and more than anything else he wanted you safe.”
Natalya shook her head, her eyes downcast. “We spent so much of our time in each other’s mind. I knew him. I knew how he thought and yet . . .” She trailed off.
Vikirnoff, who had been talking to his brother Nicolae, turned around abruptly and instantly was at her side as if sensing her distress. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back into the shelter of his body.
“What is it?” Tatijana asked gently. “I’m your sister-kin. There is nothing you can tell me that would make me love you less.”
“Were you aware Xavier was the one possessing Razvan’s body against his will and forcing him to do such terrible things, or did you think my brother did them?” Natalya took a deep breath. “I mean, they were such hideous crimes. All those women giving birth to children Xavier wanted to use just for their blood. And if they didn’t measure up to his standards he threw them away. Like poor little Skyler being sold to that awful man she thought was her father.”
“We were there in the caves and observed firsthand Razvan taking blood from his own child, and of course, he stabbed Bronnie so she couldn’t escape the ice cave. But we knew it was Xavier using his grandson as a puppet in his never-ending quest for immortality and power.”
“I wouldn’t believe the things I heard about him, or even saw with my own eyes for so long, but in the end, I stopped believing in him,” Natalya said, sorrow in her eyes. “When he needed me most, I wasn’t there.”
“Natalya.” Tatijana took both of her hands. “You must know Razvan would never hold such a thing against you. He loves you very much. How could he not? The thought that you were free and happy somewhere in the world kept him going all those years. We spoke of it often in the beginning, when he hadn’t been so worn down. Before Xavier murdered the little mage, Lara’s mother, in front of him and left Razvan chained there with her body. After that, Razvan rarely communicated with us.”
“Xavier was so hideous, so evil,” Natalya said with a small shudder. “I have a hard time with the idea that he’s actually my grandfather.”
Tatijana touched Fen’s mind, almost as if she needed reassurance. Those little moments, when his warrior woman was vulnerable tugged at his heartstrings.
“Xavier is my father,” Tatijana said. “He tried to destroy an entire species. He created children using his own son, just for their blood. He tortured and killed well over a thousand individuals of several species, including my mother and brother for his experiments. The list of his heinous crimes could go on for hours, but I refuse to feel shame or guilt for the terrible things he did. I was tortured and imprisoned by him just like his other victims. Bronnie, Razvan and I survived by relying on one another and through Razvan, you, Natalya. In a way, you saved us all. That’s what you need to always keep in your heart.”
Fen was more proud of her in that moment than when she’d fought off the rogue pack so fearlessly. The moment she’d reached out to him telepathically, he had merged his mind with hers, and he felt her response to Xavier’s name. Just his name. She had slammed the door on the memories welling up, but his name made her feel ill.
Tatijana?
Merged so deep with her, Fen heard Branislava’s voice when she reached out to her sister. Clearly Tatijana’s distress and that glimpse of a horrific childhood and the ensuing years had been enough to cause alarm in Branislava.
You have need of me?
At once Tatijana soothed her sister. No. No. I’m sorry I disturbed you. I was talking of difficult times with Natalya. But it is fun here and nice to see the children. The prince has a son, Gregori has twin daughters and Jacques has a beautiful little boy as well. Sara and Falcon have seven amazing children. The world seems a different place with children in it, Bronnie.
He didn’t manage to wipe out our people, did he, Tatijana?
No, my sister, he did not. All those times you fought to slow his experiments down, all the times you ruined them and he had to start over, were for good. You risked your life and in the end it paid off.
There was pride in Tatijana’s voice, and Fen caught glimpses of her past, vignettes of memories where she laid, heart beating fast, fist jammed in her mouth to keep herself from making any noise while her sister crawled to Xavier’s laboratory and sabotaged his latest work. Tatijana had been terrified Xavier would kill Branislava or enact one of his terrible punishments.
She’s amazing, he whispered to Tatijana. Her courage is terrifying.
Tatijana beamed at him. She was always the brave one. She defied Xavier at every turn and when he threatened me, she always got between us. I was always a little more timid when I was young. I learned to take a stand and fight for the things that are important from her.
“Thank you so much, Tatijana, for saying those things to me,” Natalya said. “I can’t seem to forgive myself for losing faith in my brother.”
“You know I was the one who convinced you Razvan was evil,” Vikirnoff said. “You never would have thought it, even for a moment.”
“You were just protecting me,” Natalya said. “You didn’t know him. How could you think anything else? But I’m his sister, and he sacrificed so much for me. For all of us.”
Tatijana shook her head. “The future lies in front of us. We have each other now. Razvan escaped and found his lifemate. He feels happy to me whenever I touch him, even from a distance. I’m very happy with my lifemate as you are with yours, Natalya. Razvan is incapable of holding grudges. He’s seen so much and been through so much there is little that can ever be done to him that would ever shock or hurt him. He would want you to be happy, Natalya. Think of it like that. If you think you owe him, then be happy. That’s all that ever mattered to him.”
“I think that’s an excellent idea,” Fen said. He took Tatijana’s arm and drew her a little away from the others, out toward the center of the cave, right in the middle of the crowd. “And now if you don’t mind, I have something important to say to my lifemate.”
15
There was something mischievous about the way Fen pulled Tatijana into the center of the crowd that warned her he was up to something. He had both laughter and something else in his expression, something that totally melted her heart. When Fen looked at her like that—so playful and carefree, Tatijana was lost. How could she not be? The lines in his face eased. There was merriment in his eyes when he looked at her. There was peace in his heart. And love in his mind.
He had seen so many horrific things over the centuries. He had fought endless battles that had resulted in mortal wounds. She was the one who had brought light and hope and peace to him. She brought joy and laughter. Companionship and most importantl
y belonging. She couldn’t help but fall deeper in love when he was looking at her like that.
When they reached the middle of the room, he stepped away from her and gave her an old-world, very courtly bow.
He looked the perfect gentleman and she couldn’t help dropping a small curtsey back to him. His smile told her it had been the right thing to do. The cavern hushed. Even the children. From somewhere behind her, music began to play.
You caught a forest scent by fate’s strange chance,
and found me—though you had not sought romance.
He sang the words to her, his voice shocking her with its perfect pitch and a sexy rasp to it that sent a chill down her spine. He held out his hand to her, continuing in song.
Still I sing; lady, may I have this dance?
Tatijana felt tears burning behind her eyes. Music grew louder, taking on a rhythmic beat. She didn’t know where it came from, and she couldn’t look away from Fen to see who he’d enlisted to help him make this night special for her. She placed her hand in his. He took it gently and brought her in close to him. She actually was shaking as she put her other hand on his shoulder.
Music swelled in the cavern as he began to move with his fluid grace until she felt as if she was floating. His mouth moved against her ear. “This is for you alone, my lady,” he whispered. “I wrote it for you.”
He began to sing again while they moved in perfect synchronization, their bodies close while her heart found and followed the rhythm of his.
I roamed the lonely centuries in the dark,
This Fenris wolf near famished for the light.
Then you appeared—a sudden brilliant spark,
My miracle who banishes my night.
Tatijana laid her head against his chest and closed her eyes, savoring the feeling of floating and the way his body felt so warm and hard against hers as they moved together. His arms were strong, holding her safe in a world where she knew madness and monsters often lurked.
Dark Lycan (Carpathian) Page 28