Christine Feehan 5 CARPATHIAN NOVELS

by Christine Feehan

  Colby’s stomach gave an uncomfortable lurch. Her skin felt oversensitized and something fiery hot swept through her insides, searing every organ in her body. Rafael lifted his head alertly. She could see knowledge in his eyes. Colby pushed at him to get him off of her, the strange wave of heat scaring her. “It hurts to have you touching me.” Her insides were suddenly on fire and she felt sick. She pushed at him harder, as the air left her lungs in a rush of flames.

  Colby’s eyes went wide with shock. Rafael felt the first wash of guilt. It wasn’t a comfortable feeling and one he’d only experienced since meeting her. He rolled over, settling next to her, his arm caging her without touching her, his eyes watchful.

  “What’s happening to me?” Knowledge mixed with her pain. “You know, don’t you? What have you done this time?” The breath left her body and she nearly convulsed, her body going rigid as pain gripped her. Nails bit deep into his arm.

  “Just breathe, Colby.” He hadn’t expected the conversion to be so violent. His heart twisted. What if something went wrong?

  “Answer me! God, at least you can tell me what you’ve done to me.”

  “You are beginning to go through the conversion.” Her pain swirled inside of him, mixing with guilt and terror for her.

  “I trusted you.” Her eyes were accusing, ravaged with pain and betrayal. She gasped the words, half sitting, attempting to twist away from him as she made the accusation. “How could you ever tell me you loved me? Do you think this is love? You wouldn’t know love if it slapped you in the face. Love isn’t betrayal and it isn’t domination, robbing me of free will. I was trying to get to you in my own way and you took even that from me.” The pain twisted like a knife inside of her and her eyes clouded. “I trusted you,” she whispered again, her voice breaking.

  Rafael stiffened. It hadn’t been like that. He knew he had to convert her for all their sakes. He wouldn’t carry dominance that far. Was he such a monster after all? The next wave was already building, rushing through her like a fireball, scorching skin and organs. She broke into a sweat and blood beaded on her pores. He whispered her name, brought cooling water from the waterfall to bathe her face. She turned her face away from him, clearly not wanting his help as her body went rigid with the next terrible blossoming pain. It swept through her, searing everything in its path.

  Fear lived and breathed inside of her. She pushed herself up, tried to crawl away from him, a hurt, wounded animal. He caught her in firm hands, his insides churning with bile. He had done this to her, in his own arrogance believing he had the right to her. He had no idea of the suffering the conversion would cause and it sickened him.

  The pain was excruciating. Colby’s eyes were glazed and her body writhed. “Did you do this to me so you could take Paul and Ginny?” She made the accusation hysterically. “You really aren’t any different from the vampire controlling Paul.”

  The hurt in her eyes, the suggestion of betrayal shattered his soul. Did she see him like that? Did she honestly believe he could do this to her to get the children from her? His soul shrieked in reprimand, in horror at him for what he’d done. He felt moisture on his face, knew he shed tears, knew he had committed an unpardonable act. She had been making her way to him but his lack of patience could very well have destroyed his fragile hold on her emotions.

  He bent over her so she could see he told the stark truth. “I love you more than my own life, more than anything on this earth. I had no idea it would be like this. I swear I am telling you the truth. I am more sorry than you will ever know for bringing you into my world without your consent.”

  She looked up at his ravaged face, the blood red tears seeping from his eyes, and her heart fluttered with forgiveness for one brief moment. The next wave hit and she turned away from him, writhing and convulsing, the fire burning her from the inside out.

  Rafael could only remain helplessly by her side as the conversion took control of her body, forcing her to rid it of toxins, of everything human. His power meant little in the face of such pain. He attempted to take the pain for her, but it was impossible. They had no choice but to ride it out together. He tried to hold her, to comfort her, washing her, rocking her, murmuring as much encouragement as he could to her. All the while he felt he was dying inside. He couldn’t take the pain from his lifemate. He couldn’t take back what he’d done. He had to go forward now no matter the cost and he was afraid the price was going to be much higher than anything he’d ever considered.

  When it was safe, he opened the mineral-rich soil and floated down into the depths of the earth, holding her in his arms. For the first time in centuries he found himself weeping hard, feeling lost and ashamed of his own actions.

  18

  Paul writhed on the bed, drenched in sweat, the sheets twisted around his body. “I won’t do it. Colby! Colby!” He screamed for his sister and pushed both hands flat over his ears. “I won’t. You can’t make me.”

  Ginny sat up, looking around the strange bedroom. She was sharing a room with her friend Tanya. She could hear her brother muttering and sometimes shouting for Colby. Immediately she got up and, with a quick glance at the sleeping Tanya, hurried out of the room and down the hall to where her brother was staying. Juan and Julio were already up and coming out of their rooms. Julio extended his hand to her with a warm smile. Ginny hesitated a moment before she placed her hand in his. “I think Paul’s having nightmares,” she whispered.

  “Does he have them often?” Julio asked with a quick glance at his brother.

  She shook her head. “Not Paul.” She knocked once and pushed open the door. Paul knelt up on the bed, his eyes wild, his chest bare. Only his pajama bottoms covered him. The sheet was a tangle on the floor, ripped in several places. Ginny could see Paul’s skin was coated in sweat. He had a knife poised over his wrist. There were several small cuts on his arm and each trickled blood.

  He shook his head hard, tears welling up. “Get out. Get out, Ginny. Hurry.”

  Julio caught Ginny to him and pushed her behind him even as he held out his hand to Paul. “You cannot do this thing, Paul. Give me the knife. Fight it. Fight what the vampire orders you to do.”

  Paul looked helpless, a small child seeking an adult’s understanding. “I have been fighting, for hours now. I can’t hold out any longer. I can’t. Where’s Colby? You have to tell her I tried to fight it.”

  “Listen to me, Paul.” Julio pitched his voice low, keeping the boy’s attention centered on him so Juan could begin to maneuver his way along the edge of the wall toward their nephew. “It’s the vampire. He’s trying to use you to hurt Colby. You don’t want him to hurt your sister, do you? If he can succeed in taking your life, she’ll never be the same. He knows Colby loves you.”

  Tears poured down the boy’s face. “He whispers to me all the time. I’ve tried, but I can’t seem to stop myself.”

  Ginny made a single sound of distress, drawing Paul’s attention. He shook his head. “Please, Ginny. Please get out of here. I don’t want you to see me like this. You can’t watch.”

  Paul felt the vampire stirring again. Just before dawn the creature had begun to work on him. He seemed distant and weak, at times losing the contact. Paul had the impression he was injured in some way, but then he would renew his attack, whispering commands, demanding compliance. Demanding Paul cut himself over and over, insisting he take his own life. Paul fought hard against the commands, but the vampire wore him down. Where was Nicolas? Where was Rafael? Both had promised to help him.

  The vampire gripped him hard in his thrall. He’d gathered his strength and made one concentrated attempt to force the boy into compliance. Paul’s eyes opened wide, staring into space as he felt the undead move within him. For one ghastly moment he was aware of the creature in his head, looking through his eyes in triumphant glee. He felt the terrible bite of the blade into his flesh. It hurt, a searing pain that lanced through his body. Time stopped. In that heartbeat, five separate people were joined together. Nicola
s and Rafael had taken Paul’s blood and they were suddenly aware, brought out of their sleep, sharing his head with the vampire. They could all see one another; feel one another. It was sobering and terrible, the vampire elated, his evil laughter a harsh echo in Paul’s mind.

  Through Rafael, Colby joined them. Paul felt her awareness, the scream of anguish welling up. The terrible moment when he was conscious of Colby, buried beneath the ground, trying to claw her way up through the soil to try to reach the surface and get to him. In that heartbeat they were all together and the vampire threw back his head and laughed in triumphant glee.

  Juan dove for Paul, knocking him back on the bed, wrestling the knife from him. Paul blinked rapidly to clear his blurring sight and to try to focus on what was really happening. The thought of Colby buried alive made him ill. His wrist burned and his uncles were tying him down so he couldn’t hurt himself while they worked on stopping the flow of blood. Paul could hear Ginny crying, but he couldn’t move, couldn’t find his voice, could only lie still with his heart pounding and a terrible dread beginning to flood his brain. The vampire wasn’t finished.

  Colby. Rafael caught her to him as she struggled wildly, tearing through soil with her bare hands to get to her brother. He had placed her in a deep sleep. Nothing should have disturbed her. Nothing should have penetrated the safeguards to awaken her, yet she was frantic to get to Paul.

  It is her Dragonseeker blood, Nicolas explained calmly. She is far stronger than either of us realized.

  It was true. Rafael knew her bloodline provided the iron in her will and also enhanced the tremendous sexual hunger she couldn’t overcome when she was around her lifemate. The bloodline was both her strength and her downfall. Her pain and anguish tore at him. Querida. He smoothed her hair, pulled her hands away from the soil. Paul will not die. You cannot leave this place of healing. He could still feel the fire in her body, her organs still undergoing the reshaping.

  Get away from me! What have you done? Oh, God, Paul’s hurt. I have to get to him. Help me get out of here.

  Nicolas and I will go to him. Juan and Julio have him and Sean is there. You cannot leave the earth yet. You are not healed and the light would harm you. Rafael tried to provide a calm, cleansing breeze of sanity in the nightmare Colby found herself in. His hands were gentle as he tried to restrain her.

  She didn’t stop clawing at the soil. Rafael was forced to pin her wrists together. She was going to do damage to herself. Colby, pequena, be calm. Nicolas is rising. We will stop him. You cannot do this without causing harm to yourself. He tried to be reasonable, but she was breaking his heart. He wasn’t a man familiar with his gentle, tender side and his fierce, protective nature demanded he force obedience.

  Damn you, I don’t care about myself. I have to get to him. He’s hurt. For God’s sake, Rafael, he tried to kill himself. He’s only a boy.

  Her distress raked at him, tore his heart to shreds. I will make certain he is safe. Sleep, Colby. He pushed hard with the command.

  She didn’t succumb, her Dragonseeker blood rising to protect her. Go to hell, Rafael. He’s my brother. If you don’t get me out of here, I’ll get out myself.

  He was enormously strong and there was no way to fight him physically and win. You cannot, meu amor. Sleep now. This time he took command, not allowing her to use her blood or will against him.

  I will not ever forgive you for this. She succumbed to his compulsion, reluctantly fading into the sleep of their people, but not before he felt the rift between them. It yawned wide, a great chasm that might not ever be bridged. And he couldn’t blame her. For a moment, he lay beside her, holding her in his arms, his heart pounding with fear for her, for their future. There was steel in Colby. She might never be able to resist him physically, but if she made up her mind to keep from feeling anything else for him . . .

  Rafael groaned. He couldn’t blame her. He had converted her without her permission, forced her into his way of life, and while she was beneath the ground, the vampire had attacked her brother. He stroked her silky hair, his lips pressed against her temple. I could not survive without you, meu amor. I know you are my heart and soul. Find a way to love me through all of this. When he was alone thinking of her, when there was a knot of love in his throat so large he couldn’t swallow at the thought of her courage and her strength, when he was longing to be with her, so aroused at the mere thought of her loving him, needing him, he thought of all kinds of poetic things to say to her. But when she stood in front of him, her green eyes blazing defiance and her mouth and body a sinful temptation, he lost all good sense and went for domination. How were they going to get through this one?

  Rafael burst through the soil, the early morning light hurting his skin and eyes, but definitely tolerable. He shifted in the air, assuming his favorite shape of the harpy eagle, and began winging his way toward Sean Everett’s ranch. Simultaneously he felt Nicolas rise, and knew he was heading for the ranch as well.

  I should have considered that Kirja might retaliate against the boy. There was deep regret in Rafael. I knew he was wounded and thought he would go to ground to recover, not use his last remaining strength for revenge.

  He will be in bad shape now. If we can find his resting place, we may be able to kill him before he can regain his strength, Nicolas ventured.

  Rafael blistered Nicolas’s mind with a string of curses. Do you have any idea what I have done? She will not forgive me.

  She is your lifemate. Eternity is a long time even for a Dragonseeker to hold on to anger. Do you have an idea where the vampire has constructed his lair?

  Maybe, Rafael said thoughtfully.

  The ranch house was blazing with lights. He dropped low, into the front yard, shifting to vapor so he could easily enter the house and appear as if he’d come from his assigned bedroom. Nicolas met him in the hall and they hurried to Paul’s room.

  Sean Everett stood, grim-faced, his arm around Joclyn, while Julio comforted Ginny, who clearly refused to leave.

  “Forgive me, Paul,” Nicolas greeted. “I slept soundly when I should have been on watch.”

  “We thought you were safe,” Rafael said. He closed his eyes for a moment, knowing he had no choice. Colby loved this boy. For her sake, for the child’s sake, he had to be sent away where the vampire couldn’t touch him should they fail in their efforts to destroy the undead. Colby would never forgive him. A dread began to settle in the pit of his stomach.

  Paul lifted his head. His face was very pale, dark circles prominent under his eyes as he regarded the two Carpathians. “I held out against him a long time.”

  “I know you did. I am proud of you.” Rafael reached out and deliberately circled the ragged tear in the wrist, his palm covering the gaping wound. “I have some ability to heal. Allow me.”

  Juan kept his hand on Paul’s shoulder in a gesture of solidarity. “He fought hard, Don Rafael, Don Nicolas, and this time we were able to stop him. But what of next time?” He looked at them. “There will be a next time.”

  Nicolas nodded. “We must put distance between Paul and our enemy.” He looked straight at Rafael, reading the fear of what it would do to Colby. Rafael’s nod was nearly imperceptible.

  “Would someone like to tell me what is going on?” Sean said. “Juan and Julio refused to allow me to call the doctor. By rights, Paul should be in the hospital where he can receive psychiatric counseling as well as medical care.”

  Nicolas shook his head. “Our old enemy has found us and he is attempting to use Paul for revenge. Paul has been hypnotized to do his bidding.” He smiled at the teenager. “Paul is much stronger than any of us realized. I am proud of you.”

  “We should call Ben,” Sean insisted.

  Nicolas turned his head to look directly into Sean’s eyes. “It is better we handle this alone. It was only an accident. The boy was careless playing with his knife and we do not want him to be food for gossip in a small town.”

  Sean nodded. “I agree it’s best not to say an
ything.”

  “If we were to take Colby, Paul, and Ginny to Brazil, Sean, would you and your men be able to run her ranch? We would be willing to pay you to care for Paul and Ginny’s property until they came of age. If neither wanted it and wished to remain in Brazil with us, we would sell the ranch to you if you desired the property,” Rafael offered.

  “Colby’s going to be pissed,” Paul whispered.

  “Colby told you not to use that word,” Ginny said, sticking her head out from behind Julio. Her eyes were very large as she looked at her brother. “What’s Rafael doing to you?”

  Rafael’s hand remained wrapped around Paul’s wrist. The angry-looking cuts seemed to be fading into the area Rafael’s palm covered.

  “Does it hurt?” Ginny persisted.

  “Not anymore. Rafael’s making it feel better.”

  “What do you say, Sean? Can you and your crew handle the extra acreage and work load?” Rafael asked. He knew what Colby would think and he knew what he risked by sending the children away, but there was no other choice. He wanted to rip something apart, wanted to destroy everything around him. He wanted to forbid his brother to send Paul and Ginny away, but he knew she loved these two children. Through her, he had learned to love them and, more than his own happiness, he had to put Colby first. And that meant sending Paul away to keep him safe. Now, this night. As soon as possible.

  “We are talking a large amount of money, Sean. You will need to pay your men,” Nicolas added as a further enticement, glancing warily at his brother, reading his tormented thoughts and feeling the tension rising in the room.

  “What about Colby?” Sean inquired. “The last I heard, she was hell-bent on running the ranch herself.”

  “Rafael and Colby are getting . . .” Nicolas glanced at Juan.

  “Casam-se,” Juan supplied. “They are getting married.”