Christine Feehan 5 CARPATHIAN NOVELS

by Christine Feehan

I do not belong with the prince. I belong with you.

  Natalya sighed and waited until he politely closed the gash on her wrist with his tongue. His touch was a velvet rasp that sent heat right up her arm. “I don’t think we’re right for one another. You don’t even like me, Vikirnoff. My grandmother couldn’t have been a true lifemate to her Carpathian if she fell in love with my grandfather. I was told the binding words only work on a true pair. I do not think we are true lifemates. We aren’t compatible.”

  Vikirnoff opened his eyes. She had forgotten how black his eyes were. How intense his gaze was. Even in the darkness she could see that he had night vision, just as she did. “Rhiannon was with her true lifemate. Xavier murdered her lifemate and imprisoned her.”

  “She was in love with Xavier. I’ve heard many stories about their life together. Their time was short, but they lived every moment together happy.”

  His tongue moistened his dry lips. Natalya’s heart jumped. She couldn’t stand to see him in pain. “There was a war, Natalya. People were being killed. Do you believe she would have been happy? Would you have been? Xavier wanted immortality. He had longevity, but only Carpathians could live on and on. He was a powerful wizard but he couldn’t find a way to live forever as he wanted.” His voice trailed off.

  “Don’t talk anymore. We don’t need to do this now.” She didn’t want to think about Xavier or her troubled nightmares of him. She didn’t want to think about her father or mother. Most of all she didn’t want to think about Razvan. “Please, just go to sleep and do me the courtesy of staying out of me mind.”

  His eyes closed. That is an unreasonable request. If I do not share your mind, how can I see to your health and safety and happiness? It is my duty as your lifemate to provide these things.

  Natalya sat with her back to the wall, knees drawn up, guns beside her, knives and sword within arm’s reach. She laid her head on her knees and closed her eyes. “It isn’t unreasonable at all. If it makes me happy to have privacy, then it stands to reason you should honor my request.”

  There was a long silence. So long she didn’t think he was going to answer. You are confused about what is between us and you are emotional. It can be difficult at first adjusting to what seems an intrusion in your life.

  Natalya allowed herself to relax. She needed sleep desperately and couldn’t understand why Vikirnoff hadn’t fully succumbed to the leaden state that took the Carpathian people when the sun was high. She preferred to sleep in the afternoon, and the sun burned her eyes, but she could push past the discomfort and go outside as long as her skin was protected. She probably should have gone out and found blood for herself, but frankly, she was too tired.

  “I’m an intrusion in your life as well,” she pointed out. “We don’t have to give in to this thing.” Whatever the thing was.

  Vikirnoff was silent even longer. She didn’t understand and he couldn’t really blame her. He had to admire her, going against her beliefs to aid him. Guilt surrounded her, ate at her along with her complete bewilderment. The pull between lifemates was extremely strong and she felt it every bit as deeply as he. It is not a choice, ainaak enyém. Without you the darkness would take me. I cannot allow that to happen and neither can you. You know how evil the vampire is. I have fought such creatures most of my life. I will not become the undead. Not even for my misguided lifemate.

  Damn him. He had a way of turning her words around on her. She bit at her knuckles to keep from ranting at him. He believed what he was saying. Worse, she believed it as well. She let her breath out slowly, waiting until she was calm. “You would become a vampire? Why?”

  A Carpathian male cannot exist for all time without his lifemate. We are two halves of the same whole. You are the light to my darkness and without you, I have two choices. To seek the dawn or to succumb to that darkness. I have waited too long to make the first choice.

  She detested the honesty in his voice. She detested everything about the situation. “So Carpathian males turn into vampires. That’s where vampires come from.”

  This was not taught to you?

  “Who would teach it to me?” Natalya sighed. “No wonder you hunters are a such a murderous lot. That’s why I feel the darkness in you. You are very much like the vampire.”

  Yes and no.

  “This is just great news. My intended is the undead waiting to happen. Do I have a neon sign stamped on my forehead? If you’re a bloodsucking evil monster, willing to murder and wreak havoc, please apply.”

  She felt his faint amusement and tried not to smile when she was so exasperated with the situation. “Go to sleep. And Vikirnoff, I have my own darkness in me. I cannot be your light. There’s been a mistake. I just haven’t figured out what to do about it yet.”

  5

  “Natalya! Hurry. You’relate again. Grandfather is going to be angry with you.”

  “I don’t like going to see him. He has scary eyes.”

  Razvan puffed out his chest, his mop of tawny hair falling into his eyes. “I’ll protect you. If he is mean to you, I’ll tell him we’re going to leave.”

  Natalya sucked in her breath and skidded to a halt, her silky hair flying in all directions. She shook her head solemnly. “No, Razvan, he gets very angry when you stick up for me. I don’t want him to punish you. I know he was mean to you the last time you got mad at him for making me cry. You were too quiet and you didn’t tell me what he did to you.”

  “I don’t care what he does to me. I won’t let him hurt you. Not now, not ever.”

  “Why won’t Father come back? I don’t like being all alone. Mother is dead and Father went off and left us and now we just have Grandfather. I don’t like him. You know Father wouldn’t want us to live with Grandfather. He didn’t like Grandfather either.”

  “Ssh.” Razvan looked around, his too-old eyes suddenly wary as he threw his arm around his sister’s shoulders. “Don’t say that. He might hear you. He always knows what we talk about unless me meet in our dreams. We have to be careful, Natalya. Don’t trust anyone. Don’t trust Grandfather and don’t be alone with him. Something bad could happen.”

  Natalya spun around as something thudded against the door. When she turned back, Razvan was gone. Alarmed she ran down the familiar steps leading to her grandfather’s workshop and pounded on the door. It was locked and no one came to let her in. She slid down the door to the ground, tears running down her face. Razvan would be punished because she hadn’t obeyed. He would suffer the wrath meant for her.

  Through the sound of her sobs she heard her twin’s voice. He sounded far away from her. “Natalya? Where are you? I can’t see you? Something’s wrong with me. Am I dead? Did you kill me? No, no, the hunter killed me . . . Where are you, Natalya? Tell me where you are!”

  Razvan’s plaintive cry wrenched at her heart. “I’m here, Razvan. At the inn.”

  Natalya woke with a start, tears running down her face. Her legs were cramped from staying in the same position for so long and her heart was pounding. Adrenaline flooded her body.

  She and Razvan had been ten years old when their father had disappeared. She hated when reality or nightmares intruded into her precious memories of Razvan. She had no recall of her grandfather. She could only think that the events of the day had brought him into her dreams. Guilt weighed heavily on her mind and in her heart. Razvan was dead, killed by a merciless hunter and her guilt had entered her beloved dreams and twisted them, giving her a bad taste in her mouth and making alarm bells chime like crazy.

  What had awoken her? She glanced at Vikirnoff. He remained still, no hint of breath moving through his lungs. No discernible heartbeat. She was still suspicious. She had seen him like that before yet he had been reading her thoughts.

  Uneasiness spread through her mind. Her stomach churned and the hair on the back of her neck stood up. Something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong. She snatched up her guns and stood listening at the door. Nothing. She ran her hands over the door. The safeguards were intact, so
me of the strongest she’d ever woven. Still, the feeling wouldn’t go away. Something was not quite right. She glanced nervously at the bed.

  Vikirnoff lay as if dead and then suddenly, without warning his eyes snapped open and his breath hissed out in a deadly snarl. Natalya nearly jumped out of her skin. His gaze shifted immediately to her face.

  What danger has awakened me from my slumber?

  So you feel it, too? She turned in a circle in the center of the room, trying to become a tuning fork to ferret out the threat.

  Get out of here. Go now, Natalya.

  She crossed to the window and ran her hands over the drapes. She had no idea what she was searching for, but she didn’t find anything. The feeling of dread was overwhelming. It’s a good thing I have a big ego or you’d crush me with always wanting me to go away. She shot Vikirnoff a quick assessing glance. Should there be need, he would not be able to fight physically. He couldn’t move at all, paralyzed by the time of day. She was tired and sluggish herself, but she had her weapons and whatever threatened them was going to get more then it bargained for.

  She faced the door again. She felt a terrible dread each time she turned in that direction. Her gaze shifted around the room. The danger was palpable, but she couldn’t find the source.

  Natalya, get out. You must go. You can make it out the window. Protect your eyes and leave this place.

  It isn’t after me. It’s after you. She was certain she was right and she didn’t even know what it was.

  She stepped back toward the bed, and positioned herself between Vikirnoff and the door. Her hands sketched an intricate pattern, while she murmured an ancient revealing spell. Whatever stalked the hunter was cloaked and it had to have known how to slip past the safeguards woven around the door. She didn’t want to think of the possibilities of what that would mean.

  Vikirnoff watched Natalya through half closed eyes. Even in the darkened the room, his eyes burned, but he couldn’t look away from her. Natalya seemed to glow. Power radiated from her, surged in the air around them. Electricity snapped and crackled. Natalya’s hair flowed around her, rising upward toward the ceiling. Her hands pressed forward, her voice never ceasing.

  Something shimmered in the room. Transparent. A shadow, bent over and creeping along on the floor. Natalya could barely see it as it inched toward the bed. Insubstantial, the shadow was made of ever-moving black and gray smoke. Fierce flames burned in the eerie red eyes. For a moment her heart ceased to beat, then it went into overtime, pounding so hard she was afraid it would leap out of her chest.

  Vikirinoff. This is a shadow warrior. There was awe in her voice and ragged horror. Better to face three vampires and a legion of humans.

  You must leave now.

  She wanted to leave. She was so frightened it amounted to terror. You cannot defeat a shadow warrior in your condition. Even if you weren’t so badly wounded, it’s full day. The sun alone would put you at a terrible disadvantage. I can’t leave you defenseless.

  Listen to me, Natalya. This thing is legendary. I have only heard of them and their skills. I have never faced one. But even if you were a seasoned hunter at full strength it is said that no one can hope to win a battle with a shadow warrior. We thought them long gone from this world.

  Natalya watched as the whirling cloud of vapor stood fully upright. Most of the time, the creature appeared to be nothing more than smoke, but there were moments she caught a brief glimpse of armor. The flames in the sunken eyes burned madly as the creature looked around the room. All the while the smoke was in constant motion, swirls of gray and black that seemed no more than a vague transparent film.

  Self-preservation was strong in her and Natalya looked longingly at the drape-covered window. Why isn’t he attacking?

  Vikirnoff could lie passive, conserving his strength in order to have one chance at saving Natalya. There was no sense in wasting time arguing with her. She was strong-willed and he doubted if the bond between lifemates would even allow her to leave on her own. That bond, coupled with her personality, would make it impossible. He had to wait for an opportunity to use everything he had to save her life. Legend says movement attracts them. He is not paying any attention to you, but he searches for me.

  The shadow was moving through the room slowly. Once, the gray smoke passed over Natalya and the thing hesitated, but moved on. Only the ancient wise ones used the shadow warriors.

  There was only one ancient wise one capable of commanding the shadow warrior, Natalya.

  Her heart sank. Xavier. She was well aware of the legendary rumor that she knew was a fact. Xavier, her grandfather, the dark mage, had been the one to create the weapon. Unfortunately she didn’t know how they could be destroyed. She lifted her chin. Perhaps she was somehow responsible for this attack.

  Taking a deep breath, she reached for her sword and in one smooth motion, stepped in front of the near-helpless Carpathian.

  What do you think you are doing? His breath left his body in a rush of fear. His chest lifted and fell and that small action combined with Natalya’s movements caused the shadow warrior to swivel its head directly around toward him, the flaming eyes glowing with fervor for the kill.

  Don’t talk. I can’t be distracted. She was already sweating, not a good sign.

  Natalya watched the insubstantial shadow closely. The warrior raised its sword in the traditional manner. She raised hers in answer.

  Vikirnoff watched her, his heart in his throat. She appeared perfectly balanced, her body light and graceful. Rather than a linear pattern, she moved with circular, gliding footwork, deflecting the warrior’s sword as it arced toward Vikirnoff. Metal clashed on metal and sparks flew. Natalya danced away, slicing at the shadow as she glided once more directly into the path between Vikirnoff and the warrior. Her sword sliced through empty air.

  The warrior turned directly toward Natalya. He grew in stature and substance, taking on a much more solid and powerful form. He towered over her, the flickering red of his eyes, tracking her every movement.

  Vikirnoff forced his body to move. It took every ounce of discipline he possessed, every bit of strength of will to overcome the gripping paralysis in order to bring his arm up and wave it in the air. It only lasted a few seconds and the arm flopped lifelessly across his chest, but the warrior turned immediately toward him, drawn by the movement.

  The shadow glided with astonishing speed, sword whistling toward Vikirnoff. Natalya deflected the strike and answered, a blur of motion, her hair crackling, the color going as black as midnight and her eyes burning a bright blue, as she spun around the warrior, sword slicing completely through the shadow at least three times.

  This isn’t working. He’s worse than good old Freddie. Think, Natalya, you’re good at this sort of thing. Think of what to do, she admonished herself.

  He’s gaining strength with the energy. Do you feel it?

  There has to be a way to defeat them. I refuse to believe they’re invincible. She would not believe it. There had to be a way. In truth, she hadn’t felt the growing power in the warrior, she was too busy trying to keep Vikirnoff alive. The shadow warrior wasn’t trying to kill her. It merely saw her as a nuisance in its way. She continually intercepted the warrior’s killing blows, preventing him from destroying Vikirnoff. The hunter was right, though. As the swords came together, her arm and body nearly went completely numb from the force he was generating.

  You cannot kill what is already dead.

  What did the legends say, Vikirnoff? She stepped in front of the bed again, fending off the flashing sword. This time when the blades met, she stumbled under the sheer vigor of the blow.

  Stop all movement.

  If I stop, this father of all Freddies kills you. That’s unacceptable. And before you get too excited by that and think I don’t want you dead, I just plain hate losing.

  It is too many hours before sunset. I cannot aid you with physical fighting.

  Natalya parried another blow and took several slices at the
armor-plated warrior. Her blade moved through smoke. Physical fighting. The words repeated over and over in her head. It was impossible to fight a shadow warrior and win.

  What are they made of? Vikirnoff, hurry! What are they made of?

  They have no substance. They are like Carpathians when we turn to mist. Small molecules, vapor, air. Even water. Dust. Whatever is around to form the particles is used. But he is dead, Natalya. Already dead. You cannot kill him.

  It has to be more than that. It has life, essence. A spirit. Natalya parried another blow and sliced futilely through gray and black smoke.

  The spirit of a lost warrior, taken from the grave without permission and forced to obedience without rest. That’s what a shadow warrior is, right? she asked.

  Vikirnoff again made a supreme effort to redirect the shadow warrior’s attention back to him and away from Natalya. If it slays me, remain absolutely still. It will ignore you and leave.

  Natalya deflected the blade of the shadow warrior from Vikirnoff’s throat and sliced through the transparent body once again, whirling away from the bed so that the warrior tracked her across the room away from the hunter. Stop being so noble. You set my teeth on edge. This thing is really making me angry. Trust me, that is not a good thing. They’re already dead. Think, Natalya. Call on your skills. She continued to instruct herself, staying very focused on the warrior.

  I’m telling you it feeds off energy. The more you move, the more emotion you give it, the stronger the thing becomes. It’s growing in stature, but not form.

  I have a plan. Close your eyes and keep them closed. You’ll have to trust me.

  Vikirnoff immediately merged his mind with hers as she spun in a graceful circle, a blur of motion as she kept the warrior’s attention fully focused on her. Even in the dire circumstances, Vikirnoff found her a beautiful, deadly combination. Grace and power, perfectly balanced, she moved with blurring speed, spinning in circles across the room, blade flying as she gained the covered balcony door. Her gaze shifted once to him, even as she parried another blow from the warrior. Vikirnoff saw her entire body vibrate with the force of the shadow warrior’s strike.