Hands touched her throat. Pushed something into the gaping wound. She looked up into the face of her brother-in-law. Juliette couldn’t stop the tears. She bit down hard to keep from crying out as Rafael gathered her into the safety of his arms.
“It is all right now, little sister. Riordan will destroy it.”
It took a tremendous effort to turn her head toward the vampire. Her neck and throat, in spite of the soothing pack Rafael had placed on her, felt raw and on fire, but she needed to see the vampire killed or he would haunt her dreams for all times.
Riordan dropped out of the sky straight onto the vampire’s back. The beast rose up, snarling, fighting, a whirling demon of claws and teeth, shredding skin, and trying to crack bones. Riordan was far calmer. He locked his legs around the vampire’s neck and slammed his fist deep, punching a hole as he drove through the back toward the heart.
The undead contorted, tried to become insubstantial mist, but Riordan was already locked on him. The vampire threw himself over backward, slamming Riordan into the ground, nearly breaking his neck. Riordan had no choice but to evaporate beneath him, streaking around to the front, already reshaping as he plunged his fist toward the heart, this time through the chest.
The vampire retaliated in kind, desperate to get away, striking the hunter’s chest wall, cracking bones, breaking through skin.
Juliette, locked with Riordan, felt the blow to her own body, pain spreading fast, robbing her of breath and sanity. Just as abruptly, it was cut off and she was no longer merged with Riordan, but left alone with the agony of her own wounds and fear for her lifemate uppermost in her mind.
A second male arrived, then a third. She recognized the family features and knew one of the men must be Manolito, Rafael and Riordan’s brother. The other was definitely Mikhail Dubrinsky, prince of the Carpathian people. She coughed, trying to talk. “Help him.” She was certain she managed to get the words past her raw, gaping throat, but no one rushed to aid Riordan. They seemed more concerned with her.
“We are helping him,” Rafael soothed. “Your life is too important to take chances with and Riordan is quite capable of killing the vampire.”
“We need the richest soil possible,” Mikhail said. “Someone has healed a portion of earth where the battle recently took place. The soil there is dark and lush with minerals. Get that and bring it to the healing cave. If someone can locate the woman with the talent to heal the soil, bring her as well. I’ve sent word to Gregori and Francesca. They will meet us there.”
No one paid attention to Riordan and the vampire. Juliette felt desperate to reach him—to touch him with her mind. She could no longer see her lifemate, Rafael was taking her through the air to some cave she didn’t want to be in. As hard as she tried to, she couldn’t find her voice again and she didn’t dare distract Riordan by using their telepathic link.
Carpathians began arriving, crowding close, answering the call to aid one of their kind. It was frightening to be among so many strangers—so many males. She had done this—with her headstrong nature. The vampire had used her worst fears against her and she’d fallen right into the trap. Had she broadcast her fears? How had he known she would follow a jaguar male? And now Riordan was in danger and no one seemed to care. She shoved at Rafael, tried to struggle, but her arms felt like leaden weights. Where was her strength? And why was her vision so hazy? Everything seemed vague and far away to her.
“Juliette!” Rafael’s voice was sharp and commanding.
She’d always thought him far too overbearing, and would have told him so, but she seemed to be drifting, her surroundings cloudy.
“Juliette.” He hissed her name. “Riordan needs you. Come back now!”
That brought her up short. Of course she could focus for Riordan, but why was Rafael holding her to him instead of allowing her to go to her lifemate? Nothing was making sense and the pain was too great. She closed her eyes, wanting to let go and just drift away.
“I’ve got her now.” That was Riordan. She recognized the safety of his arms, the warmth of his body, the shape and contour of every part of him. His long hair brushed her face as he bent over her, the sensual touch so familiar to her. She smelled his blood, felt him wince when she snuggled closer.
You’re a mess. I need to take care of your wounds. She whispered the invitation to him, turning her head in an effort to inspect his chest.
The healer is here, my love. He will do for me what is necessary. Right now, you stay merged with me. Riordan could feel her spirit sliding away. She’d lost so much blood, but Rafael had packed the wound and they were preparing for the ritual healing ceremony. It wasn’t happening fast enough to suit him. She was too pale, her mind confused. She didn’t even seem to realize her very essence was moving away from him, growing weaker with each passing minute.
“Hurry, we don’t have much time.”
Gregori arrived, a tall, wide-shouldered man with long flowing hair and a man’s face. There were no soft edges to him anywhere. He bent over Juliette without preamble and glanced back at the tall, slender woman who entered the cave after him. “Francesca. Hurry. She is far gone from us.”
Riordan wanted to protest the assessment, but he knew it was true. He was holding Juliette in a ruthless grip, caging her spirit when it wanted to drift away along with the tremendous blood loss.
A wave of the healer’s hand and aromatic candles sprang to life all around them. Riordan sat between the two healers, Juliette cradled in his lap, watching as the male simply shed his body and became a white light. The energy was strong, Riordan had to turn his head away. Almost immediately, Francesca did the same. He felt them enter Juliette’s body, moving quickly to her neck and throat, examining the great tears in the veins located there.
You have lost too much blood, Riordan, and need healing yourself. Have your brother give her his. He is ancient and strong and his blood will help speed the process, Gregori dictated.
Rafael immediately stepped forward and offered his wrist. Riordan had no choice but to force Juliette. She was too weak to feed on her own, and he doubted if she would willingly take from another—even his brother.
Raven, Mikhail’s lifemate, began to chant softly and all around him, Carpathians filled the cave of healing and those not present, joined in from afar to aid Juliette. The ancient words were beautiful as the voices rose in a melodious throat chant. Riordan knew the healers were deeply concerned because they were using the Great Healing Chant, one designed to bring back a lost soul already moving to the next world. He felt tears in his eyes, feeling the power of the unified people, all working toward one purpose—bringing his lifemate back to him—bringing their sister back to them. His voice rose with the others, so many now, like in the old days, using their ancient language, a language secret with rituals almost as old as time.
Ot sisarm ainajanak hany, jama.
Me, ot sisarm kuntajanak, pirädak sisarm, gond és irgalom türe.
O pus wäkenkek, ot oma śarnank, és ot pus fünk, álnak ekäm ainajanak, pitänak sisarm ainajanak elävä.
Ot sisarm sielanak pälä. Ot omboće päläja juta alatt o jüti, kinta, és szelemek lamtijaknak.
Ot en mekem ŋama: kulkedak otti ot sisarm omboće päläjanak.
Rekatüre, saradak, tappadak, odam, kaŋa o numa waram, és avaa owe o lewl mahoz.
Ntak o numa waram, és mozdulak, jomadak.
Piwtädak ot En Puwe tyvinak, ećidak alatt o jüti, kinta, és szelemek lamtijaknak.
Fázak, fázak nó o śaro.
Juttadak ot sisarm o akarataban, o sívaban, és o sielaban.
Ot sisarm sielanak kaŋa engem.
Kuledak és piwtädak ot sisarm.
Sa edak és tuledak ot sisarm kulyanak.
Nenäm ćoro; o kuly torodak.
O kuly pél engem.
Lejkkadak o kaŋka salamaval.
Molodak ot ainaja komakamal.
Toja és molanâ.
Hän ća a.
Manedak ot sisarm sielanak
.
Al?dak ot sisarm sielanak o komamban.
Al?dam ot sisarm numa waramra.
Piwtädak ot En Puwe tyvijanak és sa edak jälleen ot elävä ainak majaknak.
Ot sisarm elä jälleen.
Ot sisarm weńća jälleen.
My sister’s body is a lump of earth close to death.
We, the clan of my sister, circle her with care and compassion.
Our healing energies, ancient words of magic and healing herbs bless my sister’s body, keep it alive.
But my sister’s soul is only half. Her other half wanders in the nether world.
My great deed is this. I travel to find my sister’s other half.
We dance, we chant, we dream ecstatically, to call my spirit bird and to open the door to the other world.
I mount my spirit bird, we begin to move, we are under way.
Following the trunk of the great Tree, we fall into the nether world.
It is cold, very cold.
My sister and I are linked in mind, heart and soul.
My sister’s soul calls to me.
I hear and follow her track.
Encounter I the demon who is devouring my sister’s soul.
In anger, I fight the demon.
He is afraid of me.
I strike his throat with a lightning bolt.
I break his body with my bare hands.
He is bent over and falls apart.
He runs away.
I rescue my sister’s soul.
I lift my sister’s soul in the hollow of my hand.
I lift her onto my spirit bird.
Following up the Great Tree, we return to the land of the living.
My sister lives again.
She is complete again.
Francesca worked to repair the large cuts to arteries and veins while Gregori went after Juliette’s spirit. Riordan was reluctant to turn her over to him, afraid she would go the opposite way and be out of his reach forever.
She fears other males. She hides it well, but her past has taught her men are not to be trusted.
Do you trust me? Gregori asked.
Riordan drew back. Gregori. The Dark One. Second in command to the prince. He was a straight-up killer, but then, weren’t they all? The De La Cruz brothers had always questioned authority, always fought restrictions, and were powerful, dominating men. They expected—and received—deference from all those around them, and they were always just a little bit harder on their women. Riordan felt it took extraordinary women to stand up to his—and his brothers’—personalities, and it took extraordinary men to get the De La Cruz brothers to follow their lead. Gregori was such a man.
I have complete faith in you.
Do not allow her any chance at resistance.
Riordan had no problems being ruthless. He should have forced obedience earlier when he knew Juliette would go after what she thought was a male jaguar. If he had done so, she would not be at death’s door right now.
Juliette’s spirit flinched from Gregori’s strong personality; the terrible white-hot light that shone on her drew her upward, back toward pain and suffering. She retreated, but Riordan was there, blocking her path to the other world, forcing her back toward the healer. She tried to struggle against Riordan, somewhat hurt that he had sided with a stranger, but she was weak and it was easy to force compliance.
Pain hit her—him—a raw, fiery burn that tore through her body. She screamed and screamed, pleading with Riordan to make it stop. She fought him, her spirit fought him, but he grimly held on, blood-red tears tracking down his face while Gregori and Francesca did their best to work fast in her resisting, struggling body.
This vampire’s blood not only carried acid, but also parasites, and he had licked her wounds and punctured her throat with his teeth, depositing the hideous creatures into her bloodstream. They immediately moved to invade every cell—every organ, an army bent on destroying her.
Gregori. Francesca’s normally calm voice was filled with alarm. Look where the concentrated attack is.
Riordan couldn’t see, the light was too bright. Gregori swore softly in their language. Tell me what is wrong, Riordan demanded.
Our enemies are becoming more sophisticated in their attacks. The parasites are after her eggs. Gregori delivered the news on the Carpathian common path of communication.
The chanters faltered as the enormity of the news struck them. The men looked at one another, and several put their arms around their lifemates.
“Can you save her children?” Mikhail asked.
Raven slipped her hand into Mikhail’s waiting for the answer.
We are trying.
Gregori left Francesca to work on broken ribs and the lacerations and burns while he attacked the parasites, driving them away from their prize. It was daunting to see the damage they left in their wake. He could tell Rafael’s blood made a difference, giving her starving cells a chance, flooding tissue and organs with strength to help combat the vampire’s poison. He worked fast, destroying the parasites where he found them, chasing them when they fled.
When Gregori was certain he had killed the last one, he began to work on the damage, first repairing the ovaries, ensuring no egg had been penetrated. The parasite would attach itself, replicate and feed off the internal organs. They had voracious appetites. It seemed hours, when in reality it was far less with both healers working together, before Gregori was able to regain his own body. Francesca swayed beside him, pale and exhausted. They had worked a miracle in record time.
“She needs more blood and good rich soil,” Gregori said, “but she’ll be fine.” He inspected Riordan. “You, however, need a little help.”
“The soil will aid me,” Riordan said. “I can’t thank you enough for saving her life. She was far gone from us.”
Mikhail held up his hand for silence. “There is one among you able to heal the earth. Would you step forward?”
The Carpathians looked at one another. Over in the corner where the Dark Troubadours had gathered, Barack took Syndil’s hand and led her to the front. “Syndil is capable of healing the earth.”
Mikhail let his breath out slowly. The woman was one of the children Darius had saved, her Carpathian lineage strong and true. She looked nervous, but stood quietly waiting. He smiled at her. “So you are our miracle worker. I saw the land after you worked on it.”
She spread her hands out in front of her. “It is my calling. A small talent, but strong.”
The prince shook his head. “I do not believe it is a small talent. We would give this couple to Mother Earth to heal. If you could choose, where would you put them?”
“Here,” Syndil pointed to a spot without hesitation.
“The soil is rich there, no toxins?”
She frowned, holding her hands over the spot. “It is the best in the caverns, but I can make it better.” She glanced at Riordan. “If you don’t mind waiting.”
“Not at all,” Riordan replied. Gregori was healing him even as Mikhail was watching the woman prepare the soil. “I am grateful to you.”
Syndil knelt and closed her eyes, palms down toward the earth. She sang softly, calling to the soil, encouraging the wealth of minerals to double.
Mikhail tightened his fingers around Raven’s. My God, Raven. She’s the real thing. She can do this, enrich our soil for us.
It takes its toll on her. Look at her.
Syndil swayed, pale, much like Francesca and Gregori, when she stood. Barack reached for her, circling her waist to steady her. Mikhail nodded. We will all aid her as best we can.
Syndil stepped back and smiled at Mikhail. “There. The soil should really help both of them.”
Riordan, holding Juliette to him, floated down into the bed of rich loam. Around them, the dirt filled in to cover them. Rafael stepped forward and began to weave safeguards while the Carpathians drifted back to their homes.
Mikhail bowed to Syndil. “If I asked you, would you consider choosing the birthing place f
or Shea? I could take you around and have you look at various sites we’re considering. I would greatly value your opinion.”
“I know nothing of birthing.”
“But you know much about soil.”
Syndil glanced at Barack, who nodded. “Of course, although I doubt I’ll have time to make anything for the dinner tonight.”
“Believe me, this is far more important,” Mikhail assured.
Raven agreed. “I have the dinner well in hand. Shea’s birth is the most important thing we have going and our biggest reason to celebrate.”
I think this very humble woman is our greatest reason to celebrate, Mikhail declared.
12
“We’re in for it now, Ginny,” Colby De La Cruz said with a small sigh as she braided her younger sister’s hair. “Rafael is going to be crazy now. He hardly lets me out of his sight as it is. And I was just making progress too.” She cast a quick glance at Rafael, her lifemate, pacing furiously the length of the room, every now and then casting her a smoldering, warning look.
“Why is he so upset?” Ginny asked.
“Your Aunt Juliette was injured.”
Rafael spun around, his dark eyes flashing with anger. “Your Aunt Juliette disobeyed a direct order from her lifemate. She ignored her own safety and nearly got both of them killed.”
Ginny gasped, one hand flying to her mouth. “Are they all right, Rafael?”
“They’re both fine,” Colby answered, glaring at her lifemate. “There’s no need to try to scare her to death.”
“There’s every need,” Rafael declared, reaching out a hand to tangle it in the mass of red-gold hair surrounding Colby’s face. “And just who are these kids—that boy over here? What do we know about him?”
“You mean Josef?” Ginny asked. “He’s nice.”
Rafael’s scowl deepened. She does not need to be thinking that boy is nice. I do not want her around boys at all.
Colby sighed. Ginny is not yet in her teens and she’s human. I hardly think Josef is going to look at her that way.
Christine Feehan 5 CARPATHIAN NOVELS Page 138