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
T
here 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 importantly 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.
You, too, knew loneliness while trapped in ice.
Set free, you swore you’d not be bound again.
Then may you never feel my arms a vise!
And may you willingly enter my den!
Above their heads, stars swirled around the high ceiling of the cavern and the torches dimmed, giving the illusion that they were dancing beneath the sky itself. Tatijana held herself closer to him. The night felt magical, a wondrous surreal moment as they drifted together, their bodies close while she felt love for him rising, swamping her.
Your eyes . . . they shift in color like your hair.
They gleam like emeralds,
Fascinate with light.
You dance as though with wings upon the air.
You match our greatest warriors in fight.
Tatijana knew the words of his song to her were heartfelt. How could she not? She was in his mind, feeling what he was feeling. He made no attempt to hide his love, respect and admiration from her—or anyone else. She felt beautiful, loved and as if she was the only woman in the world.
My dragon flame, you set my heart aglow!
Above all else, these ancient words hold true . . .
My Tatijana, these words hold true:
You are my lifemate.
I belong to you.
Fen really had written the song for her. He sang it to her in front of their people, and their prince, uncaring who heard as he poured out his heart to her. She hadn’t known a man, a fierce independent warrior, could make himself so vulnerable in front of others the way he was. He didn’t seem to care that everyone could see how much she really meant to him. His voice, when he sang the lyrics, rang with raw honesty. His emotions were totally exposed for all of those present to see.
The music began to fade and she lifted her head, tears in her eyes as she looked up at him. She had fallen so deeply in love with him, and yet she didn’t even know when her emotions had grown so intense. Out of the corner of her vision she realized other couples had been dancing as well. She hadn’t even known they were there, she’d been so completely wrapped up in her magical dance with Fen.
To make her dance happen, not only had Fen written a song for her and sang it publicly, he had to have enlisted the aid of other Carpathians for the music and the show of stars on the ceiling.
“Thank you,” she whispered almost shyly, slipping her arms around his neck and leaning into the shelter of his body. “I don’t know what to think about you, sometimes, Fen. This was such a beautiful, amazing gift and I’ll always treasure the memory of it.”
“I wanted you to know how I feel about you, Tatijana. You need to know how truly extraordinary you really are. You love to dance and I thought this would be a good way to let you know how much you mean to me.”
“This was perfect, Fen. Just perfect. I’ll never forget it.”
Fen brushed his mouth gently over hers. She was more radiant than ever. For him that was enough. He had wanted to give her something special. He had poured his heart and soul into his music for her. He had no idea what the future would bring for them. His life was one of battles and secrecy. Every moment that he could, he wanted to give her laughter and joy.
“Fen.” Gregori came up behind them. “Thank you for that. Savannah has wanted to dance for some time. We haven’t had a lot of celebrations and this has been fun for her.”
“Is she leaving already?” Tatijana asked, swinging around to see Savannah holding Anya in her arms. Destiny held Anastashia. Neither of the little girls looked happy.
“We’ve invited Zev and the others to join us,” Gregori explained, “but we thought it best if the children went home. It’s late for them to be out.”
Fen knew Gregori was protecting the children, using the guise of lateness. It was still fairly early for Carpathians. All of the youngsters had to be used to staying up nights, even Sara and Falcon’s human children. There was no danger from Zev and his pack. If anything, everyone would be that much safer with them around. Still, he couldn’t blame Gregori. There were only a handful of Carpathian children. If he was in Gregori’s shoes, responsible for their safety, he would have spirited them away from strangers as well.