It is only the effects of our connection. I am with you. Feel with your mind as a Carpathian must. It takes time to learn our ways, I know, but I cannot have you suffering grief when I am alive and well and able to reach out to you.
Determined to combat her growing sorrow, when there was no real reason for it, Joie sat up.
It is amazing how intense the feeling is
.
And it is a little frightening to think that emotion is stronger than logic. I know where you are, yet I still have such a need to touch you—to feel you in my mind. It makes no sense.
The terrible need inside of her
didn’t
make sense. Joie considered herself a very logical woman. She didn’t like this out-of-control feeling, a dark dread that stole her good sense and her ability to reason. She lifted her chin. There were changes taking place in her body and mind, but that didn’t mean she would give in to melancholy.
I’ll be perfectly fine, Traian. You worry about yourself. I’ll hang with Jubal and Gabrielle while you’re gone,
she assured him.
I’m strong and can get through this. Don’t you worry about me, just take care of yourself.
Stay close to Gary as well. He knows both the undead and my people.
Joie did the mental equivalent of rolling her eyes.
As if. Traian, you’re going to have to get over your outdated attitude toward women. It must be your age. Gary is the one who needs protection. He lives in another world, just like Gabrielle, I can see it in him. He’s more at home in a lab than fighting vampires.
But he knows the ways of the undead and how best to combat them. Stay close to him.
Joie clenched her teeth. She was never going to be the little woman, hiding behind the big brave man.
If that’s the kind of woman you want, you started something you never should have.
She felt a stroking caress along her face—feather-light—the gentle touch of fingers, yet he was no longer close to the inn.
I know exactly who you are, Joie, and what you are capable of. I do not mean to make you feel as if I don’t think you can handle yourself. I know you will not panic and that you will fight the undead without hesitation. I am merely saying stay safe and keep the person who has been around Carpathian hunters close while I am gone. That makes sense, does it not?
Of course it made sense. She didn’t have to like it, did she? Nor did she want to let go of her irritation, not with the strange grief of separation edging so close to her.
You might have mentioned your archaic attitude and your stubbornness when you were being so blasted charming a few minutes ago.
His soft laughter echoed through her mind.
You might have warned me I was going to be dealing with a modern female who is determined to get herself into dangerous situations.
The teasing in his tone warmed her—settled her. She took a deep breath and let it out. She knew he had to go without her in his mind. The vampires could detect him through his connection with her.
Just do whatever you have to do and return home safe to me.
Again she felt that feather-light brushing caress along her face. She placed her palm over the invisible mark, holding him close to her as his mind slipped from hers. At once she felt bereft, as though instead of mist streaming through the sky toward the caves, Traian lay beneath the earth dead to her. She was astonished at the strength of emotion pouring into her mind, once he was actually away from her.
Determined not to give in to the strange reaction to their separation, Joie took a long, hot shower. It was nearly impossible to stand beneath the cascading water without thinking of Traian, but she concentrated on pushing him out of her mind enough to figure out how to tell her parents that she was essentially married—and to someone not quite human.
Her father was accepting of everything his children did and was a very tolerant man. Her mother was fiercely protective of her children and loved them very much. Her family was her world. It had been her mother who insisted all of them take self-defense lessons almost from the time they could walk. Her father had been the climber of mountains and delved deep into the caves around the world. He had taught them a love of nature.
Joie sighed. Her mother wasn’t going to welcome Traian. She had a major problem with alpha males, bristling the moment they walked into the room—almost as if she had radar. She’d been particularly hard on Jubal as they’d grown up.
She found she could hear conversations whispered in the rooms around her and even as far away as people moving in the sitting room. It took some practicing to turn down the volume, but not before she heard her sister and brother walking down the hall to her door. The cursory knock didn’t at all surprise her, but the sound of a tool scratching in the lock did. She tensed and eased one hand out of the shower enough to grip her weapon until she recognized her sister’s scent as she stuck her head in the bathroom.
“What are you doing, you crazy woman?” Joie demanded. “Were you hoping to get a peek at my man? That’s grounds for shooting you.”
“Ha! You wouldn’t you know. And hurry up. Jubal and I are getting tired of waiting for you two. And you’d better not be doing anything perverted in that tiny little shower stall.” She sounded more hopeful than anything else.
“How did you get into my room, you peeping Tom?” Joie threw a wet washcloth with deadly accuracy. “It was locked.”
Gabrielle squealed when the cloth hit her square in the face. “I’m picking up your bad habits and wanted to show off.” She sounded a little smug. “You aren’t the only one who can pick a lock. In any case, Jubal double-dog dared me. What else could I do?”
“Pretend you’re discreet while I’m trying to land a man. Sheesh, Gabby, he’s going to think we’re all a pack of perverts. You don’t have to accept every one of Jubal’s juvenile challenges.”
“You do,” Gabrielle pointed out, not in the least repentant.
“He only does that to make Mom crazy,” Joie said.
“Are you in there alone? Because I don’t want to see any naked bodies.”
Joie let out a little sniff. “Then what are you doing in here, trying to see through the steam. I’m naked, if you want to know, but Traian already went back to the cave.”
Gabrielle sighed. “I’ve already seen you naked and it’s nothing to get too excited about, but that man of yours is drop-dead gorgeous. I don’t know about this Carpathian business. He likes to be underground so much, he could very well be a troll. What are you going to tell Mom and Dad?” This time there was glee in Gabrielle’s voice.
“I’ve been rehearsing,” Joie admitted. She emerged from the stall, wrapped in a bath sheet. “It has occurred to me to lie to them. And I thought you preferred skinny men. I saw you ogling Gary last night.”
“I don’t ogle,” Gabrielle sniffed indignantly. “I never ogle. I just thought he was rather on the cute side. And you weren’t looking close enough. He’s not skinny, he has plenty of muscle, just not obscenely sticking out everywhere.” She sighed heavily, frowning. “I wish I was one of those really beautiful, stick-thin model types all men fall over. Even if I dyed my hair blonde and learned to flip it around, I don’t think I’d ever perfect the art of flirting.”
Joie glared at her. “You are beautiful, you idiot. You’re just crazy. If this man can’t see your worth, he isn’t as smart as you think he is.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m all about brains and he’s going to be madly intrigued with my intellect and dazzled with my cushy body.” Gabrielle made a face, trying to laugh, but looking as if she might cry.
“Gabby, what’s gotten into you?” Joie asked, stepping closer to her sister, feeling waves of distress pouring off her sister.
“It’s just that I blow it every single time I’m actually attracted to a man. It doesn’t happen very often. Most of the time, I’m bored out of my mind and can’t stay in their company for five minutes. But when someone comes along who makes sense, and can discuss topics I’m really interested in, if I’m physically attracted, I come off looking like an idiot—or next to you and Jubal—the damsel in distress who needs rescuing.” She stuck her chin out. “I’m not, you know.”
“Of course I know. You forget, Gabrielle, Jubal and I climb with you and go into caves. We’ve gone down the Amazon and into the rain forest. You never flinch.”
“I flinched in the ice cave.”
“Yeah, well, here’s a news flash for you, sister, so did I. Anyone who doesn’t flinch inside that place is plain suicidal and out of their mind.”
“Really?” Gabrielle asked. “Neither you or Jubal looked as if you freaked out.”
“Of course we did. Bodyguards can’t show freak-outs, babe, that’s the bottom line and Jubal prides himself on
never
showing a freak-out because we’d tease him unmercifully until the day he died and maybe after as well.” Joie shared a grin with her sister. “Is Jubal hanging out in the bedroom? I need my clothes?”
“I’ll get you something presentable.” Gabrielle disappeared.
Joie heard her giggle. Gabrielle never did anything so undignified as to giggle. Unashamed, Joie listened to the murmured conversation in the next room. Gary had joined her brother and sister in her bedroom and Gabrielle had clearly forgotten her mission to produce clothes for her sister.
Joie stalked to the door. “Hello! I hate to remind you all, but I’m stuck here, naked in the bathroom. Vacate or toss me some clothes.”
Jubal groaned and covered his eyes. “You are so sick, Joie. I didn’t need that visual. Gary, you ought to try having a couple of sisters bent on tormenting you. They gang up on me like you wouldn’t believe.”
Gabrielle blew him a kiss. “We keep your life from being extraordinarily dull and boring.”
“Don’t believe her,” Jubal cautioned Gary.
Joie caught the bundle of clothes her sister tossed inside the bathroom. “Thanks for remembering me,” she hissed.
“I remembered,” Gabrielle replied with a smirk. “Getting your clothes just didn’t seem all that important all of a sudden.”
You are truly a hussy
, Joie said and closed the bathroom door firmly on her sister’s teasing laugh.
I know exactly what you were doing. That poor man has no idea you’ve got your hook out and you’re fishing.
I’m going to dose his drink with a love potion
, Gabrielle shot back.
Gabrielle rarely was depressed or upset for long. She was naturally upbeat and had a sunny personality. Joie found herself smiling in spite of the deep dread in the pit of her stomach. Being with her family was exactly what she needed.
She dressed carefully, for war. She didn’t want to be unprepared for anything. She had weapons stashed in both the bedroom and her bathroom and she donned as many as she could carry without detection. Her clothes were loose enough to hide the weapons and to move in fast, yet wouldn’t get in the way should she need to climb or fight hand to hand.
Gary stood up when Joie entered the room. “Good evening.” He bowed slightly, a habit he’d acquired from the Carpathians. “I take it Traian left already? I figured he’d rise as early as possible. There were clouds blocking the sunlight. They sometimes arrange the weather to protect their sensitive eyes.” He smiled at Joie. “He wants me to get you to drink some juice this evening.”
Joie pressed a hand to her stomach. “I don’t think that’s going to happen, but I’m sure Gabrielle and Jubal are hungry.”
“Starved,” Jubal agreed instantly. “I thought Joie was going to sleep forever.”
“You’ll get used to the different hours they keep,” Gary said. “I work in the lab and forget the time myself. If I’m on to something promising, I don’t seem to need sleep.”
“I’m the same way,” Gabrielle said. “Sometimes I look up and it’s two days later.” She exchanged a long smile of complete understanding with Gary.
Jubal threw his hands into the air. “I’m
starving.
I need to get food and whether you’re hungry or not, Joie, we need to stick together. Let’s go down to the dining room.”
Joie rolled her eyes. “Big surprise that you’re starving, Jubal. I swear you were born that way. Are you armed?” Joie dragged on her boots and shoved a knife down into the leather scabbard built in.
Gary raised an eyebrow, but Gabrielle just shrugged, her grin sheepish. “We’re used to Joie. She’s nearly always lethal.”
“Of course I’m armed.” The smile faded from Jubal’s face as he turned to Gary with sober eyes. “Are you?”
There was a small silence. Gabrielle pressed her lips together. Joie and Jubal just waited for the answer. If Gary was even remotely interested in their sister, he’d better know how to protect her.
Gary gave them a small smirk, not in the least intimidated. “I carry weapons at all times. Here, working with the Carpathians, I have no choice. They rest during the day and if the undead send human puppets to find their resting places, they have to be protected.”
“Great,” Gabrielle said. “We don’t just have to worry about vampires trying to kill us, but other things as well.”
Gary nodded. “Sadly, it’s true. And don’t ever forget the secret society of humans that hunt and condemn various people to death and torture and kill them. This is a dangerous part of the world to live in, so if you’re going to be here, you have to learn as much as you can about protecting yourself at all times. Basically, expect the unexpected.”
Jubal pulled open the door. “I won’t have to worry about ghouls or crazy vampire hunters if we don’t eat soon. Go now!” He glared at his sisters.
Both of them laughed at him, but obediently followed Jubal into the hall and down the stairs.
Gabrielle leaned close to Gary. “Jubal is very grumpy until he eats,” she whispered overly loud so her brother could be certain to hear her. “We still call him ‘grumpy pants.’ ”
Jubal groaned. “
Never
have sisters. Just an FYI.”
“News flash, Jubal,” Joie said, her gaze, like his, on the few people milling around the dining room as they entered. “You adore your sisters and everyone knows it.”
“I do make you think that, otherwise you wouldn’t do my laundry for me,” Jubal pointed out smugly.