T
he attack came immediately after sunset. The sky rained fire, streaks of red and orange dropping straight down toward the house and grounds. Long furrows in the ground appeared, moving quickly, darting toward the estate, tentacles erupting near the massive gates and columns surrounding the property. Bulbs burst through the earth, spewing acid at the wrought-iron fence. Insects fell from the clouds, oozed from the trees. Rats rushed the fence, an army of them, round beady eyes gleaming. There were so many bodies the ground was black with them.
Beneath the earth Jacques lifted his head alertly. His lifemate was performing her healing art. His eyes met Raven’s over Sara’s head. “The ancient one has sent his army ahead of his arrival. The house is under attack.”
“Will the safeguards hold?” Raven asked with her usual calm. She was already reaching out to Mikhail. They were still separated by many miles, yet his warmth flooded her immediately.
“Against his servants, the safeguards will certainly hold. The ancient one is attempting to weaken the safeguards so that he can more easily penetrate our defenses. He knows that Mikhail and Sara’s lifemate are on their way. He thinks to have, a quick and easy victory before their arrival.” Jacques was calm, his black eyes flat and cold. He was banishing all emotion in preparation for battle. His arms were around Shea’s waist, his body pressed close, protectively toward her. He bent his head to kiss her neck, a light, brief caress before moving away.
Raven caught his arm, preventing him from leaving the chamber. “Mikhail and Falcon say this one is dangerous, a true ancient, Jacques. Wait for them, please.”
He looked down at her hand. “They are all dangerous, little sister. I will do what is necessary to protect the three of you.” Very gently he removed her hand from his wrist, gave her an awkward, reassuring pat, a gesture at odds with his elegance.
Raven smiled at him. “I love you, Jacques. So does Mikhail. We don’t tell you nearly enough.”
“It is not necessary to say the words, Raven. Shea has taught me much over the years. The bond between us is very strong. I have much to live for, much to look forward to. I have finally convinced my lifemate that a child is worth the risks.”
Raven’s face lit up, her eyes shiny with tears. “Shea didn’t say a word to me. I know she’s always wanted to have a baby. I’m happy for you both, I really am.”
Shea returned to her body, swaying from the intense effort of healing Sara. She staggered toward Jacques. He caught her to him, drew her gently into his arms, buried his face in the mass of wine-red hair. “Is Sara going to be all right?” he asked softly. There was a wealth of pride in his voice, a deep respect for his lifemate.
Shea leaned into him, turned up her face to be kissed. “Sara will be fine. She just needs her lifemate.” She stared into Jacques’s eyes. “As I do.”
“Neither you nor Raven seems to have much faith in my abilities. I’m shocked!” Jacques’s chagrined look had both women laughing despite the seriousness of the situation. “I have my brother attempting to pull his Prince routine on me, giving me orders not to engage the enemy until His Majesty returns. My own lifemate, brilliant as she is, does not seem to realize I am a warrior without equal. And my lovely sister-kin is deliberately delaying me. What do you think about that, Sara?” He arced one eyebrow at her.
Sara sat up slowly, pushed her hand through her tousled, spiky hair. Her head was no longer pounding and her ribs felt just fine. Even the aches from the bruises were gone. “I don’t know about your status as a warrior without equal, but your lifemate is a miracle worker.” She had the feeling that Raven and Shea spent a great deal of time laughing when they were together. Neither seemed in the least intimidated by Jacques, despite the gravity of his appearance.
“I cannot argue with you there,” Jacques agreed.
Shea grinned at Sara, her face pale. “He has to say that. It is always best to compliment one’s lifemate.”
“And that is why you and Raven are casting aspersions upon my battle capabilities.” Once more Jacques kissed his lifemate. With his acute hearing, he could hear the assault upon the estate.
Sara could hear it, too. She twisted her fingers together anxiously. “He’s coming. I know he is.”
“Do not fear him, Sara,” Shea hastened to assure her. “My lifemate has battled many of the undead and will do so long after this one is gone.” She turned her gaze on her husband. “Raven will provide for me while you delay this monster. You will return to me unharmed.”
“I hear you, little red hair, and I can do no other than obey.” His voice was soft, an intimate caress. He simply dissolved into vapor and streamed from the chamber.
Sara made an effort to close her mouth and not gape in total shock. Raven, one arm wrapped around Shea’s waist, laughed softly. “Carpathians take a little getting used to. I ought to know.”
“I must feed,” Shea said, her gaze steady on Sara’s. “Will it alarm you?”
“I don’t know,” Sara said honestly. For no reason at all, the spot along the swell of her breast began to throb. She found herself blushing. “I suppose I should get used to it. Falcon and I were waiting until I had settled the red tape with the children before we”—she sought the right word—“finalized things.” She lifted her chin. “I’m very committed to him.” It seemed a pale way of explaining the intensity of her emotions.
“I am amazed he allowed you the time. He must be extraordinarily certain of his abilities to protect you,” Raven said. “Feed, Shea. I offer freely that you may be at full strength once again.” She casually extended her wrist to Shea. “Carpathian males usually have a difficult time at the first return of their emotions. They have to contend with jealousy and fear, the overwhelming need to protect their lifemate and the terror of losing her. They become domineering and possessive and generally are a pain in the neck.” Raven laughed softly, obviously sharing the conversation with her lifemate.
Sara could feel her heart racing as she watched in horrified fascination while Shea accepted nourishment from Raven. Although it was bizarre, she could see no blood. She was almost comforted by the completely unselfish act between the two women. Sara was humbled by Shea’s gift of healing. She was humbled by the way she was accepted so completely into their circle, a close family willing immediately to aid her, to place their lives directly in the path of danger for her.
“Are you really planning to have a child?” Raven asked as Shea closed the tiny pinpricks in her wrist with a sweep of her tongue. “Jacques said he has finally convinced you.” There was a slight hesitation in Raven’s voice.
Sara watched shadows chase across Shea’s delicate features. Sara had always wanted children, and she sensed that Shea’s answer would be important to her dreams, also.
Shea took a deep breath, let it out slowly. “Jacques wants a child desperately, Raven. I have tried to think like a doctor, because the risks are so high, but it is difficult when everything in me wants a child and when my lifemate feels the same. It was a miracle Savannah survived; you know that, you know how difficult it was. It took both Gregori and me that first year of fighting for her life, along with Mikhail and you. I have improved the formula for infants, since we cannot feed them what was once the perfect nourishment. I do not know why nature has turned on our species, but we are fighting to save every child born to us. Still, knowing all this does not stop me from wanting children. I know now that if something happened to me, Jacques would fulfill my wish and raise our child until he or she has a family. I will choose a time soon and hope we are successful with the pregnancy and keeping the child alive afterward.”
Sara stood up carefully, a little gingerly, a frown on her face. She could hear the sizzle of fire meeting water, of insects and other frightening things she had no knowledge of. She could hear clearly, even envision the battle outside, the army of evil seeking to break through the safeguards protecting those within the walls of the house. Yet she felt safe. Deep below the earth, she felt a kinship with the two women. And she knew Falcon was on his way. He would come to her. For her. Nothing would stop him.
It seemed crazy, yet perfectly natural, to be in this chamber talking intimately with Raven and Shea while, just above them, the ancient vampire was seeking entrance. “Will I have problems having a child once I become fully like Falcon?” Sara asked. It had not occurred to her that she would not be able to have a child once she was a Carpathian.
Shea and Raven both held out their hands to her. A gesture of camaraderie, of compassion, of solidarity. “We are working very hard to find the answers. Savannah survived and two male children, but no other females. We have much more research to do, and I have developed several theories. Gary has flown out from the United States to aid me, and Oregon will follow in a few weeks. I believe we can find a way to keep the babies alive. I even believe I’m close to finding the reason why we give birth to so few females, but I am not certain that, even once I know the cause, I can remedy the situation. I do believe that every female who was human at one time has a good chance of having a female child. And that is a priceless gift to our dying race.”
Sara paced the length of the room, suddenly needing Falcon. The longer she was away from him, the worse it seemed to be. Need. It crawled through her, twisted her stomach into knots, took her breath away. She accepted it, had known the need long before she had known the reality of Falcon. She had carried his journal everywhere with her, his words imprinted on her mind and in her heart. She had needed him then; now it was as if a part of her were dead without him.
“Touch his mind with yours,” Raven advised softly. “He is always there for you. Don’t worry, Sara, we will be here for you, too. Our life is wonderful, filled with love and amazing abilities. A lifemate is worth giving up what you had.”
Sara pushed a hand through her hair, tousling it further. “I didn’t have much of a life. Falcon has allowed me to dare to dream again. Of a family. Of a home. Of belonging with someone. I’m not afraid.” She suddenly laughed. “Well . . . maybe I’m nervous. A little nervous.”
“Falcon must be an incredible man,” Shea said.
Not that incredible.
Jacques never quite relinquished his touch on Shea. Over the years he had managed to relearn many things that had once been wiped from his mind, but he needed his lifemate anchoring him at all times. Before, he would have been jealous and edgy; now there was a teasing quality to his voice.
Shea laughed at him. Softly. Intimately. Sent him her touch, erotic pictures of twining her body around his. It was enough. She was his lifemate. His world.
Sara watched the expressions chase across Shea’s delicate features, knowing exactly what was transpiring between Shea and her lifemate. It made Sara feel as if she really were a part of something, part of a family again. And Raven was right, the moment she reached for Falcon, he was there, in her mind, enfolding her in love and warmth, in reassurance. She wrapped her arms around herself to hold him close to her, felt him in her mind, heard him, the soft whispers, the promises, his supreme confidence in his abilities. It was all there in an instant.
“Sara.” Raven brought Sara’s attention back to the women, determined to keep it centered on them rather than on the coming battle. “Whose children are these that the vampire went to so much trouble to acquire?”
Sara suddenly smiled, her face lighting up. “I guess they are mine now. I found them living in the sewers. They had banded together because of their difference from most. All of them have psychic abilities. Three little girls and four boys. Not all of their talents are the same, but they still knew, as young as they are, that they needed one another. I had great empathy with them because I grew up feeling different, too. I wanted to give them a home where they could feel normal.”
“Three little girls?” Shea and Raven exchanged a long, gleeful grin. Shea shook her head in astonishment. “You are truly a treasure. You’ve brought us an ancient warrior. We may learn much from him. You have seven little ones with psychic talent, and you are a lifemate. Tell me how it is that you accept our world so readily.”
Sara shrugged. “Because of the vampire. I saw him killing in the tunnels of a dig my parents were on. Two days later he killed my whole family.” She lifted her chin a little as if in preparation for condemnation, but both women only looked sad, their gazes compassionate. “He chased me for years. I always kept moving to stay ahead of him. Vampires have been part of my life for a long time. I just didn’t understand the difference between vampires and Carpathians.”
“And Falcon?” Raven prompted.
Sara heard a sudden hush outside the house, as if the wind were holding its breath. The night creatures stilled. She shivered, her body trembling. The sun had set. The vampire had risen and was hurtling through space to reach the estate before Falcon and Mikhail had a chance to return.
Sara was positive that both women were aware of the vampire’s rising, but they remained calm, although they linked hands. She took a deep breath, wanting to follow their examples of tranquillity. “Falcon has been my salvation for fifteen years. I just didn’t know he was real. I found something that belonged to him.”
This is my gift to you. Sara, lifemate to Falcon.
She held his words tightly to her. “I saw him clearly, his face, his hair, his every expression. I felt as if I could see into his heart. I knew I belonged with him, yet he was from long ago and I was born too late.”
Falcon, winging his way strongly through the falling night felt her sorrow. He reached out to her, flooding her mind with the sheer intensity of his love for her.
You were not born too late, my love. Accept what is and what has been given to us. A great gift, a priceless treasure. I am with you now and for all time.
I love you with all my heart, with every breath.
Then believe that I will not allow this monster to tear us apart. I have endured centuries of loneliness, a barren existence without your presence. He will not take you from me. I am of ancient lineage and much skilled. Our enemy is indeed powerful, but he will be defeated.