“If they harm one hair on your head—just
one
—there will be a war such as they have never seen.”
His hands framed her face. He knew it only embarrassed her when he told her he loved her, because she had a difficult time answering him back. And it would probably be worse if he told she moved him as no one and nothing else ever had or would. So he kissed her.
Razvan poured everything he felt for her into his kiss. Infinite love. Complete acceptance. Pride. Joy. Lust. Everything he was, he gave to her. She answered him, sinking into the heat of his mouth, giving herself up to that world of pure sensation mixed with love. She could live there, in his arms, their mouths fused together forever, her body sinking into his, her arms around his neck. Her home. Her shelter. Her everything.
When he reluctantly left the haven of her mouth, he rested his forehead against hers, drawing in a deep, shuddering breath. “If this goes wrong,
hän ku vigyáz sielamet
—keeper of my soul—know I will wait for you in the next life. Xavier must be destroyed. Before all else, he must be destroyed. Look at me and tell me you will come to me with your soul shining brightly.”
“You ask too much.”
“I do not, Ivory. I ask you to endure as you have endured for so many centuries, your eye fixed on the task given to you. We have had this time. A stolen moment of happiness. What they do—or do not do—matters little to us.” He placed his hand over her heart, felt it beat into his palm. “We have a great purpose and we must see it through to the end.”
The sob in her throat threatened to choke her as she swallowed it back down. “You terrify me with your calm acceptance, Razvan.”
“I do not control others, Ivory, only myself. I do what I must, no matter the cost.”
“I will hate them with all of my heart if they harm you.”
“You are my light, Ivory. I need you to be that light. I count on that light.”
“You ask more from me than you would from yourself. You would slay them all if they touched me.”
“Yes.” His thumb traced her fine bone structure. “You are the miracle, Ivory, not me.”
His fingers curled around the nape of her neck and he pulled her to him and simply held her in his arms until the stiffness and tension drained from her body and she lay against him, pliant and soft. Their hearts beat the same rhythm. In tune. His soul moved against hers. She felt the brush of his lips in her hair and then he put her away from him.
“Give me your documents and the soil samples. I will let you know if we are clear. If not, I will see you on the other side.”
Reluctantly she handed them to him, ignoring that her hands were shaking. Razvan held out his arms and shrugged off the wolves, then knelt to bury his fingers in their fur, holding their heads and touching their faces as he rubbed their ears and necks before standing. When he turned away from her she caught his hand.
“Razvan.”
He took a breath and turned back to her. “Beloved?”
“You are
my
miracle.”
He smiled at her and walked away, carrying her words with him. It didn’t take courage to walk into the lion’s den. Whatever fate waited was nothing in comparison to what he had suffered at Xavier’s hands. They would not torture him. Without Ivory they had nothing to hold over his head, no emotional pain they could give him. There was only death. He had accepted death as part of life a long time ago and he didn’t fear it.
He walked with an easy pace, circling through the trees, making no attempt to hide his presence. He had left his weapons with Ivory, although he could summon them at will, and the Carpathians would know that.
He felt the first prickle of unease as he drew closer to the series of caves leading to the healing chambers. He knew they watched him. He heard the flutter of wings overhead as several owls settled onto the branches above his head. He kept walking.
Healer, I am coming in
.
There was a small silence while Gregori relayed the information to others. Two owls floated down from the trees, shifting before they came to earth, resuming physical shapes. He recognized Falcon and Vikirnoff as they dropped in behind him to escort him. Above his head, the other owls took flight.
They have posted sentries, Ivory, and they are searching for you
.
They will not find me
.
He didn’t allow his smile to show on his face as he entered the cave of healing.
I do not doubt you are right
. And he didn’t. The Carpathian males continually underestimated Ivory. They should have known better, if they gave it any thought at all. Her bloodline. Her intelligence. Her determination to survive. Her hunting skills alone should have tipped them off that they were trying to chase a tiger.
Razvan continued into the tunnel connecting the series of caves. Grim-faced warriors were posted at each entrance. None of the faces were friendly. He felt the beat of their suspicions, the dark recrimination. He had been tried and convicted already. He didn’t look at them as he walked past them, nor did he drop his head or quicken his pace. He felt, occasionally, the probe of a mind touch, but he had been with Xavier too long to ever allow anyone into his mind, no matter how strong the probe.
He knew that would only condemn him further in their eyes, but it mattered little to him. Gregori met him at the third entrance and fell into step.
“You know what they think.”
“How is my daughter?”
“The attack came at dawn as they were out hunting, a time most vampires, particularly a master vampire, rarely rise. They had to have information not only that Lara was the one needed, but exactly where they had gone to hunt.”
“How is my daughter?” Razvan repeated.
“She is healing, as is her lifemate. We had no choice but to complete the conversion and put them both in the ground. They went at her first. She was—mutilated.” Gregori shook his head when Razvan stopped and looked at him.
Keep walking. This is a very difficult situation. Without Lara, we cannot break the cycle of the microbe attack. We sense their presence but they hide from us. We have no way to lure them to the surface. Being fully Carpathian, Lara will no longer be able to trick the microbe, but it was necessary to convert her. The women must rest in the ground, as do we, but then the microbes invade,
Gregori added telepathically.
“Tell me how she is.” There was a bite to Razvan’s voice. He felt Ivory stir in his mind, surrounding him with warmth. Deeply merged with him as she was, she heard every word and knew what his control cost him.
“It will take time, Razvan. The vampire wanted to make a statement. He went after her womb. I did the best I could, but I am not a miracle worker.”
For a moment he couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. His daughter. Lara. She had suffered so much. He found himself on one knee, his head down, dragging air into his burning lungs. When he looked up at Gregori, his eyes burned with ruby red flames and death stalked behind the fire.
I go no farther, healer, until you tell me her location
.
You know I cannot. My daughters are at stake here as well. Savannah struggles to keep them within her. One is very weak. We will lose her before this night is gone if I cannot find a way to defeat the microbe
.
I bring you our best chance at it, but unless you give me my daughter’s location so Ivory can aid her, I will not go one step farther. And you are welcome to slay me, but I take your answers with me
.
Gregori let out his breath in a long, slow hiss. “I know you are not guilty of the crime, Razvan. I have spoken out and defended you.”
“I want my daughter to be whole. Ivory can see to it. We will call it my last request.”
Gregori cursed in the ancient tongue, frustrated and angry to be put in such a position.
Mikhail. I believe he should have the chance to save Lara’s ability to have children when I cannot. I know he is not guilty of these charges. You know what is inside of this man. He has a will of iron, and what he says, he means. He will go to his death, and for what? Tell me, for what?
Give him the coordinates
.
Gregori instantly passed Razvan the location.
Ivory sent another burst of warmth.
I will ask for Mother Earth’s assistance. She has been good to us, Razvan, and I believe she favors you. She will give aid
.
He clung to the promise in her voice. Lara deserved a full life. He wanted her to have it all, even if he didn’t live to see her happiness. He swallowed the rage and fear and forced a calming breath before he stood and resumed walking, again looking neither left nor right.
Tell me when it is done, Ivory
.
Gregori guided him through a small series of caves and tunnels leading lower beneath the ground. Heat rose and swamped them, forcing them to regulate their temperature continually. Large crystalline formations burst from the walls and through the high ceilings, as well as rose from the floor. Instinctively he knew this was the warriors’ council chambers, and this was where his fate would be decided.
The chamber held more male Carpathians than he’d known existed. As he entered, the giant columns hummed in welcome. Gregori glanced at him, and then his silver gaze slid around the room, marking each warrior’s face. He remained at Razvan’s side as the most despised Carpathian walked, head high, through the warriors and straight to the prince.
He inclined his head. “Mikhail. I understand there has been trouble.”
“As if you did not know,” a voice said.
Mikhail lifted his head, his gaze sweeping the crowd. “One more word and this room will be cleared. As you have seen, Razvan has entered of his own free will and the chamber welcomed him. I apologize for that unfortunate outburst,” he added and stepped forward, clasping Razvan’s forearms in the traditional greeting between warriors. “
Sívad olen wäkeva, hän ku piwtä
—may your heart stay strong, hunter.”
“
Pesäsz jeläbam ainaak
—long may you stay in the light,” Razvan replied.
“A master vampire attacked Lara and Nicolas as they went out to hunt in the early twilight hours. He knew where they would be. Nicolas fought them with valor. Had he not been the skilled warrior that he is, they would not have escaped. He killed three of the lesser vampires and nearly destroyed a fourth. Nicolas recognized the master vampire as Sergey Malinov. As he slashed up Lara, he told her that his sister sent her regards.”
Razvan didn’t flinch. He heard the soft murmur swelling to outrage behind him, but he kept his gaze locked with that of the prince. “And you believe Ivory would order such a thing done to my daughter?”
“No, but the attack was clearly orchestrated, with the victims specifically chosen and information given about them.”
“So there is a traitor among you.”
The prince inclined his head. “I fear so.”
“And it is easier for them to believe that I am the one who has betrayed your people,” Razvan said. “As I already have been branded a traitor.”
“I fear that is correct.” Mikhail sighed.
“I bring you hope,” Razvan said. “Before you carry this farce any further, let me deliver to you what we have found. Ivory worked for weeks to find something to combat the microbes. She has tested this life-form and believes it will destroy any mutated microbe in the earth. She, of course, wishes for more time for further tests, but wants you to see what she has found and make your decision.”
He took the precious pouches of soil from his belt and handed them to Gregori, along with the small book documenting each experiment and her findings. “At least you will have a place to start.”
Gregori bowed to him. “Thank you.”
Razvan
. Ivory’s voice was tight, putting him on alert.
I have found the resting place, but it was being disturbed. Someone with a very large knife has been trying to unearth them
.
Fury pounded through his veins and thundered in his ears.
Who dares to try to kill my daughter and her lifemate?
I will bring him to you
.
Do not come to this place. I think they are about to put me through some kind of trial to determine if I am their traitor
.
Ivory hissed in his mind, and a very feminine, unwarriorlike image of retaliation on the lot of them made his groin throb, not with anticipation but in sympathetic pain.
“Razvan, the counsel wishes you to submit for testing from a chosen panel,” Mikhail said. “Ancient warriors that lived under my father’s rule. They do not know me well.” He lifted his voice. “Though they are sworn to defend me, they do not trust my judgment and will have the choice when we are done here to leave this council and go their own way without heed, but also without allegiance to our people.”
In essence, Mikhail was giving the ancients this one time of doubt and then he would not tolerate it again.
Razvan shrugged. “So be it.”
Sun scorch them all. O jelä peje terád
. Ivory bit out each word so that not only Razvan could hear, but Gregori, Vikirnoff, Natalya and the prince—everyone who had given them blood. Her contempt was palpable, blatant, reducing them all to maggots beneath her feet.
Razvan had to stop his grin from showing. He glanced at Gregori.
That is my lifemate
.
A rare one
, Gregori agreed.
He sighed, obviously steeling himself for his task. He beckoned the chosen ancients near. Vikirnoff. Mataias. Tariq and Andre. Each one had to pronounce Razvan clean of Xavier and find no hidden agenda. One wrong thing and they would slay him. Gregori grit his teeth, hating that they had to appease the ancients. To him it was a slap in the face to question the wisdom of the prince.
Had they questioned their own prince
, Razvan reminded him,
perhaps Ivory would have been spared her ordeal and Rhiannon would not be dead. The war between mage and Carpathian might never have taken place
.
Gregori marveled at the absolute calm and acceptance in Razvan. Gregori had no wish for others to invade his privacy to the point that Razvan would have them search his memories and know every humiliation suffered. It was cruel and wrong as far as the healer was concerned.