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  He kissed his way down her throat, his lips tasting her soft skin, finding her pulse beating, beckoning. His own pulse quickened in response. Matching hers. Finding that exact rhythm. It was so beautiful. Moment by moment. Each brush of his mouth. His teeth reacted, lengthening while his body hardened more, becoming a savage ache. Now his blood thundered in his ears and pounded in his cock. Deliberately, he scraped his teeth back and forth against her skin right over that sweet sound of her heart so it beat into his mouth.

  She gasped. Moaned softly. Music he'd never heard but found he loved. He needed more. He scraped his teeth a second time. She moaned again and moved restlessly against him, pressing her lower body into him. Her hips rocked subtly so that her belly rubbed enticingly over his thick cock. The action sent streaks of lightning ripping through the waves of heat in his bloodstream.

  He sank his teeth deep. She cried out. Arched into him. Her breasts and mound rubbed against his body until he thought he might go mad with sheer pleasure. Her blood tasted exquisite. He knew he would ingest the parasites, but the moment he was out of her sight, he could rid his body of them. He could only think about her taste, an aphrodisiac, an addiction he would never be rid of. He had to be careful not to take too much. She would be alone in the house without him. Without anyone. He didn't like it, but it was the safest way possible for her until she was fully in his world.

  He lifted his head reluctantly and closed the wound with his tongue. He kissed his way around her throat, back up to her chin, and then brushed his lips over her mouth. That perfect mouth he found impossible to ignore. It was fast becoming his obsession. He thought about it far too much.

  "That didn't hurt," she whispered against his chest. "It felt . . . erotic. Intimate. Beautiful."

  "Te avio palafertiilam. You are my lifemate, Emeline," he whispered, opening his shirt. He lengthened one fingernail and opened a line across his chest. "My blood is for you. It will make you stronger. It will bring the baby one step closer to being fully my child. Drink."

  She leaned her head toward his chest before he gave her the command to distance herself from what she was doing. For one moment, he hit a barrier of some kind, a natural protection she had in her brain. He felt her indecision and then she gave him the gift of her trust. The barrier tumbled down, and her lips were on his skin. Soft. So soft. The whisper of movement was nearly his undoing.

  He hadn't expected the way his body would react to her mouth on his skin. Her tongue slid along that seam where ruby drops of his blood welled up. His body went up in flames. Electricity danced over him, so that little sparks seemed to go off in his brain. His cock jerked with urgent need. The world dropped away until there was only the two of them, locked together, her mouth taking from him what she needed, her body edgy, impatient to be with his, his arms holding her to him, one hand cradling the back of her head. The moment was etched into his brain.

  So many firsts. All perfection. All sensation. The beauty of having a lifemate was beyond anything he had imagined in all the hundreds of years he had sought her. He thought about how he had decided to go back to the monastery because the modern world and the women in it had seemed beyond his reach, yet here she was in his arms, better than any fantasy he had ever imagined. He knew he had to share that knowledge with the others so they didn't make the mistake he almost made.

  Gently he stopped her feeding, catching her chin in his hand and lifting her face so he could take her mouth, kissing her, removing all signs of blood from her lips and teeth. She came out of the dreamlike state he'd put her in, kissing him back a little tentatively. He didn't push it further, although every cell in his body screamed at him to do so.

  "I have to leave you," he murmured, his mouth against her throat.

  "I know. I don't want you to go, but I know you have to. Dragomir, thank you for fighting for me. You are the most incredible man."

  "Thank you for just existing, Emeline. I am not dead. If you have need of me, reach for me in your mind. Our exchange ties us together. I will hear you and answer if at all possible. Don't try to leave, and don't be beguiled by anyone calling to you. Not the children and not your friends. Someone cracked open the doors to allow Vadim in. It wasn't just Liv, although she played a huge part in the conspiracy. We don't know who we can trust."

  She nodded, clinging to him. "Be safe, Dragomir."

  "I will be close," he promised. It was difficult to leave her. Her eyes swam with tears, which made his heart hurt, but he had no choice. The sun was climbing and his skin was burning. He brushed one more kiss along her cheek and was gone.

  6

  Emeline stared out the window, counting the minutes until the sun set. It had been the longest day of her life. The worst. She had tried to sleep, but she couldn't keep her mind still. Over and over her brain insisted on tricking her, telling her that Dragomir was dead. He lay in the earth, the soil over him, covering his terrible wounds, wounds he hadn't fully taken care of because of her. He'd spent so much time trying to save her, in the end he'd sacrificed his life.

  She didn't understand what was happening to her. She'd never paid serious attention to any man. Now she couldn't think about anything or anyone else. She'd spent a good deal of time pacing. Then she showered and washed her hair. She was weak enough that she had to sit twice, but she was determined that when next she saw him, her hair wouldn't be a tangled, horrible mess. It was a little shocking to run a comb through her hair after washing it and have not one tangle snag the wide teeth. Dragomir. He had done that for her.

  Three times during the day, she had found herself with tears streaming down her face. She needed to touch him. To see him. She was desperate for any kind of contact with him.

  Outside, the play yard was silent. The dragons were back on guard, five of them, made of stone, standing vigil, but the children were nowhere in sight. A breeze kicked up leaves and swirled them in the air.

  Genevieve had knocked, and then called her on her cell when Emeline hadn't opened the door. She was shocked that Emeline was pregnant and wanted to know how to help. Emeline didn't know how she could. Genevieve couldn't bring Dragomir to her. She followed his orders and didn't allow anyone in.

  She spent part of the day trying to find food or drink that her stomach could handle, but she'd been sick from the time Vadim had taken her prisoner, and that only seemed worse now. She could barely manage to sip water and keep that down. Mostly, if she did more than wet her parched mouth, she vomited.

  She rocked back and forth, trying to soothe herself. The baby had been very quiet, with very little movement, as if she were sleeping right along with Dragomir. She rubbed her stomach, happy that her daughter was finally comfortable enough to sleep. She knew eventually the parasites would attack her, but Vadim hadn't issued that order, so they left the baby alone. That was Dragomir, too. He'd done that.

  She tried to rest, but she couldn't lay down or relax. She closed her eyes and reached for him, giving in to need and the sorrow building in her. She had always lived her life on her own terms, and it was difficult to need another--but she did, desperately.

  Dragomir. I don't want to disturb your sleep, but I can't seem to function without knowing you're alive and well. I know it sounds stupid when it's only another hour until sunset, but I can't relax. She waited, her heart in her throat. Her body was still, her lungs refusing to draw in air until they burned.

  I am here, close. Right beneath you. There is a chamber beneath the house. Tariq must have put them in for safety reasons. This one is quite large and runs nearly the entire length of your home.

  She closed her eyes, drawing in air as relief flooded her. He was alive. Close. Right beneath her. She sank down onto the floor, and ran her hand over the hardwood. She loved the gorgeous pattern, a huge moon in the center, with stars scattered around the room, formed by beautifully cut wood. She would change the furniture if she lived there permanently. She'd begun to think of the house as hers. It was the first real home she'd had in her life. Blaze's fat
her had sent her to France when there was trouble, but she returned when she found out he'd been murdered. In France, she'd had a tiny apartment, but no one was there, not even Blaze, so she had been very lonely.

  Has the soil helped?

  Yes. The healer is extremely powerful. I doubt I could have aided you and the baby without him.

  You could have died, Dragomir. Just acknowledging that truth made her heart skip a beat and then begin to pound. He saved your life. You should have gone to ground immediately, and you know it. Your wounds were horrendous.

  Then I am more than grateful to him. Every minute I am alive is a minute I can spend in your company. Are you ready to acknowledge that I am your lifemate?

  There was faint humor in his voice. She wasn't feeling the least bit amused. "No. I think you're the best man I've ever met in my life, and that's saying something because I loved Blaze's father and thought he was until I met you. I think you're trying to save me from myself and from everyone else."

  Kislany kuNGenak minan, you are going to continue to deny the truth, but it doesn't matter. I am your lifemate and I will watch over you no matter what. Did you rest?

  For a moment, she considered hedging, but she didn't want to lie to him. She'd done enough of that by not telling him she was pregnant from the moment she first saw him. No, it was a difficult day. If you had known I was pregnant with Vadim's child, would you still have rescued me? She chewed on her lower lip, wishing she hadn't asked, terrified of the answer. She was fairly certain she would hear the truth. She was beginning to hear nuances in voices.

  I am your lifemate, Emeline. I will always come for you, no matter the circumstances. If you believe nothing else, believe that. When she didn't respond, he said, My friend Aleksei is lifemate to a woman who was begging another man to take her away with him. Now Aleksei and his lifemate are together and happy.

  Emeline frowned. Aleksei's lifemate was in love with another man? That seems . . . wrong. What were the circumstances? She was genuinely interested, but even more, she wanted to keep him talking.

  I do not know much, only that the woman had not been born Carpathian as we all had believed and that the healer who aided me was the other man. He was human also at one time. He was subdued by the prince of the Carpathian people and Gregori, the prince's second-in-command. It took them both to keep him restrained.

  How sad for everyone.

  There was silence for a moment. I understand that you would have sympathy for this man, but I would not want you to develop feelings for him.

  She frowned, tracing a pattern onto the hardwood floor with her finger. I don't think you have anything to worry about. He makes me uneasy.

  What is it about him that makes you uncomfortable?

  She realized she was writing Dragomir's name on the floor over and over. He looks at me as if he knows every secret I have or will ever have. I think he knows about the loaves of bread I stole from my aunt's store when I was eight.

  You stole bread?

  I was starving. I tried to clean houses, but my aunt was kind of a jerk and she didn't really want me in her house. She said I could sweep the floor in the store and clean all the glass cases. Unfortunately, she didn't come to pay me or give me food, so I took two loaves of bread. Nothing has ever tasted so good.

  There was a long silence again, so long Emeline could hear her heart beginning to beat too fast. He had to keep talking to her. She needed the sound of his voice to ground her. She traced the letters of his name on the floor three times before he spoke.

  Why didn't your aunt come for you?

  She sagged a little with relief. She drank a lot. By that I mean every single night, an entire large bottle of vodka. I don't think she remembered me.

  Is she still alive?

  There was a bite to his voice. A hint of menace that made her shiver. She moved back against the couch where he had sat the morning before. No. She died fairly young. Her liver didn't hold up.

  How very fortunate for her. This time there was no mistaking the threat. What happened to you? Who took you in?

  She drew up her knees and circled them with her arms, hugging herself. No one. I was a street kid like Danny, Amelia, Liv and Bella. Maybe that's why I had to save them. And the baby. She put her hand over her stomach protectively. I never had a home or brothers and sisters. Well, I had Blaze. She was always good to me. She let me climb in her bedroom window and sleep there whenever I wanted to. Her father let me stay and paid for classes and schooling. Even dance. He was a good man.

  I will be rising soon, Emeline, Dragomir said, and then we will remove the remaining parasites from you and the baby. What we are going to do will seem scary. You must trust me implicitly. I know that is asking a lot when you barely know me, but I swear to you, I will keep you safe and do what is best for you and the baby.

  She wanted one night without scary. One night to just breathe. She'd told the truth about being Vadim's lifemate and about carrying her child, and so far, no one had thrown her out of the compound. They knew the worst. Maybe they would ask her to leave, but she knew that Dragomir would go with her. She wouldn't go alone.

  We have to do this tonight? But she knew they did. She was in bad shape. She couldn't eat or sleep. He would take one look at her and know.

  Yes. Vadim will fight for you. We must get every single one of his tormenters out of you and the baby. It will take all of us to turn you without pain so the baby will survive.

  Turn me? Like Charlotte and Blaze. She bit her lip hard. She knew she was well on her way. She probably was more vampire or Carpathian than human. The baby, Dragomir. She's suffered enough. Blaze and Charlotte told me it can be extremely painful.

  Vadim's parasites had flooded her heart. He was going to kill her. I do not understand his plan for you or why he would attack the child he put in you, but he will make another attempt on her life if we don't do this.

  She frowned, trying to piece together just why the master vampire would go to such great lengths to impregnate her and then decide to terminate the pregnancy. That doesn't make sense at all. She glanced out the window and watched the sun dip down toward the horizon. The sun is beginning to set. She couldn't keep happiness from her mind and knew he saw it. It didn't matter. He would be there soon.

  I must feed and then I will be right there. Tariq is back. I will meet with him first. We won't have much time. I need your consent, Emeline, to speak on your behalf and make decisions. I will tell you what the plan is as we make it.

  I should face him. Apologize for not telling him the truth and for bringing the battle right into his compound.

  Those children let in evil so they could play.

  She winced at the hard, unyielding voice. He was angry. He might not show it, but deep down, he was. She felt it in his mind. Dragomir.

  Give me a few minutes.

  She dropped her head into her hand and took a deep breath, wishing he was there with her now. Wishing she really was his lifemate. But she knew better. Street children like her didn't get the gorgeous, courageous man, the sweet one, the one who would take on a baby along with its mother. No, they got the villain, the monster. And she got the worst monster on earth.

  "But not you, baby," she whispered aloud. "You're going to be loved. Very, very loved."

  Dragomir read her thoughts, because now that he was in her mind, he couldn't quite let go. He wanted to go to Emeline and reassure her, to find a way to make her see that he was her lifemate, that he would never leave her, but there was too little time. He switched from his intimate path with his lifemate to the more common path of the Carpathian people. Tariq, I must meet with you immediately. I am hunting for sustenance, but will return in a few minutes.

  Come to the house.

  Dragomir left the compound. Sandu, Ferro and Andor fell in with him, taking to the sky as birds. They had hunted many times together, long before they ever made the decision to go into the monastery. Their flight took them a distance from where they slept. It was ingraine
d in them to hunt away from the places they frequented.

  Deep within the bird, Dragomir puzzled out the strange emotion bothering him. Hurt. Emotional hurt. He knew physical pain, but he had never experienced emotional pain until his lifemate had restored feeling in him. The pain of destroying friends and loved ones ran deep, holes in his soul he knew he could never repair. Intellectually, one might say the person he loved had died when they'd made the choice to turn vampire, but that didn't stop the pain of having to terminate the corrupted shells of those who had once been friends.

  This hurt was different. His lifemate refused to believe she was his. Even after tying them together--and she felt the effects, she just didn't recognize them--she wouldn't believe it. Why? He turned that over and over in his mind as the four of them circled above a back road where three men dressed in business suits had parked their cars. Clearly they waited for someone else. With the advanced technology of cameras on cell phones and seemingly everywhere, the Carpathians had to coordinate their confrontation. The blitz had to be fast and simultaneous, all keeping their prey from using cell phones, cameras or any technology. They simply made certain none of them could be seen from the road, not the hunters and not the prey.

  Three dropped down, Sandu, Andor and Dragomir, while Ferro kept watch above, staying in the form of a bird. They each picked their prey, materialized behind them and took control of their minds. Dragomir sank his teeth into the neck, taking in the life-giving fluid. He knew he needed more time beneath the ground to fully heal, but that would have to come later. He was about to engage in the battle of his life, and this time he had something to lose.

  Emeline. His woman. Had she been born Carpathian she would have recognized all the ties between them. Those differences she felt would have been instantly attributed to their bond. But she wasn't Carpathian. She had been born human. She might know of their world, but she had never experienced it. She'd never had a family. She'd been thrown away by her relatives.

  She had thought she was sacrificing her life for the children in that underground city Vadim had created, but instead, he had other plans for her. That had blindsided her. Her precog dreams only took her so far and the outcomes weren't always what she thought they would be. That was probably why she didn't trust that her bond with Dragomir was real. She didn't believe because she couldn't let herself believe. He would have to put aside hurt feelings and get her there. She needed kindness. She needed to be cherished. She needed to know he would always be there for her. He would find out the things that mattered to her and give them to her.