Dark Celebration 17 Read online

«Tamara appears to be quite healthy, as does Jennifer.»

  «And while we go to ground, another has to watch over our children. Does that make sense to you? Why can't our children go to ground as they should? Even if the soil contains some toxins, shouldn't they be able to tolerate the very thing they will come to need?»

  Jacques stroked back her hair, sensing the rising fear in her. The persistent ache in her back told her birth was near-was inevitable. She couldn't protect their son much longer. «Our people have gathered in joy for this occasion, Shea.» He kissed her soft skin, his hands tender as he continued to tangle his fingers in her brightly colored hair. «Each Carpathian, near and far, has one true purpose at this time-to see to the life of our son. He will survive. The blood of the ancient line runs in his veins.»

  She rubbed her face over Jacques's heart. «I know. Every day I think about how you survived those seven years-trapped so close to the earth that would have saved you, starving and tortured and so alone-but you refused to succumb.» She lifted her chin to look into his dark, tormented eyes. «He has your blood, my beloved wild man. And your iron will. I'm so grateful that you're my lifemate, Jacques. If anything keeps our son alive, it will be because you are his father.» She rolled onto her side and framed his face with her hands. «I feel you in him.»

  He groaned softly, a small smile flirting with his mouth. «Then God help us when he is a teenager, Shea. Have you ever been introduced to Josef?»

  «Byron's nephew? The young rapper?»

  «That would be the one. I fear we have been given a brief glimpse of our future.»

  Shea laughed, the worry fading from her eyes. «Oh, dear. I believe Josef has been practicing to perform tonight.»

  «It will be almost as good watching Mikhail's face when Josef does his rap tonight as it will be watching Mikhail break it to Gregori that he is expected to play the part of Raven's Santa Claus.»

  Shea shook her head, her green eyes dancing. «You're a very bad man, Jacques.»

  «I keep telling you that, but you persist in thinking I am cute and cuddly.»

  The desire and hunger in his eyes took the breath from her lungs, and Shea circled his neck with her arms. She pressed kisses along the corner of his mouth. «I'll pretend around the others, Jacques, if that makes you feel better, but when we're alone, you'll just have to put up with my thinking you're extraordinarily cute and cuddly.»

  He heaved a sigh, amusement creeping into the depths of his eyes. «I have no idea how I ever existed before you came into my life.»

  Her answering smile lit up her face. «I feel the same way about you, Jacques.» She laid her head against his chest over his heart. «I wouldn't be able to get through this without you. I've never been so afraid, but you steady me.»

  He stroked a caress over her shiny ribbon of hair. «And all this time I thought it was the other way around.» Above her head, the smile faded from his face, leaving the lines deep and his eyes once more dark with worry. «This woman we are meeting tonight, Shea…» He hesitated, trying to choose his words carefully. «You must be very, very careful. We cannot have her suspecting even for a moment that you are anything but a human.»

  Shea rolled away from him in a small spurt of temper. «You know, Jacques, not all humans are monsters. Look at Slavica and Gary and Jubal. Why should she be suspicious that I am anything but human? Do you think most people go around thinking there are vampires and Carpathians in the world? I thought I had a rare blood disorder for years and I'm a doctor.»

  His fingers shaped the nape of her neck. «Do not be upset, Shea. I have a duty to protect our people.»

  «You mean Mikhail didn't like me contacting her.»

  «I mean I didn't like it. Maybe I have had you to myself these years and the idea of sharing you with an outsider sets my teeth on edge.»

  She turned her head in time to see his white teeth snap together, very reminiscent of a wolf. She began to laugh again. «I love you very much, Jacques Dubrinsky. I really do.»

  Her hands framed his face. «Are you ever going to get over that silly jealous streak?»

  «Is that what it is? I thought it was feelings of inadequacy-that you might suddenly wake up one morning and realize I am more trouble than I am worth.» He turned his head to brush her fingers with a kiss.

  «That could never happen, Jacques, not in a million years. Don't worry about Eileen Fitzpatrick. I'll know if she's lying to me.»

  «You want family so much, Shea, maybe you will not be able to tell.»

  «I have a family, Jacques. You are my family. You and our son and Mikhail and Raven and Gregori and Savannah. I am not deprived. And despite my hormones running amok, I would not endanger our loved ones for a stranger even if she is a relative. I had hoped she would have stories of my mother's childhood, but if not, I will only be disappointed, not devastated.»

  Jacques turned his face away, happiness bursting through him like the unexpected eruption of a volcano. «Roll over,» he instructed gruffly. «I'll rub your back for you.» He couldn't look at her, couldn't face her when his vulnerability would be so starkly naked. Men just shouldn't be so dependent on their women, not even lifemates.

  «I have a beach ball for a stomach, Jacques,» she pointed out. «There's no rolling.»

  «On your side then,» he suggested.

  Shea was silent for a long moment before catching his face in her hands and forcing him to look at her. «You're my life too, Jacques, my entire world. All those things you feel for me-I feel for you.»

  «Even though I can't let go of you and always have to be a shadow in your mind?» He forced himself to look into her eyes-into her heart-to read her mind.

  He found unconditional love.

  «Especially because you stay with me. I treasure that in you.» Shea traced his mouth with her fingertip. «A woman cherishes being loved, Jacques, and you know how to love me.»

  Chapter 3

  «What is that terrible racket?» Mikhail said in greeting as Aidan Savage opened the door to the large cabin. Mikhail hadn't seen him in several years and he couldn't help smiling as he clasped Aidan's forearms in a warrior's greeting.

  Aidan's unusual eyes glittered like two ancient gold coins. «You honor us, Mikhail, with your presence.»

  «Please tell me Byron's nephew, Josef, is not already here visiting.» Mikhail hesitated in the doorway, the lines in his face deepening in disapproval.

  «This seems to be the place to gather. Josh has a new video game Alexandria designed and everyone wants to try it. Josef is definitely here,» he added in warning as he stepped back to allow Mikhail entrance.

  Mikhail paused, one foot in the air. «Perhaps we should have Byron send for him immediately.»

  Aidan smirked. «You say that as if he's a vampire.»

  «I would rather face a vampire. I was hoping he might stay in Italy. Byron probably brought him along as a practical joke.»

  «He is rather entertaining once you get past his exuberant manners,» Aidan said.

  Mikhail's dark eyebrows drew together. «He draws attention to himself, and does not practice the most basic of our skills.»

  «I did see him take a plunge off the roof this evening and when he shifted shape, he only made it partway.»

  «You sound amused,» Mikhail said with a sigh. «He is in his twenties. We can no longer afford for our children to take so many years to grow up.»

  Aidan shook his head. «He's a mere teen in our years, Mikhail. We have lived far too long in the world of humans and have begun to think as they do. Our children deserve a childhood, Mikhail. I enjoy watching young Joshua grow. Josef is happy and healthy…»

  «Joshua is human. Josef is not. And the world has become a much more dangerous place for our kind, Aidan,» Mikhail pointed out. «We are surrounded by enemies and our women and children are the most vulnerable. We need Josef and in order to ensure his safety, he must learn the ways of our people. Can he even weave his own safeguards?»

  Aidan nodded. «You are right, of co
urse. I have been concerned ever since the concentrated strike against us, since the assassination attempt on you-that our enemies will decide to strike against our women and children. I will speak to Byron about Josef's training, make certain he is being schooled adequately to prepare for an attack.»

  «It has occurred to me that our women must be prepared as well.» Mikhail lowered his voice, taking Aidan by the arm and leading him to a quiet corner away from the ruckus in the living room. «We have always protected the women.»

  «They are of the light,» Aidan said. «They do not have the darkness needed for the kill.»

  «So we all thought, but self-preservation and dwindling hunters may bring new needs.

  Times change, Aidan, and frankly, we are facing extinction. We can no longer rely on the old ways. We have to be prepared to face the new challenges with new ideas.»

  «The ancient ones may not like your progressive thinking.»

  A small smile softened the hard line of Mikhail's mouth. «I think the ancient ones are far more progressive and flexible in their thinking than we are. However, I do have some concerns with this Christmas party Raven has insisted on.»

  «Alexandria thought it was a good idea as well,» Aidan said. «It gives her a chance to meet with the other women. She also feels it will aid Shea in giving birth. With so many of us here, there is a better chance the child will survive.»

  «Shea is close, this night or the next. Raven, like Alexandria, feels the party will create a feeling of family among the Carpathian couples and give hope to the remaining males, especially with the female children and Shea having a successful birth.»

  «Alexandria is in the kitchen. Joshua and Josef invented a high-speed mixer to help her prepare the dish she is making for tonight's event. I think they wanted out of peeling potatoes. You will have to come in and meet her, although she's a little anxious about meeting you.»

  «Me?» Mikhail scowled. «Why would she fear meeting me?»

  «I have heard you can be intimidating,» Aidan said with a small grin.

  Mikhail's smile was slow in answering. «These women.» He shook his head, then paused, looking suddenly hopeful. «Unless it was Josef…» He watched the furious battle taking place on the television screen. Alexandria's brother Josh, curls bouncy on his head as he used a controller, laughed aloud as his character did a backflip over Josef's character. Josef, directing his character with his mind, had the man whirling around so fast he nearly tripped over his own feet.

  «Alexandria came up with this game? It is good practice for Josef-for any of our people,» Mikhail said. «How did she think of such a thing?»

  «Josh and I like to play video games together and we make poor Alex watch us all the time. She still does graphics for a video company and when she realized I could direct the characters with my mind, she came up with this game for Josh and me as a Christmas gift.»

  «She is a very intelligent woman. Are you thinking of marketing these games?»

  «Yes. So many of the others have seen it and wanted it. Alexandria already has ideas for a couple more of them. Because we have Josh, who is human, and Falcon and Sara have the seven children they adopted, she is planning to set the game up to be able to use controllers if necessary. It gives us one more thing we can interact with and appear human. We'll be able to play online with one another as well.»

  «It is a wonderful idea. Hopefully, it will help bring us all closer when we live such distances apart.» Mikhail rubbed his jaw. «I need to speak to your brother about Dimitri. As I recall, Julian and Dimitri were fairly good friends in their youth.»

  «Yes they were,» Aidan said. «Is Dimitri here?»

  «He has come from the forests of Russia to join us, yet he remains in the form of a wolf most of the time and is prowling the woods. If you see Julian before I do, have him make contact. I believe he knows Dimitri better than any other Carpathian. They may have even exchanged blood after a battle. I want Dimitri monitored while he is in such close proximity to our women.»

  Aidan's head went up alertly. «You are concerned that Dimitri has turned?»

  «We can no longer count on reading minds and feeling the disturbance of power or evil. The vampires could very well send an enemy into our camp. I do not believe Dimitri has turned, but I am concerned that he is struggling. With so many women close to him, it is possible he will have the necessary hope to continue his struggle, or it will push him in the wrong direction. It is just better to be careful.»

  «He has long battled the vampires alone in his area,» Aidan agreed. «Too many kills so often take its toll on the hunter.»

  Mikhail sighed. «I cannot save them all, Aidan.»

  «No, but you do what is necessary for saving our people, Mikhail, and that is all you can ask of yourself. Come meet my lifemate.»

  Mikhail followed Aidan down the long hall toward the kitchen. «Raven asked me to play Santa Claus. St. Nick. You know, the character in the red suit with the long white beard.»

  Aidan halted so abruptly that even with his graceful, flowing strides, Mikhail nearly ran into him. «You are going to play Santa Claus?»

  Mikhail shook his head, wicked amusement gleaming in his eyes. «That is what my son-in-law is for.»

  «Gregori?» Aidan's white teeth flashed. The clouds shifted and the light from the moon spilled across the Carpathian turning his hair and eyes to an ancient, antique gold. «I have to be there when you tell him.»

  «I suspect his house will be overrun with spiders, mice and a few birds,» Mikhail said with evident satisfaction. «I would enjoy meeting your very talented lifemate. Lead the way. Just the thought of Gregori in that ridiculous getup has lightened my mood considerably. Alexandria will not find me in the least intimidating.»

  Aidan hesitated, his hand on the door. «Alexandria first knew of our race through the

  vampires. She was captured along with her little brother. The vampire chained her and fed on her, wanted her to kill her brother and both would feed on him. She still has nightmares. I catch echoes of them when she is in between our sleep and waking. Joshua no longer remembers, but she doesn't want to hide what we are from him. And that means he has to know we are hunted. It was courageous of her to come here-to put aside her fears and meet the other women.»

  «Have you discussed having children?»

  Aidan shook his head. «Not yet. She is well aware of the mortality rate of our infants and she lost so much so young.»

  Mikhail nodded. «Gary has mentioned that it is possible that the closer the birth of the baby is to conversion, the less likely it is that we will lose it. He thinks the longer the women are Carpathian, the more likely miscarriages will occur and the less likely there will be female children, but why that would be we have no answers, especially as Francesca had a daughter.»

  «At least we have Joshua, who is more of a son than a sibling to Alexandria. So far she has been unable to conceive, so there has been no choice for us one way or the other.»

  Mikhail continued to look at him, straight in the eye, a relentless, driving command. Aidan sighed. «I will discuss it with her.»

  «You do that. Our people need every child, every female we can possibly get at this point. Our hunters are desperate, Aidan.»

  «I was one of the desperate hunters, Mikhail,» Aidan said quietly. «I know my duty to our people.»

  «Aidan!» Joshua come up behind him and tugged at his arm. «Aren't you going to play with us? Josef put the game on pause so we could wait for you.»

  Aidan affectionately ruffled the boy's hair. «In a minute, Josh. Alexandria hasn't met Mikhail yet. He is the leader of our people, a very important man.»

  Josh's eyes widened and he stared up at the prince.

  Mikhail looked down at the boy with his slight build and head of curls, at Aidan's hand tugging at a curl, and he felt a sudden ache in his chest. He wanted another child. One that looked at him the way the boy was looking at Aidan. He wanted a village filled with children, with their laughter an
d their bright eyes and hope shining on their faces.

  His gaze rested on Josef who had followed Joshua, and for the first time he felt kindly toward the boy. Josef had gained a few inches in height, taking on more of the look of the Carpathian male with broad shoulders, but he was still gangly, as thin as a rail, and with his black hair cut into spiky sticks with the tips dyed blue, he looked like a bizarre scarecrow.

  «Hello, Josef. It is good to see you again.»

  The boy looked scared for a moment, and then he flashed a cocky grin. «You too, Your Royal Highness. Are we supposed to bow?»

  Aidan smacked him on the back of his head with a low warning growl, and Mikhail scowled, his black eyes glittering with sudden menace. The house pulsed with sudden energy and the walls undulated.