Dark Slayer 20 Read online

  I am coming to you. Stall for time. Use the wolves if you must.

  «Allow our healer to help you,» Mikhail said, his voice dropping another octave, becoming almost hypnotic.

  She couldn't help but feel the pull of that pure voice, even though over centuries she'd trained herself not to fall prey to sound. Farkas pressed closer to her legs, his body trembling. He was in the same shape as she was.

  «I have no need of your help, Dubrinsky,» she said, her voice haughty. «I neither ask nor want anything from you or anyone connected to you.»

  Gregori's breath came out in a long, slow hiss.

  Her gaze jumped to his face, to the storm gathering in his eyes. If an attack came, it would come from him. She was weak from blood loss and pain, and was running out of time. «You evidently have never learned, in all your years of existence, how a voice can be sweet and pure to the ears, yet hide the truth behind the mask. My brothers chose the path of evil, but they were not wrong in their judgment of the Dubrinsky line. The prince you follow is not at all what you believe him to be.»

  Her gaze flicked to Mikhail, holding absolute, utter contempt. «You cannot deceive me, karpatii ku kod-liar, I am only fooled once, and your father was a champion. I wish to leave. Are you holding me prisoner?»

  There was a small silence and Gregori slowly shook his head. «Do you believe you can fight all of us and emerge the victor? You are a woman, a Carpathian woman without anyone to protect her. I am sworn to carry out my duty whether you wish it or no.»

  Ivory took a breath, and let it out. Be ready, Raja.

  The pack bared teeth and faced the threat of the Carpathian males without flinching.

  Gary moved then, deliberately placing his body in front of hers, standing between her and the guardian of the prince, ignoring the threat of her pack.

  «Please,» he said. «No one wants to take you prisoner. I'm offering my blood freely to you. My life for yours. I'm not certain of the formal words, but if you take what I offer, we'll know you'll at least have a fighting chance should you run into another vampire. No one wants to imprison you."71

  «She is infected with the vampire's blood,» Gregori explained. «The parasites have to be removed.»

  «I am well aware of the infestation,» Ivory retorted. «I am perfectly capable of healing myself.»

  Another male and female materialized just beyond the prince, and Ivory heaved a sigh, wishing she could just sink down into the snow and rest. She recognized the male, with his strong, handsome features, and a smile nearly broke out. Falcon. A friend of her family, of the De La Cruz brothers. He was a loner but a good man. She was grateful to see him, to know that at least a few of the older males still survived with their souls intact.

  «Ivory!» Shock registered, shock and happiness. «You are the mysterious woman who saved our son?» Falcon glided forward but stopped abruptly when she stepped back and waved him off with her hand.

  «Pesasz jelabam ainaak-long may you stay in the light, Falcon,» she greeted. «It has been many years.»

  «You're injured,» the woman exclaimed, hurrying forward.

  Falcon stopped her by putting a restraining hand on her arm. «What is going on here?»

  Ivory noted that he didn't sound judgmental, just cautious. «I wish to leave and your prince and his servant have dictated otherwise.»

  «Only to see to your health, lady,» Gregori said with a slight bow, ignoring her taunt.

  The woman frowned. «I'm Sara, Falcon's lifemate. You saved our son and we're indebted to you. No one here wants to harm you.» She sent a small glare toward Gregori. «I can't imagine that anyone here would want to do anything but reward you for your help. I offer freely my blood to help heal you. Both Falcon and I will do our best to heal your wounds, although Gregori is a healer without comparison. He may look intimidating, but he is really a gentle, caring man.»

  «I am not intimidated by the dark one,» Ivory denied. «I wish only to go my own way.» The woman tempted her with her offer. A healing would certainly go a long way toward strengthening her, but if she took the dark one's blood, he could track her all the more easily. Blood called to blood. And she would be so vulnerable. He could easily take her blood and then she would always have to worry that he could find her lair. As it was, Sergey knew she lived. He might get it in his head to try to find her.

  She sighed and shook her head. «I regret that I cannot take you up on your generous offer, but thank you,» she said to Sara.

  Raja growled a warning and she realized that Gregori had moved closer. The dark one halted when she swung toward him, angling the knife up toward the softer parts of his body.

  «You would be very foolish indeed, dark one, to try it.»

  «You are swaying with weariness,» Gregori said. «If I said anything to make you think I wish you harm, I apologize. Surely you can see my only concern is your health. While we stand here, the parasites have had more of a chance to spread their poison through your body.»

  «I am well aware what parasites can and cannot do.»

  She reached for Razvan, desperate now. The healer was closer than she was comfortable with, perhaps within striking distance. Ivory wasn't foolish enough to disregard the man's reputation. He was known far and wide throughout the community as a dangerous, ruthless defender of the prince and of the Carpathian people.

  Unless I allow him to give me blood, I have no choice but to fight my way out.

  You will not have to fight. I give my life for yours. Follow my lead. Talk to the woman, distract them for another couple of minutes.

  There was something reassuring in his tone. She had left him a broken, fallen warrior, but he had risen something altogether different. There was confidence in his voice. Razvan was Dragonseeker, one of the oldest and most powerful of all Carpathian lineages, and he had endured torment and suffering for hundreds of years without succumbing to darkness. She had been in his mind, and his memory was long. He had absorbed fighting skills, techniques and strategies. He knew more about Xavier than any other living being and he had more cause to destroy him than any other. She wanted to believe in him. Shaken and weak, she needed to believe in him.

  The healer is trying to outwait me. He knows I cannot last.

  You will last.

  Strength poured into her. «Sara,» she said softly. «I appeal to you. Ask the dark one to step aside. I have done harm to no one here and I want only to leave in peace. You indicated the need to repay me for saving the life of your child. This is what I ask. Simply have your healer step aside.»

  Sara looked up at Falcon and then to Mikhail. «I think she sounds reasonable. Please, Gregori, just step aside.»

  All of them looked at Sara, who angled closer, more protectively, toward Ivory.

  Dirt geysered beneath the heels of the prince and a body materialized behind him, one arm locked tight around Mikhail's neck, the blade of a knife pressed against the heart of the prince. Stormy, merciless eyes locked on the face of the dark one with absolute resolve.

  CHAPTER 5

  No one moved. No one breathed, remaining statues frozen in time, as if one small mistake would start a bloodbath, and judging by the death in Razvan eyes-and Gregori's-there was little doubt there would be.

  Gregori released his breath in a long, slow hiss. «It is a death sentence to threaten the life of the prince.»

  Razvan shrugged his shoulders, a casual ripple of power. «I have been under a death sentence since my fourteenth summer. It is nothing new to me. There is nothing you can conceive of to do to me that has not been done already. I accept that I will die this night.» He inclined his head to Gregori, his expression unchanging, as if giving the Carpathian leave to kill him.

  A man with nothing to lose, Gregori, often emerges the victor, Mikhail pointed out, a trace of humor in his voice.

  Gregori's silver eyes flashed, and there was no answering amusement in them. No one lays his knife at your heart and walks away unscathed.

  «Step away from my lifemat
e. Once she is away, you can do as you will,» Razvan instructed.

  «No,» Ivory protested. «I remain with you. We will fight our way free.»

  Sara tried to step closer to Ivory. «This is crazy. Mikhail,» she appealed to the prince. «Stop this. Let them go.»

  «Do you know who this man is?» Falcon asked softly. «Ivory, do you have any idea of the crimes Razvan has committed against our people?»

  Again Razvan didn't flinch-and neither did the knife.

  «You know nothing about him,» Ivory said. «You have no right to pass judgment when you do not know the facts.»

  There is no need to defend me.

  Razvan was shocked that she would. She stood there swaying, looking far too deceptively fragile for the warrior he knew her to be. Her body was tall and straight, her flawless skin marred now by the tracks of vampire blood and the teeth tears in her shoulder. There was something very intimate in knowing that beneath that flawless exterior, he knew the true woman, the scars of death and defiance. The reserve of courage that it must have taken to pull her body back together and lay so broken in the ground for hundreds of years while nature tried to repair her.

  He alone knew the depths and strengths of her when no other on the face of the earth did. Pride in her shook him. Her courage and ferocity humbled him.

  «That is true,» Falcon said, remaining calm in the midst of the tension. «You do not know this prince. I have given my allegiance to Mikhail. He is worthy of my respect and protection. You know me. More important, you know the De La Cruz brothers. They also have given their sworn allegiance to Mikhail. Manolito gave his life for Mikhail and Gregori restored him to this world.» His gaze flicked to Razvan. «I believe your lifemate injected the poison into Manolito.»

  Razvan didn't flinch and the hand holding the knife was rock steady. «Ivory, I want you to come to my side and take my blood. Take enough that you can be at full strength.»

  She looked stricken and shook her head silently.

  It is the only way. Your purpose and your preparations will be lost if you do not get away. We cannot stop them all. I knew when I came that I would be exchanging my life for yours. It is an honor.

  «Her blood is infected with parasites,» Mikhail said. «Keep the knife to my heart and allow my healer to rid her of Xavier's vile worms.»

  Ivory flinched when she heard the high mage's name.

  Gregori's gaze flicked toward the prince, flashing him with a glitter of silver. This is not amusing, Mikhail. We know too little about this man. He may very well shove that knife into your heart under Xavier's orders. You would not be wearing that smirk then.

  I have no doubt that you would find a way to save me.

  «Razvan,» Mikhail said. «We are not looking to harm your lifemate, only to make certain she can survive an attack on the way back to her home. We offer both of you friendship. Your sister, Natalya, is here with her lifemate, Vikirnoff. Lara, your daughter, and her lifemate, Nicolas De La Cruz, are residing among us, working to save our unborn children. She has been a tremendous asset to our people. Your aunts, Tatijana and Branislava, are safe and alive, at present under the ground healing. I offer safe passage to both of you.»

  Razvan flicked Ivory a quick glance. It is up to you.

  Ivory drew in her breath. Life or death for her lifemate. He was putting his life into her hands so easily. Little did he know how abhorrent it was to her to allow favors from the Dubrinsky family. She could scarce make herself accept, yet she forced her body forward stiffly until she stood beside the healer, her fingers closed tightly around the hilt of a knife. She nodded her head toward the healer.

  She'll probably stab me when I'm done. Again those silver eyes flicked toward the prince. You won't be laughing so much when our wives give me hell for allowing someone to stab you.

  I don't know. It might be amusing. Neither will be angry with me.

  Gregori's breath hissed through his teeth as he sent the prince another smoldering look before laying gentle hands on Ivory's shoulder. She trembled, much like a wild animal under the hands of a rescuer removing it from a trap. Without being consciously aware of it, the healer murmured soothing words in the ancient language, trying to reassure her by his voice and the touch of his hands that he meant her no harm.

  Gregori closed his eyes and ceased to be a fierce warrior, ferocious guardian of the prince and the Carpathian people. All ego, everything he was, he surrendered, sending himself outside his body and into that of the wounded female. He became energy, a healing entity, moving through her bloodstream to find and repair all damage from the inside out.

  He nearly forgot himself, one of the rare times in his centuries of healing, when he discovered the way her bones and sinew were so crudely knitted together. Ridges and evidence of inside and outside scar tissue were everywhere throughout her body, even on her organs, unheard of in Carpathian society. He pulled out of her for just one moment, shaken, unable to look at her while he tried to puzzle out how anyone could have survived what had made those scars.

  Mikhail. There was shock when it was difficult to shock Gregori. There was awe when it was nearly impossible to astonish him. Mostly there was respect. It is as if she was chopped into small pieces. No part of her is untouched other than her face, and even her neck has these patchwork ridges. I believe she was cut into pieces, but how could she survive?

  He sent the impressions to Mikhail. Her true skin is a patchwork. I feel blades sawing through her skin and bones, around her neck, hacking off her head. This woman has suffered greatly. There was a breath taken. A crashing heartbeat. Abruptly Gregori pulled his mind from Mikhail's.

  Tell me. The two words were a command, nothing less.

  Your eldest brother assaulted her. I feel his taint, a stamp of suffering I have not felt before. He did this to her. Or he was part of it.

  Mikhail closed his eyes for a moment. She has reason to hate my family.

  Undoubtedly.

  Do you feel animosity toward the Carpathian people? Would she try to destroy us?

  There is great resolve, but not to end your life or to destroy us. Her determination is bred into her bones. I would like to know more of this woman.

  Gregori shed his physical body once more and reentered Ivory, paying attention to the bones and organs, bathing them in healing light as he passed through, examining her blood and cells for the infestation of parasites. He forced more of the intruders from her body through her pores, incinerating them as they wiggled in the snow, trying to find a target. It was a messy, exhausting business, and she sank into the snow, her strength finally giving out.

  Her wolves pushed close, forming a circle of protection, with Ivory and the healer's body inside. Gregori was dependent on Falcon to keep his physical form safe while he worked, and the ancient Carpathian remained very still, watching the wolves very carefully.

  While Gregori worked, the knife never wavered, nor did Razvan ask anything about his family. His entire concentration was on Ivory's safety. He watched the others, leaving it to her wolf pack to warn him should Gregori try anything to harm her. That took discipline and restraint. At no time did the blade of the knife penetrate the prince's skin.

  Mikhail allowed his body to breathe naturally. «Gregori is a tremendous healer. He will make certain no parasites remain.»

  «I appreciate his service.»

  «You have no need to continue to hold me hostage,» Mikhail said. «Gregori snarls and snaps, but he has no wish to harm your lifemate, only to heal her. He is driven by his code. He will not be so understanding over your continued threats. I have given my word for safe passage for both of you. It would be foolish to escalate the situation when your woman will need care.»

  Razvan held the knife for a few more moments, as if weighing the truth of Mikhail's words and then the knife disappeared and he stepped back into the shadows where he had a clear path to all three male Carpathians.

  Mikhail didn't move out of striking distance, maintaining his show of faith. F
alcon glided a little closer so that he was in a better position to insert his body between the prince and potential harm should there be need.

  «Tell me, Razvan,» Mikhail said, «does Xavier still truly live?» He studied the gray-streaked hair. Few Carpathians went gray; only the gravest of all injuries could produce that kind of damage to a Carpathian. When looking closely the prince could see signs of suffering etched into the worn face. Razvan was a handsome man, but he looked older, weathered.

  «He does,» Razvan confirmed.

  «Does he possess your body at will?»

  «He does,» Razvan answered, without flinching. «Although for the first time, I was able to keep him out. I have never been at this strength before, so it is possible, with time, I can learn to keep him at bay.»