Maksim touched Blaze's hip. Stay in my mind. If I go down, get out of here.
That will never happen, she stated firmly, glancing at him over her shoulder.
He caught just the flash of her green eyes, but she meant what she said, and there would be no arguing with her. His woman would stand. Even if the odds were totally against her.
We should get this done fast then.
She didn't hesitate. She launched herself at the two puppets, streaking toward the lumbering humans, a knife in either hand. She was fast. She'd been fast before Maksim had given her blood, but with each exchange, she got faster and stronger. She moved so fast the vegetation under her feet whirled into the air and nearly covered her passing. She was between them, the blades flashing, sinking deep into their throats, twisting and turning and back out as she ran on past and stopped just behind them.
Maksim launched himself into the air, going for the lesser vampire who thought himself hidden from view. The vampire hit him, twisting at the last moment out of the tree, so they collided in the air. He drove the vampire back against the trunk, impaling him on a broken branch. The vampire tore at his neck and chest with sharp talons and teeth, desperate to pull his body off the wooden stake.
The vampire tore a chunk of flesh from his body and gulped at the blood. Instantly he spat, snarling, pulling back, recognizing the poison in Maksim's system. His expression turned sly.
"You're already dead," he hissed.
"So are you," Maksim said and plunged his fist deep into the vampire's chest, driving a hole deep. The acid burned through his arm right down to the bone. He straightened his fingers, staring into the hideous red eyes, unflinching as his sharp nails dug deep to find the rotting heart.
The undead thrashed harder, trying to free himself. There was no way to shift with Maksim's body pinning him against the broken branch and his arm buried deep. Slowly, Maksim extracted the heart, the sucking sound terrible, matching the shrieking protests of the vampire.
Maksim tossed the heart into the air and drew down the lightning, hitting the shriveled organ as it raced toward the ground. He threw himself backward, away from the flailing undead. He landed unsteadily, his legs unexpectedly giving out. Still, he had the presence of mind to send a fork of lightning straight to the vampire where he hung from the stake in his back. The body was instantly incinerated.
Maksim tried to rise to go to Blaze's aid. The two puppets were bleeding profusely from a half dozen places, each cut so deep that the slashes should have been a kill, but the vampire's wishes prevailed at all times. They moved like zombies already dead. Still, their bodies continued to work in spite of the blood loss.
"They aren't going down," Blaze stated unnecessarily.
Maksim hit the ground hard and dragged himself to where Tomas lay. He covered the other Carpathian's body with his own.
Try fire.
She nodded, lifted her gun, fired two shots into the closest puppet, taking his vision and then doing the same with the second.
Slow your heartbeat, Maksim, so they can't hear it. They'll have to use sound and smell to find you. You can mask that.
He wasn't certain if that was the truth. The poison was fast acting. He could slow his heart, or stop it altogether, slowing the spread of the poison, but that would leave Blaze without even the aid of his mind.
Reinforcements will be here in a couple more minutes, Maksim. Do it.
Blaze moved quickly to the right and then sprinted, running in circles around the two puppets to disorient them so they wouldn't know the position of the two Carpathian hunters. She kept an eye on Maksim, willing him to do as she'd asked. She needed him to slow his heart and the poison until the two other hunters arrived and helped.
Hurry, she whispered. Maksim had been moving fast, expending energy. The poison had plenty of time to do damage.
She ripped at her shirt and wrapped it around a very dry fallen branch, forming a makeshift torch. It took two strikes of the match to get the thing burning. The two puppets had homed in on the sound of her heart beating. She let them come in close to her, and then moved back a few steps in order to draw them farther away from Maksim and Tomas.
They followed her one step at a time, their growls deep and constant. Blood ran down their faces from the holes where their eyes used to be. The sight turned her stomach. Bile churned and filled her throat, but she held her ground and let them shuffle closer. The first puppet stretched out his arms toward her. The flames weren't burning enough and she slashed with her knife, cutting deep. The creature didn't howl. His mouth opened wide in a silent scream, but the deep cut didn't deter him in the least from continuing to come at her.
It was all she could do not to throw the torch before it was truly burning. The creatures seemed unstoppable. No matter what she did, they kept coming. Taking a deep breath, her hand burning, she counted slowly in her mind and then moved in fast, touching the flames to the puppet's shirt, his matted hair and his jeans.
The hair and shirt caught fire and she jumped back. The creature continued to shuffle forward, straight toward her, on fire. She needed wind. Something to fan the flames. Her own torch burned hot, almost too hot to keep a hold of. As if hearing her desperate thoughts, the wind shifted, fanning the fire so that flames leapt high, engulfing the puppet.
He kept coming toward her, but now he was a wall of flame. The stench was horrible. She stared in horror, unable to think of anything else to do to kill the mad-driven creature desperate to carry out his master's orders. She stumbled backward, keeping an eye on the other puppet that had shuffled dangerously close. Maksim and Tomas lay just beyond her, and she couldn't leave them exposed. She couldn't give much more ground, or the flaming torch of a puppet would be right on them.
Blaze took a deep breath, threw her small torch at the other creature. It hit his shirt, and the wind followed, fanning flames. She didn't have time to see if she'd accomplished her goal. The fiery flames were close enough to her now that she felt the heat. She ran straight at the puppet engulfed completely in fire. Launching herself into the air, she kicked out with both feet, hitting him squarely in the chest.
The heat was intense, so intense, she knew her jeans had melted in a couple of spots right into her shins and calves, but the puppet fell back and writhed on the ground. Hideous noises escaped. He began to drag himself across the ground toward the two Carpathian hunters lying motionless. The other puppet seemed to have homed in on them as well. His chest and hair were on fire, but only smaller flames crackled, the fire just beginning.
Blaze did the only thing she could think of. She used the knife on herself, slicing across her palm and flinging the blood at the two desperate puppets. The droplets of blood spun in the air between them, as if they had a life of their own. Blaze took a cautious step to the right of the Carpathians. Both puppets turned toward her. Elated, she took a second step, and both turned completely toward her.
Step by step she led them away from the poisoned Carpathians. She kept breathing deep, deliberately slowing her heart so she wouldn't panic. The one dragging himself on the ground repulsed her, even terrified her. She couldn't stand the sight of the living torches following the blood trail she continuously flung into the air.
Fortunately they didn't move fast, and that gave her time to consider her next move. The one on the ground suddenly let out a shriek as if he finally felt the flames consuming his body. He stared at her through the orange and red tower of conflagration. She froze. The eyes were black holes, no intelligence. Vacant. Gone. Not even red. Suddenly they were alive again, menacing, staring at her with malevolence. There was intelligence there and promise of retribution.
She blinked and the fire consumed the puppet, engulfing him completely so that there was nothing left but black ash. Still, she shivered and deep inside, for the first time, she felt absolute terror. The other puppet was close. His smell sent her stomach churning, and the heat told her the fire was building.
"Step back," a voice said, and she whirled to face a
tall man with long, streaming black hair and a grim, weathered face. He looked just like Tomas, only maybe a little scarier, although Tomas had the same look to him that warned others not to cross him.
She did what he said instantly. He moved fast, so fast she couldn't really see the blur. He was like Maksim, one moment there, the next he tossed a blackened heart of the dying puppet to the ground. Lightning forked in the sky. Thunder rolled.
"I have to learn to do that," she murmured aloud as she hurried around the big man to the two Carpathians lying on the ground. Crouching, she ran her hand over Maksim's face, trailing her fingers down to his pulse.
"It kills them faster," he explained.
Maksim's pulse was slow. So slow she almost missed it, but she was patient. He'd trusted her to keep them safe and that meant the world to her. Lightning sizzled and slashed across the sky, jumped down in a long ropy whip and hit, first the heart with deadly accuracy, and then the remaining puppet. To her astonishment, the lightning whip hit dead center in the middle of the pile of black ashes from the other puppet. The ashes went gray and scattered with the wind.
"They both have some kind of poison in their system," Blaze explained as the other Carpathian came up beside her and crouched low. He put a hand on his brother's leg, but remained silent, his eyes on her face, as if expecting something from her. She did her best. "I don't know what to do. Tomas shut down his heart immediately. He took the worst of the hit, but the spear or arrow went through him and hit Maksim in the calf. Maksim took out the vampire waiting here for us, and then he had to shut down his heart as well to slow the spread of the poison."
"I am Mataias." He motioned her to move out of the way. "Stay back. I need to analyze the poison and remove it from their bodies. In some cases, the poison used is a parasite that can jump from one body to another."
Blaze nodded and gave him room, but she remained close enough to help Maksim if needed. She touched his mind. He was there. Alive, but far from her. She swallowed hard. It had taken all of the ten minutes to keep the puppets from the two Carpathians. She wasn't certain if the poison had continued to spread through Maksim's body while he lay motionless, covering the other hunter, still protective even in his hibernation.
A second hunter strode toward them. The first glanced up, blinking as if coming back from being asleep or a long way off. "Tariq," he greeted. "You take my brother. I am already working on Maksim."
He hadn't touched Maksim. Blaze nearly protested, but then she realized Mataias was no longer there beside her. His body was. But he wasn't. She held herself very still listening. Feeling. Waiting. Then he was there. Inside Maksim's body. She was connected to Maksim and she felt Mataias's presence. He was pure light. A white-hot light, all spirit. No ego. No sense of self. Only healing energy.
She didn't move. Didn't startle. But she watched and she followed the light through Maksim's body. It didn't seem possible, but she knew she was there with the hunter as he pushed the poison ruthlessly toward Maksim's pores, forcing it out of his bloodstream. Out of every organ and muscle. He was meticulous, slow, taking time to check and double-check that not one single drop of the dark, thin streaks of sludge remained hidden.
She was shocked. Moved. She felt as though she witnessed a miracle. More than the ability to do such a thing, it was the sheer selflessness of the act. Mataias wasn't there at all. He gave himself to his fellow Carpathian, turning himself into a tool to heal, without thought for himself. It was so beautiful, Blaze found tears in her eyes.
"I think we got it all," Mataias said softly.
She blinked and found herself staring into his dark eyes. Mataias was back in his body. Maksim was already stirring beside them.
"I don't think there was a 'we' doing that, but thank you. That was amazing. I wish I could do that."
"You will be able to," Mataias assured. "He needs blood." He brought his wrist to his mouth.
"I have to give it to him," she said softly. "I know I have to."
He hesitated. "He needs strength and Carpathian blood . . ."
"I feel that I have to. Strongly."
He held her gaze for a moment and then he nodded. Her palm was still dripping blood and she opened it and placed it over Maksim's mouth, allowing the ruby drops to drip inside. His lips moved against her skin and unexpectedly, little butterflies took off, wings fluttering against the inside wall, traveling down to her sex. She felt him there. In her pulse. In the hot blood suddenly surging through her veins.
Maksim stirred in her mind. Filling her with his warmth. He took the aching hurt of her father's death that she hadn't been able to face and allowed her to grieve when she hadn't. She felt his arms circle her body, and then one hand slid under her wrist, holding it gently to his mouth. The tears streamed down her face. He gave her his love, surrounding her with it, a wall to keep her safe and protected.
He was so gentle with her, yet he could erupt into violence so quickly. Mostly she loved that he gave her license to be who she was, who she needed to be.
Mine, he whispered into her mind. My lifemate. A warrior woman. You kept them off of us.
You believed in me. That meant the world. Not just trusting her with his life, but with the life of his friend. He had put himself to sleep, trusting she would keep both Carpathians safe.
I see you, Blaze, the core of steel running through you. You are already Carpathian. You just have not crossed to us fully. Giving me this blood will complete the third exchange.
She didn't know if he was warning her or praising her, but she took it as praise. She had known all along she needed to be the one to give him her blood--that to be reborn as a Carpathian, wholly into his world, she would have to take this last step. She wanted this. Only Emeline held her to the human world. She loved Emmy. She would always love Emmy, but she could better protect her from her enemies as a Carpathian.
Maksim drank deeply and then slid his tongue across the wound, closing it. He sat up and took her into his arms.
"She held them off," Mataias said. "Using her own blood to draw them away from you. No doubt she would have tried to cut out their hearts next."
She knew that was high praise from a hunter because she knew Maksim was startled by the compliment to her--startled and proud.
"I knew she would do it," Maksim said. "I have to get her to safety before the conversion starts."
"I will take Tomas as soon as Tariq is finished healing him," Mataias said. "Lojos reported he has healed the other woman. She is safe for the moment."
"It will take some time for that wound to heal in Tomas," Maksim observed.
Mataias nodded. "We will watch over him."
There was something in the way Mataias made the statement that set off a series of chills throughout Blaze's body.
TWELVE
MAKSIM LIFTED BLAZE in his arms and carried her to the large, sprawling two-story house set back on the property. The house was old, very old, but it had been carefully reconstructed, preserving the glory of the time while modernizing the windows, plumbing and wiring. The wood had been restored to a golden hue on the floors, and the walls were a light mauve. High ceilings, crystal chandeliers and ornate wainscoting added to the beauty of the old mansion.
"Is this your home?" Blaze looked around with awe. The floor had beautiful patterns of the night sky all in inlaid wood. "I've never seen anything like this."
"I came here some centuries ago and found this spot. Later, I came back and purchased the land, had the house built, and from any of the windows, depending on where the moon is, you can see it and the stars. Upstairs there are moon windows in the ceiling. The open sky is always close."
Blaze paced across the floor. There wasn't a single creak. The house had a feel to it, one of peace and security. Home. She liked that. Still, she pressed a hand to her stomach. She felt hot, her temperature rising. "What can I expect, Maksim?"
His gaze met hers without flinching. "I have never actually witnessed a conversion, Blaze, but I have heard they can
be brutal."
Her eyebrows shot up. "Brutal?" She repeated the word and waited for his slow nod. She was very aware he was watching her closely. Expectantly. She took a deep breath. "I suppose it's too late to back out? 'Brutal' doesn't sound good."
"Back out?"
She nodded. "Seeing as how there wasn't full disclosure," she added. "Had you used the term brutal, I might have rethought my decision." She was teasing, but then again she wasn't. She didn't like that word and all it implied. Brutal. What did that even mean?
He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her to his side. Tight. That felt nice. Safe. Protected. But the heat moving through her body wasn't the usual heat she felt for him. She swallowed down fear and tilted her head to look up at him.
"Even if you haven't seen someone go through a conversion, can you at least tell me what to expect? I do better if I know what to do and what is going to happen ahead of time." She kept her eyes glued to his.
Maksim didn't look away from her, but there was wariness in his gaze--in his mind. She clung to his strength.
"This is going to be bad, isn't it?"
He nodded slowly. "Your body's organs have to be reshaped. It will rid itself of all toxins. I think it best if we go to ground and neither of us has clothes on."
She swallowed hard and nodded. The first wave of pain was severe. Hard. Abrupt. No warning. Sweeping through her like a tsunami. The pain took her breath, and both hands flew to her stomach, where it felt as if shards of glass and hundreds of razor blades cut through her insides.
Her eyes widened, but she didn't drop her gaze from his. There was sorrow there. Compassion. Fear even. He was afraid for her. Blaze forced air through her lungs and tried to relax her body, to put her mind far away where she couldn't feel the pain. There was no stopping it as the wave took her, but she managed to ride it, stay on top of it, and the moment she felt it ease, she acknowledged it to herself so she would always know it came and went. One could endure anything for a length of time--her father taught her that.
"We'd better hurry, Maksim," she whispered. "It's starting."
"Dragostea mea, my love, you are very strong. A warrior unsurpassed."