Dimitri had to agree with him. He wasn't used to running or being so weak. He prepared himself for battle, knowing that even Skyler's clever wall of silver twisters wasn't going to keep the Lycans back for long. Even as the thought entered his head, the wolves took to the trees, leaping high to catch branches, working their way around the twirling silver walls.
He caught glimpses of void spaces as if in the distance the trees were much thinner.
We're close, Skyler said. But I can feel the main pack gaining on us. I'm sorry, Dimitri, I know I'm the one slowing you both down.
He had always known the pack would catch up with them. His worry was the safe haven Skyler had created wouldn't be there and they'd be caught out in the open in a place nearly impossible to defend.
My body is still shaky, csitri, he told her, I'm not altogether certain I would be any faster on my own. But he would turn around and pick them off one by one. The hell with not going to war, not when they were going to kill his lifemate and Paul.
I'm with you, bro, Paul said.
Did I think that out loud? Dimitri asked. It was a sign of his weakness that he had.
Skyler answered him. Loud and clear. I heard it, too. All this time I thought you were the cool, peaceful, Zen-like warrior.
Dimitri saw that both Skyler and Paul found his little gaffe amusing in spite of the danger they were in, and he was grateful he'd made the mistake. They were running flat out now, uncaring of their burning lungs and cramping muscles. They knew they were running for their lives.
Paul gave an inelegant snort. Yeah, cool and Zen-like, that's Dimitri. I say let him loose on these bozos.
Just ahead, Dimitri could see the clearing. Skyler broke into the open first, running fast, heading for the very center. Josef waited, his hands in the air, ready to do whatever it took to protect them, but having no real idea how.
Dimitri paced himself just behind Skyler, always making certain his body blocked hers from the line to the Lycans. Behind him, he heard Paul grunt and the boy's pace changed. He glanced over his shoulder but Paul continued to run, not quite as fast, but he was into the clearing.
Shots rang out. He scented blood. Dimitri whirled around while Skyler skidded to a halt. Behind them, Paul was down, writhing on the very edge of the meadow. Just as Dimitri began to backtrack, Paul staggered to his feet, waving him off.
Paul picked up his pace again, sometimes hopping, but gamely coming toward them. Dimitri could see the shield shimmering, translucent, but definitely warping in the night air. Something was there waiting for them. He was reluctant to remove his body from where he blocked the Lycans' line of fire from his lifemate.
Get inside, Skyler. Get to safety. I'm going back for Paul.
Paul went down again, hard. Anyone could see the boy was in trouble. There was blood on his shoulder, clearly a through and through, and more blood on his leg.
Let me get him, Josef said, rushing past Skyler and Dimitri.
Another volley of shots rang out, and Josef hit the ground, his body rolling. Skyler let out a frightened cry and would have run past Dimitri, but he blocked her way.
"I'll get them. You get inside." Dimitri used his firmest voice, a command.
He sprinted toward the two boys. Both boys were game, Paul pushing himself up enough to drag his body forward as Josef rolled over and came to his feet, staying low and zigzagging as he ran toward Paul.
"It's a trap," Skyler yelled, suddenly seeing the pack of Lycans emerging from the forest, all with guns trained on Dimitri. "They're using Josef and Paul as bait."
Dimitri had already been certain that was exactly what the Lycans were doing. They would have been far more accurate in their marksmanship had they wanted the boys dead. He sprinted past Josef and reached Paul, bending down to lift him.
A volley of shots rang out, so many guns firing silver bullets straight at him. He heard Skyler's scream of raw fear for him, and then, somehow she was there, flinging her body in front of his, her arms completely outstretched to give him as much protection as possible. She even leapt into the air to protect his head.
Her body was flung hard back into him and he caught her, the burn of silver smashing through both his arms and legs. He turned and ran flat out for the safety of her shield. Behind him, Josef scooped up Paul and raced after him.
The Lycans fired over and over, the sound like claps of thunder, one volley running into the next. Dimitri leapt through the shimmering wall, feeling the wrench on his body, a terrible, disorienting twist, pulling his body nearly apart, almost as if their safe haven rejected him. Once he was through, the strange sensation disappeared, leaving behind the realization that not only had Skyler been shot numerous times, but so had he.
Josef yelled as he came through, Paul slung over his shoulder. Splashes of red dotted both bodies.
Dimitri put his lifemate on the ground, his fingers looking for a pulse. She was bleeding from half a dozen wounds, any one of which would kill her. Finding not even a faint heartbeat, he threw his head back and roared his rage and grief.
9
Mikhail Dubrinsky, prince of the Carpathian people, sat across from the four members of the Lycan council who had come to negotiate an alliance with him. They had brought a full regiment of guards to protect them. He couldn't blame them for that--he'd called in his warriors as well. It made for an interesting combination.
Gregori Daratrazanoff liked none of it, but then he was tasked with Mikhail's personal protection, and he basically glued himself to Mikhail's side. The main topic on the table, and the biggest bone of contention between the two species, was the subject of mixed blood. The Lycans had avoided the Carpathians for centuries, to ensure such a mix between their two species would not occur.
The Lycans referred to any mix between Lycan and Carpathian as Sange rau--bad blood. They believed anyone who had such a mixture must be hunted down and killed. Since it didn't happen very often, none of their hunters were well versed in killing one of such a mixture.
Mikhail had seen the Sange rau in action and he could well understand the danger, not only to the Lycans, but to all species. They were almost unstoppable--unless you had another of mixed blood to bring them to justice. That was the key in this meeting. He had to convince the Lycan council that there was a difference between a wolf/vampire cross and a Lycan/Carpathian cross. The wolf/vampire murdered everything and everyone without discrimination, sometimes simply for the joy of killing--just as a vampire would do. The Lycan/Carpathian was called Han ku pesak kaikak--Guardian of all. Carpathians had given that name to the mixed blood because it was true: they fought for all species against the Sange rau.
He liked all four of the council members. They were each quite different. Lyall was soft-spoken, listened attentively and appeared extremely intelligent. Randall was a bear of a man, shaggy and bulky, with a booming voice, a grip like a vise, yet he was definitely the most reasonable. He weighed what he said thoughtfully. Arno had the best sense of humor, was more open and friendly than the others, but he was also the one most outspoken on the Sange rau. Rolf rarely spoke, but when he did, the other Lycans immediately fell silent and listened to every word. If there was a single alpha among the council members--and Mikhail was certain there was--Rolf would be the leader.
Francesca Daratrazanoff moved gracefully over by the tables. Lycans ate food, and she laid out the meals the local inn had delivered for them. She was an asset with her gentle, calming ways, and more than once, when the debate between Lycan and Carpathians became heated, she chose her moment to insert some small comment in her soft voice, bringing them all back under control.
Still, the level of tension was extremely high in the room, given that the De La Cruz brothers were present. All had brought their lifemates to Romania, although none of the women were at the meeting, which didn't surprise Mikhail at all. Manolito De La Cruz and his lifemate, MaryAnn, would be considered Sange rau by the Lycans as they had mixed blood. Fortunately, the Lycans could only detect such a thin
g during a full moon, so they had no idea, but keeping the very lethal brothers from wanting to leap up and slay the Lycans each time they insisted the Sange rau must be killed was definitely becoming a problem.
Lucian and Gabriel Daratrazanoff said little. Neither joined in the arguments, but stayed in the background watching the proceeds of the meetings with interest. Gabriel's daughter, Skyler, was lifemate to Dimitri, and the Lycans held Dimitri captive. Mikhail had been assured by the council members that Dimitri was safe and would remain that way until the summit between the two species came to a decision.
Mikhail rubbed the back of his neck. His people would never accept the Lycans' view of mixed blood--and neither would he. All the discussions and heated arguing were really a waste of time. He would never change his position on the subject, or agree to pass a death sentence on innocent men just on the off chance that they might turn criminal.
Mikhail stood up, a fixed smile on his face, calling a halt to the meeting as the debate was once again becoming extremely heated. "I'm certain you're all hungry, and Francesca is signaling your food has arrived. She has made it very clear to me that you must eat it while it's hot. Shall we adjourn and give this subject a rest?"
Give it a rest?
He glanced across the room to Gregori. Their eyes met. Amusement showed in Gregori's eyes briefly, although he hadn't changed expression.
Zacarias hasn't said a word, but the women aren't here this evening. Marguarita, Colby, Juliette, Lara and MaryAnn have all been tucked away somewhere safe, Mikhail pointed out. This meeting is going to deteriorate fast if we don't think of some way to get the Lycans to understand the difference between vampire and Carpathian. Manolito and Rafael are total hotheads.
Does that surprise you? Something really catastrophic would have to happen to trigger Zacarias to make any kind of move without your permission, Gregori assured.
The Lycan council members rose and drifted toward the tables. Their guards fell into step behind them, flanking them, a solid wall of large men. Mikhail was very aware of how fast the Lycans moved in battle. All were armed, just as his men were.
Somewhere, in the distance, he heard a woman cry out. Colby De La Cruz, Rafael's lifemate. The sound was high, keening, a wail of fear and sorrow. Nicolas De La Cruz leapt to his feet, his brothers following suit. There was instant silence in the room, the Lycans swinging around to face what appeared to be a very lethal threat.
Mikhail stepped between the two factions, holding up his hand, facing the brothers. Francesca screamed, covered her face with both hands and would have fallen to the floor had Gabriel not caught her around her waist and held her, pressing her face to his shoulder, his eyes cold and hard as he, too, stared with lethal intent at the Lycans.
There was no way to stop the instantaneous ripple of knowledge, of treachery. Mikhail spun around to face the council members. The grief in the room was overwhelming, pressing down on all of them.
"They're children," Francesca accused. "You killed our child." She began to sob. "She's dead, Gabriel. Oh, God, how could this happen? How could they kill her?"
"You come into my home, sit at my table and all this time, you have been committing such treachery?" Mikhail said, his voice very low, a whip, striking hard at the four council members.
They winced at his tone, looking at one another. The Lycan guards reached for their weapons. Gregori caught Mikhail and all but shoved him back. Lucian stepped up beside him so they presented a solid wall between the Lycans and their prince.
It was Rolf who pushed past his own guards and stood without any weapon, facing his accusers. "I have no knowledge of what is happening. Clearly, you are aware of something tragic taking place. We came here in good faith. We have not committed any crime against your people, and we certainly do not kill children."
Mikhail moved past his own bodyguards, although both stepped up beside him, prepared, he was certain, to kill everyone in the room if they made a move toward him. He could barely stand the look of such grief carved deeply in Gabriel's face. Francesca's weeping broke his heart, yet there was the ring of truth in Rolf's voice.
"Skyler, Gabriel and Francesca's daughter, is lifemate to Dimitri," he explained.
"I heard her," Francesca said, lifting her face from Gabriel's shoulder. She pushed back her long dark hair and took a step toward Rolf--a very aggressive step.
Like all Carpathians, man or woman, she held great power. Mikhail might be able to keep the men under control long enough to get to the truth, but a grieving woman who had lost a child was something else altogether.
"I saw. Dimitri hung in a tree by hooks, silver winding its way to his heart. You lied to us. You told us he was safe, but even while you sat here charming us all, you were killing him, torturing him, death by silver you call it," Francesca accused.
She took another step toward the Lycan. Gabriel put a gentle hand on her arm, but she shook it off. "She set him free, and your army chased her."
"Paul was with her," Nicolas said. "He's been shot as well."
"With silver," Francesca said. "They riddled her body with silver."
Rolf frowned, shaking his head. "They wouldn't. I'm telling you no sentence was ever passed on Dimitri. He was to be held safely."
The other council members looked at one another, expressions puzzled or alarmed.
Francesca took another step toward Rolf. "She was nineteen years old. Nineteen."
The door burst open and a couple stood together in the doorway. Mikhail's heart sank. How could he possibly prevent a war between Lycan and Carpathian? Razvan of the Dragonseekers, birth father to Skyler, and his lifemate, Ivory, stood shoulder to shoulder. Paul was a De La Cruz. Skyler was Daratrazanoff and Dragonseeker. To harm either of them would set lethal predators relentlessly pursuing the perpetrators of the crime. There would be no stopping the families.
"We did not do this," Rolf said again, this time looking directly at Francesca. "I swear to you, give you my word of honor, we did not do this."
"She's not dead," Josef yelled. "She can't be dead. Go after her, Dimitri. You have to go after her." He scrambled on all fours to get to Dimitri's side. "She's Dragonseeker. She's strong. Go after her."
Paul dragged himself to the other side of Skyler and Dimitri, one leg useless to him. He nodded his head. "She'll fight for life with the same determination she fought for you."
Skyler lay lifeless in her lifemate's arms. Dimitri took a deep breath. He was bleeding from several wounds himself, the silver twisting through his body, burning with terrible intensity, but nothing could rival the grief and rage rising like a firestorm out of control. The madness was close--too close. He could feel darkness swirling inside him, the edges turning a fiery red. He took another breath, fighting back the emotions that threatened to dishonor him.
"If I can get her spirit and bring her close, you have to convert her, Josef. I cannot do both," Dimitri instructed. His voice was raspy, hoarse, fear for Skyler choking him.
He shed his body fast, becoming pure spirit, a white light that entered her body and rushed down the tree of life after her fading spirit. He knew her so well. Every expression. The sound of her laughter. The way her eyes changed color and her hair banded with color, even when she dyed it. He knew her heart and soul. That steel spine that made her so formidable. Most of all he knew her love.
I cannot lose you. Your soul is tied to mine. We are one, csitri. Where you go, I will follow. Stay where you are, hold on and let me come get you.
There in the darkness he felt her. There was no light to guide him, but he would know the feel of her anywhere. That soft, gentle nature, the one that surrounded him and held him to her when all else was lost. She had come for him in his darkest hour. His lady. His Skyler.
His spirit moved downward along the trunk of the tree of life, passed the upper branches. Once below them, he couldn't feel her anymore. For a moment panic nearly threw him back into his own body, but then he settled, calling on centuries of discipline. Hunting
her in the cold and dark required calm, not panic, and he refused to lose her when he knew she was still there--somewhere.
Dimitri rose slowly, this time allowing the sense of the Guardian to emerge. The instant he did he became aware of everything there in the dark. Souls crying out. Those without souls crouched in the dark waiting for an unsuspecting traveler who knew them. The bitter cold coming from deep below, rising to infuse everything in its path with ice.
Yet above him and just to his left, there was a pocket of warmth between two branches, almost as if something had been caught there, or had clung there. He moved fast, surrounding that warmth with his light, holding it captive, recognizing the feel and strength of her unconditional love for him.
Palafertiilam. Lifemate. Han ku vigyaz sivamet es sielamet--keeper of my heart and soul. Give yourself into my keeping. Let me hold you close while Josef brings you fully into my world. To do this, you must have absolute trust in me. I will need to possess your body.
She was too far gone. She would never be able to take Josef's blood even with his aid. He wasn't even certain if the conversion could be done. Possession was forbidden, a tool of the mage world or the vampire, but he could see no other way.
Skyler could not respond. He couldn't even see a faint flickering light, but her warmth increased to the point of true heat. He took that as a yes. He divided his spirit, a dangerous move when his own body was burning from the inside out. Nothing mattered to him but saving his lifemate.
He came back into his body disoriented and shaking. A part of him had remained in the nether world. "Paul, she is a daughter of the earth. We can't heal these wounds in time, but Mother Earth may do so. Get the richest soil and press it into each of the bullet holes. Josef, take her blood, enough for an exchange."
"But . . ." Josef and Paul exchanged a look of disbelief.
"Just do it. Then give her your blood."
Dimitri didn't wait for them to agree with his plan. He took possession of Skyler's lifeless body. The fit was strange and wrong. Her eyes snapped open and she looked at Josef.
Josef fell back away from Skyler. He recognized those ice-cold blue eyes, and they weren't Skyler's. If he did as Dimitri asked, would she rise a puppet? The undead? He shook his head at the idea. There was no darkness in Skyler, not even with her powerful mage blood. He knew her.