He leaned down and sank his teeth into her neck, taking in the powerful combination of her lineage. He had taken her blood many times before when he was caught out away from others and needed to feed, but she was different now. More potent. There was even a different taste to her. He didn't know if he was feeding from Skyler or Dimitri or a combination of both.
When he was certain he had taken enough for an exchange, he tore at his own wrist and pressed the laceration to Skyler's mouth. Her movements were jerky, stiff even, as if she had little control over her own body. Her tongue tentatively swiped over the wound and then she began to drink, a small movement, barely there, increasing in strength.
Shocked, Josef gave her as much blood as he dared, not understanding what Dimitri was doing. He knew healers could retrieve spirits that hadn't gone too far into the other world, but he'd never seen this done. Conversion was hard on a body. One species didn't easily allow another to take over. But possession? Such an abomination was forbidden. One did not take over the body of another.
At this stage, Skyler was still human. Pressing dirt, no matter how rich, into her wounds couldn't possibly heal her. Still, Paul did as Dimitri instructed and so did Josef. What else could they do?
Around them, the Lycans had gone wild, desperate to get through the transparent shield Skyler had erected. They tore at it with bare claws. They bit at it, fired bullets into it, and even hacked at it with swords. The shield held. Lycans climbed the trees surrounding the clearing and the strongest of them made large leaps in an effort to get over the shield. Most dropped to the ground, but two landed above their heads, slamming their bodies hard into the transparent ceiling. More dug at the ground in a feverish, frenzied effort to tunnel beneath the shield to gain entry.
Razvan sent Gabriel and Lucian one silent look, turned on his heel and abruptly left the doorway, striding away, the set of his shoulders the only thing that gave away his absolute rage. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that he intended to go find those who had murdered his daughter.
Ivory stepped inside the door and walked straight up to the Lycans, fearless. Her back was covered with tattoos of wolves. The wolves stared at the Lycans with lifelike eyes as she moved through their ranks. No one said a word. No one moved, not even when she emerged from the pack of Lycans to go up to Rolf and look him in the eye.
"He does not lie," she announced. "It appears as if none of the members of the high council were aware of this betrayal, but I cannot tell if all of those who guard them were unaware of this treachery. There is the smell of conspiracy here. Which ones are guilty, I cannot say."
Ivory stepped back from Rolf. "You do not know me, but I am wolf as well, not in the sense of blood, but I have had my own pack for centuries. I can tell you, someone wants a war between Carpathian and Lycan. I do not know who would benefit from such a war, but there are those of your kind working against you."
Rolf frowned at her. "I hear the ring of truth in your voice, but there has been no hint of such a treachery. It would be difficult to hide from us."
Ivory gestured around the room. "Whoever is behind this now has the perfect weapon available to them. These warriors will go to get their children. None will stand down. None will stop. They will hunt every Lycan who took part in the killing of their children. No one will be safe. No one. You and Mikhail must find a way to stop this."
Abruptly she turned and walked out, following her lifemate.
"Rolf." One of the guards, a man by the name of Lowell, pushed forward. "We should get all of you out of here, before this escalates."
Another guard, Varg, nodded in agreement. "We have no confirmation that any of this is true. This could be their conspiracy to kill all of us and throw the Lycan world into chaos."
Several guards pulled swords so that the light struck the silver, making it gleam as if in eagerness. More than one began to shift from their human form to Lycan, half wolf, half man.
Two of the elite hunters Mikhail recognized moved into position to defend Rolf. Daciana and Makoce, two of Zev's elite pack, exchanged uneasy glances. They were aware, more than the others, of the danger all the Lycans were in. There would be a bloodbath here, if the tension continued to escalate between the two species.
The De La Cruz brothers spread out immediately, a clear sign of aggression. Jacques Dubrinsky, Mikhail's brother, and several other Carpathian males moved into the spaces around Mikhail. The two species faced one another, moving warily to give themselves fighting room, yet careful not to trigger an attack.
Rolf did not take his eyes from Francesca's grief-stricken face. "We did not know. When we heard that a Sange rau had been taken . . ."
"Dimitri is not Sange rau," Mikhail reiterated, ignoring Gregori's warning hand and emerging from the line of fierce protectors that had placed their bodies between his and danger. "He is Han ku pesak kaikak, Guardian of all. He saved the lives of your Lycans, and they repaid him with treachery. Would the Sange rau have risked his own life to save two of your people?"
Rolf shook his head. "Most of the others have never had to experience the complete destruction such a combination causes. We forbade contact with Carpathians in order to prevent such a mixed blood from rising."
"If you know Dimitri couldn't possibly be Sange rau, a rogue vampire/wolf mix, why would you hold him at all?" Mikhail asked.
In spite of the low, cool tones of both leaders, the tension in the room continued to escalate. Mikhail pinned Zacarias with piercing eyes. Zacarias was the leader among his brothers, a fierce, wild predator who remained untamed and uncivilized in spite of finding his lifemate. He was the most lethal man in the room, and the most unpredictable, a throwback to the old days when Carpathians hunted without fear of discovery.
He knew Zacarias was a law unto himself. He had been too long in the wilds, an ancient hunter on his own, far from home, with darkness always tearing at him, yet he had stayed an honorable man.
We will not be the ones to start the war, Zacarias. Keep your brothers, especially Rafael, under control while I sort this out. Rafael was lifemate to Colby, Paul's sister. He loved the boy and no doubt was furious that the Lycans had dared to attack him.
"We have not interviewed Dimitri as of yet," Rolf said. "None of us have ever laid eyes on him. We sent word to treat him with respect and care as we were away. One phone call to Zev Hunter, and I will have a much clearer understanding of what is transpiring."
"Zev is a good man," Mikhail said. "One we have trusted. He was not a part of the taking of Dimitri and left soon after to track those who had taken him."
Rolf shook his head. "Zev is the leader of the elite team. They would not have acted without Zev's authority. It would be . . ." He frowned, looking from Daciana to Makoce, two of the four members of Zev's elite hunter pack that were there to guard them. "Treachery."
Daciana and Makoce both nodded their heads. "We were fighting the rogue pack with the Carpathians here," Daciana explained. "Zev was with us. The Sange rau projected an image, an illusion of himself, and we all believed there was an imminent threat to the prince. While we fought here, two members of our team, Gunnolf and Convel, slipped away, and somehow this incident occurred with Dimitri."
"How do we get from two of your elite hunters fighting with us, to betraying us, kidnapping the very man who saved their lives, torturing him and murdering our children?" Francesca demanded.
Rolf looked around the room at the posturing warriors and shook his head. "I do not have an answer for you. I can only reiterate we did not come here to start a war. We came in peace to build an alliance with you. An alliance between us would benefit not only your species, but ours and humans as well. Allow me to step outside and make a call to Zev. I'll get to the bottom of this."
"Why do you need permission for anything from those who harbor the Sange rau?" Lowell, the guard who had insisted there was no proof of the attack on the children, demanded. His raised his voice, a belligerent sneer adding fuel to the fire. "Look at them, living in the
mountains, hiding from the world. They think they have the power to dictate to us, but they are nothing at all. We don't need them. No Lycan would kill a child." He looked around at his fellow guards. "They have contrived this story in order to have reason to kill us all."
A murmur of agreement nearly ignited Rafael into action. He made a move, his hands coming up, but Zacarias glanced at him, his face set in stone and Rafael subsided.
"Lowell," Rolf said, his voice firming. "You will remain silent."
"It is my duty to keep you and all council members safe," Lowell insisted. "I have a job to do, and while I respect your authority, in this instance, I believe that it is important to save you from yourself."
The majority of the guards seemed to agree, nodding their heads, or simply drawing more weapons.
Mikhail, you must leave now, Gregori insisted. This is getting out of hand. Lowell is deliberately turning the other Lycans against us. He wants to start a fight. Your safety is too important to risk you.
Perhaps that is so, Mikhail agreed, but once I leave the room, a fight will start. I don't want to give up yet. Rolf is an honorable man. Not only do I sense that, but Ivory confirmed my belief, and you know she is extraordinary.
Gabriel moved up to Francesca's side. Lucian, his twin, slipped through the ranks of the De La Cruz brothers to join his brother in protecting Francesca.
"You will stand down, Lowell," Rolf ordered. "All of you. We are not going to escalate this without knowing all the facts." He returned his attention to Francesca. "I am so sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine what you must be feeling, but I promise you, I will get answers."
Francesca looked into his eyes for what seemed an eternity before she nodded her head and turned to bury her grief-stricken face against Gabriel's shoulder. As Gabriel turned away from the Lycans, his arm around his lifemate, Lowell lifted his sword, executing a fast, fluid sweep at the two Carpathians.
Lucian was faster. The legendary Carpathian met sword with sword, parrying away the blow so that Gabriel and Francesca were unharmed. The sound of metal clashing ignited the room.
Josef sank back on his heels, trying not to sob. He had no idea how Dimitri thought to save Skyler, but there was no real life in her body. She lay as if dead, her eyes open and staring, yet they were not her eyes. Not her spirit. Paul had packed each bullet entry with rich soil in an effort to stop the bleeding. The bullets were silver, designed to kill a rogue wolf or the Sange rau. Josef had a mad desire to cut the silver out of Skyler's body. Even that seemed an abomination to him.
He looked at Paul's grief-stricken face and then down at his body. "You've been shot," he announced, as if it was news. He realized he was in shock. Of course he knew Paul had been shot. He had been shot. Dimitri and Skyler had been shot. The Lycans were out for business. He looked around him, feeling dazed and a little dizzy. "They've surrounded us."
"Yeah, I noticed," Paul said. "I think they intend to bring in a nuke." He took Skyler's limp hand in his and stretched out beside her. "Go to ground, Josef. You can heal yourself in the ground. Skyler would want that."
"I'm not going to ground until I fix your wounds as best I can and see if Skyler comes back."
Josef choked several times, clearing his throat repeatedly, determined not to break down and cry. He wanted Paul to believe there was still a chance to save Skyler. He didn't believe for a moment that Skyler could come back from the dead and judging by Dimitri's crazy choices, he feared the Carpathian would turn from Guardian to Sange rau and everyone would be in trouble. The thought terrified him. He could never defeat Dimitri in battle, not even a weak, starved, tortured Dimitri, but he couldn't leave Paul to face him alone--or face Skyler's death alone.
Skyler's body jerked so unexpectedly both men nearly jumped out of their skin. Josef caught her hand. It was ice-cold--cold enough to make him shiver. Wherever she was, she didn't inhabit the body lying between them.
See to Paul's wounds.
Dimitri's voice in his head made him jump nearly as much as Skyler's awkward jerk. He sounded far away and strained as if whatever he was doing was costing him dearly.
What are you doing? Josef demanded. Dimitri, possessing Skyler's body won't bring her back.
I have found her spirit. It is still warm. If her human body undergoes the conversion, I have a chance to thrust her spirit back into her body. She has consented, given me her complete trust.
Josef's breath caught in his lungs. Dimitri was going to undergo the conversion with Skyler's body. He was wounded. Silver burned through his body. Already weakened and starved, the chances of him dying with Skyler were enormous.
You can't be in two places at one time, holding Skyler to this world and undergoing the conversion, Josef warned. He took a deep breath, terrified, but willing. Is there a way I can take your place in either Skyler's body--the thought of which totally creeped him out--or holding her spirit to this world?
Skyler's body jerked again. Her eyes went wild, glacier-blue, but swirling with other colors beneath the blue--a beautiful dove gray Josef recognized. Skyler's eyes, when she was completely calm and relaxed often went that amazing shade of gray. When she was happy, her startling blue shone through. Now, there seemed to be a mixture and for the first time, Josef felt hope that she hadn't completely departed from their world.
"Fight, Skyler," he whispered. "I don't have anyone but you and Paul. Fight to come back. You're strong."
Thank you, Josef, for your offer, Dimitri said. This time his voice was edged with pain. You have always been the brother she has loved. You and Paul. She's glad you're here with her, both of you. You give her added courage to see this thing through. You cannot take my place. She is too far gone from us, and I'm holding her by our connection more than anything else. You cannot undergo the conversion with her.
Dimitri's voice strained now. Turned hoarse and raspy. Josef could see ripples beneath Skyler's skin as if her body had come to life, yet only her eyes showed real signs of life. Her body was icy cold, her skin tone nearly gray.
I count on you to see to Paul and then open the ground for us. Find some way to keep Paul as safe and comfortable as possible. Fen and the others are drawing closer, but they, too, will need to go to ground. I've told him of this . . . Dimitri broke off abruptly.
Josef felt a flash of blinding pain. Skyler's body convulsed.
Paul gasped and rolled to face her, pulling her hand to his chest. "What should we do? We have to do something."
Josef shook his head. "There isn't anything we can do. She's undergoing the conversion, her organs reshaping. Her human body must die in a sense, in order for the conversion to work. All toxins will be removed from her body and she'll be remade as Carpathian. The process is extremely difficult."
He made his way around Skyler to kneel beside Paul. "The wound in your leg seems to be the worst. You're bleeding pretty badly."
"Don't put dirt in the wound," Paul said. "I'm not Carpathian or about to be, and I'd end up with gangrene or something equally as awful." His gaze kept straying to Skyler's body even though he tried his best not to look at what was happening to her.
Josef wanted to distract him, knowing the worst was to come. He didn't want to tell Paul it was Dimitri possessing Skyler's body with her, because even for their world, that was bizarre--and wrong.
"A little dirt never hurt anyone. Hold still for a moment. You can't move or distract me, even if Skyler starts convulsing. Be prepared for anything, Paul. I'm counting on you not to move while I'm trying to heal you from the inside out."
He shed his own body and entered Paul's. He had deliberately given Paul the task of concentrating on him, rather than what was happening to Skyler. Skyler was completely in Dimitri's hands. Josef had never heard of anyone attempting what Dimitri was trying to do. As much as he wanted it to work, he feared Skyler could not be recovered and Dimitri would be pushed over the edge into madness. He was very pleased that Fen was drawing closer, and he sent up a silent prayer that Dimitri's older
brother--a Guardian himself--would get there in time to destroy Dimitri if he became the Sange rau.
Dimitri was well aware of Josef's thoughts. He feared those very same things. He was weak, and right now, his only focus could be on saving Skyler. Once he had taken possession of her body, he was certain a spark of light, very faint, but there nonetheless, had appeared in that warm mass he held to him in that other world.
He felt her, their connection transcending space and time now. In that other world one could easily get lost. During the worst of the conversion, Skyler might want to be lost. He feared she might try to pull away from him once the pain took hold. He did his best to warn her.
Feel me, sivamet. Feel me holding you close to me. This will be pain unlike any you can imagine. The fire will burn through your body, cleansing it, preparing it for the full conversion. I will be with you every step of the way.
He felt the smallest of answers. Warmth in his mind. His heart jerked in his chest. Stuttered with joy. She was there, clinging to life, relying on him, trusting him.
The Lycans put me through the very fires of hell, but I am thankful now. I can guide us through this. You felt the burn of silver twisting through my body. You were able to withstand that torment. We can do this together.
He had no idea just how bad a conversion actually was, but even in his weakened state, he knew with absolute certainty that he could face anything, take the brunt of it and remain honorable--for her.
Stay with me. Stay, Skyler. I know you're weary and in pain, but I'm asking you to stay for me. She had said similar words to him when he had been mortally wounded, eviscerated by the rogue wolves he had fought. She had come to him, across an impossible distance and she had helped to heal him. Stay, csitri, I cannot bear to be without you. We're so close to our life together.
Again there was that small spread of warmth. This time he was certain of that small light in the midst of the warmth. Skyler had an indomitable spirit. She would not desert him. She had fought for him, dared to cross into Lycan lands to rescue him. She would not leave him now. He had to believe that.