Emeline stared out the window. Dragomir and the others had gathered together to figure out the best way to get rid of the splinter Vadim had left in her. Her heart was so heavy she thought it might just shatter into a million pieces. There was no going back from this. It was the last straw. The very last. She’d done everything she knew how to do to make things right with Dragomir and the others, but no matter what she did, there was always more.
“Emeline.”
She closed her eyes. She was certain Tariq had sent Charlotte and Blaze to assure her everything would be all right – but it wouldn’t. She would always be that girl from the streets. She could change species, but she couldn’t shed who she was inside. That girl.
She touched her fingers to her face and was shocked to find bloodred tears tracking down her cheeks. She stared for a moment at the blood smearing the pads of her fingers, not comprehending. Her tears were blood? She sat there feeling frozen inside. She didn’t answer the door. She just couldn’t bear to see their faces, Charlotte’s and Blaze’s, looking at her with pity.
She was that girl who got food from a Dumpster. The one carrying the child of a vampire. The one with a vampire controlling her through a splinter of himself he’d put inside her. In her brain. Where she thought. Reasoned. Where she shared her dreams with Dragomir.
She lifted her face to stare out the window again at him – her man. He was the most perfect man in the world, and he deserved better. So much better. She watched him, her heart pounding, love swamping her. He protected her. He watched over her. He treated her as if she were a queen.
He turned and looked at her, his gaze mesmerizing even through the glass. Love hurt. It hurt so much. She’d always tried to be a decent person. Even when she was dancing on a pole, it was to help Blaze get to the men who had murdered her father. She hadn’t told Dragomir about dancing in a strip club.
I want to see this dancing you do. Privately. Just for me.
She would like that, but it wasn’t going to happen. She couldn’t saddle him with a woman so tainted. He was too good a man.
Answer your door.
His voice. So gentle. Even commanding it was gentle. She shook her head and found drops of blood on the windowsill. She had to stop crying. She wasn’t even a good Carpathian. They could will themselves to do things, but she couldn’t even stop the tears from flowing.
Sívamet. You are my life. Answer the door and allow your friends to talk with you, or I will be forced to leave the warriors circle and come to you.
He would. He would leave the other men in a heartbeat and come to her. The others would know what a needy baby she was. Dragomir wouldn’t care, but she didn’t want them to think he was lifemate to someone so weak he had to leave an important meeting. A meeting they had to hold away from her. Just in case Vadim decided to listen in on what the Carpathians were planning. And they were planning something big.
“Emeline.” The voice was Blaze’s this time. Of course they’d asked Blaze to come. Blaze had been her only friend through the years. “Please open the door and invite me in. You know how stubborn I am. I’m not going away. Charlotte is with me. We just want to talk to you.”
Emeline kept her gaze on Dragomir. She knew he heard every word spoken in that circle of warriors, but it looked as though his entire focus, all his attention, was on her. Her body hurt, every muscle exhausted as if she’d run a marathon. Her mind hurt from trying to puzzle out what to do. She was tired of being afraid, but the truth was, this nightmare was never going to end. When she’d been alone in her house with the parasites tormenting her night and day and the baby inside of her screaming in agony, she had come to that same conclusion. Now, after having hope, it was worse to know there was none. Vadim had marked her in ways she could never get rid of.
Open the door to your friends. Vadim programmed you to believe you were born to betray the Carpathian people. He told you that you were his lifemate. He said it over and over when he was raping you. The rape was mental and emotional as well as physical. He whispered it to you day and night, using the parasites as his way to keep his connection with you. He deprived you of sleep and kept you sick, weak, unable to eat. Emeline, you have been systematically taken apart and made to believe the things Vadim wants you to believe.
She lowered her lashes, unable to meet his gaze, not even through the window. Did he not realize he was a big part of the problem? He was so good to her. He was such a good man. He might believe he lived in a different century, but what man could be sweeter? More supportive? She felt like such a fraud. What had she given him in return? Vadim’s child. More pain and suffering. Survival of attack after attack. Was it ever going to end? She shook her head. She knew Vadim wouldn’t stop. Not ever. Sooner or later Dragomir wouldn’t be fast enough and the vampire could kill him.
A sob welled up and she jammed her fist in her mouth. Where could she go?
To the door. Go to the door and allow your friends to come into the house to visit with you while I am away. I am the man you can trust. You’ve given yourself into my keeping. You have to have faith, Emeline. I know you want to be independent and you think you should be to be worthy, but that is not how I think. I believe partners lean on each other when they need to. It isn’t weakness, it is strength. For this time in your life, when the world feels like it is ending, lean on me. Choose my way, sívamet. Do this for me.
Of course she would do as he asked. What else was there for her when his voice stroked caresses in her mind and righted her tilting world? She forced her stiff body to respond. Very slowly she got to her feet, her eyes on him. She smoothed her hand down the beautiful dress he’d created for her and took a deep breath.
For you, Dragomir, because I’d do anything for you.
Love surrounded her. His love. It poured into her like a healing balm. It spread through her mind, rushing to encompass her heart. The emotion went deeper, finding her soul and wrapping it up in him – in his love. His love was deep and abiding and endless. Unconditional. She saw it and felt it and it made her ashamed that she wasn’t stronger for him. Still, if he wanted her to lean on him, to choose his way in this time of madness, she would follow him. She would do it even when she felt it would be better for him if she left him.
I wouldn’t survive you leaving me. I am weak in ways you cannot imagine. You are my strength. My light in a world of darkness. You just haven’t realized it yet.
She wrapped her arms around her middle as she made her way to the front door. He made her feel extraordinary. In her worst moments, even knowing Vadim hid inside her, a monster waiting to activate his spy, Dragomir still managed to make her feel as if she was beautiful, innocent and amazing. She didn’t know how he did it, but right then she didn’t care. She didn’t care that others might see her as weak. She would lean on him just as he asked, and she would trust him to stay.
I have blood on my face. Smeared. I look awful.
Now you are clean. All you do, sívamet, is picture what you want, in this case a clean face, and you have it. I did it for you, but when you’re alone, practice.
Thank you. She opened the door and Blaze and Charlotte stood there, big grins on their faces and packages in their arms. She stepped back and waved them inside. “I’m sorry it took so long to get to the door.”
“No matter,” Charlotte said. “We’ve brought some awesome things. They arrived this evening, flown in from Paris, as well as from the Carpathian Mountains.”
Blaze flung her arms around Emeline, hugging her tightly, forgetting all about personal space. “I am so excited to see what a prince would send you.”
“Dragomir sent word that you were pregnant. He wanted Ivory Malinov to know she had blood kin, so to speak.”
Emeline’s breath caught in her lungs until she felt as if she were burning for air. You told the other Carpathians about Carisma?
I am proud that our daughter will one day be the lifemate to a warrior. More than likely she will be a warrior herself, defender, like you, of her children and home. Her aunt Ivory is legendary. She hunts with a pack of wolves and her lifemate is Razvan. At one time, he was the most despised man in Carpathian history. Now he is renowned.
A defender of children and her home? Emeline was torn between laughter and tears. Already he was choosing for his daughter.
Look to your gifts.
Emeline wasn’t positive how to feel about what he’d done. Perhaps you should have discussed this with me.
I wanted to surprise you. Carisma is our child, Emeline, but she belongs to all the Carpathian people, and they deserve the chance to welcome her. I knew they would send gifts.
Gifts? She looked at the packages. “Gifts?” she murmured aloud.
“Genevieve is coming as well,” Charlotte said. “She needs adult company. She said if she stayed with the children one more hour she would begin blubbering like a baby.”
Emeline couldn’t help the smile. It was small, but genuine. She pressed a hand to her belly. She was very small to be pregnant, but already the conversion and Dragomir’s care were showing. Her skin and hair looked a thousand times better. She wasn’t in pain, and that took away the lines in her face.
“Dragomir sent word to the Carpathian Mountains, to the prince, that I was pregnant.” She stood, one hand on the door, waiting for Genevieve to get there. She was hurrying up the path.
“And now look. Gifts. I can’t wait to see what they sent,” Charlotte said. “Tariq talks to the prince all the time, and he said Mikhail and Raven were very excited to know you are carrying a girl. We need them desperately.”
Genevieve hurried in, a little breathless but smiling. “Lourdes was upset and didn’t want to take a bath. Thank God for Amelia. She has a way with children.” She hugged Emeline briefly and followed that up with hugging Blaze and Charlotte.
Amelia. Emeline was so glad Amelia was going to be all right. There was no changing the things that had happened to her, but now, at least, she could begin the healing process.
“She is wonderful with children, isn’t she?” Emeline mused. Amelia had been used by Vadim. Her sliver hadn’t lain dormant, Vadim had actually directed her to spy on and harm those within the compound. Emeline had told her she wasn’t responsible. She was a victim.
Her teeth sank into her bottom lip. Had she been lying to Amelia? Did she secretly despise the girl for the things that had happened to her? Things out of her control? No. Of course not. What was wrong with her that she could say those things and mean them to Amelia, but not apply them to herself?
Do you ever get tired of my feeling sorry for myself?
Dragomir’s soft laughter warmed her heart. She loved to hear him laugh. She knew it didn’t happen often and she felt it was a great victory every time she made him laugh – even it if was at her expense. Hän sívamak.
He stroked the endearment along the walls of her mind. Caressing her with it. Beloved. She loved how he called her that. Or his heart. Sometimes it was keeper of his soul. But she loved beloved.
Pesäd te engemal.
I don’t know what that means.
It means you are safe with me. Do you feel safe? Do you know that I would do anything for you? Pesäd te engemal. You are safe with me.
She loved him so much she was overwhelmed with the emotion. She wanted to run to him, fling her arms around him and hold him tight. Just hold him, so he knew he was just as safe with her. She wasn’t going anywhere. If Amelia could face the Carpathian world, holding her head high without an extraordinary man like Dragomir standing beside her, then certainly Emeline could do it.
I love you so very much, Dragomir.
That is a good thing, since I am not giving you up.
“Stop talking to your man and come have girl time,” Charlotte said, taking the door from Emeline’s hand and closing it firmly. “Sheesh.”
“How do you know I was talking to him?” she asked, striving for a little dignity.
“You have that goofy look on your face every time you look at him and it’s so much worse when you talk to him,” Charlotte said.
“I don’t have a goofy look,” she denied, although she knew she probably did.
“Yeah you do,” Blaze said. “All mushy and starry-eyed.” She caught her hand and pulled her to the couch. “When we were kids, we’d make fun of some of the women who would look all googly-eyed at their men. We’d giggle about it and vow we’d never be like that.”
Emeline glared at her. “I hope you’re not implying that I’m gaga over Dragomir.”
“Not implying it, babe, I’m stating a fact,” Blaze said. “Your eyes go dreamy and you smile this beautiful, but very goofy, I’m-so-in-love-with-you sort of smile.”
“I refuse to dignify that with an answer.” Emeline sank down onto the cushions of the sofa.
The three visitors laughed, and she couldn’t help joining in. She did feel goofy when Dragomir was anywhere near her, let alone talking to her in that velvet-soft voice of his.
“I want to see what a prince sends,” she said. But she was more interested in Ivory’s reaction. Would she accept Carisma as blood kin?
Charlotte handed her a large carefully wrapped package. Emeline took it, and the moment she put her hands on it, she felt the power of it, even wrapped. Whatever had been sent had safeguards embedded deep. She bit her lip and looked up at her friends. “I can already feel the energy coming off it.” Good energy. Powerful.
She removed the wrapping paper without tearing it, revealing a quilt, one that would go over a crib. Squares of bright material, each stitched with obvious care, made up the blanket. She picked up the letter and scanned it quickly.
“Each individual square has been created by a Carpathian couple from the prince’s stronghold.”
Raven and Mikhail were represented by a forest, a raven and a crown. She touched the square and instantly felt a burst of strength and reassurance as well as the presence of safeguards. Strong ones. Shea and Jacques, the prince’s brother, had contributed a square depicting the forest as well, but with a sense of peace. When she touched that square, the stars gleamed silver and glittered like diamonds.
Gregori, the prince’s second-in-command, and Savannah, the prince’s daughter, had also contributed a forest scene to the quilt, but in theirs the leaves had a silver sheen, and as Emeline touched it, she swore she could hear the sound of laughter. Four small owls peeped through the branches of trees at her touch. She did it twice and the others leaned forward to listen to the childish laughter.
Emeline held the quilt to her chest, once more feeling the burn of tears. It was a beautiful, thoughtful gift and she would spend a long time looking at the various squares the Carpathian people had put together to make it. No wonder it was so powerful. Each couple had embedded safeguards and soothing, peaceful messages to the baby. Her baby. No, their baby. Dragomir had done this; he was the reason they’d sent such an incredible gift.
He had sent word to the prince. She knew he hadn’t yet sworn allegiance to Mikhail, but he had still contacted the prince to let him know of the newest addition to the Carpathian family. That had been answered with a beautiful welcome. Her heart hurt it was so full. Dragomir loved Emeline and Carisma, and he showed it in everything he did. She rubbed her palm over her little baby bump. Carisma kicked her, a small little brush of her foot, much like the brush of Dragomir’s voice when he spoke to her telepathically.
“This is beautiful,” Blaze said, smoothing her hand over the squares she could see.
“The safeguards are strong,” Charlotte said. “She’ll be safe while she’s sleeping aboveground.”
“I can’t feel safeguards, but it is gorgeous,” Genevieve added. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful. When you touch it, it feels so soothing.”
“Tariq and Dragomir must have sent them the measurements of the crib they’re making. Tariq likes to work with wood. He uses his hands, not magic, but there is magic in his work. He embeds safeguards as well. Dragomir asked him to help him make the crib with his own two hands. I loved that so much. I told Tariq that when we have a baby, I want him to make our crib with his own hands.”
Dragomir had asked Tariq to help him build a baby crib. For her. For Carisma. He’d done that without saying one word to her. It was so like him.
“He’s so…” She struggled to find the right words. There were none. He was incredible, but even that didn’t describe him, or what she felt about him.
“He told Tariq you love the dragons and he wanted to incorporate dragons into the design. I thought that was very cool,” Charlotte went on. “Did you talk about it with him? About the dragons? He was very specific.”
Emeline shook her head. “Specific in what way?”
“The headboard is the male dragon with his wings outspread. The footboard is the female dragon with her wings spread. He wanted the feeling of the baby being held by both, protected by both. Loved, he said. The carvings are beautiful, and both Tariq and Dragomir are weaving strong safeguards into the wood.”
Emeline set the quilt carefully on the small end table and stood up to walk to the window. She touched the glass, staring out at Dragomir. He was talking, shaking his head, the others listening. Tariq said something, and Dragomir nodded. Suddenly he turned his head and looked straight at her. His features had been stone, cold, expressionless. The moment his gaze touched her, he warmed.
You have need of me?
Just looking at the man I love. Her heart was so full she knew it was overflowing. So what if Vadim stuck a splinter of himself in her? Dragomir would take it out. Dragomir could move mountains.
He smiled at her, that small, barely there smile, but it was for her alone. She owned that smile and it was more precious to her than any treasure. She touched the glass in a little salute and turned back to her friends. She discovered that Dimitri and Skyler had not only contributed a square to the crib quilt but sent a small stuffed wolf to put in the crib with the baby. The wolf had magical properties woven into it, but Emeline wasn’t certain what they were – or what they did. She would have to ask Dragomir.
Another package was from Paris, from Gabriel and Francesca. Francesca was famous for her quilts, and she’d sent a beautiful blanket. This one looked embroidered, although Emeline could see it wasn’t, it was actually quilted with material. The intricate scene had been handstitched using tiny pieces of material for every hill, rock, forest and stream. Wolves peered out of the forest, birds peeked through the trees, dragons dipped their muzzles into water as others sat with folded wings on rocks.
Every movement of the blanket brought the images to life. She knew Francesca was renowned for knowing what was the most appropriate thing for a client; she was famous enough that she was written up in magazines. Looking at the quilt, she saw, once again, the theme of dragons and wolves. She loved it, but more, she loved the power and peace woven into it. She felt the love that had gone into every stitch and she knew Carisma would feel it as well.
“I can’t believe he would think to do this. To have the Carpathian people welcome our daughter as they have. It means everything to me.”
Charlotte smiled at her. “Your man is a force of nature, Emeline. Tariq says it’s like trying to tame a hurricane or tornado. He wants him to stay here with us, but it’s all about you. Dragomir doesn’t care where he is, as long as you’re happy. He made that very clear. He also made it clear that everyone had better make you happy.”
Emeline couldn’t help herself. She burst out laughing. It would be like him to try to command the world to make her happy. “He makes me happy.” She was telling the wrong people. You make me happy.
“The prince also sent protections and blessings,” Charlotte added, holding up the letter. “I think Ivory is going to come for the birth. I hope she isn’t planning to tattoo the baby.”
Emeline’s head came up and she scowled at her. “What?”
“Ivory looks as if she’s covered in wolf tattoos, but they’re immortal wolves, permanently a part of her pack. When she needs or wants them, they come alive, showing themselves, protecting her. It’s really cool, Tariq said, but what would we do with wolves in San Diego?”
Clearly she was going to have to communicate with Ivory and find out what kinds of gifts she planned for Carisma when she came.
We’re ready for you.
Emeline pulled the quilt to her, held it tightly against her body. The sense of fun was gone just like that. They were ready for her. They would lock her in that safety room, as they had Amelia, and they would try to destroy the splinter without it harming her or the baby. Sandu would be there. Gary. Dragomir. All would be at risk. For her – again. She licked her lips and tasted fear.
“They want me now.”
Blaze frowned, spinning around to stare out the window at the circle of men. “For what, Emeline? What do they want you for?”
They hadn’t told anyone. She glanced at Charlotte. No, she knew. Tariq had told her. “Vadim isn’t finished with me. Just as Amelia had a splinter of Vadim in her, there is one in me. He hasn’t used it yet, at least it doesn’t appear as if he has, but we have to remove it.” She kept her head up, refusing to be ashamed. Dragomir loved her just as she was and she refused to stay a coward. She refused to give Amelia advice and then fail to apply it to herself.
“Oh, honey.” Blaze reached out and caught her hand. “That vampire needs killing.”
It was such a Blaze statement. She always went to the final scenario, cutting straight to the kill.
“Yes, he does,” she agreed. “I’ve had enough of him in my life and I want him gone. I also want the other children searched, just to be sure.”
“It was done last night,” Charlotte said. “None of them have even a tiny sliver of Vadim in them. When we get this one from you, then he’s gone completely and can’t access the compound. Once again, it will be safe.”
Her stomach knotted, and she put her hand carefully over her baby as if she could protect her. A cloud passed over the moon, an ominous sign. Even the wind chose that moment to kick up leaves and twigs against the window. “I think, no matter what, as long as Vadim lives, we should all be on alert, even here in the safety of the compound.”
She squared her shoulders as Dragomir broke away from the group and started toward the house. She refused to give the appearance of cowering inside. She immediately put down the quilt, stroking her hand over it to collect courage and peace as she hurried to the door. She was halfway down the outside steps when Dragomir got there. He swept her up, his hands at her waist, lifting her off her feet and swinging her around to set her on the ground.
The small, dizzying dance warmed her. She slid her arm around his waist and looked up at him. “Your supersecret meeting is over?”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Are you giving me a hard time about our strategy meeting?”
“Is that what you call that? I’m not certain I believe it was all about strategy. I think chest thumping went on.”
Now his eyebrow went up. “Chest thumping?”
She nodded. “You know – I’m the coolest. I’m the baddest badass in town. That sort of thing. Laying it out and measuring.”
“Laying it out and measuring? I presume you are now talking about cocks.”
There was a hint of a promise of retaliation for all her teasing, but that only sent a thrill of anticipation down her spine, rather than deterring her. Who could be deterred when it sounded like so much fun getting in trouble?
She let her hand slip from his waist to his hip, her fingers caressing the line of his trousers and inching toward the bulge developing there. “Just hearing that word makes me hungry.”
“You’re going to get yourself in trouble.”
“I like being in trouble,” she admitted, batting her eyelashes at him.
His hand slipped from the small of her back to the curve of her butt. Rubbed. Stroked. Massaged. She hoped no one was walking behind them, but of course his shadows would be there. Sandu. Andor. Ferro. She didn’t protest, even though she knew she should. His hand felt too good. Heat spread through her body, pushing the cold out – the cold fear brought. Now there was only Dragomir, with his hard body and amazing hands. She couldn’t think about anything else but that fire beginning to smolder so deep in her body.
They walked toward the main house where Tariq and Gary waited. She was aware of every step Dragomir took with her. The way his body sheltered hers, every ripple of muscle and the strength in his arms. Most of all she was aware of his hand, massaging her bottom. Then his fingers were around her thigh, under the hem of her long dress, his fingertips caressing bare skin.
“Someone will see.”
“They can’t see. I would never let them see your body. It is mine. It belongs only to me. I love the way your skin feels. So soft. I’ve never felt anything so soft, not in all my centuries of existence.” The pads of his fingers swirled over her thigh. “My name should be right here.” He ran his thumb down the inside of her thigh. His knuckles brushed her slick entrance. “So hot for me, already, sívamet? I love that.”
Before she could reply he pulled his hand from her thigh and wrapped his arm around her waist, waving his fingers in a circle to create a breeze. She swung her head around and saw Amelia hurrying toward them. She’d been so caught up in Dragomir and the magic of his hands that she hadn’t thought of anything else. Grateful he was still aware of their surroundings, she rubbed her face along his chest.
You’re amazing. She poured love into her voice.
I’m hard as a rock, and willing it to go away hasn’t worked yet. I need to come up with a spell. Dragomir sounded pained.
She burst out laughing. You get right on that. I’ll come up with a counterspell.
“I was worried about you,” Amelia greeted. “You looked so sad.”
Dragomir halted so the teen could hug her. She swept her hand down Amelia’s hair. “They found a splinter in me. Just like the one they found in you. I think it’s our fate to have similar lives.”
Amelia’s breath caught in her throat, but then she forced a small smile. “You found Dragomir, and he makes you happy. I can tell. If I find someone like him, maybe I can find happiness, too.”
“You’ll find a man who will make you happy one day,” Dragomir confirmed. “In the meantime, you have us. We will look after you and ensure your happiness until he comes along.”
Emeline liked that. Liked that he was all but saying they would stay there and help protect the children. She’d saved them and she was invested in them. She wanted them to be happy and healthy. She wanted to be a part of their lives.
“You won’t take Emeline away from us?” Amelia’s voice was tinged with fear, but she tried to keep the emotion from her face.
“We’re family. Part of a circle. We might purchase land for ourselves and set up a home, but it would only extend the compound so you would have twice the area to play,” he assured.
“I’d like that,” Amelia said. “Are you going to take out the sliver?”
“Yes,” he said. “Right now. I’ll keep her safe.”
Amelia stopped walking with them and just nodded her head as they continued toward the house, watching with that same fear in her eyes, but refusing to acknowledge it.
“She’s very brave,” Emeline said as Tariq opened the door for them.
“The place we want to go is accessed from the great room,” Tariq said.
He waved them from the foyer into the large beautiful room. Emeline caught a glimpse of high wood ceilings and hardwood floors as he ushered them through to the longest wall. He waved his hand and an entrance opened into another smaller room. She stepped inside.
She knew it was much like a panic room, but it was built to keep out vampires, not humans. Maybe both. The room reminded her of a huge vault. For a moment, she forgot how to breathe. Dragomir’s arm circled her waist, and he pulled her back against his solid body. Leaning down, he whispered in her ear, his mouth moving against her earlobe, yet he spoke telepathically, making his communication intimate.
Think only of me, of what I wish to do to you. I do not care if the others are close. I want to slowly remove this dress, slip the buttons from their holes and allow the dress to slip from your body and pool at your feet. Feel me. So hard for you. I am always like that now.
It was impossible to think about anything else when he spoke like that to her.
Think of me when I’m inside you. When I am a shield and a destroyer. Think of only me, Emeline. Do this for me.
She nodded. I’ll try. It shouldn’t be that hard. His body was pressed so tightly against hers, the fullness of his cock reminding her how it felt when he was inside of her.
He pulled her down on top of him, his body hard beneath hers, his arms around her waist, his chin on her shoulder. Just that fast he shed his body, Gary following him. Sandu and Ferro followed suit. To her shock, Andor joined them.
She tried not to think about why they needed five men to go after Vadim’s splinter if he wasn’t there to defend himself. It took a moment to realize that when Dragomir left his body, he also pulled out of her mind. He’d left behind the feeling of his mouth and hands on her, of his body moving gently in hers, but he’d taken care to remove his mind from hers.
She took a deep breath. He was up to something, that man of hers – something dangerous, or he wouldn’t have completely left her like that. He never did. Sometimes he moved in and out of her mind, but for the most part, since he’d claimed her, he had stayed just close to the surface. She pushed gently into his mind, her touch subtle, barely there, so she was able to see what they were doing.
He had moved to her brain very quickly, Gary following. Sandu positioned himself in front of the baby, ready to shield her if Vadim became aware and attacked. Ferro and Andor positioned themselves on either side of her brain, right where the sliver was located. She saw it through Dragomir’s eyes. It was a dark crescent-shaped shadow lying in a crevice. She would never have noticed it, but all of a sudden it took on an ominous, vile appearance.
Then Dragomir’s light began to fade until it was so dim she could barely make it out. How did one do that? His spirit shone bright. What was he doing to make himself diminish? Then she knew, his heart and lungs slowed. He was more vulnerable than ever. She held her breath. Knowing. Wanting to scream a protest, but afraid it would alert Vadim and further endanger Dragomir. He was so reckless, willing to put himself in harm’s way. They’d talked about it, but nothing could prepare her for the things he insisted on doing.
He moved so gently into the splinter, barely a touch, his spirit merging, traveling. A long way. She felt his spirit drawn from them to a distance. Then she was hearing the sound of the sea. The boom of a wave crashing over rock. She felt the ground moving in a swelling rhythm. Again, the sea. Dragomir moved closer, and she could suddenly see the water. It was dark and frightening in the long expanse. There was a ship ahead, anchored in the water. Waiting for Vadim and the others. She felt his glee.
There were men and women on the ship. Several children. As the vampires swept in from the night sky, panic erupted. Screams. She closed her eyes, but she refused to separate herself from Dragomir. If he had to see the carnage, the least she could do was hear it. For what seemed an eternity, Dragomir stayed in the background, hearing and feeling what Vadim was. Watching the sickening massacre. Then Vadim was soaring over the ocean again, back toward San Diego. Twice he plunged into the water, stayed underwater near a long, thick cable and then he was back in the air. Her heart jumped. She recognized that cable. She’d seen it before.
Dragomir withdrew very slowly and then stepped back to give Gary room to work. Gary was very precise. He had done this twice already and he knew exactly how to destroy the splinter. He hit the sliver hard with laser precision, running up its back, incinerating layers of cells quickly.
Vadim jumped into the sliver, throwing up a shield, halting the attack, having learned from the last two. He sliced deep into Emeline’s brain. Excruciating pain radiated through her head. She screamed, jerking in Dragomir’s arms, trying to throw herself clear so she could run from it.
Andor leapt into action, inserting his spirit between the sliver and Emeline so that the next slice never touched her. Vadim abandoned her brain, throwing himself into her deoxygenated bloodstream so that he was quickly carried toward her heart. He began jabbing at her vein as he did so, driving holes through the three layers of tissue making up the tubing. Ferro was there, his spirit nearly blinding the master vampire as it burned through another layer of cells, incinerating them. Vadim was forced to stop damaging the vein in order to survive. He leapt to the heart. She could feel his triumph.
Dragomir and Gary were already there waiting. While Ferro and Andor had chased him from the brain, they had moved surreptitiously into the heart. As Vadim entered, their combined spirits hit him, white-hot light incinerating the cells too fast. The sliver dissolved into ash, curling into itself to try to protect even a few cells. Vadim had already lost the other two slivers and a piece of his heart. He fought to protect what he had left, even though it was only a few cells. He tried to make it to the lower chamber, desperate to get to the fetus via the umbilical cord. Andor was there, blocking the way. Dragomir was behind him, Gary and Ferro on either side. The four together incinerated the remaining cells, destroying the splinter.