Dragomir held council in the much larger chamber while Gary worked on healing the young female mage. Tariq had joined them, and all agreed the city inside the pipeline had to be destroyed. The humans Vadim had taken there for sustenance were mostly vegetables, incapable of recovery. He left them just enough sanity to feel fear. The undead needed the rush of their victims’ fear. It was the drug every vampire craved.
The task was distasteful, but they had no choice. They spent some time working out the details and then Dragomir returned to the smaller chamber where Gary had worked on the mage and the ancients had supplied him with blood.
“I was able to repair the damage, but she shouldn’t speak for a couple of weeks. If she does, she will cause permanent damage to her vocal cords.” Gary directed his attention to Julija. “I cannot emphasize that enough. You can write down what you need to say, or better yet, someone should take your blood and exchange with yours so you can speak telepathically.”
Julija shook her head adamantly. She glared at the healer.
He shrugged. “It is your choice. If you wish to help Elisabeta, that is the only way. I may have some input, but without your guidance of where to look for answers, I can be of no real help here and should go with the others to take down Vadim’s city.”
Frustration had Julija’s brows drawing together. She drew a question mark in the air and pointed to him.
“Dragomir told me you didn’t see the entire holding spell that is locking Elisabeta here to this underground city. I have the ability to access very ancient memories. It is possible one of my ancestors saw something or heard something that will help you.”
She pointed to Gary and tilted her neck slightly, although her hands were trembling. She locked them together tightly in her lap.
Gary shook his head. “I will not connect you to me. Dragomir has a lifemate. It is safe for him to connect himself to you, but if I ever turned, you would be in danger. It is impossible for him to turn as long as Emeline lives.”
Julija sat for what seemed an eternity. Dragomir was aware of time slipping by. The others had already left to attack the city under the sea, and he was a warrior and should be joining them. Tariq had returned to the compound to ready the healing grounds for Elisabeta if they were successful. If they weren’t, Gary was prepared to stay in the underground city to guard her, finding a place to sleep and then working out a plan with the Carpathian woman. She had to have seen the spell. Even if it was complicated, between Gary, Dragomir and Julija, they had a chance of figuring it out.
“We can’t be here too long. Sergey is not going to give up his prize so easily,” Dragomir told the reluctant girl. “He will launch an assault the moment he hears of the attack on Vadim’s sea city. Most of our hunters have gone there, leaving us vulnerable as well as the compound.”
Julija’s mouth firmed. She pointed to her neck. Dragomir didn’t give her time to change her mind. He was careful, respectful and distanced her from what was happening without taking her mind. Even distancing her was difficult. She had a very strong shield. Her consent allowed him to do so. He pointed to his wrist after carefully closing the pinpricks. She took a deep breath, nodded and cleared her throat as if she might speak.
“Don’t,” Gary said. “You will ruin everything. Do you want him to distance you more?”
She nodded.
“You have to allow him into your mind. Make a conscious choice. He is being careful with you, not taking what you are not willing to give. We both realize you are doing this to help your friend, not to aid you in healing, although, I assure you, his blood will do both.”
Julija looked to Dragomir and nodded. He pushed further into her mind and when she opened for him, he took away her ability to register what was happening until it was done. Dragomir closed the laceration he’d torn in his wrist and looked at her.
Are you all right? He included Gary in their conversation. Not dizzy, or light-headed?
Julija shook her head and touched her throat. Still hurts.
“I’m sorry,” Gary said aloud. “The damage was very severe.”
She nodded. Thanks for fixing me up. She slipped off the stone table and walked over to the cage. I have to reverse the spell Sergey used. It was one Xavier used to hide Rhiannon. It prevented her from making a sound so that he could hide her in plain sight of a Carpathian. That would maximize her torment, being so close to those who could rescue her, yet being completely hidden from them.
How do you know this? Dragomir had touched her memories, but he hadn’t had time to examine them thoroughly. He tried not to allow suspicion to spill over into his mind where she would read it.
Sergey often told the story to Elisabeta. He wanted her to see how much better he was treating her. He didn’t let Vadim or his other brothers see her. Not ever. He was careful. She told me about Rhiannon and how Xavier had children by her and then killed her. She said Sergey never tried to force her to have his child.
That was a revelation. He exchanged a long look with Gary. He has the greatest treasure of all time, Gary said. Of course the Malinovs knew of her. Sergey wanted her exclusively for her abilities, not for children. He kept her to himself.
Elisabeta was trusting. She knew the brothers well, and after their sister, Ivory, disappeared, they went to her often. She didn’t think anything of it when Sergey came to her alone and asked her to go with him to a place he’d built in memory of his sister.
Julija walked around the cage, studying it, the wall behind it and the floor under it from every angle. Dragomir saw her stumble, almost go down, and then she straightened her shoulders and put her hands in the air.
Can you do this sitting?
She frowned at him. I have to concentrate. I only saw this spell the one time. After that he waved his hand and she disappeared into the rock.
It won’t help if you fall on your butt, Dragomir chided. Answer me. He poured steel into his voice.
She gave him another frown, but this time she shook her head. I am shaky, she conceded, but I have to mimic his movements exactly in reverse. He was standing, and he moved around the cage as he cast.
Just know, if you start to go down, I’ll be holding you up. If I have to reach for you, I don’t want you to think I’m going to harm you.
Her gaze moved over Dragomir’s face. When you came into my mind, I looked into yours. There is only room for one woman. She consumes you. You will fight and die for her. You would never harm me or attack me unless I threatened her in some way. If I start to fall, by all means, keep me from hitting my head.
Both men moved back behind her and the young woman once again lifted her arms. She began a very complex weave in the air. Gary waved his hand and the weave sprang into the air, the thin lines twisted and looping around and through one another. It was complicated, but the mage worked at it steadily. Sweat dampened her brow. Little beads rolled down her face and dotted her skin. Dragomir felt the pounding in her head. The words she had to reverse were dark and ugly, so dark that speaking them kept the ground moving beneath their feet. Her lips moved, but she didn’t utter the words aloud, only pictured them in her mind, but the intimacy of that made them worse.
Slowly the weaves began to unknot. When one line was free, she erased it with a flick of her fingers. She walked back and forth while she worked, then around from one side of the cage to the other. She didn’t falter, not even when her knees buckled and Dragomir had to catch her around her waist to hold her up. He held her with strong fingers, but kept a light touch so she could move in any direction she needed to without hesitation.
Several times Dragomir caught sight of Elisabeta huddled inside the cage. Her arms were raised over her head, chained to the ceiling. She would be there one moment and then she’d be gone again. He realized the second time he caught a glimpse of her that she had heard every word and knew they were trying to help. Although they hadn’t been able to see her, she could see them. Bloodred tears tracked down her face.
He couldn’t imagine what he would have done if that had been Emeline. Just looking at Elisabeta made him feel sick and angry. Sergey had kept her prisoner for so long. What harm had all these centuries of imprisonment done to her? Freeing her would be merciful, but after so long, what had been done to her mind? He wanted to hold the woman close and comfort her, as if she were his own sister instead of Traian’s. He glanced at Gary’s expressionless features. Even he had his eyes on the Carpathian woman. There was something magnetic about her. Something that drew warriors and soothed their tattered souls.
The last line fell to Julija’s determination. She erased it and slumped. Dragomir lifted her before she fell and placed her on the stone table. “Just rest for a minute. We will get the chains off Elisabeta and then figure out the next spell. You need blood. You’re very weak. I’ll give you mine.” He turned to Gary. “You’re going to have to donate to Elisabeta.”
Elisabeta didn’t say a word. Dragomir wasn’t certain she could speak. She kept her eyes cast down, her long lashes veiling her expression. Gary moved to the cage, waved his hand and the lock fell to the ground. He looked at the chains, and they fell away. Elisabeta’s arms dropped as if made of lead. She made no attempt to lift them, or rub at her hands to get the blood flowing.
Gary frowned and very gently took her hand, his thumb sliding over her pulse. “Elisabeta? I’m Gary Daratrazanoff. This is Dragomir Kozel. We’ll take you out of here and get you to the healing soil. You need blood.” With each word, when there was no response, his voice got softer, more persuasive.
Using his fingernail, he cut a long, thin line in his wrist and held it out to her. She blinked, looked at the blood and then slowly lifted her lashes until she was not quite looking into his eyes.
“I want you to take my blood,” Gary said, his voice firming. When there was no response he gave her a definite order, his tone leaving no argument. “Elisabeta, you will take this blood immediately.”
She took a breath and then, keeping her hands in her lap, leaned into his wrist. Her mouth moved over the ruby line, her tongue touching the ancient blood. He pressed his wrist deeper into her mouth and then, as if because he’d given his permission or made a demand, she fed. Her movements were almost childlike, delicate and slow.
Dragomir watched her, worry clouding his mind. It was Gary who told her to stop and she did instantly. Once again she sat without moving, her eyes downcast. He looked to Julija for answers.
After hundreds of years of being his prisoner, she’s trained to do as she’s told. The consequences of not obeying were severe. Julija sighed. She fought him for me. To keep me alive. He hurt her, but she didn’t stop. She’ll come back from this if I can get her out of here. The holding spell was one Xavier created and it was extremely complicated. I tried to reverse it several times when Sergey and the others weren’t around, but I couldn’t.
Dragomir narrowed his gaze, studying her face, the lines of strain there, the signs of torture. “You could have gotten free at any time, couldn’t you?”
She shrugged. She told me to leave, to get myself free, but I couldn’t leave her. Everyone she ever cared about is dead…
“That isn’t true,” Dragomir denied. He turned toward the woman in the cage. “Look at me,” he commanded her, using his firmest tone. He waited until Elisabeta raised her gaze to his. Again, she didn’t look him in the eye directly, instead fixing her gaze just below his eyes.
“It isn’t true that everyone you love is dead. Your brother, Traian, still lives and he has found his lifemate. He searched for you, but there has been no trace. Others have searched. Your gifts are needed now more than ever, Elisabeta. Many warriors have waited centuries for their lifemates and cannot find them. We have no women. It is difficult to continue hanging on. With your gifts, you can bring comfort to those waiting, extend their ability to hold out against the darkness. Your people need you. They want you home. We want you home with us, Elisabeta.”
Her gaze flicked from his face to Julija and then back again. She took a deep breath and nodded, but she didn’t speak. Once again, tears tracked down her face, tiny ruby drops of blood. The sight made Dragomir’s stomach knot.
“Show me,” Gary demanded of Julija. “In your mind, let me see the spell he cast to keep her locked in this place. Every detail in your mind. Dragomir is connected to me and I will be able to see what you picture.”
Julija didn’t hesitate. Dragomir’s head was filled with images of Sergey walking back and forth in front of the cage holding Elisabeta. His feet tracked a complicated arrangement around the cage, while his hands moved in an extremely difficult configuration in the air. To do both, one had to be extremely coordinated. All the while, Sergey uttered commands of dark magic, words that should never have been made, let alone spoken.
“A sacrifice was made long ago to seal this spell,” Gary said. “In Xavier’s chamber, he sacrificed a young mage.”
How could you possibly know that? Julija demanded, her suspicion back.
“When it was discovered that Xavier had turned against our people, one of my ancestors took part in the investigation. They uncovered many disturbing things in Xavier’s home. He left hastily and in doing so, left behind years of memories within the walls of the ice caves where he conjured most of his spells. That image, because he sacrificed a human being, was very vivid.”
Are you saying that the things we do in this room can be imprinted on the walls? Julija asked, shocked.
Gary nodded. “Of course. The more violent, the deeper the etching. These walls are screaming with their burden. Someone gifted would be able to read all that was done here.”
For the first time, the skeptical suspicion left Julija’s face. We really might be able to do this, Elisabeta, she said, jumping up, forgetting how weak she’d been before Dragomir had given her his blood.
Dragomir found himself smiling. “You exchanged blood with Elisabeta. That’s how she’s included in our circle. All this time I thought you were afraid of a blood exchange.”
I know how this Carpathian lifemate crap works. I’m not going to say a word around anyone that doesn’t already have a lifemate and I’ll exchange blood with the women if necessary, but not the men.
He found himself smiling, thankful to Emeline that she’d given him back a sense of humor. The little mage would lead someone a terrible dance if she proved to be a lifemate to a Carpathian.
Do you think you can access the memory in the cave? he asked Gary on their private telepathic path.
I have located it in the memory of my ancestor, Gary assured. Whether she can reproduce it, I have no idea.
“Let’s do this,” Dragomir said. A shadow slipped into his mind, making him leery. He wanted to get back to Emeline.
Julija took a deep breath and lifted her arms. Concentration was in every line of her body. She looked at Elisabeta. We will do it this time, my friend, and you will be free.
I cannot comprehend such a thing.
The voice that spoke in his mind was the most beautiful one Dragomir had ever heard. Just the sound of it could stop a war, stop a kill, perhaps even make a vampire forget he’d chosen to lose his soul, if only for a few moments. Elisabeta was a powerful treasure. No wonder Sergey had kept her to himself. She would be able to persuade every vampire to join his cause. He could use her voice as leverage, as a gift to his most trusted, giving them a few minutes in her company to feel again. To think again without a chaotic brain. She would become a drug they would all be addicted to.
Dragomir glanced at Gary and knew he felt it, too. Knew the man was aware of just how important she was to Sergey and his plans. If he lost his drug, just what would he be willing to do to get her back? Anything for a voice like that. Anything for a gift like that. Anything to keep his army in line. They would want her back as well – every single one of them that had ever known the blessing of her voice.
Julija continued moving her feet in the complicated dance pattern while her hands waved gracefully in the air, completely separate from what her feet and legs were doing. All the while she moved her lips, the dark, ugly words at odds with the beauty and elegance of her body’s movements. Dragomir shuddered as the vile spell was uttered softly in his mind. He had closed himself off completely to Emeline and was glad that he had. She didn’t need this ugliness in her mind on top of what Vadim had put there.
Julija unraveled the majority of the spell before she faltered, glancing toward Gary. At once, the vision of Xavier, the high mage, was in their minds, the movements and words fed by some unseen ancestor’s memories that were now a part of Gary’s remembrances. Julija slowed, but she kept moving, her eyes closed now as she turned inward to feel, see, hear and mimic the dark magic spell in reverse in order to free Elisabeta.
Each placement of hand and foot was deliberate and slow so as not to make a mistake. The weight of the spell pressed down on her. It didn’t matter that she erased it line by line, that she was undoing something dark and sinister, that slime coated her mind, their minds. Dragomir felt it, so how could she not? His respect for the mage grew. She didn’t falter. Not once. No matter how bad it got, and all of them knew the exact moment the spell had been sealed in innocent blood.
Elisabeta cried out and pressed her hand to her mouth, the first sign of real spontaneous movement on her part. Julija’s face went pale, so pale she looked nearly translucent and her shoulders pressed down as if she could barely carry the weight of that sin. Tremors racked her body, but her hands never faltered and her legs held her up. Her mind and Dragomir’s were melded firmly, two people determined to take Elisabeta from the prison she’d been in for so long. She’d been a young woman, barely twenty summers when she disappeared.
Sergey had shaped her life. Shaped who she was. Dragomir realized she would be very fragile and would have to be handled with care. Her lifemate could be long gone from the world, and she would live a lonely existence, revered by the Carpathian people, but perhaps in her own kind of hell.
He shook his head. He couldn’t think about that. Emeline hadn’t given up under the worst of circumstances. The fact that Elisabeta had fought her captor to save Julija, knowing he would punish her, told Dragomir the woman was resilient. Women had shown themselves to be unbelievably strong.
You’ve got this, Gary whispered when Julija slowed even more, her body trembling to the point of shaking.
Dragomir moved up behind her, placing both hands on her waist to keep her from falling. He had to concentrate and follow those intricate steps so that she could move freely. Even with his help, she was exhausted. Without his blood, she never would have made it through to that last move. When the thread unknotted and she erased it, she would have collapsed if he hadn’t been waiting for it. He caught her in his arms and took her to the stone table.
“You need blood,” he said, making it a command. All the while he watched Elisabeta. They all did. Waiting.
Elisabeta remained on her knees in the cage, eyes cast down for the longest time. Gary stepped close to the metal bars and held out his hand. “You may leave the cage now, Elisabeta.”
Her eyelashes fluttered. She took a deep breath and reached slowly for his outstretched hand. Her entire body was racked with tremors. Gary closed his fingers around her hand and slowly began to exert pressure, a silent demand that she obey him. She stretched out her legs as if afraid that at any moment Gary would reprimand her. When he kept up the pressure on her hand, she let him pull her to the front of the cage until her legs hung outside of it.
She gasped and almost retracted her legs, but Gary shook his head. “That’s good. See, you can leave the cage. I want you to leave it.”
She swallowed visibly. Her breathing was rapid. Panicked. How long has he kept her in that confined space? Dragomir demanded.
Julija shook her head. I don’t know. A long time. She’s terrified out in the open.
Dragomir assessed the situation. Elisabeta wasn’t a modern woman. She would expect a Carpathian male to take charge in a situation she was unfamiliar with and afraid in. He did so immediately, not only to spare her, but because the shadow in him had been growing.
Elisabeta, I am going to carry you to the safety of the healing grounds. If the night sky is too open and scary for you, close your eyes and put your head on my chest so you can’t see. Trust me to keep you safe. My lifemate will be in my mind to hold you as well. Do you understand me?
He reached for Emeline. I have need of you. We have found a woman who has been held captive for hundreds of years. She’s terrified. I need you to help me steady her while I take her to the compound.
Of course, Dragomir. Whatever you need. She gave him her response immediately, before he showed her the terrible conditions Elisabeta had been living in. At once he felt her – his other half. The best part of him. She was there, soft and soothing, reaching for Elisabeta to hold her fragile mind in hers while he physically took charge.
He put his arms around Elisabeta and indicated for Gary to lift Julija into his. Before the mage could protest, he pulled Elisabeta all the way out of the cage and then they were moving fast, going through the thin crack, Gary transforming Julija and Dragomir doing the same for Elisabeta so they could fit.
The moment Dragomir had lifted her wholly out of the cage, Elisabeta tensed as if she might fight him, but instead, she buried her face against his chest. He knew she was crying, but she forced herself to remain still, her body shuddering uncontrollably.
We’ve got you, Emeline crooned softly. Dragomir is strong. He won’t drop you.
Too open. Too open, Elisabeta chanted, her voice a sob of pure fear.
Her breathing was so rapid, her heartbeat so wild, Dragomir feared they might lose her before they had a chance to put her in the healing soil. She was so used to obedience that she didn’t fight, when every cell and instinct urged her to do so. Emeline did her best to surround her mind with hope and peace.
Dragomir shifted his arms, putting one over her head to cage her in. Is that better? Feel the night breeze. Think of the things you saw as a child that you loved so much.
It’s too much for her, Emeline said. She’s going to have to start small. I’m with you, Elisabeta. I’m Emeline. Vadim took me prisoner for a short time.
Elisabeta stilled. I know you. You saved the children. I saw you. I couldn’t warn you that Vadim had planned a trap for you. Sergey took my voice.
Dragomir was grateful to Emeline as she kept Elisabeta’s mind off the flight and on her story. Emeline told her all about the children and what they were doing. He made it to the compound while Emeline was telling her about how the children had tried to fly their dragons when they shouldn’t have. Somehow, in the retelling, Dragomir found a little humor in the story.
Tariq had the soil open, and Dragomir took Elisabeta deep in the earth, where the dirt richest in minerals and healing properties had been selected for her. Gary placed Julija gently on the surface and floated down to crouch close to Elisabeta’s head. “I am going to attempt to heal you before you are placed in the ground. Lie quietly and allow me to do this.”
Elisabeta nodded, but she didn’t look at him or Dragomir. Her eyes were on Julija’s. Julija smiled at her. We did it. I told you we would find a way.
You’re going to leave me.
Not for long. When you wake, I will return. That’s a promise.
The healer says three weeks.
Three weeks it is, then. These are good people, Elisabeta. Let them help you. I know it is new and scary, but you can do this. You’re Carpathian. Sergey is a vampire. He’s evil. There is nothing you can do to change that.
I tried.
He has no soul.
Abruptly Gary returned, throwing a quick glance at Julija, indicating he’d heard every word exchanged. No doubt he’d been in Elisabeta’s head, trying to help her recover faster. He waved his hand, and just that fast, Elisabeta was asleep, far from Julija, far from all of them. He closed the soil over her.
“I’m Tariq Asenguard,” Tariq introduced himself to Julija as they walked through the house, back to the outside. “You’re welcome to stay.”
Julija shook her head. I have things to do. Important things. I’ll be back, though, if you don’t mind.
Dragomir gave Tariq her answer.
“We would welcome you anytime,” Tariq said.
Julija held out her hand to Dragomir. It was a pleasure to meet you. She did the same for Gary. Both of you. I would never have been able to free her on my own.
They watched her leave, walking away, no car, no backpack, just a woman looking frail and battered. Their every instinct was to go after her, but she’d made it clear she wanted to be alone, that she had something of great importance to do, and they had to respect her wishes.
Dragomir couldn’t wait to get to Emeline. He saw her on the porch, talking with Genevieve and Amelia, but her gaze was on him.
Tariq, the city is destroyed but most of the vampires were not here, Afanasiv reported. They were not in the underground city. Nor in the park. We are on our way back.
Tariq immediately looked toward the high tower where Matt Bennet, the head of his security force, was stationed. Waiting. Be alert. Have your men ready.
Dragomir took a careful look around. That shadow in his mind had grown to full-blown dread. Emeline, send the children to the safe rooms. Have Amelia take them in now. You and Genevieve get inside.
She didn’t question him, just leaned over to talk to Amelia and calmly gesture to Genevieve. He was proud of her. Proud that she looked normal if anyone was watching. Amelia stepped off the porch and sauntered over to Danny. Slinging an arm around him, she laughed while she talked. The two of them scooped up Lourdes and Bella, putting them on their backs, and called to Liv to play with them. Liv ran over and they raced to the main house, laughing and calling out to one another as they went. They disappeared behind the door just as Maksim and Blaze arrived. Charlotte followed the children into the house.
The boom of Donald Walton’s new gun reverberated through the night. The night sky lit up with a fiery orange glow. Maksim was in the air immediately, heading toward the lake. The gun from the tower answered, one single shot, a fiery spinning missile fired toward the lake.
They’re coming in from under the water. The underground rivers Emeline showed us, Dragomir said. He has found a way to render safeguards useless in the water. That was a blow. A huge one. The spell had to come from accessing Xavier’s mind. That’s why the attacks always came from underneath us.
Dragomir launched himself, taking to the air, streaking toward the lake just as Donald’s gun and then Mary’s sounded. Both were loud, echoing across the wide expanse of water.
Dragomir could see creatures climbing out of the black, shiny water. Some shot out of the water into the sky. Matt and his team took aim from the relative safety of the blinds hidden throughout the compound. They could move freely to and from them via the tunnels Tariq had created for them.
Don’t go in the water, Tariq cautioned. I have a surprise for Vadim’s army.
Tariq spotted Vadim emerging, a dark figure, using two others as a shield. They didn’t call attention to themselves, but rather tried to move in the deeper shadows to shore. Dragomir realized Vadim was locked on to Emeline’s house. He was certain all the ancients were gone, hunting his cities, and lairs, chasing his army out to sea and leaving the compound unprotected.
Dragomir streaked across the lake, coming at Vadim from behind. He caught him, once again, by the play yard. He struck Vadim from behind, slamming his fist right through his back, utilizing his strength and power, breaking bones and tunneling through tissue to get his fingers around the heart. As if recognizing him as the one who had had the other piece of it, the organ leapt toward him.
Vadim shrieked in fear and fury. He whirled, shouting orders, caught off guard. His shrieks drowned out the sound of gunfire. The two vampires guarding him swung around just as Dragomir extracted the heart and flung it to one side. Lightning forked across the sky, lighting up Vadim’s shocked features. The attack had happened too fast, a blitz he hadn’t expected.
One of the vampires tackled Dragomir, knocking him back from Vadim. Lightning hit the ground just to one side of the vampire’s heart. The second vampire dropped protectively to the ground beside the fallen master. Dragomir recognized Sergey.
Sergey Malinov regarded his brother with sorrow on his face. Surreptitiously he reached out and covered Vadim’s heart with one hand while he wrapped his arm around his brother with the other. “I’m sorry, Vadim. We didn’t see him coming at us from behind. It’s too late now. He has your heart. Give me Xavier’s sliver and I may find a way to defeat him. Maybe even stop him from incinerating you.” He kept his voice soft and persuasive, gentle, kind even. Filled with grief.
Vadim shrieked and thrashed. Black blood spilled everywhere. Another scream produced a torrent of spittle. With it came a silver-gray splinter. Eagerly the small piece of the high mage recognized that the other vampire had another small section inside him. It entered him easily via his ear, sliding inside to find the brain, to find that other slice left of such a powerful man.
“That is good, Vadim. Let me try to stop him,” Sergey said. He kept his sorrowful look, even when triumph spilled through him like water over a dam. He looked up and beckoned one of Vadim’s idiot pawns closer. Glee filled him. His plans were coming together nicely.
The vampire hurried to his side.
“I need help with my brother. With Vadim,” he said softly, making certain that Vadim heard. “Dragomir has taken his heart and I must get it back, no matter the cost to me. You watch over him.”
Sergey stood, slipped away and then returned, coming up behind the vampire, who looked left and right, but paid no attention to what was behind him. He slammed his fist deep, extracted the heart, tossed it to one side and called down the lightning himself. He incinerated the heart and then the body before lifting his brother. He immediately employed a vanishing spell over both of them.
Now he had only to get his most prized possession back. He’d possessed her for hundreds of years. She belonged to him. She was probably terrified without him telling her what to do.
He shifted, molecules in the air, moving slowly so as not to call attention to himself while the battle raged around him, Vadim’s idiot army doing the bidding of a man already gone, already under Sergey’s rule, although they wouldn’t know it. He’d sent three of his best to kill Dragomir and their new healer, Daratrazanoff. That family was always sticking their noses in where they didn’t belong. He reached for Elisabeta, trying to connect with her. There was only emptiness. A void. He nearly panicked. She had to be there, somewhere in the compound.
There was no entering the house. He could feel the safeguards from a distance away. If she was in there, he would have known. She was part of him. They’d been together for centuries. He took care of her. She wouldn’t be able to function without him. He had no choice but to leave, but he would find her.
Dragomir felt teeth rip down his shoulder and arm. Talons tore chunks of flesh from his chest. He and the vampire tumbled across the ground, hit one of the stone dragons and came to an abrupt stop. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw a vampire, Sergey, trap Vadim’s heart under his hand, then Dragomir was fighting for his life as a second vampire joined the one trying to kill him. The second one didn’t try to wear him down; he went straight for the chest, slamming his fist over and over, creating holes that bled profusely, weakening him.
He sank his teeth into the first vampire’s neck, ripping his jugular out, snapping the bones there before turning to face the second one. Catching the fist as it came out of him, he jerked the vampire hard toward him. At the same time, he snapped a hard punch deep into the chest. The momentum of the vampire’s forward lurch helped drive Dragomir’s fist deep. His fingers found the heart. As he extracted the wizened organ, the first vampire attacked again, leaping on him, raking with teeth and talons, pounding at his back with desperate fists.
Suddenly, the vampire was gone and Gary Daratrazanoff was there. He hurled the vampire from Dragomir and followed it up, not fast or slow, just a steady, relentless pursuit. Dragomir incinerated the heart and then the vampire. He looked toward Sergey and Vadim. The air crackled with electrical energy. In the air over the lake. Over the playground. Gary called for it. Lightning lit up the sky, turning the night into day. Dragomir could see ashes where Vadim had been. He knelt there on one knee, studying the ground, trying to make sense of it. Sergey had covered his brother’s heart and then incinerated both the heart and Vadim. He’d made his play and taken the crown.
Dragomir looked around carefully. Gary joined him. “Tariq has lit up the lake and electrocuted every vampire in it. Maksim and the security team destroyed the ones who made it to shore. Vadim must have grown so weak after losing those three splinters and a piece of his heart that he couldn’t think clearly and made poor judgments.” Dragomir gestured toward the ashes, already blowing away. “Sergey has taken leadership.”
“We knew it would happen.” Gary glanced toward the house and the healing grounds that lay underneath. “I reinforced the safeguards, above, below and all around her. Sergey can’t get to Elisabeta.”
“He’s trying.”
“He’ll keep trying. He’s addicted to her.” Gary sighed and shook his head. “You realize that Vadim had a splinter of Xavier in him. No way would the high mage allow himself to die by lightning. It’s in Sergey now. Two of them. He’ll have more memories and skills to draw on. He’s going to make an even more relentless and powerful enemy than he did when he had Vadim with him.”
Dragomir nodded. “We’ll just have to make it too difficult for him to continue to snoop around looking for Elisabeta. The woman deserves peace. You don’t think he can wake her and call her to him, do you?”
Gary shook his head, a slight smile curving his hard mouth. “I thought of that when I put her in the ground and commanded her to sleep. He can’t break that spell, not even if the high mage was working fully with him. She will get her rest. But when she rises, Dragomir, she will have problems you cannot imagine.”
Dragomir glanced toward the house where his lifemate waited at the window. She’d done what he’d asked of her and he knew it had cost her, but even with the brief battle they’d been prepared for, she’d stayed clear of his mind, allowing him to fight the vampire without having to divide his attention two ways. He was grateful to her and respected her strength even more.
I love you. He took a step toward the house.
Gary put a hand on his shoulder just as Emeline replied. Allow Gary to heal you. You’re a mess, and getting bloodstains off the floor is becoming difficult.
The love in her voice always did him in. He gave her a small salute and went with the healer.