Natalya covered her face with her hands. «Stop! Don't tempt me. What a horrible person I am to even consider such a thing. Don't you dare allow her to slip away. I have every confidence in myself as a woman.» That might be more bravado than she wanted to admit. Vikirnoff's appetites had not only surprised, but slightly shocked her. He had a way of making her so out of control, so filled with desire she would do anything for him and that not only was terrifying, but fascinating to her. «If you did betray me with another woman, I doubt I could hold the tigress in check.»
«Lifemates cannot lie to one another. We are too often in each other's mind for a deception to be effective. I neither want nor need another woman.» He drew her closer, pressing his body against hers. «They call us to the healing cave. Mikhail will convert Gabrielle and bring her into our world. Once it is safe, she will be put into the ground for several days to give the soil a chance to heal her. Joie and Traian, Gabrielle's kin, will have a chance to complete their journey to be here when she rises. I will no longer be needed.» His arms went around her and he rested his cheek on the top of her head.
«I'll need you.» She rubbed her hands down his back. «I'm sorry I'm not those perfect women.»
«Perfect women?» He lifted his head to look down at her, confused as usual. He could never follow her train of thought and he even had the advantage of getting into her head. «I have no idea who you are talking about.»
«June Cleaver and Donna Reed. Your pinup fantasy women.» There was a bite in her voice, even when she tried to tease.
He groaned. «Are you ever going to let me off the hook? I do not want those women. Or any woman like them. I want you.» His teeth bit into her shoulder in a small reprimand. «'Only you.»
«I can hear the Carpathians calling us now. How many of them will be there?»
Vikirnoff heard the apprehension in her voice. Fighting vampires, coming into his world, being his woman, even making love to him for hours on end was undaunting to her, but meeting other Carpathians was frightening. She tried to hide it, but her body was pressed tightly against his and he could feel her trembling.
He carried her out of the water. They dried their bodies and dressed in the clothes
Vikirnoff wove for them. He provided her with her battle outfit, the one she was most comfortable wearing. She loaded up with weapons in silence and accepted the backpack from him, slipping it onto her shoulders before sliding her Amis sticks into the loops of the pack.
«Mikhail and his lifemate, Raven, will need to be present. I am certain Falcon and Sara will be there as well.» He sent a question winging to the prince, waited for the answer and relayed it. «Mikhail said that Jubal is with Slavica watching over the seven children Falcon and Sara care for.»
Natalya slipped her arm around his neck, as he shifted shape. «Not too many people. I can handle it.» As they took to the night sky, with her clinging to his giant bird back, she hoped it was true. Colors dazzled her eyes. Everything, including her emotions seemed so much more acute. She was far more aware than she'd ever been, to the point where she actually had to experiment with turning down the volume in her ears to avoid hearing snippets of conversations as they flew over the village.
The healing cave was beautiful, made of crystals and flowing water. Heat and humidity blended together so at first Natalya found it heard to breathe. Ice-cold water flowed from one wall, dropping several feet into a hot mineral spring so that the steam was thick and white, floating above the shimmering water like clouds.
Gabrielle lay in the center, the earth already open to welcome her, the soil nearly black with richness. She looked pale, so still and white, Natalya's heart went out to her and she was ashamed of her earlier jealousy. She touched the other woman gently, determined to help Vikirnoff do whatever it took to save her.
Sara and Raven greeted Natalya with a hug and very welcoming smiles. The men greeted Vikirnoff by gripping his forearms in the way of the ancient warriors. Both Mikhail and Falcon bowed from the waist at Natalya with old-world courtesy. A third man stepped from the shadows, startling her so that she drew her sword before she realized he, too, was Carpathian.
«I did not mean to frighten you.» If there was amusement on his face, it didn't show. The centuries spent in Brazil had given him a slightly different look. Aloof, aristocratic. Very handsome like his kin, but dressed in a completely different style, looking more like a wealthy rancher. «I am Manolito De La Cruz, at your service.»
Natalya lifted her chin. «You didn't frighten me.» She met the black eyes without flinching.
Mikhail turned away with a faint smile. «Manolito brought us news of a small group of Jaguar men committing atrocities against their women. His family believes they may be in league with the vampires. He also carried back the news of another Morrison laboratory and a very lethal poison they've developed to use against us.»
Natalya turned to Vikirnoff, her eyes wide with apprehension. He moved closer to her, but didn't touch her, recognizing her need to feel strong. «Did you bring back a sample of the poison?»
Manolito shook his head. «I have the images sent from my brother. I have given them to the prince. Riordan broke down the compound and sent it to me to deliver to the Mikhail.»
Mikhail knelt beside Gabrielle's still body and gestured for everyone else to take their places in a loose circle. «We must complete this before we lose her. Vikirnoff has guarded her spirit carefully for days, but he tells me she fades more with each rising.»
Vikirnoff positioned himself at Gabrielle's head, his hands resting on either side of her. Natalya knelt beside him and merged her mind firmly with his. At once she touched Gabrielle's spirit. It was light and fragile, staying only because Vikirnoff kept her with them, refusing to allow her passing. He murmured to her softly, encouraging her as the others began the ancient healing chant and Mikhail bent to take her blood for the third exchange.
Merged so deep, Natalya felt Gabrielle wincing away, trying to be brave, but doubts and fears rose up in spite of Vikirnoff's comforting voice. Tears welled up in Natalya's eyes as she realized Vikirnoff had been soothing and comforting Gabrielle each time she was awake. I should have been helping you. I should have been there for you.
She was his partner and this keeping of Gabrielle's spirit hadn't been easy for him. He didn't have the connection to Gabrielle the others had, yet he had guarded her soul and refused to let her die. Natalya was determined to rectify her mistakes. She bent close to Gabrielle, brushing her own spirit against the other woman's.
You must cling to life. Natalya told Gabrielle. There are so many who fight for you. So many who love you. Do you have any idea how very precious that is? These people give of themselves freely to you. They offer life with them. Do you want to leave only out of fear? Fear can be overcome.
The answer was a small fluttering in Natalya's mind. In her heart and soul. Gary. A single name. A single cry of anguish.
He would want you to choose life. With life there is always a way. Take my hand. Take the blood your prince offers you and choose life.
I have heard the conversion is painful and I cannot bear more pain. It seems to have become my life. I don't have Gary or my sister here with me. I'm so afraid.
I will be with you. Vikirnoff will be with you, Natalya said.
As will I, Raven murmured it softly, connecting through the prince.
I am here, Sara added, connecting through Falcon.
We have all suffered the conversion and come through to the other side. We will be with you every moment.