She heard the cool resolve in his voice and her stomach settled. She had stayed alive by being aware of everything around her, of avoiding others and taking great care to put herself in the most advantageous position should she need to fight. Razvan was doing the same.
Ivory had carefully chosen the chair they were seated in so that no one could slip up behind them or get too close from either side. Raven and the prince were quite vulnerable right in front of her. She knew the prince had deliberately seated himself in a position of weakness to take the edge off her sharply honed wariness of such situations and, while she appreciated it, she still wanted to leave.
It was difficult to maintain composure when too many hearts beat, the sound of blood roared through veins, emotions seemed too raw around her. When she’d been alone for so long, being crowded into a room—albeit a spacious one—still was uncomfortable. She forced a smile at the prince, inclining her head like a princess. “We thank you for your generous offer.”
It was Razvan, more than her, who was uncomfortable with the feeding process. He didn’t like taking blood from a wrist, and she felt his instant aversion to the idea when the prince so casually offered his wrist. She took the blood without hesitation, willing to draw attention away from Razvan.
“I offer you my blood, Razvan,” Natalya said into the silence. “I wouldn’t mind experiencing the bonding process with you all over again.”
Razvan went absolutely, utterly still. Ivory felt his instant rejection, his complete withdrawal. His skin went to a pale white, almost transparent, and the lines in his face deepened.
“I am not the prince, but as your sister, I offer to you freely.”
Every muscle in his body tensed, although he looked as calm and serene as ever. He simply stood and glided away from Natalya, putting distance between them though a slight smile softened his mouth and his eyes were sad. He inclined his head toward her in a gesture of respect.
“You honor me, little sister, but I cannot accept such a gift.”
His stomach churned and bile rose. Ivory slid her tongue over Mikhail’s wrist to close the wound and straightened slowly. Razvan looked calm, but she could feel the tension mounting in him.
Gregori frowned. He had given a tremendous amount of blood to Razvan over the past few weeks and had been inside his mind and memories. He sensed the usually serene man was distressed. He rose and walked over to Razvan, blocking the others’ sight of him. “It is best for him, Natalya, to take a healer’s blood. He is better, but not completely well. His bones must knit stronger than ever.”
Razvan said nothing. He didn’t trust himself to speak. He simply accepted the healer’s offer, grateful the others couldn’t witness his shaking hands.
I am with you. You are not a monster, tearing into someone’s flesh to get blood
. Ivory kept her voice low and steady, reaching to surround him with her presence.
Razvan made no reply, but he did allow her to slip seamlessly into his mind to see the images swirling in chaos. For a moment horror gripped her, as it did him—as it did Gregori—as they shared the sight of a child’s wrist being torn into by sharp teeth.
“Xavier has much to answer for,” Gregori said quietly.
Razvan again said nothing, but the understanding went a long way toward settling the knots that had pulled tighter and tighter in his stomach. He closed the pinpricks on the healer’s wrist and gave him a slight bow of appreciation. Gregori ignored his formality and clapped him on the back.
“It isn’t as if we do not know each other,” Gregori said.
“Mikhail.” Raven’s voice was thoughtful. “Have you noticed the resemblance in Syndil and Ivory? They could be sisters.”
“I do not have a sister,” Ivory assured her. “I had five brothers.”
“But you do look alike,” Mikhail agreed. “And you have a special affinity with the earth, as Syndil does. She’s an extraordinary woman. You will want to meet her.”
She was not going to get sucked into the Carpathian community. She could barely function here, unsure of herself, not at all confident, as if everything was off-kilter.
I feel the same
. Razvan’s voice was gentle in her mind.
What is wrong with us when they are being so kind and welcoming?
We have been too long away from others
, he reassured her.
Too long in our own company. We need the open spaces and the quiet of our own lair
.
She was desperate now to end this meeting and go home, but there was something on Mikhail’s mind and he wasn’t going to let her leave until he told her.
Razvan took her hand. Both were standing now, the first step toward a graceful exit. Before Ivory could make her excuses, Mikhail spoke again.
“Some time ago, Natalya came to us, to these mountains, to look for answers. Her father stole a book.”
Razvan drew in his breath sharply, his fingers tightening with sudden strength around Ivory’s. “Our father died for that book. Xavier’s master spell book. Xavier sealed the book in the blood of each species. Mage. Carpathian. Lycan. Jaguar and human.”
“There was no Lycan blood present,” Natalya said. “I saw the vision on my quest to find the book. It was sealed with the blood of the three and must be opened with the blood of the three.” She looked to her lifemate.
Vikirnoff, why would he lie about this? You saw the vision as I did. Xavier poured the blood of the three. Why would Razvan insist that there were others?
I do not know
. But Natalya heard the suspicion in Vikirnoff’s voice.
“He murdered a woman from each species and sealed the book,” Razvan said. “I saw him. Whether you choose to believe me or not, is up to you.”
Mikhail paced across the room. “Lycans hide better than any other species. Their blood is powerful and different. Xavier would have known that. He studied blood and he would never have left them alone. Lycan blood might hide itself, but not human blood.”
“Then what happened to the Lycan blood?” Natalya asked. Suspicion crept into her voice in spite of herself. “I saw Xavier perform the ritual.”
Ivory flicked her a quick glance and shrugged. “It is probably there, hidden. A secret to help in the protection of the book. If Xavier knew the properties of the Lycan blood, he would know it might hide from others. He could rely on that to keep his book from being opened and used. As for the human blood, Xavier would have no problem hiding anything if he so desired. As for your vision, it is possible he prepared for someone to access it. Xavier put safeguards on everything he did.”
Natalya shook her head. She had gone through a horrendous ordeal to recover the book, including watching the death of her father.
“You actually held the book in your hands?” Razvan asked his sister. “You found it?”
She nodded. “Our father left me a message, a way to find it. I brought it to Mikhail.”
“I want you to take the book, Ivory,” Mikhail said. “No one knows where your lair is. No one has had any idea of your presence for these long years, yet you cannot be that far from our territory. The book must remain hidden and away from Xavier. I entrust you with the book and any knowledge you may gain from having it in your possession.”
A gasp went around the room. Even Natalya shook her head. Vikirnoff actually stepped forward aggressively.
“The book was entrusted to you, Mikhail,” he objected. “No one else. Forgive me, Razvan, but someone must have a clear head in this matter.” Vikirnoff swept his hand toward Ivory. “This woman’s lifemate was possessed by Xavier for years. He’s been used by Xavier to spy, to trick, to lie and to cause great harm. How do we know he is not tricking all of us even now? Would you take a book so dangerous and put it into the very hands of the man who spent several lifetimes with him? We just met this man.” He looked at Gregori. “We have no choice but to take this to the council.”
Mikhail drew himself up to his full height. In that moment, he took Ivory’s breath away. Power surged in the room, enough that the walls expanded and contracted and there was a shiver of movement beneath their feet. Even his hair crackled with energy.
“I do not ask the advice of the warriors’ council, nor do I need to. If you cannot be civil to a guest in my home, then you may leave.”
He didn’t yell or shout. In fact, his voice was pitched low, but it carried enough weight to take someone down instantly.
Vikirnoff opened his mouth and then closed it, swift impatience crossing his face. “I go on record stating that this is a poor idea and the decision to hand over the book should wait. Until we know these two better, we cannot trust them.”
Natalya stood, torn between believing in her brother, and remembering the numerous times it was her brother who had tricked her into giving him information Xavier needed. She shook her head and followed Vikirnoff out of the house.
I am sorry she hurt you
, Ivory said, trying to comfort Razvan.
She has reason to worry
, Razvan replied gently.
Do not be upset on my behalf
.
“They should have asked if I wanted the book,” Ivory said. “I do not. But I thank you for your confidence in us.”
Of course I am upset on your behalf. She hurt you whether you acknowledge it or not and you do not deserve that
.
“The book may be of some use to you as you try to find a way to reverse Xavier’s spell on the extremophiles,” Mikhail said, seemingly unaware that they carried on a private conversation, although Ivory was fairly certain he knew.
Do not blame her, Ivory. She was put through so much over the years. Alone and frightened, with Xavier constantly on her heels. For my sake, do not blame her
.
Ivory sighed. She would do anything for Razvan right then. If forgiving his sister and her lifemate meant so much to him, then she would oblige. She sent Razvan a small smile before turning her complete attention to the prince.
“I cannot undo the extremophiles mutated state, although I might be able to redirect them,” Ivory told him. “But that book will not help. The book is one for twisted spells and is so dangerous, any wielder trying to use it, including Xavier, will only become as corrupt and twisted as the book itself.”
Razvan took her hand, loving her all the more for her support of him. “She is right, Mikhail. It is a work of evil. The blood sealing the book was the blood of the women he killed. In death he sealed it. And in death it would have to be reopened. Destroy it, though it will not be easy. Never let anyone touch it but you, and destroy it as soon as you can figure out how. You cannot risk the contamination.”
“He would have put other safeguards on it as well,” Ivory added.
“You are certain this is the best course with the book?” Mikhail asked. “If the book has information containing Xavier’s spell to kill our children . . .”
“I know it is logical to think you might use the book to reverse it, but that book is nearly as great an enemy to you as Xavier himself. Should that book end up in the hands of one of my fallen brothers, you will know war such as you have never seen,” Ivory said. “Destroy it.” She sighed heavily. “It will not be an easy task, and one I suspect you will not be able to do alone. Look to Razvan’s aunts. I know they still sleep, but when they awaken, put the matter before them.”
“How do we reverse Xavier’s spells if we cannot use the book?” Raven asked.
“Razvan will remember the high mage’s spells and I will document them,” Ivory replied. “In that way we can have a safe record. As long as Razvan lives and remembers, we can probably re-create the entire book without the corruption.”
“You believe you can do this?” Raven asked. She pressed both hands protectively over her unborn child.
“I wish to have children some day,” Ivory said, although, truthfully, she didn’t believe she would survive the coming battle. “I will do this, no matter how long it takes.”
14
T
he night welcomed them, the wide-open spaces, the sky heavy now with new clouds. Ivory inhaled deeply, drawing the night air into her lungs, and laughed just for the sheer joy of being outside where she felt alive. Where she could breathe.
“Let’s never do that again,” she said.
Razvan grinned at her. “Good idea. You were the one with the good manners, insisting we thank everyone.” He stretched his arms to the gray clouds and inhaled. “I do believe it is going to snow on us.”
“Shall we take the children and go home?” she asked, her slow grin matching his.
“Are we flying? Running?” He arched a brow at her.
Ivory took a slow, careful look around her. “I think we will walk for now.”
Razvan sent his senses flaring out into the night, trying to pick up on what she felt. He didn’t doubt that some of the Carpathian hunters might follow them to make certain they were not meeting with Xavier and reporting everything they had spoken of.
“They think I am a spy,” he said. “Does it bother you?”
“Actually,” Ivory corrected, “they think we are both spies.” She sent him an amused grin. “I have spent more than one human lifetime thinking of the Carpathian people as betrayers, and yet they think me the spy.”
“Because you are with me,” he pointed out. “If you like, when you wish to visit or speak with them to gather information, it will not hurt me to have you go into the village alone. I can spend the time with the pack on the outskirts, waiting for you.”
She shook her head. “It is not simply because of you. I am a Malinov. I cannot blame them. The timing is very suspicious. I would be suspicious.” But she wasn’t happy with his sister. Natalya should have believed in him. She was afraid to believe, more than she disbelieved. Ivory didn’t voice her opinion because Razvan simply accepted his sister’s suspicions as he did most things, but if she had an opportunity, she might just have a word with the woman.
Razvan laughed out loud and enveloped her hand with his. “I am still in your mind.”
She blushed, realizing she was still in his as well. “It feels so natural. I did not mean for you to hear that.”