Christine feehan - Dark Slayer 20

«There is no need,» Mikhail said. «I offer my blood freely.»

The prince smiled at her. Easy. Friendly. Making her stomach knot up. She didn't have friends. She didn't know how to have them. What did he want from her? What was he expecting? The room felt too small. She could barely breathe the air.

It matters little what they want from us, Razvan reassured. We need nothing from them-they need us. Anything we choose to do is our decision. We have no sworn loyalty to this man. We are set on a path and we will continue down it. There is no harm in listening to him. His blood is pure and carries more power than any other. If you do not wish to feed from him, I will do so and feed you later.

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.»