Christine Feehan - Dark Curse 19

«This opportunity is far too important to pass up, whatever the risk. In any case, if these women are in danger whether they are true lifemates or not, they need our protection. I will meet with you next rising to discuss this issue and come up with a plan of action.»

Andre again gave a small bow toward the women and slipped toward the back of the chamber where he obviously was more comfortable and less exposed.

Mikhail, many of our males are desperate. They could abuse this situation, turning into stalkers of these women if we are not careful. This could become a huge problem, Gregori cautioned.

I am well aware of that. But it is a sound idea and one, once voiced, that cannot be taken back. These men are indeed desperate and they will go to whatever lengths it takes to acquire this list of potential lifemates. If we control the list, we can protect the women.

So be it.

«Once this information is acquired, however we do it, we have to make certain the guardian will stand against any and all who would force them to give it up.» Mikhail took a careful look around the chamber to ensure everyone understood him. «These women are targeted for murder. We do not want to expose them to any more risk than they already are under.»

«It's all part of the master plan to destroy our species,» Nicolas said. «If our enemies can successfully eliminate our women and children, and all potential lifemates, all hope is lost and a good portion of our males will join their ranks.»

«Do we pull back and protect ourselves by calling everyone back to the Carpathian Mountains?» Gregori asked. «We have a better chance of protecting our own by gathering together. Our enemies' numbers have increased and they are now running in packs.» He indicated Nicolas. «We've had disturbing news all of you should hear, including reports of the vampires trying to open the shadow world so their dead can join their ranks against us.»

Nicolas revealed the plot his brother Manolito had uncovered when he had awakened still partially in the shadow world after the attack on Shea. «The Malinov brothers have made an alliance with Xavier. We do not know if Razvan is part of their conspiracy or if he is a prisoner at this point. With the parasites Xavier developed, the vampires appear to recognize one another and yet can hide their presence from us. We can no longer trust that we can so easily detect an enemy.»

Gregori nodded. «The enemy has corrupted many of the jaguar-males. We'll be asking Zacarias and his brothers to act as emissaries and try to get those not already lost to join with us.»

The silence in the room was broken only by the humming crystals. The news wasn't good. Mikhail eventually stood. «Many of you may have heard that Manolito has found his lifemate. She is lycanthrope. That species has always gone their own way, but they wield a lot of power and would make a tremendous ally. We need to locate them and send someone to convince them to join with us.»

There was a brief murmur of conversation as the men discussed the possibility of finding the long-absent lycanthrope species.

«And humans?» Jaxon asked.

There was a long silence. Mikhail sighed. «This has been a long-running debate. Most think it is still not the time for acceptance.»

«Perhaps expand our trusted circle. Cullen, Gary and Jubal certainly have proven to be more than reliable,» Jacques said, naming three of their human friends. «Without Gary we wouldn't be nearly as far along in our research as we are. He works hard and keeps our hours. He also watches over the children who cannot go to ground. Mikhail has several friends in the village who have proven trustworthy time and again.»

«And have we considered aligning ourselves with the community of mages? Not all of them followed Xavier, and most were abused and tortured under his rule,» Nicolas added.

Immediately, at the suggestion, heated discussions broke out. Mikhail said nothing, simply let the men discuss the possibility of asking aid of other communities-ones they had protected but had been careful not to reveal themselves to.

Mikhail sat quietly, his senses flaring out to bridge with the power emanating from the forest of crystals. Each geode hummed a slightly different note and as he listened, turning his mind to the notes, he heard the quiet voices of the ancient warriors who had gone before. Each told of the old days when all the species existed in harmony. The reclusive lycanthrope, as powerful as the Carpathians in their own way, but running on a short fuse, the males every bit as protective of their females as the Carpathians, which made for a volatile situation when so many Carpathian males were unable to find lifemates among their own kind. Would an emissary be welcome if they were found? Or would he be killed to protect the lycanthrope society as a whole? Whoever he sent would be at risk.

Leadership wasn't about knowing the right thing to do, it was about making decisions and being willing to accept the responsibility that came with inevitable mistakes. If he allowed his men to reach out to the various species, he could put his people at terrible risk. Over the years the vampire myths had grown and become legends. Few would distinguish between a Carpathian and vampire. Jaguars had turned on their women.

Mikhail rubbed his eyes wearily. Their world seemed too long at war. He had so many problems trying to keep his dying species alive, yet at that moment, surrounded by his fellow warriors, his mind continually tried to reach for his lifemate and check on his child.

When the discussion looked as if it might go from heated to outright mayhem, he broke in. «Mage and Jaguar have mixed with humans and I would guess lycanthrope have done so as well over the last few centuries. Many of the shifters have diluted their blood. They carry the gene, but they no longer can shift.

Shea had a human mother and a Carpathian father. We do not know whether Razvan deliberately impregnated human women or whether he was forced to do so, but we know the children carry Carpathian blood. Our species is not so far removed from any other. We have to have allies and we need to actively find them.»

Mikhail's voice was quiet, but carried the weight of his absolute authority. «We cannot abandon other species to fight the vampire alone. We need to change with the times and become more open to friendship and alliances.»

«The more we let into our circle, the more difficult it will be to protect our women and children,» Gregori pointed out. «We are surrounded by enemies and we do not know friend from foe at this point.»

«Then all of us need to be trained in destroying vampires,» Jaxon proposed. «It should be mandatory, so no matter where we are, we have a chance to get out alive.»

«We train the male children from the time they are born now,» Mikhail said quietly. «I am already passing my knowledge to my son who is in Raven's womb.»

«What about your granddaughters, Mikhail?» Jaxon asked. «Is anyone teaching them?»

Gregori scowled, his silver eyes glittering with something close to a warning. «My daughters and my lifemate will never be allowed into a dangerous situation.»

Destiny's eyebrow shot up. «You can't possibly know that. You can't. No one, not even you have that kind of control throughout a lifetime, especially a lifetime as long as we have. Absolutely all women and even our children should be trained in how to destroy a vampire,» Destiny said. «It only makes sense.»

Jaxon nodded her head. «Why should you only train the male children? Even if a woman never has to use her knowledge, she should have it. You never know when she may be attacked and males are not always by our sides.»

«Why not?» Nicolas demanded. «Your lifemate and every other male whether he is attached or unattached should be with one of our women when they go anywhere. Each and every one of you, and especially our children, should have bodyguards. Ivory died because she left the safety of her family. We lost Rhiannon for the same reason. The moment Xavier closed his school to males and took only our females, we should have refused to allow them to attend.»