Christine Feehan - Dark Possession

MaryAnn gasped and covered her face with both hands, shaking her head. «It wasn't real. I wouldn't have done something like that. It was only a dream.»

«Do you have his mark on you?» Juliette asked, her voice gentle.

«No. It's not that. It's not his mark. I wouldn't exchange blood with him. Or lead him to believe I'm something I'm not. I don't flirt. And I don't make promises I wouldn't keep.» That's why she was there when she should be… somewhere else. Anywhere else.

«You didn't do anything wrong, you know. Let me see the mark.»

MaryAnn swallowed hard, her hands reluctantly going to her blouse. She didn't want to show Juliette. The mark was private. Right now it pulsed with heat. She moistened her lips and summoned up all of her courage, pushing the material down to reveal the large strawberry, much like a love bite, but more intense and raw. Two telltale punctures were ringed with red.

Her stomach did a funny flip. «He bit me, didn't he? It wasn't a dream at all.» And if he had, why did she feel more excited than betrayed?

«You are what kept my brother alive,» Riordan said, his black eyes on the mark. «As his lifemate you are under the protection of my family, a sister to be loved and cherished. You did what no other could have done.»

«Let's not jump to conclusions,» MaryAnn protested. «I never even spoke to the man.»

«That marks says you're his lifemate,» Riordan reiterated.

She shook her head. «It could mean he took my blood and' I was allergic to the anticoagulant. It could be a bug bite.» She almost groaned at the desperate, all too absurd suggestion, but this couldn't be happening, not for real.

«Of course it's frightening,» Juliette said. «It's unexpected to all of us, but at least you know why you've been so upset. Lifemates cannot be away from one another long without touching minds. Reach for him.»

«I'm nobody's lifemate, Juliette,» MaryAnn said. «I don't even like men all that much. The ones I see and hear about on a daily basis aren't very nice. I'm not lifemate material, and please don't take this the wrong way, but especially not to one of the De La Cruz brothers. They're far too difficult.»

Riordan flashed a brief smile at her. «We make up for it in other ways.»

MaryAnn couldn't find it in her to smile back. The entire idea was absurd, but she was beginning to believe it. «In order for us to be feeling the same emotions, wouldn't the bond have to be incredibly strong? Your brother never even really spoke to me. If I were his lifemate, wouldn't he at least introduce himself?»

«Not if he thought you would refuse his claim,» Riordan said, ignoring Juliette's warning look. «He might hide his intentions.»

MaryAnn frowned. «I would have refused. I have a life that's important to me in Seattle. This isn't my environment, nor would I want to be with a man as demanding as your brother obviously is. Of course I would have refused.»

«Which explains why he would have said nothing. Manolito would never have accepted your refusal, but you are under the protection of the prince and his second. You also are best friends with Destiny. Not only would Mikhail and Gregori stand for you, but so would Destiny's lifemate, Nicolae, and his brother Vikirnoff as well as his lifemate, Natalya. Manolito would bide his time, stay close and wait until you were no longer surrounded by your protectors.»

MaryAnn rubbed her pounding temples. «I feel sick and dizzy. Everything burns. Is that him? Or is it me?»

«I think he is the one feeling ill. He's still feeling the effects of the wound and the poison. He needs help fast. I touched his mind and he is very confused. He cannot tell where he is or what is real or not. He does not believe I am his brother because I did not know about his lifemate. That means he does not remember what he did or how he tied the two of you together without your consent. He's probably wondering what happened to you and why you haven't come to help him.»

MaryAnn sank down onto the mattress and took another deep breath. She was a practical woman; at least she liked to think so. Everything was a big mess, but if it was all true, then Manolito De La Cruz was alive and in trouble. He needed her. Lifemates aside, she couldn't leave him alone and hurt in the rain forest any more than she could have Juliette's sister. «Tell me what to do.»

«Reach out to him.»

She didn't know what she had expected, but that wasn't it. Action. Soft words. A Jeep. «Reach out to him?» she repeated. «Are you crazy? I don't have any telepathic ability. None whatsoever. I'm not even psychic. You'll have to do the reaching and I'll try talking to him.»

Juliette shook her head. «You can't be a lifemate without being psychic, MaryAnn. Gregori and Destiny both recognized your potential. With a blood exchange, Manolito would have established a private path for communication.»

«Whoa. Back up. What do you mean my potential?» Suddenly she was furious. Shaking with it. Betrayal was bitter in her mouth. «Are you telling me they manipulated me into going with them to the Carpathian Mountains because they thought I was possibly a lifemate to one of the men? Destiny? Gregori?»

Juliette sent her lifemate a silent plea for aid. She felt like she was walking through a minefield and stumbling often.

He shrugged his broad shoulders matter-of-factly. I doubt that Destiny had any idea, but Gregori has shared MaryAnn's blood. He would have known. We cannot afford to lose any more of our males. You know the situation is desperate. Of course Gregori would bring her to a gathering hoping she was someone's salvation.

Juliette resisted the urge to take umbrage at his casual admission.

She will grow to love him if she is destined to be with him. That is our way of life. You certainly resisted being with me. As I recall, you hid yourself deep within your jaguar and tried to escape your fate. You are happy and content with me, Juliette, as she will be with Manolito. Time takes care of many things.

It is still unfair that a man can dictate a woman's destiny.

It is equally unfair on the man. He has no choice either, Riordan reminded her. And far more to lose.

«I feel so betrayed,» MaryAnn said. «I thought Destiny knew me, understood me. You don't do this to friends.» Hurt colored her voice, but she couldn't help it. She had trusted Destiny, helped her to overcome her past so she could find a new life with her chosen lifemate. She had even left the excitement and sophistication of her beloved city of Seattle and headed to the remote, uncivilized forests of the Carpathian Mountains just to make certain Destiny would find happiness.

Juliette shook her head. «Destiny is new to the Carpathian society. I doubt she would have known, let alone allowed you to be placed in such a position. Gregori would have felt his protection would ensure you would not be bothered against your will. Most males believe a woman will fall in love with her lifemate. The pull between them is strong and the physical attraction is tremendous.»

«Has there ever been a man or woman who didn't fall in love with their lifemate?» Because if Manolito was hers, she could see herself wanting to go to bed with him, but living with him was an altogether different matter.

«Like any species, we have some born not quite right. No one knows why or how it happens, but yes, there have been aberrations,» Riordan admitted. «Manolito is dedicated to his lifemate. He would never dishonor her with another woman. We have waited far longer than you could ever comprehend for our women, and, although you may think us overbearing and arrogant, we cherish and hold our women above all else.»

The sincerity in his voice made her feel a little better. And Juliette was no pushover. It was just that MaryAnn found all that testosterone a little annoying. The De La Cruz brothers would demand full surrender in all things. She couldn't see them compromising all that much. Even the very tone of their voices put her on edge. She couldn't imagine herself with one of them as a husband. They might be easy on the eyes, but she'd probably develop ulcers trying to be with one.