Christine Feehan: Dark Celebration 17

a small smile as if she might be reading his thoughts in spite of his thin shield. He'd have to watch that. Her skills and powers grew daily.

Skyler looked at the high beamed ceilings and wide-open space before her gaze settled on the three enormous stained-glass windows. Her face lit up and she walked straight over to them. «This is Francesca's work. Isn't she awesome? I helped her with this one.» She tilted her head to study the vibrant colors. «I haven't learned how to weave the safeguards into the glass yet. I can do it in quilts, but glass is much more complicated.» She glanced at Raven. «Do you ever stand under the setting sun and feel comfort?» Skyler moved an inch to her left. «Right here. If you stand right in this spot as the last rays of light hit, you'll feel it. I did that.»

«It's a work of art,» Raven said. «If I could, I'd have every window done in Francesca's work. I had no idea you were helping her.»

«I have some talent, not nearly as strong as hers, but she's helping me develop mine. I hope to be partners with her one day.» The smile faded, leaving her eyes bleak. She reached up to brush strands of dark hair from her face, revealing a small crescent-shaped scar on her temple and drawing attention to the white scars on her hands and forearms. Skyler seemed to be aware of her nervous gesture and folded her hands, her chin raising a fraction. «I've heard rumors of a coming-out party-where the men gather to see if they could possibly be compatible with one of the women…»

«We have no women,» Mikhail pointed out. «There are no parties and no coming out as we have no women…»

Skyler's mouth firmed into a stubborn line as she followed the couple into the kitchen. «Gabriel and Francesca treat me like family.»

Mikhail nodded. «They love you as if you were their daughter.» He inhaled deeply, drawing her scent into his lungs. «You carry their blood so through love, blood and in every other way, you are their daughter.»

«They've offered to convert me when I'm twenty-one and I'm considering it, but I want assurances that you won't try to force me to be with a man-any man.»

«No one would force you to do anything,» Raven said. «Gabriel is a powerful man. Don't you think he would protect you?»

«Absolutely he would protect me. I don't want Gabriel or Francesca to have to protect me. If I go through the conversion, I do not want someone trying to claim me.»

«Are you not aware of the plight of our people? Of our males?» Mikhail demanded.

Raven put a restraining hand on his arm. «Have a seat, Skyler. Can I get you something to eat or drink? We have juice in the fridge.»

Without breaking eye contact with Mikhail, the teenager sank into a chair with an almost regal nod. «Yes, thank you, juice would be nice.»

She is terrific, isn't she Mikhail? She's terrified but determined that she be heard. There was admiration-and warning in Raven's soft message to her lifemate. Raven poured a glass of orange juice and set it in front of Skyler.

Mikhail's head went up suddenly and he stepped toward the window, his gaze restless as he searched the darkness. He felt the presence of wolves and owls as they hunted for prey, but nothing that would cause the uneasy feeling twisting at his gut. He glanced down at the defiant young teenager, gently probing her mind-and memories. He found Francesca and Gabriel's shields to help distance the girl from the brutality of her life before they had made her their ward, but even with that protection in place, the memories of the malicious cruelty and violence against Skyler sickened him.

Mikhail glanced at Raven and saw the tears shimmering in her eyes as she shared Skyler's past-felt her pain and despair-the utter hopelessness of a child who could not escape from a depraved adult world. Raven hastily crossed to the oven to check on the turkey.

«It smells good,» Skyler said.

«I used a wild rice stuffing,» Raven said. «I remember it from my childhood. It took a bit of time tracking down the recipe, but it should be good, although it's been a long time since I cooked anything.»

«Francesca lets me cook whenever I want. She trusts me to make my own decisions.» Skyler glanced at Mikhail.

«Are you aware of what happens to a Carpathian male without his lifemate?» Mikhail asked, his voice compelling.

Skyler nodded. «Gabriel and Francesca both explained it to me. They lose colors and emotions first. Over hundreds of years, honor can fade and they become dangerous, especially the hunters, any who take lives. And eventually they can become the vampire, the most evil of all creatures.»

«And you would leave your lifemate to this fate? You would be that cruel and inhumane? Should he suffer even more than he already has because you suffered?»

«Mikhail!» Raven whirled around, shock on her face. She's a child. How could you? Giving our daughter to Gregori before she was beyond a fledging was bad enough, but this child has suffered. And we have no way of knowing whether or not she is lifemate to one of our males.

She is experienced far beyond her human years, Raven. Allow her to answer.

Skyler carefully placed the glass on the table and stood up, folding her arms as she faced Mikhail squarely. «No, of course not. I wouldn't want anyone to suffer, but I can't seem to overcome the things in my past.» She held her trembling hands in front of her. «I don't feel comfortable in the presence of men. I'm not capable of being anyone's lifemate and I don't want to be forced into a position where I have no choice, no say in my life. I didn't come to this conclusion lightly. I love Gabriel and I certainly wouldn't want to think of him dead or suffering or a vampire, but I know I can't ever be powerless again. Male Carpathians are far too dominating, and I would find myself slipping back into that dark place where Francesca first found me.»

Mikhail frowned. «Do you believe our women are without power? Is that how you see Francesca?»

Skyler shook her head. «Francesca is loved and returns love. She can do what I can't– and never will be able to do. Gabriel promised me-as did Lucian-that they will never let another force my compliance, but I know a Carpathian male has the ability to bind a Carpathian woman to him. I want to be fully Gabriel and Francesca's daughter, but I don't want to be subject to the laws of your world.»

She doesn't know her lifemate could bind her to him in her human state. Mikhail reached out to Raven, suddenly at a loss as to what to do or say to this woman-child. Why would Francesca and Gabriel and even Lucian keep this information from her?

«Skyler,» he said aloud. «A Carpathian male must put his lifemate above all else. He would see to your needs, have patience with you. You are young yet. You have no idea how you'll feel in a few years.»

«I do know.»

«And you would sentence a Carpathian male, one who has given many lifetimes of service, to death-or worse-to the undead out of fear?»

«His decisions have nothing to do with me.»

«And what of the Carpathian race? Our species is nearly extinct. We cannot continue to exist without women and children. One woman makes a difference. One woman can save a male and give birth to a child.»

«I see Francesca struggling sometimes to be true to her nature, and she's a strong woman. Gabriel is very protective and dislikes her going anywhere without him.»

Mikhail slammed a barrier in his mind immediately to prevent Raven from reading his mind. Gabriel had to be concerned with their enemies striking at the women, yet he had allowed Skyler to go into the woods. Or had he? «Did you mention to Gabriel that you were coming to see us?»

Skyler scuffed the toe of her hiking boot on the kitchen floor. «I may have forgotten. He