Christine Feehan - Dark Celebration 17

Mikhail's smile was genuine. «It has been long since I heard those words and felt the meaning behind them. It is truly good to have you home.» He turned to the woman standing beside Nicolae. She looked very apprehensive, somewhere between wanting to run-and fight. She had been through so much, her courage and strength honed in the very fires of hell.

He clasped her forearms, looking straight into her startled aquamarine eyes, and repeated the ancient greeting, affording her the highest respect he could give her. «Destiny. Warrior. Sister. It is good to have you home.»

She swallowed hard, glanced at her lifemate and nodded, her hands tightening on his forearms. «It is good to be home. I too serve at the will of my prince and pledge loyalty to him.»

«You do not have to pledge your loyalty to me,» Mikhail said. «The service you have already done is more than any people could ask of you.»

«I stand with my lifemate and wish to serve,» she replied.

«Then I accept your offer on behalf of the Carpathian people.» He let her go, stepping away, his smile welcoming. «I have long wanted to meet the woman who has given and suffered so much for our people. Thank you for coming.»

«I had forgotten the feel of our soil,» Nicolae murmured. «I cannot get enough of it. Destiny says all I do is roll around in bed, but it is a miracle to me to have the luxury of such richness.» He led the way through his family home. As always, the other Carpathians had kept the home clean and in good shape. The moment he had returned he had modernized it, and was proud to show off the changes.

They sat near the fireplace, the one Destiny especially loved, and Mikhail imparted to them all the news he could think of, including his most important find, Syndil. «Do you remember anything of the ancient practices, Nicolae? A woman who could heal the earth?»

«Of course. They were very rare and most honored. She attended all births and healings. The line was old and only the women from that line had the gift. Syndil must be a descendant.»

«And the only one we have.»

«There were several earth healers I ran across when I was a young man. There could be more. Rhiannon was such a healer. The gift was passed through her mother. Her father was

Dragonseeker. She was an incredible talent even as a child. It was a great loss to our people when she was killed.»

«Syndil is not Dragonseeker; at least I have not heard she bears the mark of the dragon. She is one of the Dark Troubadours, the lost children Darius managed to save. But we do have Rhiannon's granddaughter, Natalya, whom your brother claimed as a lifemate.»

Nicolae smiled. «And Vikirnoff certainly has his hands full with her.»

«The two of you have found extraordinary women.» A brief smile flirted with Mikhail's mouth. «Although Natalya did not inherit her mother's gift for healing the earth, she is a talented warrior. I believe you will enjoy her company very much, Destiny. Have you met her yet? She taught herself to be a warrior.»

Destiny's tongue touched her lips as if they were dry. Once more her gaze flicked to her lifemate before she spoke. «She's a lot of fun. I find myself laughing around her all the time.»

Mikhail had the feeling Destiny didn't laugh all that much. He glanced at Nicolae. The ancient's fingers were massaging the nape of her neck, a subtle show of support Mikhail often employed when Raven was in an unfamiliar situation and feeling apprehensive. He flashed another open smile at the woman. «She does love to quote old movies. I told Raven we were going to have to start watching them so I can keep up.»

Destiny managed a small, nervous smile. «She loves old movies. Poor Vikirnoff doesn't know what she's saying half the time, but it's good for him.» She let out her breath slowly. «I've never been around a prince before. I don't know exactly what I'm supposed to do.»

«Most of the time, I'm just an ordinary man, Destiny,» Mikhail confided. He looked around and leaned forward, lowering his voice in a conspiratorial manner, although he sent his comments along to his second in command. «Unless Gregori's around, and then I suppose everyone should genuflect to make him happy.»

Gregori's retaliation was swift. A clap of thunder shook the house, rattling the windows, and the chair Mikhail was sitting in shifted and bucked, nearly throwing him to the floor.

Nicolae roared with laughter. «That was definitely a Daratrazanoff growling.»

«It is not any way for a son-in-law to treat his father-in-law,» Mikhail said. A slow grin lit his eyes. «But he will find I have the last word this night.»

«You have planned something,» Nicolae guessed.

«We need a Santa Claus and I think Gregori Daratrazanoff will fill that role nicely.»

Destiny looked from one laughing man to the other. «Gregori is not going to be happy. In all the time he spent trying to heal me, I only saw him smile at Savannah. Well, once he

tried to smile at me and it was more a baring of his teeth. The thought of him entertaining a roomful of children is beyond my imagination.»

«And everyone else's as well it seems,» Mikhail said with evident satisfaction. «How are you feeling? I know you experienced great pain on rising each day with vampire blood in your veins. Was Gregori able to fully heal you both?»

Destiny nodded. «It seems a miracle every rising, to open my eyes and not feel as if razor blades are cutting through my skin. Gregori kept the blood, and mentioned it might be used to infect a warrior to infiltrate the ranks of the undead.» Her gaze met Mikhail's. «Don't let them do that. It's the worst thing you can imagine to have that blood in your veins every moment of your existence. It's agony, both physically and mentally. I cannot imagine what it would do to a warrior already close to the edge of madness.»

«Nothing has been decided,» Mikhail assured. «When we are back to normal, we will all meet together. Your input is very valuable to us and we are hoping you will attend.»

Destiny looked relieved. «Yes, of course.»

Nicolae slid his arm along the back of her seat. «Destiny has not celebrated Christmas in years. We are going out to get a tree. Would you like to join us?»

Mikhail shook his head regretfully. «I have a few more stops to make before we all gather at the inn. I was hoping I would have a chance to speak with MaryAnn Delaney. I understand she's staying here.»

«Yes, she's with a young teenage girl at the moment. Francesca brought her over a few minutes ago and asked that MaryAnn speak with her. We're to take her home shortly.»

«Young Skyler. Most of the time, a girl her age would not trigger a response in her lifemate, but she is mature beyond her years and we now have an unrequited male running loose and demanding his rights.» Mikhail sighed softly. «Skyler needs protection at all times. If we fail again, her lifemate will bind her to him and I am not certain what Gabriel will do, but it will not be pleasant.»

«Francesca warned us,» Nicolae said. «Skyler indicated she would like to join us when we get the tree, so we'll leave as soon as MaryAnn has had some time with her. I don't anticipate any problems, but we will be careful. Destiny is a skilled hunter, so young Skyler will be doubly protected.»

«Do not let her out of your sight,» Mikhail warned. «She has a tendency to wander off. I sometimes wonder why I press Raven to have another child. I have forgotten the trouble they can be.»

«See!» Destiny made a face at Nicolae. «I told you they were trouble.»

Mikhail rose. «I am off to see your brother. Is there anything you would like me to tell

him?»

«Just pass on that you're going to ask Gregori to play Santa Claus. Vikirnoff will definitely enjoy that news.» Nicolae stood as well to see the prince out.