Christine Feehan - Dark Celebration 17

«It's just my brother and he can wait,» Vikirnoff said, his hands cupping her breasts again, thumbs stroking, sending vibrations through her entire body. «I have far more important things to do.»

Back off Nicolae. I am just a little busy here. He sent the impression of bared teeth for good measure, but his brother only sent back amusement.

Her tongue swirled over his pulse. Her teeth scraped and his entire body contracted in anticipation.

The knock at the door persisted. Vikirnoff swore. «I'm killing him.» Abruptly he left her, striding across the room.

«Put some clothes on,» she reminded him with a little mischievous grin. «You just might

need them.»

Vikirnoff just managed to don a shirt and jeans as he jerked open the door. «Did you not hear my…» He broke off, recognizing his visitor. One hand raked through his hair. He glanced back at the kitchen. You knew. «Mikhail.»

Of course. I was looking out for you. Her laughter tightened his body all over again. She even managed to blow in his ear.

I'm thinking of spanking you.

The last time I rather liked it. You were rather wild that night.

His body jumped again, swelling beneath the thin material of his jeans. Her voice was seductive, suggestive, almost purring. He tried to manage a smile of greeting, grateful his shirt wasn't tucked in.

Mikhail's dark eyes slid over him, taking in far too much. «You failed to scan. You should have known it was me and not Nicolae.»

«My woman is far too distracting,» Vikirnoff admitted. «I think of little else.» He stepped back to allow Mikhail entry. I'm killing my brother. He's probably laughing like a hyena right now. He must have known and could have warned me.

«Welcome to the club,» Mikhail said, but shook his head. «It takes a great deal of discipline to learn to satisfy their needs as well as see to their protection.»

Their needs? Natalya sniffed. You cannot go two hours without sex.

I take no responsibility for that. You are an addiction.

Natalya's soft laughter brushed through Vikirnoff's mind teasing his senses.

«I just dropped by to make certain you had everything you needed for tonight,» said Mikhail. «I have a couple more stops to make before I can go home, and Raven is waiting.»

«We're fine. Natalya is making some strange thing.» He glanced nervously toward the kitchen. «Unfortunately, it calls for a flame of some sort, and you know how she is so inventive. We could have a fire any minute.»

«I heard that!» Natalya called. «For your information, it is working. Well, I did set the curtain on fire and there's a scorch mark or two on the wall.»

«She isn't joking, is she?» Mikhail said as the smell of smoke drifted toward them.

Vikirnoff heaved a sigh. «Regrettably, no.»

«I will leave you to it then. Let Natalya know Gregori will be playing the role of Santa Claus tonight. She was concerned that no one would be doing it and she volunteered you.»

«She what?» Vikirnoff scowled toward the kitchen.

«And she said if they needed an elf for the pageant, that you look rather elvish in tights.» Mikhail's features were completely expressionless.

«She said all that?» I am so spanking your bare little ass.

Promises, promises.

«I am not certain we have need of an elf, but I'm going to check with Sara and Corrine. They're the ones putting the pageant together, and I'll let them know you offered.»

Vikirnoff rubbed the bridge of his nose thoughtfully. «Mikhail, I am fully aware that you are the prince and as such should be protected at all times, but should you deliver that particular message to those women, I will be forced to cut off your head and stuff it somewhere unpleasant.»

Mikhail nodded, still without expression. «I think that is a fair reaction and one I myself might have. Suffice to say we understand each other perfectly.»

«On the other hand, should you really command Gregori to perform as Santa Claus, I would ask for a front row seat.»

Mikhail held out his hand. «Done.»

Vikirnoff, I have need of you and Natalya. Nicolae's troubled voice filled his mind as Vikirnoff shook the prince's hand.

He waited for Mikhail to dissolve into vapor and trail through the scattered trees toward Corrine and Dayan's home before responding to his brother. We are on the way. «Natalya. Nicolae needs us immediately.»

«I was just putting the finishing touches on this thing. It smells funny.»

«That's probably the lighter fluid-or the hair spray. I imagine it tastes as funny as it smells.»

Do not let on to my lifemate that anything could be wrong, Nicolae warned. If Destiny thinks for one moment that someone-or something-has tried to harm MaryAnn, she will go ballistic on me. She does not trust many people yet, and MaryAnn is family to her.

Vikirnoff whirled around, his lazy, casual demeanor gone at once. And to me. Tell me what you believe. He shared the information with Natalya.

I have a blood bond with Mary Ann and I can feel something is not right. I thought a vampire had come into my home and taken her blood, but I cannot get a feel for it. Perhaps Natalya's birthmark will roar for us and let me know for certain. MaryAnn remembers nothing, but she seems disturbed, restless, definitely different. And I feel uneasy in my home.

Vikirnoff reached for Natalya's hand as she hurried to join him. Have you examined her memories? They both dissolved, shimmering into droplets of vapor and streaming outdoors toward Nicolae's home.

Of course I have. Over and over. Something happened to her right here, in our home. If a vampire has penetrated our defenses, I need to know. There was a moment's hesitation. And if a Carpathian has used her to feed when she is under my protection and also Gregori's, that is a killing offense. This is a very dangerous situation.

Vikirnoff could not imagine that Nicolae could be mistaken. If he said something was off, then no doubt it was. What Carpathian would dare risk the wrath of two ancient warriors as well as that of the «Dark One»? Everyone knew Gregori was an executioner. One did not take chances with such a man. The attacker had to be a vampire, but how could a vampire slip past an ancient into his very home?

Vikirnoff and Natalya settled into their normal forms just outside Nicolae's home. They made a circle of the house, looking for tracks, for some sign that an enemy was near. Natalya put her hand over her birthmark and shook her head.

«The dragon is silent, Vikirnoff. There isn't a vampire nearby, nor any evidence that one has been in the vicinity recently.»

«But something is off.»

«I agree, but I can't figure out exactly what it is.»

She inhaled sharply, her eyes going from brilliant green to sea blue and finally opaque. Stripes banded across her hair, orange and black and even white. She dropped to all fours, fur rippled and the majestic tigress paced around the house, using her cat senses to try to find an enemy.

Vikirnoff followed the tiger back into the woods. It padded patiently through the brush and snowdrifts, following an elusive scent he couldn't quite catch. Natalya regained her natural form a few yards from the house.

«Someone watched them from over there.» She indicated a thick tree. «I cannot catch his scent. He's very clever. He uses what is natural around him, mimicking whatever he chooses so that only that is seen or smelled. He watched them drag the tree into their home and must have entered at that same time. They were distracted by the Christmas tree and not paying any attention to the something like a wind or small snow flurry. I'm betting he used

both. There would have been snow flying from the tree.»

«He's smart this one. An ancient with very sophisticated ways. Why would he choose to go after MaryAnn when she is doubly protected?»