Total pages in book: 183
Estimated words: 167196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 557(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 557(@300wpm)
“This demon beast that is behind the gate, what would it accomplish should Lilith manage to release him? Or her? It could be a female beast for all we know.” There was speculation in Sandu’s voice. “You brought up the possibility that he might be an ancient Carpathian who lived far too long.”
“That was pure speculation, Sandu. I have no idea. I only know that I trained to fight any of the Army of Nera, my ancestor who was appointed Lilith’s general to recover our tarot deck. Nera can’t wield the deck. Should she touch it, it would defend itself or suicide. I don’t think any of the demons can put their hands on it safely.”
Sandu’s eyes turned almost velvet as they drifted over her, stroking her skin the way his hands stroked her ankle. “Ah. Now I see the wisdom of having lifemates. You would do anything to keep me alive, and I would do anything to keep you alive.”
She wanted to protest that statement, but he wasn’t wrong. She felt those ties, the bindings the ritual words had placed on her. She knew, as much as she’d considered leaving him, it would have been impossible. She wouldn’t have been able to. She studied his face, those lines carved so deep. The too-old eyes that could go from savage to sensual in the space of a heartbeat. She wasn’t certain she would ever understand him, but she knew instinctively he belonged to her. They were in for a wild ride as they learned about each other.
“That’s why they waited for you. That’s why I had such a reaction to the idea of you coming anywhere near them,” she whispered, trying to ignore the way the stroking of his fingers on her skin made her come alive.
“I know now why those little screech owls made me so uneasy. They can be used to spy on you. Blood draws blood. Your ancestor finds you through her blood.”
A cold finger of fear crept down her spine. She hadn’t thought of that, but of course, it made sense. No matter where she went, Nera and her army would eventually find her. They might be a few days behind, but they would come after her. And that put Sandu and the others directly in the path of danger at every turn.
Andre Boroi was known as “the Ghost” to other Carpathians for a reason. Few ever saw him unless he wanted to be seen. His touch was so light he could kill and be gone before his presence was ever detected in a room. He had four scars on his body, four he had deliberately kept. Only a handful of those he held close to him knew why he had allowed those scars to remain. They were reminders of a human family he knew as a boy, a family he had loved. He had taken their name out of love and respect and given it to his lifemate, Teagan, when she found him nearly dead. She’d saved his life and his soul.
Teagan was a beautiful woman but very small and slender, with black curly hair, gorgeous skin and dark chocolate eyes. She was gracious and sweet, her face very expressive, in complete contrast to her lifemate, who was unreadable, large and intimidating and looked like he was carved from granite.
Their home in the wilds of the Cascade Mountains was quite lovely, and Adalasia told them so. The four ancients quickly excused themselves and left the confines of the structure to patrol outside, leaving the two couples to talk together.
“You said the matter was urgent.” Andre was not a man for niceties.
Sandu nodded. “I have no memories of my past, Andre. I have considered that I wiped them myself to keep any hunting me from retaliating against my family. Or perhaps I simply have lived too long, but now I find I have need to know where I come from.”
Andre rubbed the bridge of his nose. “In the days when Vlad was prince, there were Carpathians guarding what is now Russia, Italy, Greece and other regions. Only those of us who were sent by the prince to communicate with these families knew them. As you know, telepathic communication cannot reach over endless distances unless it is with lifemates, and then usually it is in dire circumstances.”
Adalasia looked up at Sandu. The information didn’t sound promising. Sandu slid his thumb gently over the back of her hand in a little caress to reassure her. My instincts are very strong that we are here for a reason, ewal emninumam. I trust my instincts. Andre will come through for us. He is being cautious because he hasn’t yet decided if he can trust us completely with his lifemate. Teagan is his world, just as you are mine. We brought four brethren with us who have no lifemates. They are very dangerous ancient Carpathians. Should they turn, they would be extremely difficult to destroy. He has every right to be cautious.