Carpathian 02 - Dark Desire

inquired softly.
    His voice was a black-magic weapon. That was what Shea believed. She shivered and moved closer to Jacques. They all trusted Gregori, yet wasn't he one of the ancients? They had all told her a vampire could hide itself, appear normal. None of them even suspected him. It was agreed he was the most dangerous, his knowledge acquired unceasingly through the centuries. And he was their healer, had given blood to all of them. Her brain worked at the pieces of the puzzle.
    It is impossible . Jacques caught her thoughts.
    Why ? Shea demanded.
    Mikhail would know. I do not know how I know this, but Gregori could not hide this from Mikhail.
    She gave an exasperated little sigh.
    Jacques hid his grin at her feminine petulance. She really had an aversion to the way Gregori dictated to the women.
    "There is one human a few miles away," Mikhail stated. "I can detect no others. He is in the direction of Jacques' old home. Do we go?"
    Light was streaking the sky now, gray patches despite the dark, roiling clouds and the steady drizzle of rain. "Go, Mikhail," Raven insisted softly. "You have to. Otherwise I would always feel I killed him. If you do not go, it will be because of me."
    "You have to," Shea added, looking into Jacques' black eyes. He did, too; Shea felt it with great conviction. There would come a time when Jacques would remember his childhood, his great friendship with Byron, and how he had backed away from Byron's attempt at reconciliation. He needed to do this for the sake of his own sanity.
    I know. His reply was a soft assent in her mind as he shared her thoughts. "I will go, Mikhail," he said aloud. "You stay and protect the women. It is the only way."
    "It could very well be a trap," Gregori cautioned. "More than likely it is a trap. Otherwise this would be very careless on the part of one so cunning."
    "That's why all of you should go," Raven said. "Shea and I will wait here. We can destroy all evidence of her research while we wait."

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    Shea could not prevent the gasp that escaped her. She lifted her chin defiantly. She was not going to be intimidated by these powerful creatures. Her eyes flashed from one to the other. "I spent several years of my life gathering that data," she said hotly.
    Raven caught her hand and squeezed it in warning. She tugged Shea away from Jacques and right up to the door of the cabin. "All right, Shea, we'll talk about it."
    "You are to leave this place and go to safety if the hour becomes too late or you receive warning from us," Mikhail cautioned his lifemate. "No playing the heroine. On this I will have your word."
    Raven smiled into his eyes, an intimate, tender acknowledgment. She nodded. "I would never endanger our child, my love."
    Mikhail reached out and touched Raven's face, trailing his fingertips tenderly down her skin even as his form wavered, contorted, began to snap and pop. Fur shimmered along his arms, his back. His powerful frame bent, and he leapt away, landed running, a large black wolf.
    Shea's eyes widened, astonished at the quick change. Seeing the man become a wolf was incredible.
    Her heart was slamming so loudly she was afraid it might burst. She was uncertain whether it was from excitement and awe or from sheer terror. Jacques!
    It is all right, my love. To calm her he leaned close, brushed her forehead with his mouth. It is the way of our people to utilize the animals around us. It is natural for us. And it helps to protect our skin and eyes from the sun.
    I'm fine now, wild man. It was a shock. Shea breathed deeply to overcome her trembling. She found she was clinging to Raven's hand and self-consciously dropped it.
    Jacques dropped another kiss on her forehead before he deliberately walked off the porch and into the dense forest, making sure he was out of her sight before his body began to change.
    Gregori's silver eyes moved over both women, then settled on Shea. "The child must be protected. It is no use appealing to Raven for logic, as she has none, and Mikhail is so besotted with her that he does not see his first duty, so it is up to you. For the sake of all of us, you must protect this child. Do you understand?"
    Shea felt ensnared by those molten eyes. She might not fully comprehend his reasons, but she felt his genuine urgency. She nodded. "I'll watch over her, healer."
    "It is not for my sake only, but for humans and Carpathians alike. This child must