Carpathian 02 - Dark Desire

Shea, Mikhail stopped him. "Could the humans have found some kind of chemical to cloak their presence from us? If they have done so, we are all in grave danger, Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    and we must move to meet this new threat."
    "Anything is possible, but it is more likely the vampire is using a shadow spell. It is ancient and all but forgotten. I came across it in the lost book of Shallong. He buried it with his evil tokens in the mountain of souls. I thought no other had dared to travel there." Gregori glanced after Shea to assure himself she was out of hearing.
    "It is entirely possible," Gregori continued, "even probable, that Rand rose more then seven years ago, found Shea's mother already dead, and turned. In his hatred he would blame you and Jacques. He could have studied the ancient arts and returned to lead Slovensky and his nephew to kill our people seven years ago. None of us knew he had risen, so he was never a suspect. Jacques thought he knew the betrayer, was close to him at one time. Rand was his family through Noelle."
    "Do you believe Rand would have his own son tortured, mutilated?"
    "Noelle's son, Mikhail. If Rand is as twisted as I suspect, he was the one who aided the humans in their murders seven years ago. We are all in danger, particularly Jacques. The only one who might escape death is Shea, and she would suffer greatly."
    "He knows we will hunt him now. He will try to run."
    Gregori shook his head. "No, he has worked too hard for revenge. This is hatred, Mikhail. He lives to kill, and we are the ones he must seek. He will stay here and continue to try to lure Shea to him."
    "You will warn Jacques."
    "There is no need. Jacques knows. He will keep Shea close to him. Jacques is dangerous, Mikhail. You persist in thinking him the younger brother you need to protect. He has grown to great power. Rand will underestimate him. He does not recognize the monster he himself created."
    "I am not certain I like you referring to my brother as a monster." There was a trace of humor in Mikhail's voice.
    "You should hear what I call you behind your back," Gregori said, even as his arms spread to accommodate the wings forming.
    Mikhail's laughter echoed as the bird soared into the night sky.
    The cave of healing was smaller than most of the other chambers in the maze of underground tunnels.
    The soil was rich, dark, and fertile. It smelled pleasant, with the aroma of herbs mixed with the natural fragrance of the earth. Shea's hand found Jacques' back pocket and slipped inside, a link between them as they surveyed the extent of Byron's injuries. Shea felt a helpless sense of deja vue. Smith and Wallace had not had as much time to torture him as they had Jacques, but nevertheless his body was blackened with burns and covered with cuts.
    Shea found Jacques' hand, twisted her fingers in his, hardly daring to look at him. The sight of Byron's tortured body must bring back such hideous memories. She attempted to be cheerful. "Well, at least they're consistent in what kind of damage they do. So we know I can help him, based on past experience."
    Jacques did not want her touching the other man. The emotion was sharp and ugly and overwhelming.

    Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    Loathing himself, Jacques took a deep breath and let it out, instinctively placing his large frame between Byron and his lifemate.
    Shea touched his face with gentle fingers. "What is it?" Her voice was so beautiful, so clear and cool and soothing, that Jacques wanted to cringe from the truth, ashamed, but he could not lie to her.
    "I do not know. Only that I cannot bear for you to touch him. God, Shea, I hate myself for this, but you cannot." His hands cupped her face, his black eyes filled with sorrow. "You cannot do this."
    "What do you think will happen if I touch this man? Do you believe Rand's stories now? Do you think you influenced me somehow, and our chemistry is not real?"
    "I only know that if you touch this man, I will not be in control. The demon in me will rise, and my mind will shatter into so many fragments, I will never be able to put myself back together."
    Shea could feel his loathing for his unreasonable jealousy, his fear that she would ignore his plea and something terrible would happen. She realized she still knew precious little of Carpathian ways, that Jacques was edgy and more animal than man at that moment. Her fingers