Carpathian 02 - Dark Desire

part of his life to move objects with his mind—but his need was to overcome her distress. He sent her warmth and reassurance, comfort. I am sorry, Shea, I was thinking only of your protection. It is difficult for me to know we are hunted while I am so helpless to protect you, that we cannot leave this place because of my weakness. You are tied to my side, and I endanger you. He tried as hard as he could to undo the damage his thoughtlessness had caused. She deserved so much more than a half-mad lifemate. She seemed to have no real idea of what they needed to survive. You have no conception of the monsters we are dealing with. It is always important to scan as you wake, before you leave a dwelling. He tried to be gentle as he imparted the information. It was easy for him to read her mounting fears.
    "I don't know what you mean."
    Her genuine puzzlement brought out a protective urge in him so strong that it shook his narrow world.
    He wanted to take her into his arms and shelter her for all eternity within his soul. She looked impossibly Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    small and fragile, the questions in her mind as easy to read as the worry on her transparent face. His dark eyes widened in sudden understanding. You do not know the ways of our people at all, do you?
    "What people? I'm an American, of Irish descent. I came here to do research on a rare blood disorder, which I seem to share with you. That's all." Unknowingly she was biting her lip, her knuckles white from clenching her fists, her body tense, waiting for his reply.
    He cursed his inability to remember basic things, certain they were of great importance to the two of them. If she was as much in the dark as he was, they were in deep trouble. It was frustrating to have so many gaps in his mind. You are of this land. I feel your connection to this land. I know absolutely that you are mine, that we belong together.
    Shea shook her head. "My mother was Irish. My father was from this region, but I never even knew him. I arrived here for the first time only a couple of months ago. I swear I've never been here before."
    We do not have a disorder, a disease. Our people have existed as they are from the dawn of time.
    He did not know where that piece of information came from. It was simply there.
    "But that's impossible. People do not require drinking blood to live. I'm a doctor, Jacques. I do medical research all the time. I know. This is extremely rare." She could feel her breath refusing to leave her lungs.
    You can accept that I remained buried alive for an eternity, yet you cannot accept that our people exist?
    Shea bent to pick up the scattered pieces of glass, needing something practical to do while she tried to hold on to her self-control. What was he really saying to her? That he did not have a blood disorder but was of another race or… species? "We don't know how long you were there," she said uneasily, slowly mopping up the juice.
    How long ago were you shown the picture of me?
    Shea dumped the broken glass into the garbage can. "Two years ago," she admitted reluctantly. "The vampire murders occurred seven years ago. They claimed the photos were of those victims. But it would be impossible, totally impossible, for you to have survived that long. That would mean you were buried with a stake through your body for seven years. It's impossible, Jacques." She turned to him, her eyes enormous. "Isn't it?"
    Not if I shut down my heart and lungs. My blood would not run, he explained, choosing his words carefully, afraid of upsetting her.
    It had just the opposite effect. "You can do that? Really do that?" Now she was excited. "You can control your heart rate, slow it down, speed it up? My God, Jacques, this is incredible. There are monks who can do such a thing, but not on the scale you imply."
    I can stop my heart if need be. You can stop yours.
    "No, I can't." She dismissed the idea as nonsense with a wave of a hand. "But is that really what you did? Stop your heart? Is that how you survived being buried alive? Lord, that must have driven you mad.
    I don't know if I can make myself believe this. How did you eat? You were chained, both hands." Her thoughts and questions stumbled over one another in her excitement.

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    I woke rarely, only when I sensed blood nearby. I called creatures to me. You must know you can do that. He was pleased