Carpathian 02 - Dark Desire

Carpathian, crouched in the Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    storm, watching with red, feral eyes, watching and hating. She had the impression of sharp, dripping fangs and unsheathed claws. Not animal.
    Vampire, Shea. He is out there now. The words were a soft whisper in her mind. Jacques "saw"
    through her mind, caught the impressions that identified the killer stalking them. You must obey me at once, everything I say. Do you understand?
    Yes, of course. Where is he?
    I do not know. I can neither smell him nor hear him. But what is in your mind is vampire. As you have never seen one before and the impressions are so strong in your mind, I can do no other than believe this is real. Stay close to me. If he attacks, run.
    I would never leave you. Her chin went up, and she looked mutinous. I'm perfectly capable of helping you.
    He would use you to defeat me. I have fought them before. His body was crowding hers, urging her back down the trail toward their cabin. He was not looking so much with his eyes as with his entire being.
    Shea moved quickly, tried to concentrate on the strong feeling inside her.
    Whatever was tracking them so silently through the dense forest was exuding a black hatred that made her feel weak. Her heart was pounding in alarm. The thing was sinister, so evil and perverted she could feel the heaviness in the clean, rain-soaked air.
    To their right, a strange fog glowed eerily, streamed through the rain and wound through the trees. It moved forward at knee level coming straight toward them now.
    Shea felt her heart in her throat. She touched Jacques' back for reassurance. He stopped, seemingly relaxed, his muscles coiled and ready, like a panther awaiting its moment. She could feel it in him, his readiness, so still and confident.
    As the fog grew closer, only several yards away now, the moisture began to stack itself higher and higher, the droplets connecting and forming the shape of a man. Shea wanted to scream with fear, but she stayed very still, afraid of distracting Jacques.
    Byron's form shimmered for a moment. She could actually see the tree behind the mist, and then he was solid, standing with the curious elegance of the Carpathian male. He lifted his eyes from the ground to meet Jacques' icy-black gaze. "We have been friends for centuries, Jacques. I cannot remember a time in my life that we did not run together. It is strange and sad to me that you can look at me and not know me."
    Shea, behind Jacques, stirred uncomfortably. Byron's sorrow appeared more than he could bear. She wanted to reach out to him, make an attempt to ease his obvious suffering. Do not! The command was sharp in her mind, clear and in a tone that brooked no argument. Jacques remained motionless, as if carved from stone. Byron's words did not appear to move him in any way.
    Byron shrugged, his face twisted with pain. "When we thought you were dead, we searched for your body. Months, years even. You were never out of our thoughts. You were my family, Jacques, my friend. It was hard to learn to be completely solitary. Gregori and Mikhail and even Aidan survived the centuries because, as alone as they had to be, they had a bond, an anchor to keep them strong through Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    the bleak centuries. You were mine. Once you were gone, my struggle became immense."
    When Jacques remained silently on guard, Shea pushed at his back. Can't you hear his grief? He's reaching out to you. Even if you can't remember him, help him.
    You do not know if he has turned or not, Jacques reprimanded her. You felt the presence, and here he is. A vampire can give the illusion of purity, of anything he chooses. Stay behind me!
    "I just wanted to tell you I am glad you are back, and I am happy for you that you found your lifemate. It was wrong of me to be envious. I should have been more cautious about judging what I did not understand." Byron raked a hand through his dark hair. "I am going away for a while. I must to gain the strength to get through the years."
    Jacques nodded slowly. "I am going to the healer to try to repair the damage done to my mind. I have noticed Gregori's relationship with Mikhail seems to be strong even though Mikhail has a lifemate. I would wish that if all that you say is true, when I am healed, we can resume our friendship."
    The wild winds were dying down. The rain beat down in a steady drone, and the