Carpathian 03 - Dark Gold

through his body, taking control. A slow, murderous hiss escaped from deep within his throat. His golden eyes glowed with deadly intent. "How dare he try this?" His voice was as lethal as his expression. "How dare he use the boy as a challenge to bring me out into the open?"
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    "Shh, Aidan." She put a finger over his mouth. "You have no need to blame yourself. Come to me. Take what you need to do this thing, to get Joshua back." She was slowly pushing aside the silk shirt she wore, her slender arm circling his neck, bringing his head down to her breast.
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    "I will hunt. You have need yourself." He clenched his teeth against the hunger beating at him.
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    She moved her breasts against his skin, her scent enveloping him, a creamy invitation, a temptation impossible to resist. "You're gray, Aidan, weak. It is my right and responsibility to aid you, isn't it? I am your lifemate." Her fingertips were massaging his neck, her mouth moving over his hair, his temple. "Give me this gift, Aidan. Let me help you."
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    He swore eloquently, but the demon in him demanded blood, demanded strength, and his body was aroused and painfully full. Cursing his own weakness, he bent his golden head to her skin.
    So soft, so perfect. Her blood beckoned him with its heat, with the promise of addicting spice.
    His body clenched as his tongue swept over her pulse.
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    She was heat and light and the promise of paradise. His hands moved over her hips, her tiny Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    waist, her narrow rib cage. Her breasts filled his palms with their softness. " Cara mia ," he whispered against her creamy skin, "I love you."
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    His tongue touched, caressed, sending a tremor through her. Her arms tightened around him.
    Please, Aidan, do it now , she whispered in his mind, her lips in his hair. I need to make you strong again. I need to take away your pain . And she did. Alexandria knew his every moment in the terrible sun, what he had suffered for her, for Joshua. She had never needed to do anything more in her life than supply him with nourishment, to show her overwhelming love and support for him.
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    She cried out, her head thrown back, her body arching into his as his teeth pierced her breast.
    Tears came to her eyes as she cradled him to her. He was unbearably gentle, holding her with love and tenderness, as if she were the most precious treasure in the world. She could feel her strength waning even as his grew. She could feel it in his mind first, then in the beating of his heart, in the ripple of power in his muscles and sinews. It was an incredible feeling to provide Aidan with such strength and purpose. Her entire body clenched and protested when his tongue lapped across the wound in a rough caress, closing the link between them.
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    He dragged her into the circle of his arms. "That is enough, cara ." His hands stroked her hair. "I must go now. I am counting on you to soothe Stefan and Marie. Stefan always blames himself when he cannot stop whatever a vampire sends against us."
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    "I have to go with you." She clutched his arm. "It's me the vampire wants. How do I find him?
    Tell me what to do, Aidan. I'll do anything to get Joshua back, anything at all." There were tears shining in her eyes, but her chin was up courageously. The nightmare had caught up with her all over again. Little Joshua in the hands of a cold-blooded vampire.
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    "I will get him back," Aidan quietly assured her.
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    "No, I won't take chances with either of you. He wants me. I'll go myself. See if he'll exchange Joshua for me," she said desperately. "This isn't your fault any more than it is Stefan's. This isn't your responsibility. I will go to him."
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    Aidan looked down at her then, his face cold. "I will not allow you to take such a risk. This is my fight," he vowed.
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    "How can you say that? Joshua is all I have. He's my brother, my only family. I have every right to defend him."
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    He brushed back her hair, his hand gentle. "Joshua is also my brother, my family. You are my lifemate. There is no question, cara mia , who will take care of this problem. You will stay here in this house and do as I say. I will not argue with you about this."
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    His voice, black velvet and tender, could turn her heart over, but she would not be seduced this time. Alexandria tilted her chin. "No, Aidan, I'm going with you. If you can save only one of us, it will be Joshua."
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    His eyes