Carpathian 05 - Dark Challenge

calm voice was in her mind. Strong. Gentle. Certain. Darius knows that all of you need him. He will not leave you alone until he is certain all of you will be safe without him . Julian said it firmly, knowing Darius's spirit could easily read Desari's mind and hear his words.
    Desari needed reassurance badly.

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    Julian touched her shoulder, brushed her hair tenderly. Without looking at the others, he took a deep breath and released it, concentrating on losing himself, becoming pure energy, a white healing light that floated out of his strong body and into the body lying so still before him.
    The wound was a terrible thing. The spear had entered just below the heart, tearing through sinew and tissue, arteries and veins. The tip had caught Darius's strong heart, slicing a wicked cut before driving on through almost to his back. This spear had been meant for Julian.
    Most likely it would have killed him. And Desari would have died, too.
    I owe you a tremendous debt , he murmured softly in his mind even as he began the difficult work of healing Darius from the inside out. Darius had managed to shut down his systems immediately, his spirit merged with Desari's that he might aid them if necessary. Julian could read the intentions of the leader as surely as if they were his own. Darius would not leave his family unprotected until he was certain Julian could take his place.
    And then Julian was nothing but light and energy, pure white heat to be used for healing. He closed the terrible wounds in the artery that were draining the precious fluid of life from Darius. The heart required tremendous concentration. The gash was deep, and Julian could make no mistakes. He became aware, after a time, that the sound of chanting was surrounding them. The words were ancient and soothing to him, filling him with a quiet confidence for the work he had to do. This was the most extensive repair on anyone he had attempted, and the familiar words in Desari's beautiful voice gave him needed peace. She was there with him every step of the way, holding Darius to her, lending her strength to Julian even as her voice surrounded them with the healing words of the ancients. He was aware of the others joining in the melodious chant, lending their voices to the healing process.
    Becoming pure energy tired any healer quickly. It was a difficult process to put one's body aside thusly.
    At the end Julian felt so drained that he slipped from Darius's body and found himself staggering, his enormous strength gone. He sank down onto the soft earth and allowed his head to fall forward so that his long hair hid the deep lines of strain in his face.
    Desari stroked a long caress through the tangle of golden hair, her heart beating a steady rhythm to support her lifemate. Julian was so like her brother. He simply, masterfully, took control of a situation and did what had to be done. The two were very similar in character. She felt the stirring in her mind. Not the path she shared with Julian, but rather the familiar one she had known for so many centuries. Darius would live.
    Dayan had moved into a position where he could watch the procedure closely. "He is going to live?" The question was addressed to Julian rather than Desari, a tentative olive branch from the second in command.
    Julian glanced up at him, fatigue etching harsh lines in his features. "Darius will not leave this world until he is ready to do so. Then there will be no one who can stop him. He will live, but he needs blood and rest. All of us must feed well that we can supply him. He will need to be safeguarded at all times. The vampire is aware Darius is injured and thinks him vulnerable now. He will actively seek his resting place in hopes of an easy kill."
    Beside him Desari stirred in protest, her slender body suddenly pressing itself against Julian's as if for protection. Julian responded immediately, his arm drawing her to him, shielding her from the world.
    "There will be no easy kill, Desari. Darius, even in his present state, is dangerous. His mind alone holds Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    enough power for the kill. Do not fear for him. In any case, we will provide safeguards to protect him should the vampire get past any of us."
    "He will come after you ." Syndil spoke the words softly, her voice so beautiful it seemed to reach out and touch Julian's soul. "He