Carpathian 05 - Dark Challenge

All of you tried to shield her. I am certain in the beginning it was exactly what she needed. Now that has changed. Sharing your mind yet seeing things from a fresh perspective allows me to show you the conclusion you yourself would have come to in time."
    Desari moved restlessly, wanting the warmth and comfort of his larger frame. Julian responded immediately by pulling her close to him. His strong arms en folded her and held her tightly against him. "It will be all right, Desari. I promise you."
    "Darius has told Dayan you are to be treated with respect," she whispered into his chest.
    Julian shrugged carelessly before he could stop himself. He did not seek approval or protection from anyone.

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Chapter Eight
    Desari glanced up at Julian's face. It looked as if it had been carved from stone, an implacable mask, unreadable and stony. She sighed softly. Integrating Julian into their family was not going to be easy. He was not one to follow another man's lead. He walked his own path. Darius and he were bound to clash at every turn. The other men in her family were certain to treat Julian with distrust, and that very well could be like lighting a match to dry timber. Julian carried himself with arrogance and had a wry sense of humor often bordering on contempt. His hand slid possessively up her arm, lingering for a moment on her soft skin before his seeking fingers twined themselves in the rich luxury of her hair. He bent down so that his mouth was close to her ear, his warm breath teasing her. "I can read your thoughts, cara mia , and you should have more faith in your lifemate. I can do no other than see to your happiness. If you wish us to live for a time, in peace, among your family," rather overrun with territorial males , "then I can do no other than offer my friendship to them."
    Desari burst out laughing. He had tried to sound sincere but had ended up sounding pained. In any case, she could read his thoughts as easily as he could hers. " 'Territorial males'? What does that mean? We do not have our own territory, unless you count the coast of Africa, where we lived for so long."
    "I spent some time in Africa, among the leopards," he said to get off the dangerous subject of her family.
    Her eyes, so enormous and beautiful, sparkled at him. "You did? How incredible. We spent nearly two hundred years there, and we still sometimes return to visit. It would be funny if we were on the same continent at the same time and never met. Especially if you were running among our leopards."
    He shook his head. "I doubt that happened. I sensed your brother's power as he sensed mine the moment we were in proximity. It would not have escaped our notice if we had come close in Africa.
    More important, you and I, born lifemates, would have sensed each other's presence in some way." But he did find it interesting that he had been inexplicably drawn to Africa, and the leopards there, in his search for other Carpathians. Perhaps some trace of Desari had called to him even then.
    "Tell me more about your people," she said now.
    "They are also your people. You have blood kin, Desari, still in existence. Your eldest brother is a great man among our people, very respected and equally feared. He is called Gregori, and Darius is much like him." He grinned suddenly, transforming his harshly beautiful features to those of a mischievous boy.
    "They are very much alike. Gregori, the Dark One, is often used as a bogey man to keep the young children in line. The only other immortal as great as your blood kin is Mikhail.
    Mikhail is the acknowledged Prince of our people, the one who has kept our race alive and hopeful these many centuries. Mikhail and Gregori are as close as brothers in their own strange way. Each is so powerful that no one would dare to challenge either of them for fear the other would retaliate."
    Desari nodded her head. "Like our family."
    Julian thought about that. "In a way, though few of the Carpathians left alive have family units such as this."
    "What of your family?" Desari asked innocently.

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    She saw him wince, and his golden gaze skittered away from hers. "I told you, I have a twin brother.
    Aidan. He resides in San Francisco. I have not spoken with him for many years, nor have I met his lifemate."
    Her eyebrows rose. There was something dark swirling close to the