Carpathian 06 - Dark Fire

you all have things to do," he instructed pointedly.

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    "Not really," Barack answered.
    Dayan shook his head. "Much more entertaining here, Darius. You know, I'm still trying to get this relationship thing down, so is necessary to observe one up close."
    Syndil took the more innocent approach. "Naturally our concern is for you and Rusti, Darius. Nothing is more important than aiding you."
    Julian smirked at him. "This is enlightening. I am new to your particular ways, Darius, and do not mind learning how to handle the women properly when they refuse to be obedient."
    Desari's eyebrows rose. "I'll show you obedient," she threatened.
    Darius groaned. "All of you, go away."
    "You go away, too," Tempest directed, fitting her body more closely into the pillows. "I need to sleep."
    He could hear the utter weariness in her voice. "It is unsafe, baby. We cannot stay here. We are hunted, and none of us can remain above ground in our weakest hours. There are caves close by. You will be comfortable there, I promise."
    Her lashes fluttered for a moment, her heartbeat audible to them all. "It's the bat thing again, isn't it?" She forced humor into her voice. "I think I'm going to have to go into therapy if we keep doing the bat thing.
    Closed-in places don't agree with me."
    "I will make you sleep," Darius said gently.
    "Let's do it then." She lifted her lashes long enough to catch Desari's worried expression. When she glanced at the others, she could read the concern on their faces. "What is it? What's wrong?"
    Darius's black eyes suddenly came alive, burning with a kind of fierce protectiveness. His gaze swept over his family.
    Tempest sighed heavily and sat up, pushing at her wild mass of hair, which was tumbling everywhere.
    "Darius, I'm too tired to figure this out. What is it everyone is worried about? It's unfair to keep me in the dark just because I'm unfamiliar with your needs."
    "He must sleep our sleep in the ground," Syndil blurted out, not daring to look at Darius.
    "Isn't that what we're doing? I'm going to the blasted cave. I'll sleep while he's in the ground," Tempest said. "That's the plan."
    Syndil shook her head, ignoring Darius's warning growl.
    Tempest clamped her hand over Darius's mouth to shut him up. "Tell me."
    "He will not go to ground. He will sleep as a mortal with you above earth because he fears to leave you vulnerable to attack."
    There was a silence while Tempest digested the information. It was clear to Tempest that Darius was displeased with Syndil for interfering. Very gently Tempest stroked his neck with loving fingers, soothing Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    him while she thought it all out. Eventually she shrugged. "So put me to sleep, and then both of us can be in the ground." The idea of it turned her stomach; it sounded like a burial. But if she was completely unaware, it was a small thing to attempt if it helped Darius.
    Her calm statement brought a collective gasp of admiration. "You would be willing to do such a thing for Darius?" Desari asked, gripping Tempest's wrists. "You suffer greatly from confined spaces. Darius has told us this."
    Tempest shrugged. "I wouldn't suffer if I was asleep," she pointed out. "Let's get to it, Darius. I'm tired."
    And she was. Her body felt heavy and cumbersome. She didn't look at him, not wanting him to see the revulsion and horror at the idea of being buried alive reflected in her eyes.
    Darius's arm swept around her and brought her small body into the shelter of his, his heart swelling with pride in her. He didn't need to see her expression to read her true thoughts. A part of him was dwelling in her mind like a shadow. The terror burial and caves held for her was clear to him, yet she was willing to make the sacrifice if it meant his health. "This is a great gift you offer me, Tempest, but it is impossible.
    My body is made to shut down my heart and lungs. Your body is not. You would suffocate in the ground. It may take a little longer, but my body will eventually heal," he assured her.
    Over her head, Darius's black eyes blazed at his family. No one dared defy that look, except Julian, who grinned at him. Desari kept a death grip on Julian's hand to deter her lifemate from riling her brother further.
    "Please fix Tempest a vegetable broth," Darius instructed his sister.
    Tempest shook her head decisively. "I really couldn't