Carpathian 06 - Dark Fire

touched the feathers lightly, regretfully, one last time as they began to disappear. At once muscle and sinew rippled beneath skin. She felt the familiar wave of heat as Darius's arm curved around her shoulders and his thick mane of black hair caressed her face.
    "These people are my family, Tempest." His voice was soft, mesmerizing, compelling. "That makes them your family."
    She turned her face away from him, closing her mind to that possibility. Her large eyes searched for trails almost automatically, as if seeking escape. Darius tightened his arm, guiding her toward the camp.
    Desari's soft laughter floated toward them. It did nothing to calm Tempest's wildly pounding heart.

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    As they walked into the circle, Desari smiled at her in welcome. Tempest noted that Julian was close by, his posture protective of his mate. "Rusti, I'm so glad you're here. You won't believe what happened.
    Somebody sabotaged the truck. I think the idea was to slow us down. It was most likely one of those obnoxious reporters always snooping around or making up wild stories about us."
    Tempest's relief was overwhelming. "Rusti" could meet the group much more easily as their mechanic than as Darius's girlfriend.
    Girlfriend? His eyebrows shot up. Is that what you think you are? That taunting male laughter mocked her.
    She glared at him. No, that's what you think I am. I know better. Her voice was deliberately haughty.
    Darius burst out laughing. His family turned toward him, startled by the rare sound. He ignored them to lean down, his warm breath against Tempest's ear, speaking softly though he was well aware the others, with their enhanced senses, could hear him perfectly. "I want you to eat before you do anything else. You can look at the truck later."
    Tempest's eyes flashed fire at him. "You can stick your little owl's head in the nearest tree, too," she hissed, furious at him. "Why do think you can get away with always ordering me around?"
    He grinned at her, totally unrepentant. "Because I am so good at it." His eyes flickered over Syndil. Help me out here. She must eat.
    Dayan seemed to be having a coughing fit. Desari and Julian were openly laughing. Syndil pushed Barack out of her way, glaring at him so that he groaned out loud. She stalked over to Tempest and took her hand. "Come on, Rusti. Do not pay any further attention to these men. They think they can rule us, but in truth, it is the other way around." As she spoke, she looked down her nose pointedly at Barack.
    "Come on, Syndil," he pleaded. "You cannot hold one mistake against me for all time. You are supposed to be compassionate."
    "Yes, I can," she said sweetly as she guided Tempest to the bus.
    Barack swore, leaned down, picked up rock, and hurled it in sheer frustration. It embedded itself halfway into the trunk of a pine tree. "That woman is the most stubborn creature in the world," he said to no one in particular.
    Darius walked over to Julian. "I ask for your help," he said formally, pushing down his dislike of such a thing. All that mattered to him was that he safeguard Tempest.
    Julian nodded and fell into step beside his brother-in-law. "Of course, Darius," he replied, equally formal.
    "We are family."
    "I have encountered human women turned by vampires. They were deranged, preying on the children of humans. I was forced to destroy these abominations. Now I fear I am placing Tempest in such peril.
    How are these women changed? I know that she is already different. Her hearing and vision are far more acute, and she is having trouble eating human food."
    "It takes three blood exchanges to convert a human woman. Obviously you have not completed the ritual; it is a very painful process. If such a thing were to occur, you would have to send her to sleep once Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    it was safe to do so in order for her body to convert without enduring too much pain to manage."
    "Would she become deranged?" Darius was worried. He had already put her in danger, exchanging blood twice with her. "Has there ever been an instance when a human woman survived the ordeal intact?"
    Not that he intended to take the chance, but he needed the information in case of an unfortunate accident.
    "Prince Mikhail, the leader of our people, successfully converted his lifemate. Their child is the lifemate of your elder brother, Gregori. My own brother, my