Carpathian 08 - Dark Legend

desire." He was searching for a path to locate the vampire.
    All at once, Brice coughed and choked, gasping for breath. Francesca felt the unmistakable ripple of power. It filled the spaces around her, vibrated in the air, and then it was gone. She shuddered, sitting back on her heels beside Brice, her hand on his shoulder, her large dark eyes anxious. "Should I call someone?"
    "Water," he croaked, his voice strangled and hoarse. His hands groped their way to his neck rather weakly.
    Francesca could feel Gabriel's frustration as he realized that once again the vampire had slipped away before he could pinpoint his exact location. Since there was nothing she could do to help Gabriel, she hurried to find a cup of water for Brice, nearly spilling it as she helped him into a semisitting position.

    "It was Gabriel," he accused, his voice rasping. "I felt his hands on my throat strangling me."
    "Brice, it was not Gabriel. He is nowhere near this hospital. You were choking. I cleared your airway so you could breathe." She made the suggestion calmly and clearly.
    Brice's eyes flashed at her. "It was Gabriel. I even smelled him. It was his hands around my throat and he tried to murder me. I saw him. I know I did and you're trying to cover up for him."
    "There is no use trying to persuade him otherwise, Francesca." Gabriel said it softly, matter-of-factly, not bothered by Brice's opinion of him. "Lucian is far too powerful for you to overcome the compulsion he has buried in this man. I have seen him destroy an entire army.
    When we hunted together he often ordered a vampire to rid the world of its existence using only his voice and it was done without a fight.
    The vampire ended his existence without so much as a struggle. You know vampires will do anything to continue their life, yet Lucian is able to control them with only his voice. You have no idea of his power. Allow Brice to think what he wishes. I will have established a perfect alibi with the judge. It will not be hard to do so."
    Francesca climbed slowly to her feet, turning her full attention to the problem at hand. "You may think anything you wish, Brice, but remember when you accuse Gabriel of this terrible crime, you are also accusing me of aiding him by my denial. I was here with you, I helped you. What motive would I have for lying to you?"
    Brice shook his head, rubbing his sore throat and neck. "I know he's evil, Francesca, and I know you have to do as he tells you. I know you wouldn't want me hurt. He's making you say and do the things you're doing. You're afraid of him, aren't you? You probably did save my life, but you're covering up for him because you're afraid. If you'd just tell me what he's holding over your head, I could help you."
    Francesca sighed, swept a hand through her long silken hair impatiently. "I thought you knew me, Brice. Really knew me. If I was afraid of Gabriel and thought him capable of outright murder, if he was threatening me in some way, even with so trivial a thing as blackmail, do you think for one moment I would expose Skyler to such a person? Never. I could never, under any circumstances, be persuaded or induced to place her in jeopardy. If you know nothing else about me, you should know that. And if Gabriel had tried to strangle you, you would be dead. I would not be able to fight him off, nor would anything induce me to protect him if he had attempted to murder you."
    "I don't know what he's done to you, but you can expect a visit from the authorities, because I intend to press charges against him." Brice massaged his neck and throat, coughing several times.
    "Do whatever you think you have to do, Brice," she said softly. "Obviously you think me capable of being an accomplice to murder."
    Regally, she turned and swept down the hall toward the double doors, leaving Brice to stumble unsteadily to his feet by himself.
    "I do not know where Lucian is, Francesca." Gabriel's voice was as calm as ever but she was beginning to know him well enough to hear he was worried. "Do not leave the hospital until I am once again with you. I am on my way."
    "What if that's just what he wants? What if he is using me to lure you out where he can harm you?" There was real fear in her voice.
    "He has never defeated me in battle, sweetheart. You should have more faith in your lifemate. Lucian is a very unusual vampire, just as he was an unusual Carpathian. There is no other like him. It does no good to try to second-guess him. He always does the