Carpathian 09 - Dark Guardian

tremendous discipline to ignore her mind telling her she couldn't breathe with the layers of soil crushing her, suffocating her.
    She formed the picture in her mind, precise, meticulous in every detail, the earth opening all the way to the surface, a large enough area that she could escape the confining space. To her surprise and intense relief, the soil above her parted neatly to reveal the high ceiling of the cavern. Slightly shocked, Jaxon drew in great gasping breaths, filled her lungs, and lifted her face to try to get some relief from the vicious heat. She was awake again despite Lucian's command to sleep. What had been strong enough to call her?
    Jaxon floated to the cavern floor, sheer elation carrying her to the heated pools. She began to run along the narrow passageway. Only one thing could wake her, only one need. Something was fixating on Lucian, threatening him in some way. She felt that dark malevolence, felt the greedy evil reaching out with unseen hands, poised to strike. Lucian, you skunk. So much for sharing the hunt with your partner.
    You thought you'd just take care of the problem while I was sleeping, didn't you? You cad. You're in great danger . The tunnel was branching in all directions. It was frustrating trying to remember which passage led where.
    Great danger? I do not believe I would use the word great, my beloved lifemate . There was not one iota of remorse in his voice. If anything, there was a thread of mocking male amusement.
    That soft sound set her teeth on edge and made her more determined than ever to find her way out of the maze and help him. She closed her eyes and concentrated on Lucian. The scent of him, the heat of him. His energy and power.
    It amazed her, the amount of information flooding to her immediately. She knew the way out instantly, unerringly. She knew exactly where he was and what he was doing. She sensed he was seeking the lair of the master vampire, that he was moving slowly, quartering an area he found suspect. As she moved swiftly through the mountain, working her way toward the top to the entrance, she cast her net into the skies to search also. Her body was like a tuning fork for something evil.
    More toward your left, Lucian . She relayed the information automatically without thinking about it. He would have known the moment she awakened, she was certain of it. He had probably aided her in stilling the chaos of her mind. She was grateful he hadn't interfered, allowing her to open the earth herself. Even as she moved ever upward through the massive bulk of the mountain, she frowned. Perhaps he had helped her even then. You're close to the entrance. I can feel his loathing, his rage. He is very close to you, Lucian.
    I have it. What do you think you are doing ? As always Lucian's voice was gentle and calm. He was tranquil in the midst of extreme danger.
    She caught a glimpse of a solid granite wall, seemingly undisturbed for centuries. As before when she Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    "saw" through Lucian's eyes, it was disorienting. Jaxon stumbled and caught at the rock passageway for support. Be careful, Lucian. He knows you're there. He's watching you somehow .
    He is locked in the earth until the sun sets. And the sun is very close to setting. You did not answer me. What are you doing?
    Coming to help you, of course. It's called backing up your partner . She explained the concept sweetly, enunciating each word in her mind. Perhaps you remember it. I seem to recall you worked with your brother, so you must have known how to work together. We're partners. It means you don't run off and leave without the other one's knowledge .
    Soft laughter brushed at her mind. Lucian couldn't help himself. She filled him with warmth in any circumstance. He surveyed the cliff wall carefully. As you have the habit of doing ? He breathed the words in her mind even as he began to move in a peculiar pattern, his feet finding a rhythm centuries old.
    It was an ancient safeguard, not especially strong and set mainly as a delaying tactic. It required little effort but a great deal of time to unravel. He glanced skyward. He would never get to the evil one before the sun sank from the sky.
    It didn't make any difference to him. His pace remained the same, steady so that he made no mistakes, a deliberate, precise set of movements designed to negate what the vampire had wrought. Lucian was not deceived by the primitive structure of the