Carpathian 11 - Dark Descent

them to stare out into the night. "Joie, did you think this through? Do you know what he's asking of you?"
    Joie went to her brother, put her arms around him. "I've never felt as if I truly belonged, Jubal. I accepted that I was different, and yes, I've been happy because I like the work I do and I love my family dearly, but I want more than that. Traian offered me more, and I grabbed the opportunity with both hands."
    "Do you hear what he's saying to you? This isn't like a human marriage, Joie, where you can walk away if things don't work out."
    Traian stood beside Joie, his fingers laced with hers. "Lifemates not only want to be together, Jubal, they need to be. They find a way to work things out. A male Carpathian knows what makes his lifemate happy and does everything within his power to do it for her. And it works both ways. We always have telepathic communication open to us, so, in a sense, we are used to living in each other's heads. I know that is a big adjustment to make, and I am doing my best to give Joie as much space as she needs. But she is already learning quickly."
    "It's what I want, Jubal," Joie said. "Be happy for me.
    "I know you, Joie. You aren't going to be satisfied sitting on the sidelines while vampires are hanging around. You're going to go save the world."
    Joie couldn't lie to her brother. "Probably. On the other hand, I have no intention of giving up my business. I thought Traian might work with me."
    "This is where it is necessary for you to have faith in me, Jubal," Traian said. "I cannot alow anything to happen to Joie."
    Jubal laughed without humor. "You don't know Joie if you think you're going to be protecting her. More than likely, it wil be the other way around."
    "Forgive me for butting in, but I've been around the Carpathian race for some time now," Gary said. "Traian is an ancient Carpathian male. He is far more powerful than you can imagine. They do not alow their women to come to any harm."
    "But then you haven't met someone like Joie before," Jubal pointed out. "She's the guardian of the world."
    "Stop picking on me, Jubal. At least I go after people, not little organisms that you can't see and can't do anything about."
    "Hey now," Gabriele objected, "don't turn the spotlight on me."
    A smal smile curved Traian's mouth. "I think you are misjudging me because of our first meeting, when I was being held prisoner. I have survived countless battles with the undead, Jubal. A master vampire is every bit as powerful as our greatest hunter." He looked at Gary. "Mikhail should know they are traveling in packs, and I have heard disturbing rumors that they are planning something. I also believe it is important to discover whatever it is they are seeking. Vampires always seek power. They would never waste time working the way they are unless it resulted in more power."
    Gary nodded. "I'l tel him."
    "I'l be returning to the cave just before sundown tomorrow. I hope to surprise them before they rise. In any case, I wil do my best to discover what they seek."
    "Why just before sundown?" Jubal asked curiously.
    "I am weak and vulnerable while the sun is high," Traian admitted without hesitation. "The vampire is also at his most vulnerable. If I rise before them, I may be able to destroy them before they regain their strength."
    "Wel, of course I'm going with you," Joie said.
    Traian brought her fingertips to his lips, breathed warm air over her hand. "I can travel faster on my own, Joie. And you have not yet learned to prevent them from reading your mind. I would be at risk because of your unguarded thoughts."
    Joie's gaze flickered to Gary. The man nodded. "They are adept at reading our thoughts and even controling us. Traian can go in without their being aware of his presence, but they would know the moment you were near."
    Joie frowned. "I don't like the idea of you going in alone. There are several of them, and you've admitted there's more than one master vampire. I might be able to help.

    Could you block them from reading my thoughts?"
    "Probably, but the more tasks I have to perform, the more energy I expend. I have to go in fast and hard and get out the same way."
    Jubal immediately stepped to his sister's side. "What if we were nearby, waiting just in case you run into trouble?" he suggested.
    Gabriele nodded. "I think that would be best, Traian. We might not be able to incinerate the things, but we can slow them down for you."
    Traian looked at the three of them. Family.