Carpathian 11 - Dark Descent

want me here to see to her needs. She's very meticulous about certain things." Gabriele lifted her chin, prepared to fight for her right to stay.
    "Your wound is deep, Traian. You need to go to ground. Even with my blood, you don't have strength enough to heal that gash. He nearly tore out your heart," Gary said.
    But he was watching Joie. The first ripple of pain crossed her face and sent a shudder through her body.
    Traian felt the pain take her, a fire burning with the force of a torch in the center of her body, blossoming outward like an explosion. He merged with her, trying to take the brunt of the pain, determined to make her initiation into his world as easy as possible. Traian was amazed at Joie's siblings, certain they would be horrified and afraid as the convulsions started, when Joie was violently sick and it was impossible to control the waves of unrelenting pain. They worked together as a team, seeming to understand that he couldn't talk or direct them. His ful attention was on blocking as much pain as possible and helping Joie through the conversion.
    Gary kept the room clean and smeling of the soothing aromas from the herbs and candles. Al of them picked up the words to the ancient healing chant. Gabriele wiped beads of blood from Traian's brow. He managed a faint smile, but his complete attention was clearly on his lifemate.
    The moment he was able, Traian sent Joie into a deep sleep. Exhausted, he looked up at them. "I have to take her away for a few days. We wil be unable to get in touch with you, but she is alive and she wil heal quickly." He avoided al references to the ground. Joie's family had been through enough without knowing the specifics of where he would take her.
    Gabriele leaned over and brushed a kiss on the top of Traian's head. "You take care of her. We're depending on you. I'm not sorry she found you, not after watching the way you've cared for her."
    Traian could see she was blinking back tears. "Thank you, Gabriele. As soon as possible, I'l bring her to you."
    "I'l stay here with them," Gary offered.
    Traian shook his head. "Warn Mikhail. I don't want to send the information to him on the chance that the one who took my blood could find a way to use me to harm him.
    Let him know there is something in that cave of value to the vampires and that there are numerous traps. He'l understand when you tel him it is a cave the wizards used."
    Gary nodded. "Jubal and Gabriele may come with me, if they choose."
    Traian rose, Joie in his arms. "Go then, go tonight. The rules that have always applied to vampires seem to be changing rapidly. You wil be safer under Mikhail's protection." He slipped out onto the balcony, into the night where he belonged. Where he was comfortable. The wind blew into his face, ruffled his hair, brought him messages from creatures around him.
    He took to the skies, the sleeping Joie in his arms, and headed for a smal cave he remembered from his younger days, a cave of healing with hot springs and glacier-water pools. Far below his homeland stretched out before him, a place he had not seen in many years. The sight brought back memories of his parents and his childhood friends.
    He was home and he held his lifemate in his arms.
    She will never be safe. You will always be linked to me. I spared your life, but I can take it whenever I choose. And I will take hers.
    Traian did not hesitate. He sent a clap of deafening thunder back along the mental path the vampire had initiated, a bolt of lightning streaking through the sky like a spear homing in on prey. Just as quickly, he moved his own position, fuly prepared for a war in the sky.
    An explosion of pain burst in Traian's head. He rode it out, certain he'd scored a hit.
    You will pay for that.
    I am an ancient warrior. I do not fear you or any other of your kind. If you wish to pursue me or mine, I welcome the opportunity to carry out your death sentence. Traian moved again, certain of reprisal. He had not displayed fear or awe, or even respect, and the vampire was used to his minions admiring him.
    A shower of hot stones poured from the sky. Traian protected Joie, covering her body with his like a blanket. The stones fel harmlessly around them, but the attack was a halfhearted attempt. The vampire was fleeing and simply wanted to instil fear in Traian.
    He hugged the sleeping Joie closer to him. "I have been a warrior so long, I barely recal any other existence. Even a master vampire cannot change my chosen path. If he