Carpathian 13 - Dark Destiny

you've had any visitors lately, MaryAnn," Nicolae said easily. "Destiny and I are looking into this business with John Paul and Martin."
    "Oh, that's good, Nicolae. I've been worried about them." MaryAnn looked confused, rubbed her temples as if they were suddenly throbbing. "Somebody was here earlier, right before you came in, Destiny. A very nice gentleman. He asked me a lot of questions and seemed very interested in our sanctuary."
    Destiny exchanged a long look of alarm with Nicolae. She carries no visual memory of this man. She remembers the conversation, but not his appearance. He did not seem to ask questions about you or me . Nicolae gave a barely perceptible shake of his head, warning her to remain silent as he turned the full power of his voice and gaze on MaryAnn. "Had you ever met this man before?"
    A slight frown tugged at MaryAnn's mouth, put little lines around her eyes. "I don't think so, Nicolae. I Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    can't remember—isn't that strange? But I keep notes. He must be in the notes. He wanted something…"
    She trailed off again, looking more bewildered than ever.
    She has the classic signs of memory tampering. Every time she tries to picture him, she feels pain.
    Nicolae waved MaryAnn back to her chair, soothed her with his touch alone, trailing his fingers along the top of the desk so that she followed the hypnotic gesture.
    "What did he want?" Nicolae sounded casually interested, but there was a hidden compulsion in the velvet tones of his voice.
    Destiny scowled at him. She can't remember him. It hurts her to think about him. Don't push her like that . She thumped the desktop, her fingernails tapping out a rhythm of warning.
    Nicolae reached out and gently laid his hand over Destiny's, stilling her nervous fingers. You know this is necessary. I will protect her from pain, little one. I can just imagine you with our children. I would never dare to correct their behavior.
    Destiny's heart thudded. Her eyes widened in shock. No one said anything about children . She hissed the words at him. You never said a single word about children . There was panic in her voice, in her eyes.
    MaryAnn leaned back in her chair, but neither Carpathian looked at her. Their gazes were locked on each other.
    That would be a natural progression, I would think. Nicolae pried Destiny's fingers from the desk and placed her palm over his heart. I am beginning to realize that you have more fear of what is natural than you have of the undead .
    Destiny didn't dare answer him. She didn't know how to answer him. He was in her mind, reading her every thought. He knew the idea of home and hearth and family was terrifying to her. Her eyes flashed at him, daring him to be amused.
    MaryAnn saved him. "He was looking for someone. A woman with a special talent. He wanted me to call him if she happened to show up here. She was traced here, toSeattle , but she's disappeared."
    MaryAnn opened a drawer and removed a business card to hand it to Nicolae.
    He leaned close to Destiny so she could read it with him. So she could inhale his masculine scent and feel the brush of his skin against hers. Her tongue traced her suddenly dry lower lip, and the action immediately caught his attention. Destiny lowered her gaze from his sculpted lips to the card.
    "TheMorrisonCenter for Psychic Research." She read the words out loud. "Have you ever heard of them, Nicolae? MaryAnn?" She turned the card over. "They have several addresses in several cities, none here inSeattle . Why would they be following a woman into a sanctuary for battered women? Did she run away from them?"
    "MaryAnn," Nicolae said. "The gentleman asked you to call this number if the woman showed up here asking for help?"
    MaryAnn smiled with the innocence of a child, nodding her head. "It was strange. Afterward I wondered why I hadn't thought of Destiny. She doesn't fit the description, but she is talented. I thought it strange that she didn't come to my mind."

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    The protections held, Nicolae observed with some relief. There was a certain underlying arrogance in his tone. Destiny glanced warily at him, aware on some level that there were many things Nicolae was capable of that she was not. His hand slid down her arm, a gesture of camaraderie. I am an ancient, my love, and your protector. There are many things I have learned over the