Carpathian 16 - Dark Demon

tigress leapt from the balcony to the wraparound deck and then to the ground. She sprinted through the town, keeping to the shadows as best she could, avoiding humans whenever possible. She heard a few murmurs as people caught glimpses of the tigress moving fast through the bushes and trees. With all the events at the inn, there would soon be many frightening tales that would grow with each telling into large legends and her tigress would become a part of that.
    She stayed connected to Vikirnoff, reaching past his persona of the prince. He was thinking thoughts the vampires might pick up, thoughts of his people and how it was so important to stay alive to protect them. She considered Vikirnoff's impressions of what Mikhail might be thinking idiotic…
    Idiotic? These are princely thoughts. What do you think you are doing?
    Following you. Watching your back. You're leading them deeper into the forest, aren't you ? Where he would have to deal with them alone. Natalya wasn't about to let that happen, whether he wanted help or not.
    Yes. I want them away from the inn, but in a place of my choosing to fight . Far away from where his lifemate would be in danger.
    Arturo is dead. Falcon killed him and he's guarding the prince. He said it's what you'd expect of him.
    Of course.
    Natalya sighed at the perfect calm in his voice. He had gone into his battle mode and put aside his feelings, relying on centuries-old warrior instincts. They said only you could keep Gabrielle alive. What did they mean ?
    I am the keeper of her spirit. They will continue to try to heal her body and Falcon will give her blood next. They will try to heal her again and Mikhail will give her blood. She will go through the conversion at that time. If she is strong enough, if my will and her will are strong enough, we will see that she lives.
    Natalya increased her speed, cutting through a meadow and bounding over a hill. She took even' short cut she could find as she raced to find his chosen battleground. Can you do that and fight, too?
    Of course .
    Of course . She repeated it sarcastically. Why did I bother to ask? You're invincible. How many do we face?
    We ?
    Yes, we. And don't argue with me. You're already in enough trouble with me.
    She received the brief impression of his teeth snapping together. Five. But not Maxim .
    At the name, Natalya's heart gave a jump of fear. That's a relief, but I'd like to know why.
    If he went to the trouble of springing a trap, why isn't he here with his little minions? You might be heading into an ambush .
    Feel to the north. There is a battle taking place. The night sky is alive with lightning and the earth is groaning. I believe Maxim was on his way and ran into a hunter of great skill.
    Look to the sky.
    There was something in his voice. Expectation. Caution. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she paused as she loped up the hill and looked toward the north. In the distance, lighting forked across the sky, not in long jagged whips, but in the shape of a glowing dragon breathing fire. Her breath caught in her throat and she felt the birthmark throb on her body, even beneath the thick pelt of the tigress.
    That is the mark of the Dragonseeker. No other Carpathian uses that image in battle. To my knowledge, only you and Dominic remain. Of course the world is a big place and maybe more still live.
    In spite of herself, in spite of the situation, racing across the hills to guard Vikirnoff's back, Natalya couldn't help the thrill rushing through her at the sight of the dragon in the air. It took her a moment to realize Vikirnoff's voice was coming from a much greater distance than she had first realized. He was diverting her with the truth, with something he knew would throw her off his trail, if even for a few minutes so he had a better chance of leading the vampires away from her.
    The tigress took off at a ground-eating lope, going for higher ground and the safety of the trees. Why are they called Dragonseekers ? She was not going to give away the fact that she was on to his little plan. He was leading the vampires to a specific location. She had a vague idea of where it was from reading his mind, but he was doing his best to shadow his thoughts. She increased her speed, moving as quickly as possible without draining her strength.
    Dragons represented celestial and terrestrial power, wisdom and strength to the Dragonseekers and they sought the power and wisdom of the dragons. It was not so much the elusive