Carpathian 16 - Dark Demon

wild grief."
    Her eyebrow shot up. "Grief? Not just grief but wild grief? I think I'll manage just fine.
    The sun is climbing and you're wasting time. Just go now before…" Her voice trailed off.
    She wanted him to go.
    "Do not try to access the past by touching the ceremonial knife, Natalya," Vikirnoff cautioned.
    "I do have a perfectly good mind and I've been able to use it all this time by my little old self," she answered. "You're stalling."
    "Give me your word."
    She was beginning to feel desperate. "I give you my word, but you tell me the first line again."

    His eyebrow shot up. "The first line?"
    "Of the binding spell. I want you to say it again in your language." Her chin shot up.
    "You aren't the only linguist. I can speak several languages and I'm very good at figuring things out."
    "So you are still determined to undo what I wrought."
    "Yes." She didn't know how true that was anymore, but damn him to hell, he was leaving her and she was already acting out of character, a whiny baby ready to cry for him. She'd tried to seduce him into staying and she'd pleaded with him. She had no shame and that just wasn't okay with her.
    His eyes went diamond hard again. " Te avio päläfertiilam ."
    "That one isn't so difficult. When languages regress words are often dropped. There would be no 'are'. Literally it would be, "you wedded wife-my"." She looked at him triumphantly. "You literally married me, bonded with me, tied us together in the way of your people."
    "That is so."
    "I'm ready for the next line, unless you're afraid I can undo it," she challenged.
    He suddenly leaned forward, one hand on cither side of her head, effectively caging her in. "It would not matter to me. You are my lifemate, ainaak enyém , forever mine, and that is all there is to it. I do not give up what is mine. If trying to find a way to undo the ritual words occupies your mind and allows you to get through the hours of these next few risings without me, please feel free to work to your heart's content." He kissed her. Hard. Deep. A fierce claim meant to shake her up, to brand her his, and it did.
    Natalya couldn't stop her response, opening her mouth to him, feeding on him, devouring him with the same edgy hunger. Vikirnoff broke the kiss and lifted his head, his gaze holding hers captive. "You are mine. Your body doesn't lie, Natalya."
    "Oh, go away." She pushed at him. "I belong to myself. I don't care what you say…" Her voice trailed off as her gaze lifted to his. "Next few risings? What does that mean? You won't come back tonight?" Fear was the first emotion followed closely by anger. She shoved at him again. "You did this thing to me. You made me dependent on you, but I refuse, absolutely refuse , to waste one moment of my time grieving when you're walking out on me. You shouldn't have tied us together if you were going to do this. Get the hell out of here, Vikirnoff, and don't you worry. I'm not going to look back. Not at all." Was she prodding him again? Challenging him? She couldn't think straight with her mind in such chaos.
    "I can take you with me, Natalya. We have exchanged blood on two occasions. It would be my pleasure to do so again." There was seduction in his voice. A threat. A warning.

    She studied his face. He was riding the edge of his control. There was too much feeling, too many emotions crowding in and they were feeding each other, back and forth. Natalya took a deep breath and drew back from the edge of the precipice she had nearly rushed over. "I'm sorry, Vikirnoff. I'm very shaken. Thank you for all you've done for me. I'm not acting like it, but I really appreciate it."
    He pressed his lips to her forehead. " Éntölam kuulua, avio päläfertiilam ," he whispered.
    "Good luck, kišlány ," he added deliberately with a small grin.
    She feigned outrage. "I know you didn't just call me a little girl." There was a lump in her throat, but she forced her gaze to meet his. She could watch him go and never look back if she had to. She was no little girl, but a grown woman with a mind and heart and will of her own. "Go ahead and mock me. You won't be smirking when I find the spell to unbind us."
    "Weave your strongest safeguards, Natalya. No matter what, I will come back. I want you to remember that. I will come back to you."
    He straightened and she caught the slight wince. There was fresh blood leaking onto his shirt. Ashamed that she was holding him there, Natalya waved him away. "Go. I'm going to sleep for two