Carpathian 17 - Dark Celebration

around to glare at the prince. "Do not tell me you were safe. She was going straight for your throat. Do you think I couldn't read her mind? She intended to rip it out."
    This is fine way to begin our first Christmas celebration. Raven is not going to be pleased.
    Raven would not be pleased if that woman had ripped out your throat. This is not finished, Mikhail, and do not make light of it. Traian and Joie have a lot to answer for. I can excuse Gabrielle, but not the others.
    "Traian was watching out for me, Gregori," Joie said. "She's my mother."
    "Traian does not need to hide behind your skirts, Joie. He is an ancient. Born and bred Carpathian and as such subject to the laws of our people. Above all else, we protect our prince. Without him, our species dies. We are extinct. Our first duty always— always —is to protect the living vessel of our people. Mikhail would not have killed your mother to save himself because he is bound to hold our people together. He would have tried diplomacy and she would have ripped out his throat. It was the duty of the three Carpathians in this room to protect him—even from himself." Gregori turned his head, pinning Traian with his cold, peculiar-colored eyes. "Is that not so?"
    "That is so. It was bad judgment on my part and I will not fail our prince again."
    "And you will not fail our people again," Gregori persisted. He looked to the women.
    "You must make up your mind whether or not you live as Carpathian. If you do not, I will see to it that you do not live at all."
    Gregori . Mikhail's intervention was calm in the eye of the storm. Enough .
    It is not enough. They will protect you or they will answer to me.
    "Why did she do it?" Gary asked, pushing his glasses up and rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I swear she was coming for me, not Mikhail. Gregori, I'm certain she tried to kill me.
    Mikhail moved so fast I didn't see him, and I don't think she did either."
    "Traian needs attention," Gregori ordered Joie. "See to your lifemate's wounds."
    Traian's snarl rumbled through the room. "I deserve your reprimand, Gregori, but do not extend your orders to my lifemate. I will not allow it."
    Mikhail held up his hand to forestall any further confrontation. "We all forget what is at stake here. Mrs. Sanders is here to celebrate with us and she had accepted Gabrielle and Joie as Carpathians. What we need to find out is what triggered the jaguar into attacking."
    He gave his second in command a hard look. "And then we're all going to make peace because nothing, and I mean nothing , is going to ruin this night for Raven."
    Gregori bowed slightly. "Of course." He exchanged a ghost of a grin with Traian. He is afraid of her .
    She has him wrapped around her finger.

    And both of you can go to hell.
    Gabrielle sank down onto the couch with Gary on one side of her and Jubal on the other.
    Joie and Traian shared a chair. Mikhail stood in the corner nearest the door and Gregori stood, arms folded across his broad chest, his body between Mikhail's and the rest of the room.
    Mr. and Mrs. Sanders came out together holding hands. She had been crying and was obviously reluctant to face them all. When she saw the marks on Traian's chest, a fresh flood of tears began.
    "Mom, it's okay," Joie said. "Please don't cry anymore. Let's just figure out what's wrong and fix it."
    "Is it me?" Gabrielle asked. "I don't want to upset you anymore. This is Christmas night and we're supposed to be together as a family. I don't want you upset by what happened to me."
    Mrs. Sanders shook her head. "Not you. Never you, baby." Her gaze touched on Gary, and slid away. She gripped her husband's hand tighter. "It's him." She nodded toward Gary.
    "He's not what you think he is."
    "Gary?" Gabrielle looked shocked. Everyone stared at Gary.
    "What do you mean, Mrs. Sanders?" Mikhail asked.
    "He's jaguar. I can smell his blood. The stench is all over him. He is a jaguar male. They are deceptive and capable of great cruelty. I don't want him anywhere near my daughters.
    Either of them." She raised her chin, suddenly looking regal. "What I did was wrong, I should have controlled the cat better, but it was such a shock. I haven't encountered a jaguar male in years. I thought that door was long closed. It took me by surprise and brought back painful memories, but I'm under control now. He cannot stay anywhere near them."
    Gabrielle gripped Gary's shirt hard. "You're mistaken, Mom. Gary is the sweetest man I know. Kind and good