Carpathian 17 - Dark Celebration

and brilliant. He isn't a shape-shifter. He's human."
    "He is jaguar," Mrs. Sanders said harshly. "And he is deceiving you if he has said differently. I am pure jaguar and none can escape my detection."
    "Gary?" Mikhail asked, already probing the man's mind.
    Gregori had exchanged blood with Gary and could read his thoughts, and did so often.
    He had never found any evidence of shapeshifting. He looked at Mikhail and shook his head.
    "Mrs. Sanders, it is possible Gary shares a bloodline. Many of the women here do, including your daughters and son. But he cannot shift and, in fact, does not know of his lineage. Gregori has shared blood with him and can easily read his thoughts, and many times Gary has volunteered to allow me to do the same. He cannot deceive a Carpathian who has taken his blood."
    "He is a jaguar," Mrs. Sanders persisted. "He is not welcome here nor can he be near my daughters."
    "Your son is jaguar. Should he be banished as well?" Mikhail asked.
    "Mom! What's gotten into you," Jubal demanded. "Dad, stop her."
    "You have no idea what your mother has suffered at the hands of a jaguar male," Mr.
    Sanders retorted. "Don't you dare judge her."
    "Not all jaguar males are the same," Mikhail said. "Any more than Carpathian males are.
    Many of our males turn vampire and many jaguar males turn on their women, but not all.
    I've known many honorable jaguars—your own son among them, and his blood is far more pure than Gary's. Give Gary a fair chance. He has been with my people for some time now and is committed to helping us. Gabrielle has worked with him and knows his dedication.
    Use this time to get to know him as an individual."
    Before she could protest, Gregori stirred, drawing all eyes to him. "This is a small thing the prince has requested, Mrs. Sanders. You have attacked him, as well as intentionally harming your own son-in-law. Your intention was to kill one of ours. Gary is under my protection and is my friend. I will be responsible for his behavior. All the prince has asked is that you give him a chance and given your own behavior, I think it is a reasonable request."
    Mrs. Sanders took a deep breath. "You're right, of course. I was so scared when I scented him. I do apologize for my behavior."
    Gary squeezed Gabrielle's hand to forestall any comments. "Thank you, Mrs. Sanders. I honestly don't know if what you say is true, but I'll do my best to find out. As far as I know, I have no psychic abilities whatsoever, and I certainly can't shapeshift. However, I have always been interested in legends and myths, and did at one time try to prove there were such creatures as vampires and shapeshifters. Maybe I was drawn to those things because, as you say, it is my heritage."
    "Perhaps," Mrs. Sanders agreed noncommittally.
    Mikhail let his breath out slowly. "Our celebration will begin in a couple of hours. I trust you will do your best to work things out so we can present a united front to our guests. And Traian, you will make absolutely certain that our secrets remain safe at all times." That meant taking the blood of Joie's parents, an unpleasant, but necessary task.
    "Yes, of course."

    Gregori turned deliberately to Gary in front of the others. "If you have need of me, you have only to call out in your mind and I will hear you. Take every precaution. I will not suffer a second attack on you without retaliation. My justice is swift and brutal as you well know." He looked at the others in the room. "Nothing will sway me from my set task should harm come to my friend." He gave a small half bow and followed Mikhail out into the drifting snow.
    "You always did know how to leave with a flair," Mikhail remarked.
    "I swear, old friend, if you put yourself in harm's way again, I'm going to kill you myself and be done with it."
    "I like to keep you on your toes. I'll be by later to see my daughter. I'm heading over to see Destiny. I'd like to hear what her friend MaryAnn has to say about Gabrielle. And if she really is as good as everyone tells me, I want to find a way to get her together with young Skyler. The child is amazing, courageous and smart and way too mature for her age, but so fragile, Gregori. We cannot afford to lose her and Dimitri is very close. Too close."
    "I am keeping my eye on him." Gregori said. "You will like Destiny and her Nicolae.
    She is an amazing woman and a very skilled hunter. Francesca and I are keeping a close eye on her to make certain we removed all the parasites from her