Carpathian 17 - Dark Celebration

and sometimes I can't tell the difference."
    "Did you feel something earlier, when you were with Nicolae and Destiny getting the tree?" Deliberately she avoided using MaryAnn's name.
    Skyler nodded slowly. "Usually I can tell if something is evil, but it just felt dark and like someone was watching us. It didn't feel good."
    "Why didn't you tell Nicolae?"
    Skyler looked away. "I didn't want to feel stupid. And none of them felt anything.
    They're Carpathians—ancients like Gabriel. Shouldn't they know if something is out there stalking us?"
    Natalya remained silent for a long moment allowing the teenager to squirm. "That isn't the real reason. Why didn't you tell them?"
    Skyler blinked, looked as if she might cry. She turned away, shoving her hands into her pockets. "I thought it might be Dimitri," she admitted in a low voice. "I didn't want to get him into any more trouble on my account."
    Natalya gentled her voice, knowing the recent problems through the Carpathians'
    common path. "I know what that feels like too. Wanting to protect someone and feeling like you're the one causing all the trouble for them." She sighed. "I still don't know how I managed to get together with Vikirnoff. I'm not at all what he wanted." She waited until Skyler turned back to look at her. "Did it feel like him?"
    "It just felt like someone was watching us." Skyler frowned.
    "Do you feel it now? This minute?"
    "That's what's crazy. On and off. Like he's here, but then he's gone. Could someone do that? Could someone be watching me even here in the house?" She shivered. "I just want to go home."
    "Well take care of you, honey. Vikirnoff, Nicolae, Destiny and I are all very capable when it comes to vampire attacks. None of us would let anything hurt you."

    "What if it's Dimitri?" Skyler whispered. "He tries to block me out, but I can feel his pain. I caused that. It hurts him so much, but I can't stop it. I can't be what he needs me to be."
    "He's a Carpathian male, Skyler. He'll do whatever it takes for you to be happy."
    "I don't want to be responsible for him."
    "I know." And God help her, she did. Natalya fought Vikirnoff every inch of the way, not trusting who or what he was. "You don't need to think about it yet. You're a child. Let yourself be one. From everything I've heard of Francesca, she will get you through this, and time has a way of working things out."
    The others came in, drawing on jackets. "Are you ready, Skyler?"
    The girl nodded, casting one more nervous look around the house. Destiny and MaryAnn went out with Skyler between them. Nicolae followed with Natalya, but Vikirnoff slammed the door closed and stood just inside the house, his senses flaring out in an effort to find the intruder. Like his brother, he felt something, but he couldn't find it. Whatever, whoever , remained in the house was an ancient and very powerful and skilled.
    He turned abruptly and left, slamming the door hard enough to make the windows rattle.
    Nicolae. I doubt that it is vampire. It has to be a male using her for blood. Is there any sign whatsoever of any kind of other attack on her ?
    The thought that a male Carpathian would use a protected woman—a potential lifemate
    —and she would not be aware was distasteful to him.
    Nicolae sighed. Many of our unattached males are in the vicinity. There is no telling who it is. I couldn't get a scent .
    We have to be dealing with a very skilled ancient.
    Vikirnoff moved up closer to Natalya, scanning, not liking the way the clouds overhead began to swirl and darken. The wind rushed at them, kicking up the snow as they moved in a tight group toward the house where Gabriel was staying. Skyler kept shooting anxious little glances toward the deeper woods.
    "Have you ever flown with Gabriel?" Nicolae asked her.
    "Or run with the wolves?" Vikirnoff added.
    "Or a tigress?" Natalya volunteered.
    Skyler's gaze jumped to her face. "I love animals. Wolves especially. But I always wanted to be close to a tiger. Is it dangerous?"

    "Whoa!" MaryAnn held up her hand. "I know you re not going to do something crazy right in front of me. I'll go back to the house. My heart can only take so much."
    "You wouldn't really like to fly, MaryAnn?" Destiny coaxed. "Or pet a wolf or a tiger?
    Just once, to say you did it?"
    MaryAnn looked at Skyler's hopeful face. She sighed. "Okay, here's the thing. I'm really not adventurous at all. I'm a real city girl, you know, boutiques and girlfriends shopping in a mall, not petting