Carpathian 17 - Dark Celebration

Aidan's heart reacted, faltering, his breath catching in his lungs.
    "She has a concussion," Mikhail said gently, laying a restraining hand on Aidan. The man seemed about to come apart. "Easily fixed, Aidan. Francesca is here with us, one of our greatest healers, should there be a problem." Mikhail struggled to keep from racing away to Raven, certain now his worst fears were confirmed. Their enemies were attacking their women and children. It took centuries-old discipline to remain where he was. He was slightly shocked that Francesca had not hurried to them, offering her services as a healer, rather than blocking Dimitri's path and trying to take the girl from him.
    Aidan stroked back Alexandria's hair. "I will heal her myself." He wanted no other to touch her. He had failed to protect her, his greatest and most cherished treasure, and he needed to merge with her, hold her close to him. He needed to watch her closer and see that no harm ever came to her.
    Aidan glanced over the top of Alexandria's head to the two men standing so close, the heat of the argument shimmering in the air around them. He closed his arms protectively around Alexandria and allowed his body to slip away, leaving only white-hot energy, pure selfless spirit. He streamed through her with a quick examination before finding the bruise, already swelling, blood pulsing and pushing to leak out. He repaired the damage, making certain that she was completely healed before once again coming back to his own body and the furious argument taking place so close to him.
    Aidan held Alexandria in his arms, rocking her gently back and forth all the while keeping a wary eye on the two combatants.
    Gabriel took another aggressive step toward Dimitri. "Would you like to tell us exactly how this happened and how you came to be here at the same time?"
    Dimitri bared his teeth. "Push me too far, Gabriel, and I will take her with me now."
    Gabriel's hand shot out, fingers locking around Dimitri's throat. "Do not threaten me or my family."
    Dimitri didn't so much as flinch beneath the crushing fingers. His gaze focused on Skyler's face. "You are my lifemate." His voice came out husky, but it came out all the same.
    "Stop! Stop, Dimitri. Gabriel, let him go now." Francesca tugged at Gabriel's arm. "He has a blood bond. Before you could kill him, he could take her with him. Please, Gabriel.
    Show some sense."
    "Gabriel." Mikhail's voice was calm. He stood beside Dimitri. "Release your daughter's lifemate. Of course you are protective of her, but this is the man who is the other half of your daughter's soul. If you kill him, you condemn her to a half-life. Be reasonable."
    Gabriel didn't feel reasonable. He wanted to tear out Dimitri's throat. The man was stealing his child. The demon rose swift and fast, roaring to be set free. He could feel Dimitri's rising rage in direct proportion to his own.
    "We all need to calm down," Francesca said. "Dimitri, give her to me. She's my daughter now, and you have no idea of the things she's suffered."

    Dimitri's face rippled with anguish—with torment—for just a split second, and then seemed a stone carving once again. "I know exactly what she's been through. She is my other half and when she cried out in fear, in rage and in desperate need, I tried to follow the path to her, but I was too far away and she was merely a child and didn't know I was trying to help. She fought me, blocking my every effort. When she suffered, believe me, I was well aware she was suffering and my torment—my humiliation that I must bear for all time is that I was unable to aid her."
    Men touching her. Abusing her. Hurting her. Her fragile spirit retreating until even he couldn't find her. The memories would haunt him for eternity, worse than any kill he'd ever made—his failure to protect the one being who it was his duty—his privilege—to protect.
    He had been so certain that Gabriel could see to Skyler's safety while he stayed away, making certain not to trigger the demon's need for a mate, but Gabriel had failed in his duty as well. "You did not protect her adequately," he said accusingly.
    Gabriel and Dimitri stood toe-to-toe, Skyler still cradled in Dimitri's arms, held high against his chest. "What happened here?" Gabriel demanded.
    "You think I did this?" Dimitri asked.
    "Didn't you?" Gabriel countered. The branches around them trembled and the air thickened.
    "I did not. Her leg was broken and she was losing too much blood. I healed her as