Carpathian 17 - Dark Celebration

Ostojics and any guests staying at the inn. Even though we can't eat it, we need human food for them and since it was my idea, I couldn't very well pass on the most important item on our dinner menu."
    "Yes, you could." Mikhail's voice suddenly turned sly.
    Raven whirled around to study her lifemate's all too innocent expression. "What are you up to, Mikhail?"
    "I'm passing on the duty of being jolly old St. Nick."
    Raven put both hands on her hips and tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. "You're up to something very, very bad. I can feel your laughter. What is so amusing?"
    "It has just occurred to me that I have a son-in-law."
    A slow, answering grin spread over Raven's face even as she gasped in shock, one hand flying to her throat. "You wouldn't. Not Gregori. He'll scare all the children. He couldn't look jolly if he tried."
    "We let him take our daughter from us," Mikhail said. "I think as his father-in-law he will have a hard time turning me down."
    "And you say I have a wicked sense of humor," Raven accused.
    "Where do you think I got it?" Mikhail nuzzled her neck, his voice a husky whisper.
    The familiar answering tingle of excitement shot down her spine. Raven loved the way Mikhail's every touch seemed so intimate. "He'll never do it. Not in a million years and you'll still have to, but I'd love to see his face when you ask."
    "I have no intention of asking," Mikhail said, straightening to his full height. "I'm his prince as well as his father-in-law and he is my second in command and son-in-law. It is his duty to do these things."
    "You can't order him to play Santa Claus." Raven tried desperately to keep her laughter from spilling over. Gregori was one of the most fearsome men she'd ever met. The idea of even considering him in the part of Santa Claus was both hilarious and ludicrous to her.

    "I believe that I can, Raven," Mikhail said solemnly. "You ordered me, and I'm the prince."
    Raven made a snickering sound. "I suppose you'd prefer I groveled at your feet."
    His hands framed her face and he bent to take possession of her mouth. He loved her mouth—her taste—her instant response. I could kiss you for all time .
    Good thing since you dragged me kicking and screaming into your world . Raven closed her eyes and gave herself up to the sheer magic of his kiss. Her arms stole around his neck and she leaned into him, wanting to feel the imprint of his body so real and alive against hers. There had been too many assassination attempts on Mikhail. Just recently they had lost one of their homes in a fierce battle fighting the combined forces of Razvan, a mage, and vampires. It had been unheard of for vampires to band together, let alone band with any other species.
    It frightened her to think there was a conspiracy to murder Mikhail. Her terror of losing him had partly been the reason she'd suggested a huge celebration of Christmas. Although not a holiday usually celebrated by the Carpathians, many of the previously human lifemates, including Raven, missed not having Christmas. She also needed something to take her mind off her growing fears for his safety.
    Mikhail lifted his head, retaining possession of her chin. "There is no need for you to fear for my safety, Raven."
    The smile faded from Raven's face and she took a step away from her lifemate. "There is every need." She glanced toward the forest, a hitch in her breath. "Someone is coming."
    "A youngster, Raven, no one to be afraid of." Mikhail brought her palm to his mouth to press a kiss in the center. "I've never seen you so nervous."
    "I try to accept what we cannot change, Mikhail, but as the years have gone by, the danger to you has increased. I try to live as normal a life as possible, but I cannot even now, when it is imperative to protect you, overcome my loathing of sleeping in the ground. My terror of being buried alive makes us more vulnerable than ever." Ashamed, she ducked her head, avoiding his eyes.
    Raven. My love . He bent his head once more to hers, his lips brushing hers with a tenderness that brought tears to her eyes. "I made you a promise and I mean to keep it. You do not ever have to sleep beneath the ground. The earth rejuvenates us in our chamber and there is no need to feel you have in any way placed my life in danger. You are my life. I cannot allow you ever to be in danger. If I thought sleeping in our chamber was dangerous, I would find another way."
    Her eyes searched his, her mind sweeping through his at the same time,