Carpathian 17 - Dark Celebration

belongs."
    A choking sound came from above him and a young woman materialized, a gun in her hand, glaring daggers at Mikhail. "Where she belongs?"
    Her hair was the color of platinum and gold, a shorter length than most of the women wore, but attractive, framing her pixie face. Her eyes were dark, a startling contrast to her pale skin and hair.
    Lucian casually removed the gun from her hand and leaned over to shove the weapon in her boot. "You cannot shoot the prince, Jaxon. It simply is not done."
    "I wasn't going to shoot him," she objected, and sent Mikhail a quick, mischievous grin.
    "At least, not unless he was going to insist that women stay home while the men have all the fun."
    "You call slaying the undead fun?" Mikhail asked.
    She shrugged. "If it isn't housework, it's fun. I like action, not sitting at home waiting for my hero."
    "You like to stir up trouble," Lucian replied, amusement in his velvet voice. "But at least you admit I am your hero."
    Mikhail had forgotten how mesmerizing and powerful a weapon Lucian's voice was.
    Everything about Lucian seemed to be a combination of "compelling" and "weapon." The man's face could have been carved from stone, yet his eyes were more alive, more intense and more lethal than Mikhail had remembered. "It is good to see you again, Lucian. And good that you have found your lifemate." He sketched a slight bow toward Jaxon. "I could not resist teasing you as I have heard you are fiercely protective of Lucian," he told her.
    "We are grateful to you. He is a legend among us."
    "She insists on guarding me," Lucian said.
    "Well, of course I do. Any Carpathian hunter shot by a human after being warned repeatedly to be careful needs a babysitter—um—bodyguard."
    Lucian bent to brush a kiss on top of her head. "No respect." The deep love on Lucian's face was mirrored on Jaxon's as she teased him.
    "I can see that," Mikhail acknowledged. Somewhere deep inside he felt happiness for this couple—for all the couples—but this one in particular. Lucian had been alone for so long and he'd fought too many battles, sacrificed too much. This small pixie seemed fragile until Mikhail looked into her dark eyes. She had seen too much, was wise beyond her age and had that same strength of will her lifemate possessed.
    She flashed a warm smile at Mikhail, even as her fingers tangled with Lucian's. "Thank you for allowing us to use one of your homes. Lucian's home was so far into the mountains we would have spent all of our time flying back and forth and wouldn't have been able to visit."
    "Please come in." Lucian held open the door, stepping back to allow Mikhail to precede him. "We have much to discuss. I thought, at first, when I heard of the celebration, that it was a foolish indulgence and far too risky, but now I see I was wrong. It has been good to see everyone and to be home once again. I have stayed away far too long and there is a sense of community here once again."
    "I hope we are doing the right thing," Mikhail agreed as he stepped inside the snug little cabin.
    It had been years since he had entered the old house. The walls had been repaired where gaping chinks between the wood had allowed the wind to sweep in. Lucian and Jaxon had fixed the cabin up so that the interior was bright and welcoming. A fire crackled in the old stone fireplace and the furniture was inviting. Lucian waved him toward the couch, and Mikhail seated himself opposite Lucian's chair.
    Jaxon hesitated briefly, glancing at the windows, wariness creeping into her expression as she assessed whether anyone could look in and easily see them through the glass.
    "I do not actually bite," Mikhail said, and gestured toward the empty end of the couch he occupied.
    Jaxon perched on the arm of Lucian's chair, one foot swinging free. "I'm perfectly comfortable right here, but thank you."

    "She insists on guarding me," Lucian explained. "Or at least she pretends so. The real reason is she cannot bear to be apart from me."
    The foot swinging free arced just a little more and she drove her toe into his calf.
    "I can see that," Mikhail said dryly. "I am certain Raven is the same way—hating to be apart from me." He shared the conversation with his lifemate. Immediately, he felt the warmth of her laughter brushing at the walls of his mind. "Before I forget, I thought you might like to know, we need someone to play the part of Santa Claus for the children."
    The smile faded from Lucian's face, leaving his eyes shadowed