Carpathian 17 - Dark Celebration

Jaxon bit at her lower lip, puzzling it out. "I've been really trying to get a feel for the different energy fields. That's all Carpathian magic really is, a manipulation of energy, and this felt off to me."
    A small smile lit Lucian's eyes briefly at the flare of surprise on Mikhail's face. "Did I mention Jaxon is a great cop? She tracks nearly as well as I do now."
    "You said something felt 'off to you," Mikhail prodded. "Off like vampire?"

    "There was an evil taint to it," Jaxon admitted. "Lucian felt it through me, but couldn't on his own, and that really bothered me. If they've found a way to block their identities from the hunters, all of you could be in real trouble."
    "They have been doing that for some time," Lucian reminded her, his hand sliding down her thigh in a small gesture of assurance.
    "Not like this, Lucian," she objected. "You felt the difference. It wasn't completely vampire—but still stank of evil." There was worry in her tone.
    "It has occurred to me that if our enemies strike against the women and children,"
    Mikhail confided, "then they would have the best chance for eradicating our species altogether. I do not know how much you know about the group of humans dedicated to wiping out our species. We always refer to them as the society. The vampires have tricked them, infiltrated their ranks and used them as puppets. The dark mage Xavier may be alive as well as his grandson. If that is so, Razvan is the first Dragonseeker to ever turn, and he is something we have never faced. His sister, Natalya, tells me he is a brilliant strategist when it comes to planning a war. No doubt he's already come to the same conclusions I have regarding the best way to strike the most devastating blow to our race."
    Lucian nodded. "I have believed for some time it is inevitable they will begin to strike against our women."
    "And still you allow your lifemate to hunt and destroy the vampire."
    Lucian's fingers tightened around Jaxon's in warning when she would have protested.
    "What better way to keep her safe than to teach her how to survive when she is attacked?
    Jaxon has remarkable skills and natural instincts. It would be a crime to stop her from learning how to kill the undead. And before you object, I do not think all our women should be out hunting vampires. But Jaxon is a special case, as are Natalya and Destiny. You cannot suppress their instincts, and let their abilities go to waste, so I have done all I can to prepare her for the hunt."
    Mikhail sighed. "In the old days, those with lifemates did not hunt the vampire. Now it is a necessity."
    "I have hunted for centuries, as have most of the ancient hunters—and Gregori. We know no other way of life anymore. It is not just a necessity, it is who we are."
    "Why did the lifemates keep them from hunting if they were more experienced?" Jaxon asked.
    "Because even when we had women and children, we knew how precious they were,"
    Mikhail explained. "If we lose the male, we also lose the female, and that was not an option for us. Now we may have no choice but to allow our women to fight as well."
    "Not all the women, Mikhail," Lucian reminded. "Only those who have the skills and the desire to fight. Women like Jaxon and Destiny."
    Mikhail sighed. "And Natalya. She was in the thick of the battle. She told me that her twin brother, Razvan, fathered several children. Colby, Raphael's lifemate, is one of his daughters."
    "The Dragonseeker women always were unpredictable. They always will be. If Razvan had other children besides Colby, we need to find and protect them. I take it Dominic will be going out as soon as he is healed to look for his kin."
    "It will take time to heal his wounds. Even with our best healers, it has been difficult.
    Francesca will try again soon and if we find this woman who can heal the earth, perhaps she can help by enriching the soil where he lays."
    Mikhail stood up. "I must go. The celebration is in a couple of hours and I have several visits still to make. I know I have no need to remind you to be on the alert, but still—I feel I would be remiss if I didn't."
    Lucian stood as well, and once again gripped Mikhail's forearms in a gesture of respect.
    "You have my full allegiance, Mikhail. Should there be need, call to me—I will fight at your side, always."
    A brief smile failed to take the shadows from the prince's eyes. "The Daratrazanoff family has always been at the side of the Dubrinskys. We fight as one."
    Jaxon lifted a hand