Carpathian 17 - Dark Celebration

Skyler, is enough to put gray streaks in my hair. What were you doing out in the open without protection? You were warned earlier that you were in danger, yet you chose to ignore it? You ignored a direct order from your mother and me."
    Skyler clung to him. It the midst of such a chaotic world, he was a tower of strength—
    always and ever her rock. "I'm sorry," she whispered. I couldn't stop myself from going to him. There was such pain. I know pain and I couldn't be the cause .
    A slow hiss escaped him. His fingers stroked a caress even as he buffeted her from his fatherly anger. Part of him wanted to shake her hard, the other half wanted to hold her to him and comfort her, keep her safe. You did not think to confide in Francesca — or me? You could have asked us for help in dealing with this, Skyler .

    Was there hurt in his voice? Was she destined to hurt everyone who mattered to her?
    "I'm so sorry," she said aloud a second time. "I couldn't think clearly." It was the truth—and the only excuse she had to offer.
    "Tell us exactly what happened," another voice said. Skyler looked up to see Mikhail and Lucian standing close. Both looked grim. "If Dimitri assaulted you, Skyler, you must tell us," the prince added.
    " No !" She shouted the word, a surge of adrenaline rushing through her bloodstream.
    Everyone was staring at her, crowding close. She could barely breathe, barely speak. "He tried to help me. Why won't you listen to me?"
    "If you value your lives," another voice interrupted, "you will leave my lifemate alone. I can feel her distress radiating through the forest and yet you surround her, pressuring her to tell you tales you should be asking of a hunter." Dimitri stood tall and straight in the open doorway. His long hair blew in the slight breeze and a few snowflakes dotted his head and shoulders.
    Gabriel pushed Skyler toward Antonietta. "I believe I will take you up on your explanation," he told Dimitri through clenched teeth. "Antonietta, if you would be so kind as take my daughter into your kitchen and make certain she drinks something sweet such as orange juice. It must be natural."
    "Gabriel," Skyler protested.
    Go with her. It is my duty and privilege to ensure your safety and I intend to do just that.
    We will discuss this later.
    "He saved my life," Skyler said defiantly, looking around at the room filled with Carpathian hunters. "He saved my life."
    Antonietta ignored the small automatic hesitation on Skyler's part and put her arm around the girl. "I think your man can hold his own with this group." Be on his side, Byron. Please.
    He seems so alone . She flashed a confident smile at Skyler. "I can see when I work at it. I won't give you something like olive oil to drink instead of orange juice."
    Skyler went with her, but halted in the hallway leading to the kitchen. She looked back, her troubled gaze meeting Dimitri's.
    It will be all right , lyubof maya, go with the woman and let me make things perfectly clear to these men — and your father .
    Please don't hurt anyone — or get hurt. I couldn't stand that . She glanced at Gabriel. He was watching her—not Dimitri, and he had a frown on his face. She was disobeying him again. She ducked her head and turned to follow Antonietta.
    We will come to an understanding, Skyler, your father and I. I thank you for defending me. And stay away from the boy. He is jealous and capable of starting trouble he cannot conceive of.
    Skyler didn't know what to say to that. Josef had acted jealous, but he wasn't enamored of her. She thought it more likely he was lonely—just as she was—and he didn't want to lose a friend.
    It was dark in the kitchen and Antonietta forgot to turn on the lights, so Skyler tried to do so unobtrusively. "Gabriel's really angry with me this time. I did go off like an idiot, but my mind was so foggy. I could only think about getting to the wolf."
    Antonietta pulled orange juice from the cooler. "The wolf? Or Dimitri?"
    Skyler frowned, rubbing at her temples. "I don't know. I thought Dimitri, but I followed the cry of the wolf."
    "And Dimitri wasn't the wolf?"
    Skyler shuddered and shook her head. "The wolf appeared to be trapped in a steel claw, the leg bleeding. I wanted to help it, but then it changed into something hideous and Dimitri came and fought it."
    "That must have been terribly frightening." Antonietta conveyed the information to Byron so he could tell the others. "It doesn't sound right to me," she informed