Carpathian 17 - Dark Curse

allowed her to get up other than to attend to Raven. He is very grim, so I fear the odds of her keeping the babies are not good either.\"
    Nicolas glanced at the three women present in the warriors\' chamber: Natalya, Jaxon and Destiny.
    \"Shouldn\'t they be with Raven?\"
    \"The women are aware we are raising the issue of female fighters and have formally asked the three of them to speak on behalf of the others.\"
    Nicolas shook his head. \"We could have a fight on our hands.\"
    Vikirnoff shrugged. \"In the end, the prince will have to make a decision on the issue. Natalya has hunted the vampire and has been independent for a long time. Destiny has hunted her entire life. I am not even certain she could put it down. She was enslaved by a vampire and suffered greatly at his hands.\"
    \"I am well aware of the arguments,\" Nicolas said. \"And I have discovered it is not so easy to say no when your life mate is insistent on doing something dangerous. I have strong reservations against taking Lara back to Xavier\'s cave, but she is probably the one who will be able to unravel the safeguards. She will recognize clues we might miss, and the journey may open her memories even more-memories we may need to aid us in solving the problems our women face.\"
    \"I had not considered those things,\" Vikirnoff said. \"In truth, I had decided we should just go in tonight if Page 142

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    we find a suitable entrance, and leave the women behind.\"
    \"Your woman would not follow you?\"
    \"Of course she would think to follow me if she knew.\" Vikirnoff sent Natalya a look of utter devotion. \"She does not know the meaning of \'quit.\' On the other hand, I have more experience and if necessary, could throw her off for a few hours in order to do the necessary exploring. She would be angry with me later, but I would much rather have her safe.\"
    \"And if you tell her to stop hunting?\"
    \"If Natalya decides it is the right thing to do to stop hunting the vampire, she will stop, but that is the only way. I could dictate to her until the end of days, but she goes her own way and I am proud of her for doing so.\"
    \"You are not going to be much of a help,\" Nicolas pointed out.
    Vikirnoff frowned. \"I\'ve always had a quick learning curve and in dealing with women, I\'ve found it is much easier avoiding a confrontation.\"
    \"We need to have Mikhail make a ruling on this issue.\"
    \"I will add my voice to yours and Gregori\'s. I believe if we do not act soon, it will be too late. We must have more hope for our males. And we have to find a way to produce more children as well as search the world over for life mates. The only real hope we have left to us is for our women to produce more children.\"
    Dayan of the Dark Troubadours strode up, obviously overhearing what Vikirnoff said. \"Perhaps we should take a page from our enemy\'s book and open a psychic center where we can interview women without them being aware we are doing so.\"
    Gregori moved through the giant crystal forest, Mikhail at his side. Both men looked strained and tired. A hush fell across the council hall.
    \"Any news?\" Lucian asked his younger brother.
    Gregori shoved a hand through his thick hair, the gesture weary. \"There is little we can do now. I am holding the twins to their mother. They want to live. That is something.\"
    \"And Raven?\" Lucian prompted.
    Mikhail shook his head. \"She is trying to hold on. Jacques and I are both holding the baby to her, but they are getting weaker. Soon I will have no choice but to allow the child to slip away. I dare not risk Raven. She says no, but I cannot take chances with her life.\"
    \"If we can aid you in any way,\" Lucian offered. \"We are more than willing.\"
    Mikhail nodded. \"The women gather now. There is much magic in the old ways. Syndil is providing the richest soil and Shea has come up with a strengthening drink to aid their bodies in gaining nutrients they seem to be lacking.\"
    \"There is some reason to believe that Xavier has a hand in this,\" Nicolas said, raising his voice so all could Page 143

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    hear. He related the small cracking open of the door to Lara\'s memory. \"We hope she will remember more when we go to the ice cave. Perhaps there is a piece of the puzzle that we can find in time to help.\"
    \"Xavier\'s lair is dangerous,\" Lucian said. \"If he is alive he would not have abandoned it completely. He had too many of his secrets stored there.\" He looked