Carpathian 17 - Dark Curse

the aromatic scents filled the air, aiding in the healing process. Gregori left his own body and entered Terry\'s, working to drive out the quickly multiplying hordes of parasites working to consume the young man\'s body.
    It was amazing to watch the seemingly endless energy being sucked out of Gregori, draining him of all strength, even with the other two Carpathian males working with him. His face turned gray. He swayed with weariness and time passed with infinite slowness.
    Outside the window, snow began to fall, first a few flakes, and then at a much steadier pace. The inn grew quiet as patrons went to bed. Gerald shifted position often, but stayed, holding Terry\'s shoulders and talking soothingly to him. Terry ceased moaning after an hour and by the second hour he was resting far more comfortably.
    Gregori came back into his own body, staggering, sitting on the floor abruptly, pale and drawn. He shook his head. The parasites are multiplying as fast as I am destroying them. I am uncertain whether I can reduce the numbers fast enough to eventually get rid of them .
    Mikhail casually tore at his wrist with his teeth and extended his arm. Lara\'s gaze was immediately riveted on Gregori\'s mouth as he placed it over the wound. Her stomach knotted. Thunder crashed in her ears.
    I will work with you, Nicolas volunteered.
    As will I, the prince added.
    No! Both Carpathian males reacted violently.
    You cannot, Mikhail, Gregori said. We cannot chance the tainted blood anywhere near you. The parasites sense your presence as it is. They swarm to whatever side is closest to you in the hopes of contaminating you .
    We will need your blood to aid us, Nicolas added with a flick of his dark gaze toward Gregori.
    Gregori sighed as he allowed Nicolas to pull him to his feet. He is not a baby, Nicolas. He\'s a grown man who knows the Carpathian people cannot exist without him. If he is destroyed, our species will die out. As much as Page 33

    Christine Feehan: Dark Curse
    we want to believe someone else could take your place, Mikhail, you, as well as our enemies, know it is not true .
    Not necessarily, Mikhail objected. Savannah carries my bloodline and she is carrying twins. Raven carries my son, although she is having problems again .
    We cannot take chances. Lucian, Gabriel or Darius can easily take my place as your second, but there is no other male to fulfill your position. There was an edge to Gregori\'s voice.
    It was evident to Lara that they had had this discussion many times. She found the conversation very interesting and it helped to take her mind off the ragged tear in Mikhail\'s wrist. He had swept his tongue across the wound, but she could still see teeth marks and faint smears of blood. Her stomach lurched and bile rose. Her body temperature dropped abruptly.
    There is my brother, Jacques. Mikhail\'s voice had grown quiet, matching that edge to Gregori\'s voice.
    Who still does not trust his mind without that of his life mate. There can be no risk to you, Mikhail. Gregori flicked him a glare. Do not give me grief over this again, Pops .
    Mikhail choked and took a step toward his second who just happened to be his daughters life mate. Terry\'s face twisted into sudden malevolence and he flung himself at the prince, growling, spittle running down his chin. Gerald seized his shoulders in an effort to restrain him, but Terry was amazingly strong for someone so injured, fighting free and leaping with outstretched hands, already curved into claws at Mikhail\'s eyes.
    Nicolas waved his hand at exactly the same moment Gregori did. Lara whispered a shielding spell, her hands weaving a complicated pattern. Terry slammed into an invisible barrier. Teeth rattling, eyes spinning in his head, he rammed his skull over and over into the shield protecting the prince.
    Gerald staggered across the bed, trying to control him, but Terry punched at his face, still growling like a rabid animal. Gerald fell back across the bed and Terry resumed head-butting the invisible wall to get at the prince.
    Lara reached for Terry\'s mind in an attempt to calm him. She touched his mind gently, in reassurance. At once a boiling ball of parasites reacted to her presence, twisting and thrashing in a frenzy of venomous need.
    One moment she was in Terry\'s head, the next she found herself thrown out, a hard male shove sending her careening out of Terry\'s brain.
    She spun around to glare at Nicolas. She was beginning to recognize his touch. He didn\'t