Carpathian 20 - Dark Slayer

Razvan. “We are being followed.― Her voice was a thread of sound, as muffled and as quiet as the snow.
    A small, unexpected smile of amusement lit up Razvan’s face. “Well, I guess we get to have a little fun.―
    She frowned at him. “Fun? Razvan, it is not the undead who are following us. We cannot have anyone finding our lair, nor do we want to engage them in battle if they are Carpathian as I suspect they are.―
    His grin widened. “I was fairly certain someone would try to follow us. I have been giving it quite a bit of thought as we walked, working out a plan.―

    Ivory’s amber gaze narrowed as it drifted over his face. He looked younger. Happier. She had done that but . . .
    â€œTrust me, Ivory. I am not the experienced fighter you are, but I am very good at planning battles and strategies. This is a situation made for me.―
    She sent her senses racing out into the night, seeking information, looking for any blank spots that would indicate vampire. The hunters were well hidden, so much so that she wasn’t entirely certain she was right, but Raja was never wrong and he had issued his warning.
    â€œWhat do you want to do?―
    â€œWe should make our way to the valley of mists. That is where we will disappear altogether and leave those following behind. But in the meantime, I think a little lesson is called for, don’t you?―
    â€œLesson?― she echoed faintly. There was way too much amusement in his voice.
    â€œThey need to learn a little respect for my woman. You are a warrior, equal to them, and yet they treat you as if you are an amateur. They did not even give us the respect due by confronting us face-to-face. It might be a good thing for all of them to know they are not as good as they think they are.―

    â€œI do not think these are children following us, Razvan. They are experienced Carpathian hunters, possibly ancients who have thousands of battles under them.―
    His cocky grin made him look boyish when there was nothing boyish about him. “Perhaps, but then again, we may make them remember their childhood.―

    â€œWhat do you all think you are doing?― Gregori demanded as he came upon the small group of Carpathian hunters.
    Vikirnoff had the grace to look uneasy. “We are not children to be reprimanded, Gregori,― he answered.
    Gregori’s eyebrow shot up. “No, you are not. You are an ancient hunter, Vikirnoff, one far more experienced than me.
    Nor did I come to reprimand you. I asked what you were doing merely to see if you needed aid of any kind.―
    The others looked at one another. It didn’t surprise Gregori that Vikirnoff’s brother, Nicolae, traveled with him. The brothers had been guarding one another’s backs for hundreds of years. The other four hunters were also ancients, returning to the Carpathian Mountains to establish ties with the prince. It occurred to Gregori that all of these ancient hunters did not really know Mikhail and had every reason to worry about his judgment. They were far older and more experienced than the prince, and were used to relying solely on their own judgment.
    Tariq Asenguard had come from the United States. Over the centuries he had amassed a huge personal fortune, which he often fed to the other Carpathians. He owned several businesses. Tall, like most Carpathian males, he wore his hair long, but his eyes were midnight blue, almost gemlike. Tariq was a man used to going his own way and the thought of an ancient book in the hands of Razvan and a Malinov was enough to set him traveling fast to see for himself just what the pair was up to.
    Andre moved through countries like a ghost, drifting in only to pay his respects and pledge his allegiance. A man of very few words, he stayed aloof, as most ancient hunters did, his eyes restless, the urge to continue moving, the drive to find his lifemate ceaseless now as he neared the end of his tolerance.
    He was one of the single males Gregori kept a firm eye on, as both Tariq and Andre seemed very close to turning.
    Mataias, Lojos and Tomas were never far from one another.
    Like most siblings raised together, they had formed a bond to see each other through the darker times. They came from a long line of famous warriors, a respected family that always produced multiple children, yet rarely gave birth. Two daughters had been born after the