Carpathian 20 - Dark Slayer

with me on this, Razvan. It will not be easy and I cannot have you hesitate when we confront him.―
    He leaned back in the chair and regarded her steadily. “You never have to worry that I would hesitate. We are in this together. It is my choice. I made it when you asked me to live. I knew then we would go after him.―
    She allowed herself a sigh of relief. She shouldn’t have doubted him. He had the courage to be whatever she needed.
    He found no shame in following her lead. No hesitation in accepting their destiny. He was more of a man than any other she knew.
    â€œYou know what I think, Razvan? I believe Xavier has to find another body. He was not merely possessing you, leaving pieces behind in you to stay in control. I believe he was looking for a host body and a way to enter it, to claim it completely and make the body his own. He wanted to be Carpathian. You were born with Dragonseeker blood running in your veins, known to be one of the most powerful lineages, if not the most powerful.

    He coveted that bloodline. That is why he went after Rhiannon.
    And that is why he drank the blood of her children and grandchildren. He craves a body from the Dragonseeker bloodline.―
    â€œNo Dragonseeker has ever turned.― There was no pride in his voice. It was merely a statement. “I would not allow him to make me the first.―
    She smiled at him, her smile lifting him back from the shadowy place that he had dropped into. “No, you did not. And you saved all of us. No one will know what you did, but I know, Razvan. If he had acquired a Dragonseeker body as was his goal, there is no way to judge the harm he would have done.―
    He took her hand, played with her fingers, shaking his head a bit. “It is my stubbornness.―
    â€œIt is your immeasurable courage,― she corrected. “It is not as if anyone could have endured as you did.―
    He brought her fingers to his mouth and bit gently. “You will make me blush.―
    She doubted that. He had no ego. None. He simply accepted his life and lived in the moment, focusing his entire attention on what he was doing and giving his best to whatever task was at hand. She did a little blushing thinking of how he focused so completely on her when they made love. Nothing else was in his mind but giving her pleasure. It was an intoxicating, exhilarating experience, and one she was already addicted to.
    She lost herself in him so completely, and found herself wanting to give him that same complete focus.
    â€œMy entry in that diary is the formula with which we will defeat him.―
    Everything in him stilled. “We are going to bait a trap.―
    She kept her eyes steadily on his. “Yes, we are. He needs a body. And he needs heart’s blood. Dragonseeker blood.―
    â€œYou are going to ask me to put myself in his hands once again.―
    His voice was strictly neutral and his mind was firmly closed to hers. Her heart contracted. There was no expression. No condemnation. No judgment whatsoever. He merely waited her answer, his fingers still on hers. Sometimes, like now, his courage terrified her. His belief in her shocked her.
    â€œYou would put yourself into his hands if I asked you to, wouldn’t you?― she said, her stomach knotting.
    â€œYes.―
    She shook her head. “I could not ever conceive of putting you anywhere near where that evil mage could get his hands on you.―

    For the first time he stirred and something crossed his face so swiftly she couldn’t quite catch it, but it made her nervous.
    â€œJust what or who is the bait?―
    â€œI now have Dragonseeker blood running in my veins. When I open them and leave tracks, he will be unable to resist. I am a woman and he will think me easily controlled.―
    He sat back in his chair, his lips drawn into a tight, implacable line. Tiny embers smoldered in the depths of his eyes, but again, he went silent—waiting.
    â€œI have thought this through, Razvan,― she hastily explained. “It is all there. He will come for me, darkly handsome, taking your form, using his mind to draw me to him.
    He will want to seduce me, and he will open his arms to bring me in close to him.―
    â€œNo.―
    â€œYou know I am right. This is the way.―
    â€œNo.― Razvan rose and called to the pack. “I am taking the wolves