Carpathian 20 - Dark Slayer

Natalya,― Razvan said and shot Ivory a quelling look when she stirred.
    It was the first time he had ever indicated that he might be displeased with her, and it was shocking to Ivory how much it hurt. She moved away from them only to have Razvan catch her arm, circling her wrist with his fingers like a bracelet.
    â€œIt is best to leave this place quickly,― he continued.
    â€œThe bats are his guardians and he will know intruders have arrived. If the vampire has come to aid him, this is no place to be.―
    â€œYet you are here,― Vikirnoff said smoothly. “You weakened Xavier, didn’t you? Last eve, when you turned his spell back on him. That is why you’re here today. You’re hunting Xavier.―

    â€œAnd we have no time to waste,― Razvan said.
    â€œI agree,― Vikirnoff returned. “Lead the way.―
    Ivory wasn’t about to stand around arguing. She knew Razvan wanted Natalya as far from Xavier as possible, but they had this one opportunity and she was going to take it. Vikirnoff and Natalya could do as they wished. For that matter, so could Razvan. He could stay and protect his sister, too.
    She took a step away from them, but Razvan didn’t let go of her wrist. In fact, his fingers tightened. Ivory glanced down at his hand and then up to his face. His eyes glittered at her, black obsidian with just a hint of blue, but it was his hair that gave her pause. His hair seemed alive, electric almost, bands of black and white sliding through the color. His face was as tranquil as ever, and when she touched his mind, he appeared utterly calm, but his hair, eyes and that tight grasp on her wrist told her something else.
    Do you honestly think I care more for a woman who I only held in my memories more than I do you? Because I prefer she is not here? I prefer that you be far from Xavier as well, but I respect your fighting skills and your vow of purpose. This is a path we agreed on, and I will hold to my word, but as your lifemate, as the man who loves you above all else, this is the last place I would want you to be. This is not easy for me, Ivory .

    Ivory stood there, heart beating fast, and realized that sick feeling inside of her had nothing to do with standing in an ice cave fortress riddled with traps belonging to the high mage, her mortal enemy, and everything to do with having their first fight.
    â€œWe go with you,― Vikirnoff said. There was steel in his voice.
    Razvan glanced at him, then at his sister. “So be it.― He brought Ivory’s hand to the warmth of his mouth and held her fingertips there against his lips. You matter, Ivory. You are my heart and soul and everything good in this life. Let us destroy this evil and go home where I can show you just who really matters to me .
    Had she been jealous? She hadn’t even recognized such a petty thing in herself. Why would she be jealous of Razvan’s love for his sister? She wanted him to love and be loved by his twin, by his daughters and his aunts. So what was wrong with her . . .
    Razvan abruptly dropped Ivory’s hand and reached for the hilt of his sword, looking around the cavern, his gaze clearing enough to see the faint mist drifting like poison, curling around Ivory and Natalya.
    â€œHe knows we are here,― he warned. “He’s attacking, amplifying our fears and emotions.―

    Ivory’s lips firmed, annoyed she’d been caught in one of Xavier’s more basic traps. She began moving cautiously deeper into the series of caves. One chamber opened into the next as they went deeper beneath the mountain. The ice walls were thick and rumbled ominously, the pressure from the tremendous weight causing continual buckling so that they had to watch for huge blocks of ice shooting out of the walls, a natural phenomenon Xavier used against intruders.
    â€œHe favors traps in the ground,― Razvan cautioned.
    â€œBe careful. We will be walking through a minefield. Once we find the first one, I may be able to guide us through. He favors certain patterns.―
    The sound of dripping water was loud, adding to the noise of the ice creaking and rumbling. After a time, the noise drowned out everything else so that Ivory had to remember to keep the volume down and tune in to other things. She had long ago learned to hunt will all senses, but here, in Xavier’s domain, the rules had