Carpathian 20 - Dark Slayer

injuries. The time spent rejuvenating in the ground had done her good. She bore little evidence of the encounter with Xavier and Sergey.
    â€œYou have to come to see Lara. Gregori let her up for the ceremony. She’s fragile and weak, but he said whatever Ivory did, she can still bear children.― Natalya’s eyes were bright.
    â€œMother Earth saved her, not me,― Ivory protested.
    Natalya ignored the protest as well as all personal barriers, catching Ivory’s arm and tugging toward the ceremonial cave. “Hurry. Everyone is waiting inside for you.―
    â€œGive them a chance to catch their breath, Natalya,―
    Vikirnoff advised with a small smile. He tucked her beneath his shoulder. He still had a couple of burn marks on him from having shielded Natalya.
    â€œI do not wish to upset Lara, especially in her fragile state,― Razvan objected, halting abruptly.
    Ivory swung around to him, her hand actually curling around the hilt of her knife. We do not have to do this . She wasn’t going
    to
    have
    anyone —sister,
    daughter,
    ancients,
    anyone —make him feel unwelcome or less than what she believed him to be: a great hero.
    Shockingly, Razvan laughed and the sound was carefree. He swept his arm around her. “You are a treasure, fél ku kuuluaak sÃvam belsÅ‘ —beloved. My greatest treasure. I believe you would stand between me and . . .―
    â€œ Anything . Anyone.― Her eyes deepened from her light amber to that antique gold that always sent his heart stumbling.
    He brushed a kiss on top of her head. “Let us go to the naming ceremony for Gregori’s sake. He has done much for us, and if this pleases him, it is a small thing to us.―
    Natalya frowned. “Lara wants to see you, Razvan. And Nicolas is dying to see his wonderful little sister Ivory. He can scarcely believe what you did—what the two of you did. What a relief it is to know Xavier is gone from this world.―

    â€œNot entirely,― Ivory cautioned. “No one must ever forget those two fragments found a host in a master vampire.
    He was terribly wounded, but he will rise again, and with the shadow of Xavier dwelling within him, he will be more evil than ever.―
    â€œWe have warned the people,― Vikirnoff assured. “A hunting party went out, but no trace of Sergey was found.―
    His eyes met hers. “I am truly sorry about your brother. He was a great warrior once.―
    Ivory forced a smile, and was grateful for Razvan’s understanding. He didn’t touch her, which might have been her undoing, but he surrounded her with warmth. “My brother has been long dead. What is in his place is truly evil and bears no resemblance to the man I love, but I thank you for the thought.―
    Young Travis ran up to them. His eyes were bright again, his hair long and tied with a thin leather cord. “Gregori says to get a move on.―
    Laughing, they followed him to the entrance of the cave, but got no farther. A young teenaged girl Ivory recognized as Skyler stood waiting just inside. Her shoulders were square, her gaze hesitant. Francesca, the female healer and her adoptive mother, stood with her, shoulder to shoulder, her hand on Skyler’s back.

    Ivory’s heart jumped. There was no denying this girl was Razvan’s child. She was beautiful, but in her eyes, eyes very much like Razvan’s, there was far too much knowledge. The girl had been through hell and back again. This was going to break Razvan’s heart. Ivory wanted to wrap her arms around him and get out of there, take him far away where no one else could hurt him.
    â€œThis is my daughter, Skyler,― Francesca said. She wore a smile, but her expression was strained. “You might remember that she aided in fighting Xavier’s evil.―
    â€œYes, of course,― Ivory said. “You were amazing.
    Everyone thinks so highly of you, Skyler, obviously for a good reason. I am Ivory and this is my lifemate, Razvan.―
    She felt the impact when Razvan raised his head. The punch to his gut, hard and deep. He hadn’t really paid attention to anything but protecting Ivory from Xavier’s evil and trying to keep everyone calm. Now, there was no mistaking this child.
    Or the trauma she’d suffered. He swallowed hard, but his expression