Carpathian 20 - Dark Slayer

Gregori restored him to this world.― His gaze flicked to Razvan. “I believe your lifemate injected the poison into Manolito.―
    Razvan didn’t flinch and the hand holding the knife was rock steady. “Ivory, I want you to come to my side and take my blood. Take enough that you can be at full strength.―
    She looked stricken and shook her head silently.
    It is the only way. Your purpose and your preparations will be lost if you do not get away. We cannot stop them all. I knew when I came that I would be exchanging my life for yours. It is an honor .
    â€œHer blood is infected with parasites,― Mikhail said.
    â€œKeep the knife to my heart and allow my healer to rid her of Xavier’s vile worms.―

    Ivory flinched when she heard the high mage’s name.
    Gregori’s gaze flicked toward the prince, flashing him with a glitter of silver. This is not amusing, Mikhail. We know too little about this man. He may very well shove that knife into your heart under Xavier’s orders. You would not be wearing that smirk then .
    I have no doubt that you would find a way to save me .
    â€œRazvan,― Mikhail said. “We are not looking to harm your lifemate, only to make certain she can survive an attack on the way back to her home. We offer both of you friendship.
    Your sister, Natalya, is here with her lifemate, Vikirnoff. Lara, your daughter, and her lifemate, Nicolas De La Cruz, are residing among us, working to save our unborn children. She has been a tremendous asset to our people. Your aunts, Tatijana and Branislava, are safe and alive, at present under the ground healing. I offer safe passage to both of you.―
    Razvan flicked Ivory a quick glance. It is up to you .
    Ivory drew in her breath. Life or death for her lifemate. He was putting his life into her hands so easily. Little did he know how abhorrent it was to her to allow favors from the Dubrinsky family. She could scarce make herself accept, yet she forced her body forward stiffly until she stood beside the healer, her fingers closed tightly around the hilt of a knife. She nodded her head toward the healer.

    She’ll probably stab me when I’m done . Again those silver eyes flicked toward the prince. You won’t be laughing so much when our wives give me hell for allowing someone to stab you .
    I don’t know. It might be amusing. Neither will be angry with me .
    Gregori’s breath hissed through his teeth as he sent the prince another smoldering look before laying gentle hands on Ivory’s shoulder. She trembled, much like a wild animal under the hands of a rescuer removing it from a trap. Without being consciously aware of it, the healer murmured soothing words in the ancient language, trying to reassure her by his voice and the touch of his hands that he meant her no harm.
    Gregori closed his eyes and ceased to be a fierce warrior, ferocious guardian of the prince and the Carpathian people. All ego, everything he was, he surrendered, sending himself outside his body and into that of the wounded female. He became energy, a healing entity, moving through her bloodstream to find and repair all damage from the inside out.
    He nearly forgot himself, one of the rare times in his centuries of healing, when he discovered the way her bones and sinew were so crudely knitted together. Ridges and evidence of inside and outside scar tissue were everywhere throughout her body, even on her organs, unheard of in Carpathian society. He pulled out of her for just one moment, shaken, unable to look at her while he tried to puzzle out how anyone could have survived what had made those scars.
    Mikhail . There was shock when it was difficult to shock Gregori.
    There was awe when it was nearly impossible to astonish him.
    Mostly there was respect. It is as if she was chopped into small pieces. No part of her is untouched other than her face, and even her neck has these patchwork ridges. I believe she was cut into pieces, but how could she survive?
    He sent the impressions to Mikhail. Her true skin is a patchwork. I feel blades sawing through her skin and bones, around her neck, hacking off her head. This woman has suffered greatly . There was a breath taken. A crashing heartbeat.
    Abruptly Gregori pulled his mind from Mikhail’s.
    Tell me . The two words were a command, nothing less.
    Your eldest brother assaulted her. I feel his taint, a stamp of suffering I have