Carpathian 21 - Dark Peril

Dominic acknowledged. There had been a touch of guilt in Cesaro’s voice, as if he was ashamed that Zacarias would think they could not protect him while he slept. “He is feared by the undead and they do not know I am here. They believe he is the only one between them and what they want.
    They will try any means to kill him.” He looked Cesaro in the eye. “Do you understand what I am telling you? He does this because you are his family. He will go to any lengths to protect you, even from himself.”

    Cesaro heaved a sigh. “I understand. It is our duty to serve and protect him as well. This does not feel right to me.”

    “He is lucky to have you,” Dominic said with another small bow.

    Ask him if anyone visits regularly that maybe doesn’t work for Zacarias but borrows his vehicles once in a while, Solange prompted.

    Dominic pushed a smile into her mind. Of course she would hit on the right question. He loved her all the more that she understood the way these men thought and acted, and it didn’t bother her. They would feel much less inhibited discussing the workings of the ranch with a male than with her. He was Carpathian, like the family they worked for, and they knew he was Zacarias’s friend. She was a shifter—a cat they equated with being an enemy. Cesaro was respectful but uneasy in her presence.

    I do not care what others think of me, Solange said. Only you.

    He could feel the truth of her words and it warmed him. She belonged to him—she wanted to be his alone.
    You know I value you above all else. Her opinion, her skills, most of all the love that was beginning to show in her cat’s eyes.

    His heart tripped a little over that shy, very new look. Sometimes when she looked at him, her expression sent his body into a violent, almost brutal state of arousal. She was so new to the idea of actually sharing her life with someone, and yet she was trying very hard to find a way around absolute terror to come to him whole. He loved the experience of watching her struggle to accept not just him, but her growing love for him. It was an unexpected journey he’d never thought he’d take, and he found himself loving her all the more for it.

    “Cesaro.” Dominic halted just outside of Marguarita’s room. “Do you have a neighbor who is allowed to use the De La Cruz vehicles? Perhaps someone who was here the day of the attack, and two nights ago?”

    Cesaro froze with his hand on Marguarita’s door. He turned slowly, a wash of color in his face. His eyes went diamond hard. “There is such a man, he has been trying to court Marguarita. The De La Cruz family has been good to him. He bought the ranch that borders ours about a year ago. He had little left after the purchase and we have helped him several times.”

    “You say he is courting Marguarita.”

    “ Trying. We all found it amusing. Marguarita, as you have seen, is quite beautiful, but she is young and a little wild. Not with men, do not get me wrong. She is a good girl. But she likes her independence. She cooked and cleaned for her father and has the pick of the horses. She loves horses and is a good rider. This man, he can’t tame her. Her father and I had many nights of amusement over this courtship. Marguarita has not even appeared to notice what he’s doing with his flowers and candy. She smiles at him, as she does with all the workers, and thanks him on behalf of her father and all who would get joy from his offerings.
    She acts as though he brings things because he is allowed to borrow equipment.”

    “Has he shown anger over her rejection of him?”

    “No one can be angry with Marguarita. She is a joy.”

    Dominic indicated to open the door. The moment he stepped through, he knew death had been very close.
    Had Zacarias not risen, this young, once vibrant woman would have died. She looked so pale she was nearly translucent. Dominic approached the bed. He glanced at Solange. She nodded, understanding. He would leave his body and go into Marguarita’s to examine her, ensure she survived and check, this time, for splinters of possession. Solange would have to watch his back for him.

    “It would be best,” she said softly, “if you could leave us alone for a moment, Cesaro. And then we would very much like the name of this man who has visited and used one of your trucks.”

    Cesaro nodded and left the room. Dominic knew he stood beside the door with a hand on his weapon.
    Whether to protect them or Marguarita, it