Carpathian 21 - Dark Peril

traumatized by this. And if a friend betrayed her, it will be all the worse. Maybe we should ask MaryAnn to come visit.”
    She looked up at him and there was trust in her eyes. “Perhaps you could suggest to Cesaro they send for her.”

    Knowing her need to help women abused by men, he nodded. “I think that would be a good idea.”

    Dominic led her to the door. They still needed to add to the protection of these people, as well as track down the neighbor. And the undead were out in force. Likely encounters meant he had to be at his strongest.

    Cesaro whipped his head around as they came through the door.

    “She is sleeping as peacefully as possible,” Dominic said. “I believe she has survived the crisis and is on the road to recovery. Do you know all the De La Cruz brothers?”

    Cesaro nodded. “They come here from time to time. The brothers share the ranches.”

    “Manolito’s wife, MaryAnn, would be a very good choice to help Marguarita through this. Perhaps if you sent for her, she would come.”

    “It would give us another man to defend the ranch,” Cesaro acknowledged, knowing Manolito would come with his lifemate. “Thank you.” He bowed slightly toward Solange, as if knowing just whose idea it had been. “I will do so immediately.”

    “Tell us about your neighbor.”

    “His name is Santiago Vazquez. He’s about thirty and has only three men working for him. I rarely see anyone around his house. The ranch is very run-down. He needs money to build it up, and there is little money to be made on a ranch just starting up.”

    “Do you have a very healthy, strong man working for you who might be willing to donate blood tonight? I have much to do and cannot go hunting.”

    “I am in good health,” Cesaro said. “Please, it is an honor. You are doing so much to help us, and I am no longer afraid of the giving.”

    “I accept with gratitude,” Dominic said, and stepped up to the man immediately, again not wanting to give him time to become afraid.

    Solange looked down at her hands and he touched her mind even as his body felt the rush of energy the hot blood provided. She was upset that he wasn’t taking her blood, and it fed her silly anxiety of inadequacies.
    He reached out and brushed the pad of his thumb down her cheek. Her gaze jumped to his. He slid his mind intimately against hers.

    Your blood is superior to his, kessake . And I would much rather take from my woman, but I have yet to walk into the camp of the enemy.

    I know. It’s just that I haven’t met any of your needs. Not one. And you are always doing for me. I want to be the one who gives you whatever you need. Another woman . . .

    Would never please me the way you do.

    He felt the brief flicker of a smile, although she didn’t change expression. He politely closed the two puncture wounds and bowed slightly before beginning the intricate web of safeguards to add to Zacarias’s work. The ranch would be doubly protected against the undead.

    “Do not let strangers approach you. Often the undead appear beautiful. If they are very powerful, they can control how they look and talk, and will often take on the form of someone you know. They cannot pick anything from your mind, but they will study those who live here and try to appear as one of them. Their eyes can give them away, and often, when they walk upon the grass, it shrivels or withers. Nature will recoil from them. The animals will be uneasy when they are near and no dog can stand them.”

    Cesaro nodded his understanding. Feeling he could do no more to protect them, Dominic indicated to Solange it was safe to leave the house. They went out into the night, inhaling deeply to get the stench of fear, sickness and near death from their lungs.

    They walked until they were out of sight and back under cover of the trees. Dominic took Solange into his arms and rose into the sky. She lifted her face so the wind blew over her. She was completely relaxed in his arms, trusting him to keep her safe no matter how fast or high they flew.

    I love this, she confided. There is something very freeing in flying, like running along the branches in jaguar mode. She laughed softly and nuzzled his neck. You’ve given me some of the best experiences of my life.

    I want to give you many more, Solange.

    He loved the happiness in her voice. Whether she knew it or not, her trust in him was growing every moment they spent together. She had fully aligned herself with him. The