Carpathian 21 - Dark Peril

cradling her against his chest, floated her out of the earth to her bath. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him.

    “I want to check my cat,” she protested as he placed her in the hot water.

    “Bath first,” he said firmly. Her care had to come first.

    She smirked and shifted right there in the water. Solange. His miracle. Her cat chuffed her disgust and shook her head, those green eyes gleaming with mischief. His warning radar went off, but he was too entranced with the laughter building in the jaguar’s eyes. She gathered herself, her muscles rippling beneath the tawny fur, and sprang, hitting him in the chest and knocking him over. He tried to catch her, but she took him down to the ground, standing on him, her tongue rasping over his face.

    He caught her muzzle in his hands and looked into her laughing eyes. “I knew you were going to be trouble from the first moment I laid eyes on you.”

    She shifted in his arms, kissing him. “No, you didn’t. You thought I was going to be docile and sweet.” She jumped up. “Come on, I want to fly on my own.”

    Dominic caught her arm, restraining her. “The sun is up. We need to be a little cautious.”

    She ran her hand down her arm, frowning. “I don’t feel any different, Dominic. Shouldn’t I? I slept beneath the earth. I am fully Carpathian, aren’t I?”

    He swept his arm around her, cleaning the water from both of them as he did so. “We are both Carpathian, kessake , but we are also something more.”

    “I don’t understand.”

    “Neither do I. Your blood is unique and remains intact. I think, somehow, although you are fully Carpathian, we both retain all the properties of your blood.”

    She bit her lip. “I don’t know how I feel about that.”

    “Because of Brodrick?”

    She nodded.

    “Your blood also comes from your mother.”

    Her cat’s eyes blinked once and a slow smile curved her mouth. “I should have known you’d say the right thing, Dominic. Thank you.”

    He took her hand, waving his other one to cover her body in her jeans and tee, her warrior armor. They made their way up toward the surface of the cave, maneuvering through the narrow tunnel. As they reached the entrance, light spilled in, dappled from the surrounding trees shading the area. He remembered emerging from a cave not so long ago, the sun burning his skin in spite of the cover, burning through the feathers of the harpy eagle. Now there was no reaction whatsoever. It had been centuries since he walked in the sun.

    “Stay here, hän sívamak .” It was an order, nothing less, and he looked down at her upturned face, letting her see he meant it.

    Her protest died in her throat. She nodded.

    Dominic slowly approached the entrance. The light grew stronger, reached for him. His heart pounded in anticipation. He took a few more cautious steps out of the cave. The sun fell across his body. Every muscle tensed. Nothing happened. There was no burning. No blisters. No terrible repercussions, just the feel of the sun on his skin.

    He turned and looked at Solange. His miracle. She took his breath away. He held out his hand to her.
    Solange walked slowly toward him, reaching for his hand, smiling up at him with love shining in her eyes.
    He threaded his fingers through hers and called silently to awaken their kitten. They waited together until the little cat joined them, before walking together out in the sunshine.

    “YOU ARE THE VERY HEART OF ME”

    DOMINIC TO SOLANGE:

    Dreams

    I was half-alive for a thousand years.
    I’d given up hope that we’d meet in this time.
    Too many the centuries. All disappears
    As time and the darkness steal color and rhyme.

    But then beyond hope, you came into my dream . . .
    Glowing eyes like a cat, but fierce need like a child.
    Your warrior heart, loyal. Your anguished, “Don’t leave me.”
    Your head in my lap: Csitri! Strong and wild.

    Questions

    Can you come to trust a man once again?
    Can you come to love an old one like me?

    Let my strong arms protect you, let me sing you to sleep.
    Let my song bring you healing, like the earth and the sea.

    Look at me—now see yourself through my eyes.
    Look at you: the most beautiful on this earth.

    I’ll wait for you to see it, forever if it takes. . .
    Solange, my very own, amazing gift beyond worth.

    Lifemates

    When you meet me,
    You complete me.
    You bring me back to life again.

    You reveal me. Then you heal me
    Of all the scars and strife.
    And