Carpathian 23 - Dark Storm

puppets.
    Dax took a deep breath and sent himself outside his body, becoming spirit, a white
     light of energy, slipping into Riley’s body to track the sliver of poison the spider
     had injected. Mitro had kept it very subtle so the threat would have time to take
     hold and spread before anyone noticed. It was very Mitro-like. Most vampires were
     anything but subtle. Mitro was in a category all his own.
    Dax hadn’t known he was lonely until Riley had come into his life. He loved the conversations
     she had with herself, her smile and the way she would suddenly blurt out that he was
     beautiful. He also loved that she was intelligent and quick to comprehend the unknown.
     She didn’t waste time denying what was happening, she took it all in stride, and he
     admired her for that. Now, moving through her body, she remained quite still, observing
     what he was doing, but not protesting.
    She was already fighting the effects in her mind. He could see the damage there, but
     Riley was strong, much stronger than Mitro gave her credit for. That was one of the
     vampire’s weaknesses. He viewed women as inferior to men. He always had. He had underestimated
     Arabejila, and he would always underestimate Riley, which gave her a small advantage.
    Dax moved through her body, white light illuminating the dark blue clusters of cells
     spreading slowly, multiplying and invading healthy cells. Dax attacked the clusters
     with bursts of energy. The darker cells tried to hide from him, but he ruthlessly
     followed them, moving through every organ to ensure he got every last one. He would
     never be complacent about her health or safety again. Had she not begun to question
     why she was acting out of character, the virus might have had a much better chance
     of taking hold.
    He knew the moment he returned to his body, the owl would attack, because Mitro would
     know Dax would be at his weakest and would orchestrate the strike that way. The bird
     was a predator and would hurl itself at Riley, going for her eyes with its lethal
     talons.
    Jubal. Watch for the one you can’t see. He couldn’t help himself, he had to warn Jubal. As much as he’d learned of the two
     human men traveling with him, he still preferred to rely on himself, especially when
     it came to protecting his own lifemate.
    Clever Mitro. I know you so well by now.
    Dax burst into his body, accepting the disoriented effect that came with shedding
     one’s physical shell and then returning to it. Simultaneously, he allowed the armor
     lurking beneath his skin to the forefront. Diamond-hard scales erupted from his feet
     to his neck, sliding over his skin to encase him in a shield. He spun around in a
     quick circle feeling for the real attack. The cat hit him hard in the chest, a monster
     of a jaguar, the hot breath on his face as wicked teeth rushed for his throat. Claws
     raked at his belly.
    As if from a distance, he heard the rush of wings as owls dropped from the trees,
     talons extended, trying to get at Riley. He clamped his hands around the neck of the
     jaguar, holding the teeth away from his neck. A gun went off right near his ear and
     two more fired from a short distance away. With a quick wrench of his hands, he broke
     the neck of the cat and flung the body from him, turning to face the threat of the
     owls.
    Three birds lay dead on the ground surrounding Riley. She held a gun in her hand.
     Jubal and Gary stood with guns out as well. Handy thing, guns. Dax liked the idea
     of them. A gun might not kill a vampire, but it could definitely kill a vampire’s
     puppets. Mitro was clever, but he hadn’t counted on Gary and Jubal or guns. This trap
     hadn’t slowed them down or caused real harm.
    Dax nodded his thanks to the two men and reached down to help Riley to her feet. She
     stood a little shakily, and Gary leaned in to remove the gun from her hand.
    “Maybe we should be a little careful with this thing,” he said.
    Riley held out her hand. “I hit the thing instead of you, didn’t I?”
    Gary grinned at her. “I believe you did, Miss Parker.”
    Dax found the exchanges between the men and Riley interesting. He “felt” their affection
     for one another. Teasing seemed to be an art form.
    Riley checked her gun before slipping it back into her pocket. She made a little face.
     “Here comes Weston. How are we going to explain this?”
    Dax waved his hand toward Weston and the man stopped abruptly, looked around him and
     scratched his