Dark Slayer

Razvan's smile above her head was tranquil. «You endured. I endured. Such is life, Ivory. We hope our children do not have to struggle as we have, but living life well and handling adversity shapes character. I am proud of Lara for her choices and would not take away from her the chance for service to others. She has many years she can continue to live well before it is necessary to convert her. If we fail, she will endure as we did. At the end of the day, we can only say we did our best. We cannot control others, just ourselves.»

Ivory felt his quiet stillness, the peaceful calm that kept him so composed in difficult situations. She allowed that serenity to seep into her and soothe her own turbulent mind. With each stroke, the brush seemed to pull more of the tension out of her soul. Razvan was right. They could only do their best and that was what they had done.

She realized, as he divided her hair into three thick strands and began a tight weave, that she had wanted to show the Carpathian people that Razvan was no criminal to be mistrusted, but was, in fact, a great man who had sacrificed for all of them. Razvan didn't want that. He didn't care about others' opinions. He simply was. That was how he lived his life. He did his best and didn't try to control others.

She took a deep breath. «Okay. I say we go then, find out what is happening and let the prince make the decision to try a larger experiment or keep working. I also need to try the reversing spells on microbes that are out in the field. There is no point in attacking the factory if we cannot permanently stop his work.»

«The more Xavier is harassed, the less time he has to do damage,» Razvan said gently. «If this does not work for us, then we can buy ourselves time by taking down his fortress and making him move again.»

She started to turn her head to look at him over her shoulder, but he tugged on her hair, preventing her. Ivory frowned. «We cannot take a chance on losing him. If he disappears . . .»

«I can find him. Anywhere. Anytime.»

She waited a heartbeat until her pulse settled. «How?»

«He took my blood for well over a hundred years, Ivory. He left pieces of his dark, depraved soul within me. I will draw him as no other.»

She clamped down hard on the surge of bile rising suddenly at the idea of Razvan in Xavier's hands. «You would use yourself as bait.»

«Of course. To draw him to us. He would come.»

His hands were steadier than hers as he secured the tie on her braid. She knew because she reached back and laid her hands over his. «No.» A single word. His single word to her. Now she knew how he'd felt when she'd suggested using herself as bait.

He didn't argue, but then she was getting used to his ways. That didn't mean agreement. He simply bent down and kissed the side of her neck, right over her rapidly beating pulse.

«I mean it, Razvan. We will not destroy his present fortress, even if we need more time.»

His smile was placid, gentle, even tender. His palm cupped the side of her face. «As we do not know if you have succeeded, there is no reason for discord between us.»

She bit his fingers hard and glared at him. «Just so you know, there will be discord between us. A lot of discord. More than any man will ever want to have in his life.»

He burst out laughing, sticking his fingers in his mouth to ease the sting. «I will remember that.»

She gave him a sniff of annoyance and gathered weapons. Razvan had divided his time between helping her, caring for her and working on his proficiency with the various weapons she had. He was a quick learner with astonishing reflexes, and was very disciplined about his practice. He spent hours with the crossbow and sword each night. He practiced tumbling and hand-to-hand as well as throwing the arrowheads. He was quick and intelligent and she enjoyed his company, but most of all his tranquility. He had brought her peace and joy.

Razvan held out his arms and Blaez and Rikki leapt onto his back easily, merging into his skin until he was decorated with detailed tattoos just as the rest of the pack joined with Ivory. They gathered the soil and the documentation of the experiments, and scanned meticulously before streaming out into the night and streaking fast across the sky toward the Carpathian settlement.

As they flew across the forests and meadows, they spotted evidence of vampires passing through the vicinity. Blackened shrubbery. Withered branches. Split tree trunks. In one area it was obvious a battle had taken place: the ground was blackened.

Ivory sucked in her breath. They are out in force.

He will come for me. Again his voice was absolutely calm.

No.

Ivory dipped her wings and circled away from the ravaged wasteland below, taking them through a narrow pass and then over rolling hills dotted with small farms, but she felt his smile.

You will not be smiling long if you keep it up.

I was just saying.

You were provoking me.

I would not do that.