Dark Slayer

Gregori made his way home, avoiding the two women and their lifemates waiting to speak with Mikhail. He didn't want to try to reassure them that Razvan and Ivory would live. He believed they would, but he didn't understand how, and he could barely function with the amount of pain washing over him each time he touched them. There would be no speaking to them, no getting answers, maybe even no recognition from Razvan for those women-he was too far gone. On top of the couple's pain, he didn't wish to feel the pain of a sister and daughter for the suffering of a loved one.

Savannah waited at the door for him, her beautiful face smiling, welcoming, her eyes so compassionate that for a moment he wanted to weep with joy that he'd been given such a miracle. He just gathered her silently into his arms and held her tight to him.

Savannah walked him inside. «You look tired.»

«I am tired.»

She tried not to be alarmed. Gregori never admitted to being tired, but this couple, so torn and mangled, fighting valiantly to live when anyone else would have chosen to go to the next life, had captured far more than his attention as a healer. She knew her lifemate well. He respected that couple, wanted-even needed-to find a way to end their suffering.

Savannah put her arms around him and held him, laying her head against his chest. Gregori's hand came up to stroke her hair.

«How are the girls behaving this evening?»

«Kicking a lot. We're getting closer. I don't think they're going to wait much longer.»

«Maybe I should talk to them,» Gregori suggested. «It is not yet time. They are too anxious and need to stay where they are safe.»

Savannah laughed, the sound happy and bright, dispelling some of his tension. «I don't think you should talk to them again. You always sound gruff and stern, and the little one is a rebel. Whatever you order, she does just the opposite.» She glanced mischievously up at him. «I have a feeling she's going to be a lot like you.»

«Don't say that. I was a very bad child.»

Savannah laughed again and Gregori found himself smiling. He dropped several kisses on her nose. «Have I told you that I'm madly in love with you?»

«Not recently.»

«Well I am. I haven't quite forgiven you for twins, especially that they're female, but I'm so in love with you, sometimes I can't think straight.»

The smile faded from Savannah's face. «Each time we go into the ground, I worry that the microbes will attack the babies again. And Lara is exhausted.»

Xavier had found a way to use extremophiles to attack the Carpathian females and babies, very effectively reducing the population over hundreds of years so they were now on the brink of extinction. The pregnant women were terrified of losing their babies, and Lara, Razvan's daughter, could not be fully brought into the Carpathian world because, while the extremophiles could detect the Carpathians hunting for them, they could not detect Lara, as she was mage.

«She does a sweep on all the pregnant women each evening, and yet there's always a recurrence. Even though she makes certain the men are without the microbes, it doesn't take long before we're all infected again. She has to be converted soon. Neither of them complain, but it is difficult for Nicolas.»

Gregori's fingers settled around the nape of Savannah's neck. «She has years before she will be in trouble, but yes, it is difficult on her lifemate. And if she gets pregnant . . .» He trailed off with a small sigh. «I am hoping Ivory and Razvan are the answer.»

«How can they be?»

«I don't know, but I think your father does. He was too calm, too certain that Razvan wouldn't drive that knife into his throat.»

«He is sure of his skills, Gregori.»

«That is true, although he should take more caution with his life. Still, it was more than that. He trusted Razvan when he shouldn't have.»

«You can't know everything, Gregori,» she said gently.

His brooding silver gaze slid over her. «When it comes to your father, I should. He is my greatest responsibility. Without him, our species would fade away, lost as so many others have gone.» He spread his fingers over her rounded womb, holding his children to him. «We have to safeguard their legacy, Savannah.»

«We will,» she replied, leaning into him.

Gregori lifted his head. «We are about to have visitors. They've spared our daughters another lecture from their father.»

Savannah's laughter warmed him. She hugged him. «They are very grateful to our visitors, especially the little one. She gave the equivalent to rolling her eyes.»

His silver eyes slashed at her. «You are not encouraging them, are you? I thought I would not have to deal with that behavior for another twenty years or so.»

«She thinks you are very bossy.»

«I am bossy because I know what's best for her.»

Savannah laughed again. «You argue with her and she isn't even born yet.»