Part 38 (1/2)
”We all worked together,” Joie said. ”I knew you would come. I just had to buy us some time.”
”All of you were more than lucky. Any vampire is difficult to defeat, but master vampires have lived for century upon century, growing in strength and power. They use others as minions and puppets and keep themselves from dangerous battles. They sacrifice lesser p.a.w.ns and slide away when hunters are in the area. They only fight when they are a.s.sured of victory. Valenteen had a reputation as a fierce hunter. It helped that mage blood ran in your veins. He had more trouble getting past the barriers in your minds and controlling you. Gary is protected by Gregori, so he wasn't as susceptible as most humans would be.”
”Do you really think we're descendents of a mage?” Joie asked, once again stroking her fingers over his lips.
”I do not think there is much doubt. The genetics are quite strong in your brother and since you claim he is a full blood brother, the mage is in all of you. I believe that is what allowed you to resist Valenteen the way you did.”
”I can't really recall much after I landed on the floor. Jubal and Gabrielle are all right, aren't they? I vaguely remember Gabrielle's hand holding mine and once I felt my brother very close. Tell me they're both okay. They had to have been terrified when that nasty vampire ripped my neck open.”
Traian felt the tremor run through her and pressed his body closer. ”They were incredible.” He still had trouble believing that neither of them looked at him with blame. And Gabrielle had been so generous in her parting words to him. ”They are both fine. Gary took them to our prince. They are with Mikhail and his lifemate, under their protection. I like your brother and sister very much.”
Joie covered the hand pressed into her stomach. ”You sound a little surprised. Haven't you liked many humans?”
”I never really thought about it before. We live in the world with humans and protect them, but to keep our race safe, we have always remained apart. This has been my first close contact with humans where they actually know who and what I am. I found your family to be accepting and tolerant of me and my people, even with all the danger I brought with me. I feel genuine affection and admiration for Jubal and Gabrielle, which is somewhat of a surprise to me.”
”And Gary? Is he all right?”
”He is fine, Joie. Gary is an extraordinary man and obviously trusted by our prince.” Traian rubbed her nose with the pad of his finger, and then traced her mouth.
Joie smiled and nibbled gently at his hand. He touched her continually, as if seeking the rea.s.surance of physical contact.
”You'd better have a deep affection for my brother and sister,” she cautioned with a wry smile. ”It's the only safe thing to do with those two. And with my parents also, I might add. They're going to drive you crazy, so you have to love them, otherwise you'd do them in. I can't wait for you to meet my mom and dad.” She burst out laughing at the thought.
”Why do you do that?” Traian asked suspiciously. ”You have a wicked way of laughing every time you mention introducing me to your parents.”
”Don't worry, I'll protect you from them. Jubal, Gabrielle, and I always go home for visits together. If we team up, we have a chance.”
”I am Carpathian,” he pointed out.
”Like that's going to matter. But you keep thinking it will.” Her hand fluttered to her neck, still raw and sore from the attack. ”How come I didn't wake up gorgeous and perfect?” Joie glared at him. ”I had visions of a makeover.”
”You are gorgeous and perfect.” He sounded puzzled. ”I woke you early to give you more blood, but you'll be going back to the ground until you are fully healed.” He touched his chest. ”We both will.”
She turned her head to look more fully at him, and her breath caught in her throat. ”Oh, Traian, let me see.” She rose up onto her knees in spite of his restraining hands. ”You're really hurt.”
Her eyes held worry, concern. Her hands moved over his chest with anxious, caressing strokes. Traian held his breath, shocked at the tidal wave of emotion sweeping through him. ”It is of no consequence, but thank you for worrying.”
”It's of great consequence,” she contradicted him. ”How do you do that healing thing? Can I do it to you? Would it work?”
He smiled at her, wrapping her up in his arms. ”You are Carpathian. Whatever I can do, you can do. Probably more, but if you really want to try it, let's clean off.”
”Not your way. I love the water on my skin. Is that hot spring there too hot to bathe in?” Joie indicated the pool, although it wasn't in her sight, but she knew exactly where it was positioned by the map in his head.
”If you want to bathe in a pool, sivamet-my love, we will bathe in a hot pool.” He wrapped his arms around her and floated to the surface. ”We may have to sleep during daylight hours, but in truth, few of us long for the day. We were born for the night and for us, it is beautiful. The things we can do make up for our vulnerabilities during daylight hours.”
He kept his arm around her to steady her as he put her feet in the heated pool. Joie had no idea how weak she truly was. He had gone out early to feed before he woke her, needing to supply her with more blood. He could feel her hunger beating at him, although she steadfastly refused to acknowledge it. She needed to cling to her human ways just a little longer, to slowly accept a new, completely different way of life.
Joie was far too courageous and if her family and Gary were true examples of human bravery then he had been missing out on knowing many good people. It made him a little ashamed to think he hadn't even tried to get to know those humans around him. He hadn't trusted any of them, and yet when he'd needed help, four generous people had come to his aid. Joie had been so trusting of him, and he honestly didn't know if he could say had it been the other way around, that he would have been so trusting of her.
He rubbed his chin along the top of her hair, enjoying the feeling of the thick, silky strands against his jaw. Very gently he began to wash her body, his hands moving down the line of her back and smoothing over the curve of her hips. Her breath caught in her throat and her hands began to move over him, tentatively at first, but was.h.i.+ng the lacerations and bite marks the insects and bats had made clean, pressing her mouth against the terrible, raw, barely healing wound Valenteen had made in his chest.