Dark Magic

All Sava

She rubbed her pounding head. Little hammers seemed to be having a field day in her skull. Gregori moved easily, casually to the nightstand beside the bed. Her gaze stayed glued to him, her face pale, shadows haunting her eyes. He crushed herbs into a crystal bowl, the soothing fragrance instantly filling the room.

“Come here, ma chérie.” His voice was low and compelling. The sound of it washed over her like clear water. “It’s almost dawn.”

Her gaze shifted uncomfortably to the bed as Sava

The pale eyes drifted over her possessively. “You will not leave my side.”

“No?” All at once she was desperately weary, her head hurting, her legs trembling, and she sat down abruptly on the floor. One hand swept through her heavy blue-black hair, shoving it away from her face in an unconsciously feminine gesture. She blinked, and that fast Gregori was standing over her. She closed her eyes when he reached for her. He was strong, enormously strong, lifting her as if she was no more than a child. She buried her face against his chest, unable to summon the strength to fight him.

Gregori savored the feel of Sava

His hand stroked back her hair, soothingly massaged her scalp. His hypnotic voice took on a low chant of healing, removing the pain from her temples, replacing it with peace. He stretched out beside her, his larger, heavier frame dwarfing hers. Instantly his body reacted to her closeness. He was on fire, his need burning in his blood, his muscles, every fiber of his body. He accepted the pain, grateful he could feel it. As he drew her into his arms, he marveled at the perfection in one so small and fragile. She was trembling so much, he could hear her teeth chatter.

“I know what I am, Sava

She burrowed her face into his silk shirt, where she could feel the steady beat of his heart, the heat of his skin. It was impossible for him to hide his fierce arousal, and he didn’t bother to try, rather fitting her body to the hard length of his. Sava

“You think I’m like other Carpathian women, Gregori, but I’m not,” she said softly, uncertain whether she was offering an apology or an explanation.

His mouth brushed the top of her head, the lightest of caresses; his thumb stroked the spot where Roberto had struck her. “You know what happens to the males of our species, Sava

“He was half your age. Why would he turn renegade and you not?” She turned her head to meet Gregori’s pale eyes. A shiver ran through her at the lack of mercy she saw there, at the stark possession burning in the icy silver depths.

“Have you ever wondered why there are so few of us Carpathians?”

“Of course I have. Just because I don’t choose to mate does not mean I don’t think about the problems facing our people. Gregori, I don’t want to be anyone’s lifemate. There’s no reason to take it personally.”

Gregori smiled at her, his perfect mouth sensual and inviting. “I know you are afraid of me, Sava

Determined not to be drawn into an argument she could not win, she went back to a safer topic. “The reason there are so few Carpathians is because there are so few women and no female children. Even the male children rarely survive their first year.” Sava

“What of the men? Do you truly wonder why so few survive without turning vampire?” His hand stroked her hair. “Have you ever felt alone, Sava

As a child she had lived in isolation, but her parents, devoted as they were to each other, still spoiled and adored her. Her wolf, too, had been extraordinary, filling every empty place in her life. She had never felt alone until she had put an ocean between herself and the healing soil of her homeland. Away from her parents, the wolf, and even her oppressive obligations as a Carpathian female had left her with a gaping hole in her heart. Being surrounded by people, even the affection she felt toward Peter and the members of her crew, did not alleviate the growing emptiness threatening to consume her. Unwilling to share her secrets with Gregori, however, she didn’t answer.

“We males ca

“My father and you are the oldest. How did you survive?”

“Your father and I spent our bloodlust years in the midst of wars across Europe. Our energies could be cha

“What of you?”

“The best I can say of myself is that I never abused a woman or child, and that I spent centuries learning the healing arts. But I have the nature of a predator, Sava