Dark Magic

Gary managed to pry his eyes open. Sava

“Where’s Gregori?” he asked, biting the words out between clenched teeth.

Sava

“Where’s Evans?” Gary suddenly pushed her aside to look anxiously this way and that, worried that he couldn’t protect Sava

“He’s dead,” she said bluntly. “Gregori killed him to save your life.” She stood up and wiped ineffectually at her mud-spattered jeans. “I hate this place. I wish we’d never come here.”

“Sava

She shook her head, fighting down sudden anger. “What neither of you seems to understand is that I amhere. Whether I’m here physically or not, I’m with him. I feel what he feels, exactly what he feels. It isn’t protecting me to wrap me in cotton wool and put me on a shelf.” She jerked away from him and walked toward the river.

Gregori materialized behind her, his large, stocky frame dwarfing her smaller one. He bent protectively over her, one hand on her shoulder. Gary watched as she shook it off, not in the least intimidated by his size or power.

“Do not be angry, mon amour,I truly sought only to protect you. Had Martin fired the gun, the bullet would have hit you. I could not allow such a thing,” Gregori said gently. He could feel the raging conflict in her. She had never been so close to death and violence until Gregori had chosen to force his claim on her. From their first day together as lifemates, she had known nothing else.

“There was no chance that you would have let him shoot me. Instead, because you locked me up with some ancient command, Gary was almost murdered in front of my eyes.” Sava

“I will not take chances with your life, ma petite”he emphasized, his arms circling her waist from behind. When she would have stepped away from him, he tightened his hold on her. “I will not, Sava

“You lost your chance at the vampire because of me, didn’t you?” she demanded, tears in her voice, shimmering in her eyes. “He couldn’t sense your presence—you’re able to do something to mask it—but he knew I was there, even though I was invisible.”

It was the truth. He didn’t want it to be, especially with her so confused and upset. Gregori couldn’t bear it when she was unhappy. But there was no way to lie, and he wouldn’t have done so even if he could have. He remained silent, allowing her to read the answer in his mind.

Sava

Gregori bent his dark head to the slim white column of her neck. “You are my world, ma petite,my very existence. You are what makes living bearable. You are my light, the very air I breathe.” His mouth brushed her pulse, her earlobe. “You are not meant to walk in death. You never were.”

She swung around, her blue eyes darkening to deep violet. “If you walk in death, Gregori, then that is where you will find me. Right beside you. I belong where you are. I am your lifemate.There is no other. I am your lifemate.” She held up a hand, furious at the situation. “There will be no more discussion on this. You can do no other than to see to my happiness, and the only way I will be happy will be to learn to cloak my presence from vampire, humans, and Carpathians alike.”

Sava

“What happens when the bodies are found? The cops are going to come looking for the last person seen alive with them,” Gary said, reluctantly stepping back into the boat. He was still digging muck out of his nose and mouth.

“No one saw you with them,” Gregori answered quietly. “They saw only two men leaving the hotel, two men walking through the Quarter, and two men getting into the boat. That’s why we ca

Gary blinked. “How do you propose we get back? Fly?” he asked sarcastically.

“Exactly,” Gregori answered complacently.

Gary shook his head. “This is getting too bizarre for me.”

“Do you wish me to blank out your mind from experiencing this?” Gregori asked politely, his thoughts clearly on Sava

“No,” Gary said decisively. He caught up the laptop from the seat of the boat. “But why don’t you take me to another hotel? You and Sava

Gregori found himself liking the mortal even more. He had no idea a human might be so sensitive to another’s feelings. Raven, Sava

Sava

Wait for me, Sava