Dark Celebration (4 page)

"It smells good," Skyler said.

"I used a wild rice stuffing," Raven said. "I remember it from my childhood. It took a bit of time tracking down the recipe, but it should be good, although it's been a long time since I cooked anything."

"Francesca lets me cook whenever I want. She trusts me to make my own decisions." Skyler glanced at Mikhail.

"Are you aware of what happens to a Carpathian male without his lifemate?" Mikhail asked, his voice compelling.

Skyler nodded. "Gabriel and Francesca both explained it to me. They lose colors and emotions first. Over hundreds of years, honor can fade and they become dangerous, especially the hunters, any who take lives. And eventually they can become the vampire, the most evil of all creatures."

"And you would leave your lifemate to this fate? You would be that cruel and inhumane? Should he suffer even more than he already has because you suffered?"

"Mikhail!" Raven whirled around, shock on her face.
She's a child. How could you? Giving our daughter to Gregori before she was beyond a fledging was bad enough, but this child has suffered. And we have no way of knowing whether or not she is lifemate to one of our males
.

She is experienced far beyond her human years, Raven. Allow her to answer.

Skyler carefully placed the glass on the table and stood up, folding her arms as she faced Mikhail squarely. "No, of course not. I wouldn't want anyone to suffer, but I can't seem to overcome the things in my past." She held her trembling hands in front of her. "I don't feel comfortable in the presence of men. I'm not capable of being anyone's lifemate and I don't want to be forced into a position where I have no choice, no say in my life. I didn't come to this conclusion lightly. I love Gabriel and I certainly wouldn't want to think of him dead or suffering or a vampire, but I know I can't ever be powerless again. Male Carpathians are far too dominating, and I would find myself slipping back into that dark place where Francesca first found me."

Mikhail frowned. "Do you believe our women are without power? Is that how you see Francesca?"

Skyler shook her head. "Francesca is loved and returns love. She can do what I can't—and never will be able to do. Gabriel promised me—as did Lucian—that they will never let another force my compliance, but I know a Carpathian male has the ability to bind a Carpathian woman to him. I want to be fully Gabriel and Francesca's daughter, but I don't want to be subject to the laws of your world."

She doesn't know her lifemate could bind her to him in her human state
. Mikhail reached out to Raven, suddenly at a loss as to what to do or say to this woman-child.
Why would Francesca and Gabriel and even Lucian keep this information from her
?

"Skyler," he said aloud. "A Carpathian male must put his lifemate above all else. He would see to your needs, have patience with you. You are young yet. You have no idea how you'll feel in a few years."

"I do know."

"And you would sentence a Carpathian male, one who has given many lifetimes of service, to death—or worse—to the undead out of fear?"

"His decisions have nothing to do with me."

"And what of the Carpathian race? Our species is nearly extinct. We cannot continue to exist without women and children. One woman makes a difference. One woman can save a male and give birth to a child."

"I see Francesca struggling sometimes to be true to her nature, and she's a strong woman. Gabriel is very protective and dislikes her going anywhere without him."

Mikhail slammed a barrier in his mind immediately to prevent Raven from reading his mind. Gabriel had to be concerned with their enemies striking at the women, yet he had allowed Skyler to go into the woods. Or had he? "Did you mention to Gabriel that you were coming to see us?"

Skyler scuffed the toe of her hiking boot on the kitchen floor. "I may have forgotten. He was busy helping Francesca bake gingerbread for the house we're making for the children."

Raven basted the turkey in silence, turning over Skyler's fears in her mind. "What is it Francesca struggles against, Skyler?" she asked.

Skyler shrugged. "What do
you
struggle against?"

Mikhail was slightly shocked at the human teenagers reply. She sounded far too mature for her age, and that in itself was a danger he hadn't considered. If Gabriel and Francesca had thought about the potential risks before bringing Skyler to their homeland, they would have mentioned her maturity to him. She was only sixteen—a virtual baby by their standards, yet her experiences had aged her far beyond her physical years. She looked—and spoke—like an adult. Would her voice trigger the terrible needs of the Carpathian male? If so, and she restored color and emotion to her lifemate before she could meet his needs, that might be as dangerous to the male, her not being ready to be with him, as not finding her at all. Often, being a lifemate—and intense sexual awareness and need—came before love or even affection.

Raven touched his hand—a small gesture, but it was enough to lighten his spirits. She smiled at the teenager. "I struggle with the terrible burden of so many lives depending on my lifemate and with the knowledge that so many want him dead. And I struggle with my own inadequacies. There are still aspects of Carpathian life I can't come to terms with, and it could present an added danger to my lifemate."

She smiled up at Mikhail. The stark love shining in her eyes put an unexpected lump in his throat. "I have never, not once, not at any time, regretted that I am lifemate to this man. I think you underestimate your own abilities, Skyler. You're a very courageous young woman. You are far too young to contemplate taking on a Carpathian male, but eventually you will come into your full power and potential. Most of the men have no idea what they've gotten themselves into." She winked at the girl. "It takes time to develop skills and power and most of us were too young, but we learned quickly by utilizing the mind bond."

Skyler nodded. "Gabriel and Francesca teach me by sharing information telepathically, and I've found it's so much more detailed than conversation. I can see how you'd learn so much more quickly."

"How's Baby Tamara doing?" There was a hitch in Raven's voice, and she didn't dare glance at Mikhail. Of course he would notice—he always noticed.

His gaze found hers—sharp—aware, sliding over her body with too much knowledge. She hadn't told him she could get pregnant—that it was the optimum time and if they let this chance slip by, it could be years before it happened again. Ashamed of being afraid, of the sorrow and grief that accompanied taking such a chance, Raven looked away from him. "And sometimes, Skyler, I struggle against my own weaknesses and fears, but never—
never
—against being lifemate to Mikhail."

Skyler, obviously an empath, moved closer to Raven, as if by her close presence she could reduce the sadness. "I guess we all do that, don't we?" She looked to Mikhail for confirmation.

Mikhail touched Raven's hair, his fingers gentle.
Raven, my love
. His voice in her mind was infinitely tender.
Every Carpathian male knows when his mate can conceive. You are everything I have ever wanted. When you are ready
—
only when you are ready
—
do we try again
. He smiled at Skyler even as his gaze caressed his lifemate. "You are a very wise young lady."

Dark clouds crossed the moon, momentarily darkening the skies and casting macabre shadows into the large kitchen. The silhouette of a large wolf passed in front of the window, as if a large creature had crept onto the wraparound deck and paced just outside. Instinctively, Mikhail, Raven and Skyler turned toward the second window just over the sink. Skyler gave a muffled cry as a great shaggy head, fur black and eyes glowing nearly red, stared at them through the glass.

"Stay inside," Mikhail commanded as he shimmered—first into transparency—and then dissolved into vapor, streaming across the kitchen to slide under the door out into the night.

The wolf abruptly disappeared leaving the two women staring into the darkness.

"It could have been Gabriel or Lucian checking up on me," Skyler ventured. "They often take the form of a wolf."

Raven shook her head. "They would have come to the house, talked with Mikhail, let you know they were worried."

Skyler put a comforting hand on Raven's arm, a difficult thing for Skyler to do when she disliked being touched or touching. "There are a dozen Carpathian males within hearing distance. If the prince needs help, he has only to call out."

Raven smiled at her, one hand to her throat. "Of course he can. Whatever is out there doesn't really feel like a threat to me." In the form of an animal, it would be easy enough for a skilled Carpathian—or vampire—to hide his intentions, but Raven wasn't going to acknowledge that to Skyler. "Mikhail will let us know if something is wrong. In the meantime, I have this turkey in the oven. Have you ever cooked before? It's been such a long time for me and I could use a hand."

Skyler laughed. "We have a housekeeper. She does the cooking and lets me into the kitchen once in a while, but doesn't really like anyone underfoot. She pretends it doesn't bother her, but I know it does."

"Of course you'd know. You're an empath, you can feel what she's feeling. That must be uncomfortable for you."

Skyler shrugged. "Gabriel and Francesca are helping me to learn how to shut myself off. So far I haven't mastered it yet, but I think eventually I'll be fairly good at it. Francesca helps to guard me during the time she's awake."

"Why do you want them to convert you?"

"They're my family. I want to be with them."

"And they've both exchanged blood with you?"

Skyler nodded. "It will only take one blood exchange for the conversion. Gabriel explained it to me, but he wants me to wait until I'm older. He thinks I need more time to think about it, but I know what I want. As long as the prince doesn't insist on me taking a Carpathian male as a lifemate, then I'm going to try to get Gabriel to do it as soon as possible."

"It's difficult on your body, Skyler," Raven warned. "There's a great deal of pain they can't protect you from."

"I can feel that you're uneasy, Raven. There's something you aren't telling me."

Raven had been completely human, just as Skyler had been, and she was a strong psychic talent. She could feel that the Carpathian blood had already heightened Skyler's awareness and senses. The girl was intelligent and powerful, with well-developed psychic talents. Raven still remembered those days, the sensation of someone else's emotions creeping over her, sharp and terrible. There was a scent to evil and depravity, and an empath as sensitive as Skyler needed to be sheltered from the continual assault on her. It was no wonder Gabriel and Francesca had both given her blood to help shield her.

"I think you already know what I'm not telling you, Skyler. You came here not to ask Mikhail for assurances, but to make him aware of your strong objections. Francesca and Gabriel would never try to hide the truth from you—that your true lifemate can bind you to him whether you are human or Carpathian. If you are the other half of his soul, he can seal you together. You know that, don't you?"

Skyler blushed as she nodded her head. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have lied. Sometimes I learn more by pretending ignorance. Most people don't give a teenager credit for intelligence or maturity. I can ask for protection against him, can't I?"

Raven studied the too-old eyes. "Have you met your lifemate?"

Skyler shook her head, her gaze shifting away. "I have nightmares. I hear a voice sometimes and I'm afraid." She hesitated. "When I was a little girl and men did things to me, I would scream and scream in my mind. I would hear a voice calling to me. At the time I just thought I was going crazy. But I know he's out there somewhere and he's looking for me." She rubbed the spot between her eyes. "I didn't want to come to the Carpathian Mountains because I was afraid he might be here, but Gabriel and Francesca wouldn't leave me behind. Gabriel said I needed protection at all times."

Raven's heart jumped. "He said that?"

Skyler nodded. "He's been strange lately, not wanting Francesca or me to go anywhere without him. I can see she gets upset, but she doesn't say anything. She works at the hospital and some of the shelters and I often go with her, but he doesn't like her going anymore."

Raven busied herself with the turkey, basting it again, even though there was no need. "When did Gabriel start becoming upset about the two of you going off alone?" She kept her voice casual, but out of the corner of her eye, caught the girl's sharp glance.

"Since the attack on the prince."

There is nothing to fear out here, Raven. One of the male's taking a run in the forest decided to drop by, but saw we had company. I am going to see my brother. Do not allow Skyler back into the forest without an escort.

Should I be worried about something, Mikhail?

Raven felt the brief hesitation.
I do not know. I am uneasy, but have no real reason to be
.

Be careful, Mikhail. Be safe. Tell Shea I'll see her soon. What are you discussing with Jacques?

Raven felt his sudden amusement.
The image of Gregori dressed up as Santa Claus surrounded by children
.

Chapter 2