Dark Descent (Dark #11)(23)
Author: Christine Feehan

Who is Gregori?

There was so much respect in Gary’s voice, Joie was curious.

He is second to the prince. A great hunter and healer. He is lifemate to the daughter of the prince.

Joie looked up at Traian. "I can see the Carpathians have a complex society. Why didn’t we know of its existence until now?"

"We take great care to blend in to the human world. It has been our way for centuries and has worked well for us. Unfortunately, our race is on the verge of extinction." Traian gathered Joie to him. "Without life-mates, we will not survive."

"Lifemates?" Jubal echoed.

"We mate for life. Once a male finds the woman who is his other half, he binds her to him, as you do with a marriage ceremony. If she is a human and does not live fully in our world, it can be very difficult. Lifemates cannot be parted for long periods of time. We have a strong telepathic link and must touch each other’s minds frequently or one begins to grieve for the other. As Carpathians cannot walk fully in the human world, it is usually best for the human to walk in our world," Traian explained.

Jubal and Gabrielle exchanged a long, apprehensive look. "What exactly does that entail?"

"Jubal – " Joie protested.

"No, Joie, I want to know what he’s talking about." Jubal didn’t look at his sister but rather at Traian. Man to man. Expecting an answer. Demanding one.

"Joie has consented to come fully into my world, Jubal," Traian said, his voice low and without inflection. "I will protect her and watch over her and see to her happiness at all times. The conversion will not take her from your family. She would never be happy apart from you. I hope you and your sister and your parents will be able to accept me into your world, your family, the way I know my people will accept Joie into mine."

Jubal swore softly and turned away from them to stare out into the night. "Joie, did you think this through? Do you know what he’s asking of you?"

Joie went to her brother, put her arms around him. "I’ve never felt as if I truly belonged, Jubal. I accepted that I was different, and yes, I’ve been happy because I like the work I do and I love my family dearly, but I want more than that. Traian offered me more, and I grabbed the opportunity with both hands."

"Do you hear what he’s saying to you? This isn’t like a human marriage, Joie, where you can walk away if things don’t work out."

Traian stood beside Joie, his fingers laced with hers. "Lifemates not only want to be together, Jubal, they need to be. They find a way to work things out. A male Carpathian knows what makes his lifemate happy and does everything within his power to do it for her. And it works both ways. We always have telepathic communication open to us, so, in a sense, we are used to living in each other’s heads. I know that is a big adjustment to make, and I am doing my best to give Joie as much space as she needs. But she is already learning quickly."

"It’s what I want, Jubal," Joie said. "Be happy for me."

"I know you, Joie. You aren’t going to be satisfied sitting on the sidelines while vampires are hanging around. You’re going to go save the world."

Joie couldn’t lie to her brother. "Probably. On the other hand, I have no intention of giving up my business. I thought Traian might work with me."

"This is where it is necessary for you to have faith in me, Jubal," Traian said. "I cannot allow anything to happen to Joie."

Jubal laughed without humor. "You don’t know Joie if you think you’re going to be protecting her. More than likely, it will be the other way around."

"Forgive me for butting in, but I’ve been around the Carpathian race for some time now," Gary said. "Traian is an ancient Carpathian male. He is far more powerful than you can imagine. They do not allow their women to come to any harm."

"But then you haven’t met someone like Joie before," Jubal pointed out. "She’s the guardian of the world."

"Stop picking on me, Jubal. At least I go after people, not little organisms that you can’t see and can’t do anything about."

"Hey now," Gabrielle objected, "don’t turn the spotlight on me."

A small smile curved Traian’s mouth. "I think you are misjudging me because of our first meeting, when I was being held prisoner. I have survived countless battles with the undead, Jubal. A master vampire is every bit as powerful as our greatest hunter." He looked at Gary. "Mikhail should know they are traveling in packs, and I have heard disturbing rumors that they are planning something. I also believe it is important to discover whatever it is they are seeking. Vampires always seek power. They would never waste time working the way they are unless it resulted in more power."

Gary nodded. "I’ll tell him."

"I’ll be returning to the cave just before sundown tomorrow. I hope to surprise them before they rise. In any case, I will do my best to discover what they seek."

"Why just before sundown?" Jubal asked curiously.

"I am weak and vulnerable while the sun is high," Traian admitted without hesitation. "The vampire is also at his most vulnerable. If I rise before them, I may be able to destroy them before they regain their strength."

"Well, of course I’m going with you," Joie said.

Traian brought her fingertips to his lips, breathed warm air over her hand. "I can travel faster on my own, Joie. And you have not yet learned to prevent them from reading your mind. I would be at risk because of your unguarded thoughts."

Joie’s gaze flickered to Gary. The man nodded. "They are adept at reading our thoughts and even controlling us. Traian can go in without their being aware of his presence, but they would know the moment you were near."

Joie frowned. "I don’t like the idea of you going in alone. There are several of them, and you’ve admitted there’s more than one master vampire. I might be able to help. Could you block them from reading my thoughts?"

"Probably, but the more tasks I have to perform, the more energy I expend. I have to go in fast and hard and get out the same way."

Jubal immediately stepped to his sister’s side. "What if we were nearby, waiting just in case you run into trouble?" he suggested.

Gabrielle nodded. "I think that would be best, Traian. We might not be able to incinerate the things, but we can slow them down for you."

Traian looked at the three of them. Family. Solidarity. Jubal and Gabrielle might not agree with Joie’s choice. They might be afraid for her. But when it counted, they stood with her. He bent his head and kissed Joie right in front of them. It was that or humiliate himself with tears shimmering in his eyes. As it was, a lump threatened to choke him. "Thank you for letting me be a part of your family, Joie. They are wonderful." He looked at Jubal. "I appreciate the offer, but it is safer for me if you are here, a distance away where the undead cannot perceive a threat to them. Should I have need, I will contact Joie immediately." He looked at Gary over their heads, and the prince’s messenger nodded carefully. He would watch over Traian’s lifemate and family. A matter of honor in the Carpathian world.