She had fought many males, but this one was incredibly strong. Even with her amazing agility, she couldn't get out from under him. She kept her throat protected, but he raked her chest, dug at her soft belly with his back paws. She tried a roll, her smaller body squirming out from under his, but his teeth clamped hard on her shoulder, the long canines puncturing her skin to tear through muscle and tissue.
Submit to him. Riordan snapped the order.
No! Never. She'd force the male to kill her first. I'd rather die than let him put his filthy hands on me.
Riordan swore and gripped her mind, ruthlessly taking control. He was far stronger than she'd ever expected and he forced obedience, the female jaguar lying still beneath the male's raking claws and teeth. Look at him. Look him straight in the eyes. Even as Riordan gave the command, he was forcing her compliance, dictating to her brain what he wanted the female jaguar to do.
Juliette lay in the snow, bleeding from dozens of wounds, her sides heaving, her ribs on fire, staring into the triumphant yellow gaze of pure evil. There was cunning intelligence looking back at her. She let the submissive terror of the female jaguar show in her eyes, although deep inside she felt Riordan waiting for the perfect moment to strike. She wasn't alone, she could do this. Riordan could destroy him through her. One less jaguar male to terrorize the females. She waited for the male to touch her, shuddering with distaste, but willing to be the sacrifice if Riordan could put an end to his life.
The male jaguar leaned closer, bending over her. His face contorted, chest and arms beginning to change. His muzzle receded to be replaced by a bullet-shaped head, skin pulled tight over a skull. The slash of mouth yawned wide revealing brown-stained teeth, razor-sharp and pointed.
Juliette's heart skipped a beat, then began to pound in utter terror. She felt Riordan's shock, heard his warning broadcast to the other Carpathians. Not jaguar-vampire. Instantly she began to shift, bringing up both legs up to kick hard. Her feet, in the midst of
the change hit the vampire in the chest. Nothing happened. He didn't even rock back. It was like hitting concrete, and the shock jarred her entire body. She tried to roll away from him, but one contorted hand caught her, sharp talons driving through her shoulder like spikes, pinning her to the ground.
He rose above her, a dark oily thing of utter evil, smirking at her in a macabre way. One finger lengthened into a talon. He breathed on it, and leaned down, all the while grinning with deliberate malice, tracing a smile around her throat. She felt the wash of hot blood gush over her neck and down her chest. Then the burn started, a fiery acid invading her skin and tissues, swelling until the pain became agony. The vampire bent and began to lick at her throat. He lapped greedily, then bit down hard, sinking long spiked teeth deep into her skin, growling as he tore at her flesh.
Pain blurred her vision, but Juliette never took her gaze from the top of her attacker's head. It was the only part of him she could see as he bent over her. She could feel Riordan concentrating, focusing, coiled and ready to strike. She knew that others were close, but only Riordan was within striking distance through her. She felt energy gathering, building until the air around her fairly crackled with it. Beneath her the snow began to melt. The vampire was too busy, feeding at the gushing well he'd opened.
Riordan struck with tremendous force, the blow hard and decisive. The vampire's skull cracked in long thin lines, splitting with a terrible crunching sound. Maggots poured out and the vampire screamed, leaping away from her, his eyes red-rimmed, his face smeared with her blood. Spittle spewed from his mouth as he raged at her. He kicked at her body, sending her flying across the snow. She hit a tree and dropped into a crumpled heap. She couldn't drag air into her lungs. Every part of her body felt on fire.
Juliette tried to push herself up, knowing he was coming for her. She couldn't quite get her legs under her, so she tried to crawl away, dragging herself toward the trees, nearly mindless with pain.
Hands touched her throat. Pushed something into the gaping wound. She looked up into the face of her brother-in-law. Juliette couldn't stop the tears. She bit down hard to keep from crying out as Rafael gathered her into the safety of his arms.
«It is all right now, little sister. Riordan will destroy it.»
It took a tremendous effort to turn her head toward the vampire. Her neck and throat, in spite of the soothing pack Rafael had placed on her, felt raw and on fire, but she needed to see the vampire killed or he would haunt her dreams for all times.
Riordan dropped out of the sky straight onto the vampire's back. The beast rose up, snarling, fighting, a whirling demon of claws and teeth, shredding skin, and trying to crack bones. Riordan was far calmer. He locked his legs around the vampire's neck and slammed his fist deep, punching a hole as he drove through the back toward the heart.
The undead contorted, tried to become insubstantial mist, but Riordan was already locked on him. The vampire threw himself over backward, slamming Riordan into the ground, nearly breaking his neck. Riordan had no choice but to evaporate beneath him, streaking around to the front, already reshaping as he plunged his fist toward the heart, this time through the chest.
The vampire retaliated in kind, desperate to get away, striking the hunter's chest wall, cracking bones, breaking through skin.
Juliette, locked with Riordan, felt the blow to her own body, pain spreading fast, robbing her of breath and sanity. Just as abruptly, it was cut off and she was no longer merged with Riordan, but left alone with the agony of her own wounds and fear for her lifemate uppermost in her mind.
A second male arrived, then a third. She recognized the family features and knew one of the men must be Manolito, Rafael and Riordan's brother. The other was definitely Mikhail Dubrinsky, prince of the Carpathian people. She coughed, trying to talk. «Help him.» She was certain she managed to get the words past her raw, gaping throat, but no one rushed to aid Riordan. They seemed more concerned with her.
«We are helping him,» Rafael soothed. «Your life is too important to take chances with and Riordan is quite capable of killing the vampire.»
«We need the richest soil possible,» Mikhail said. «Someone has healed a portion of earth where the battle recently took place. The soil there is dark and lush with minerals. Get that and bring it to the healing cave. If someone can locate the woman with the talent to heal the soil, bring her as well. I've sent word to Gregori and Francesca. They will meet us there.»
No one paid attention to Riordan and the vampire. Juliette felt desperate to reach him– to touch him with her mind. She could no longer see her lifemate, Rafael was taking her through the air to some cave she didn't want to be in. As hard as she tried to, she couldn't find her voice again and she didn't dare distract Riordan by using their telepathic link.
Carpathians began arriving, crowding close, answering the call to aid one of their kind. It was frightening to be among so many strangers-so many males. She had done this-with her headstrong nature. The vampire had used her worst fears against her and she'd fallen right into the trap. Had she broadcast her fears? How had he known she would follow a jaguar male? And now Riordan was in danger and no one seemed to care. She shoved at Rafael, tried to struggle, but her arms felt like leaden weights. Where was her strength? And why was her vision so hazy? Everything seemed vague and far away to her.
«Juliette!» Rafael's voice was sharp and commanding.
She'd always thought him far too overbearing, and would have told him so, but she seemed to be drifting, her surroundings cloudy.
«Juliette.» He hissed her name. «Riordan needs you. Come back now!»
That brought her up short. Of course she could focus for Riordan, but why was Rafael holding her to him instead of allowing her to go to her lifemate? Nothing was making sense and the pain was too great. She closed her eyes, wanting to let go and just drift away.
«I've got her now.» That was Riordan. She recognized the safety of his arms, the warmth of his body, the shape and contour of every part
of him. His long hair brushed her face as he bent over her, the sensual touch so familiar to her. She smelled his blood, felt him wince when she snuggled closer.
You're a mess. I need to take care of your wounds. She whispered the invitation to him, turning her head in an effort to inspect his chest.
The healer is here, my love. He will do for me what is necessary. Right now, you stay merged with me. Riordan could feel her spirit sliding away. She'd lost so much blood, but Rafael had packed the wound and they were preparing for the ritual healing ceremony. It wasn't happening fast enough to suit him.
She was too pale, her mind confused. She didn't even seem to realize her very essence was moving away from him, growing weaker with each passing minute.
«Hurry, we don't have much time.»
Gregori arrived, a tall, wide-shouldered man with long flowing hair and a man's face. There were no soft edges to him anywhere. He bent over Juliette without preamble and glanced back at the tall, slender woman who entered the cave after him. «Francesca. Hurry. She is far gone from us.»
Riordan wanted to protest the assessment, but he knew it was true. He was holding Juliette in a ruthless grip, caging her spirit when it wanted to drift away along with the tremendous blood loss.
A wave of the healer's hand and aromatic candles sprang to life all around them. Riordan sat between the two healers, Juliette cradled in his lap, watching as the male simply shed his body and became a white light. The energy was strong, Riordan had to turn his head away. Almost immediately, Francesca did the same. He felt them enter Juliette's body, moving quickly to her neck and throat, examining the great tears in the veins located there.
You have lost too much blood, Riordan, and need healing yourself. Have your brother give her his. He is ancient and strong and his blood will help speed the process, Gregori dictated.
Rafael immediately stepped forward and offered his wrist. Riordan had no choice but to force Juliette. She was too weak to feed on her own, and he doubted if she would willingly take from another-even his brother.
Raven, Mikhail's lifemate, began to chant softly and all around him, Carpathians filled the cave of healing and those not present, joined in from afar to aid Juliette. The ancient words were beautiful as the voices rose in a melodious throat chant. Riordan knew the healers were deeply concerned because they were using the Great Healing Chant, one designed to bring back a lost soul already moving to the next world. He felt tears in his eyes, feeling the power of the unified people, all working toward one purpose-bringing his lifemate back to him-bringing their sister back to them. His voice rose with the others, so many now, like in the old days, using their ancient language, a language secret with rituals almost as old as time.
Ot sis arm ainajanak hany, jama.
Me, ot sisarm kuntajanak, piradak sisarm, gond es irgalom ture.
Opus wakenkek, ot oma sarnank, es ot pus funk, alnak ekam ainajanak, pitanak sisarm ainajanak elava.
Ot sisarm sielanak pala. Ot omboce palaja juta alatt ojuti, kinta, es szelemek lamtijaknak.
Ot en mekem ?ama?: kulkedak otti ot sisarm omboce palajanak.
Rekature, saradak, tappadak, odam, ka?a o numa waram, es avaa owe o lewl mahoz.
Ntak o numa waram, es mozdulak, jomadak.
Piwtadak ot En Puwe tyvinak, ecidak alatt o juti, kinta, es szelemek lamtijaknak.
Fazak, fazak no o saro.
Juttadak ot sisarm o akarataban, o'sivaban, es o sielaban.
Ot sisarm sielanak ka?a engem.
Kuledak es piwtadak ot sisarm.
Sayedak es tuledak ot sisarm kulyanak.
Nenam coro; o kuly torodak.
0 kuly pel engem.
Lejkkadak o ka?ka salamaval.
Molodak ot ainaja komakamal.
Toja es molana.
Han ca?a.
Manedak ot sisarm sielanak.
Al?dak ot sisarm sielanak o komamban.
Al?dam ot sisarm numa waramra.
Piwtadak ot En Puwe tyvijanak es sayedak jalleen ot elava ainak majaknak.
Ot sisarm ela jalleen.
Ot sisarm wenca jalleen.
My sisters body is a lump of earth close to death.
We, the clan of my sister, circle her with care and compassion.
Our healing energies, ancient words of magic and healing herbs bless my sister's body, keep it alive.
But my sister's soul is only half. Her other half wanders in the nether world.
My great deed is this. I travel to find my sister's other half.
We dance, we chant, we dream ecstatically, to call my spirit bird and to open the door to the other world.
I mount my spirit bird, we begin to move, we are under way.
Following the trunk of the great Tree, we fall into the nether world.
It is cold, very cold.
My sister and I are linked in mind, heart and soul.
My sisters soul calls to me.
I hear and follow her track.
Encounter I the demon who is devouring my sister's soul.
In anger, I fight the demon.
He is afraid of me.
I strike his throat with a lightning bolt.
I break his body with my bare hands.
He is bent over and falls apart.
He runs away.
I rescue my sister's soul.
I lift my sister's soul in the hollow of my hand.
I lift her onto my spirit bird.
Following up the Great Tree, we return to the land of the living.
My sister lives again.
She is complete again.
Francesca worked to repair the large cuts to arteries and veins while Gregori went after Juliette's spirit. Riordan was reluctant to turn her over to him, afraid she would go the opposite way and be out of his reach forever.
She fears other males. She hides it well, but her past has taught her men are not to be trusted.
Do you trust me? Gregori asked.
Riordan drew back. Gregori. The Dark One. Second in command to the prince. He was a straight-up killer, but then, weren't they all? The De La Cruz brothers had always questioned authority, always fought restrictions, and were powerful, dominating men. They expected-and received-deference from all those around them, and they were always just a little bit harder on their women. Riordan felt it took extraordinary women to stand up to his-and his brothers'-personalities, and it took extraordinary men to get the De La Cruz brothers to follow their lead. Gregori was such a man.
I have complete faith in you.
Do not allow her any chance at resistance.
Riordan had no problems being ruthless. He should have forced obedience earlier when he knew Juliette would go after what she thought was a male jaguar. If he had done so, she would not be at death's door right now.
Juliette's spirit flinched from Gregori's strong personality; the terrible white-hot light that shone on her drew her upward, back toward pain and suffering. She retreated, but Riordan was there, blocking her path to the other world, forcing her back toward the healer. She tried to struggle against Riordan, somewhat hurt that he had sided with a stranger, but she was weak and it was easy to force compliance.
Pain hit her-him-a raw, fiery burn that tore through her body. She screamed and screamed, pleading with Riordan to make it stop. She fought him, her spirit fought him, but he grimly held on, blood-red tears tracking down his face while Gregori and Francesca did their best to work fast in her resisting, struggling body.
This vampire's blood not only carried acid, but also parasites, and he had licked her wounds and punctured her throat with his teeth, depositing the hideous creatures into her bloodstream. They immediately moved to invade every cell-every organ, an army bent on destroying her.
Gregori. Francesca's normally calm voice was filled with alarm. Look where the concentrated attack is.
Riordan couldn't see, the light was too bright. Gregori swore softly in their language. Tell me what is wrong, Riordan demanded.
Our enemies
are becoming more sophisticated in their attacks. The parasites are after her eggs. Gregori delivered the news on the Carpathian common path of communication.
The chanters faltered as the enormity of the news struck them. The men looked at one another, and several put their arms around their lifemates.
«Can you save her children?» Mikhail asked.
Raven slipped her hand into Mikhail's waiting for the answer.