Dark Tarot (Dark Carpathians)

“We didn’t have surnames that long ago,” Lucian said. “Our families took them when the world around us began to change and names seemed overly important. We moved from place to place, and usually our names reflected the moves. Because we lived long lives, we didn’t want people to associate our name or features with someone they knew in the past. Now, it is even much more difficult because of cameras everywhere. His surname is not going to be of much help.”

A wolf howled. Another one took up the cry. Nicu rose just as the fire shadows flickered in a kind of macabre dance, morphing into hooded figures. Lucian and the other Carpathian males stood as Jaxon entered. Lucian’s lifemate was small and slender with a cap of wild blond hair. She smiled at them and then flung her arms around Lucian’s neck, going up on her toes to kiss him.

Lucian kissed Jaxon leisurely, even knowing what was outside somewhere waiting for them. When he lifted his head, he smiled down at her. “What did you bring home with you this time, little troublemaker?”

“I hurried to get here to meet Sandu’s lifemate. I never get to meet other women. You keep me locked up like some prisoner.” She turned her laughing gaze on Adalasia. “Beware of these sexy, charming ancients. They con you into loving them beyond distraction, and then you find yourself in a gilded cage.” She gestured at the beautiful mansion.

Lucian’s sharp teeth bit her shoulder, and she yipped and then laughed. “Go hunt. All of you. No doubt the master vampire and his pawns took the bait. The poor helpless female traveling home all alone. Sheesh. He should have known when the wolves didn’t attack that I was under guard. He’ll get a surprise with so many hunters. Sandu, introduce us, please.”

Sandu had never met Jaxon, but she knew him, apparently, through Lucian’s mind, something that easily happened between lifemates. He gave her a small courtly, respectful bow. “Adalasia, this is Jaxon, Lucian’s lifemate.” Adalasia is not fully Carpathian. He sent that to her through Lucian. “We have only begun our journey together.” Adalasia gave him a suspicious look. More and more, he feared their connection was growing stronger, and keeping things from her was going to be difficult.

A shadow crossed Jaxon’s face, but she held out both hands to Adalasia. “Welcome to our home. Are you hungry? Or thirsty? We have the guest room prepared.”

Sandu knew they would wave a hand and put a room together swiftly over the ground where he would sleep.

“There’s so much to see, I’m not tired at all,” Adalasia denied. “Your home is so incredibly beautiful. Do the wolves really travel with you?”

Sandu could see that his woman was going to be kept occupied by Lucian’s lifemate. He reached out to Lucian. Are they safe while we hunt?

The undead cannot come into my home. It is sealed against them. My woman would call to me if they got close, as would my wolves. We are free to pursue the vampire and his pawns.

Sandu thought it strange that a master vampire would make the mistake of traveling into Lucian’s home territory. He might mask that he resided in the area, but word got out, and there was the wolf pack. They were dangerous and a large one. They didn’t wander over miles as most wolves did. They stayed close to the large estate.

A trap for you? Drawing you out, Lucian?

Perhaps. It could be. I have given that idea some thought, but if it is so, he chose the wrong time. With five ancients to hunt with me, I hardly think a master vampire is going to win this game.

Sandu had to agree, the familiar predator settling over him easily, naturally. At once, his emotions were gone and all color dimmed. He cloaked his presence, as did Nicu, Benedek, Petru and Siv as they drifted out the front door when Lucian stood in the center of it, allowing the light to silhouette him there. If the master vampire had left his spies to tell him when Lucian began tracking him, Lucian wanted those spies to be very aware of him.

Lucian stepped through and closed the heavy door with a wave of his hands and wove the safeguards. The five ancients added their unseen weave to Lucian’s to ensure the entire house was surrounded above, below and on every side to keep all evil out while they hunted.

Jaxon reminded Adalasia of a beautiful little fairy princess. Adalasia was tall and had curves. Lots of them. She’d never minded that she wasn’t the fashionable, slender model seen on magazine covers. Her life was dedicated from the time she was born to a purpose. She’d been taught that. Raised to believe it. She didn’t think too much about her looks until moments like this one, and then just for a brief minute.