Dark Tarot (Dark Carpathians)

“No, I had my life all planned out, and he wasn’t part of that plan. He did rather quickly change my mind.” Francesca smiled up at Gabriel, looking at him as if the stars rose with him.

“I’m not in the least surprised,” Adalasia said. She smiled up at Sandu. “They seem to have the art of persuasion down very well.”

Francesca laughed. “They certainly do.”

“From here, we have another surprise,” Gabriel said. “It’s located on the banks of the Seine right in the Jardin des Plantes. We can be there in a few minutes.”

Sandu swept Adalasia into his arms. “I’ll teach you the finer points of flying soon, ewal emninumam, and then you’ll be able to do this on your own.” I know you like your independence, especially in front of others.

That’s true. She nuzzled his chin with the top of her head, brushing her silky hair against his rougher bristles. But I do like being in your arms. She did. She couldn’t help it.

Before, she would have felt silly having a man carry her. She was tall and had curves. She was no small, willowy model type. She had firm muscles from years of working out, of practicing fighting arts. Of wielding swords and other instruments of death. Sandu made her feel as if she were as light as a feather.

Flying through the air is still a little scary even though I love it.

I know you do. I can feel the joy in you. Seeing flying through your eyes is a gift, Adalasia.

She didn’t know what to say or do when he spoke to her like that, intimacy brushing the walls of her mind like the gentlest stroke of a paintbrush. It made her happy that he was seeing things in a different way, in color and with vivid detail. That made her think of the other Carpathian males, his brethren from the monastery.

Where are the guardian angels?

Sandu couldn’t help but laugh. She’d taken to calling his four brethren the guardian angels. They were more like fallen angels, but she had great affection for them already. His lifemate needed a family, and she had quickly claimed one. Sandu and the brethren were her family, and she was attached.

They prefer to remain unseen in this environment. They have remained uneasy since we left Andre’s home. Your blood is now fully Carpathian, but you still remain a Ravasio. Your ancestor will be able to track you.

Her arms tightened around his neck, and she laid her ear against his heart. We knew that we would face danger at every turn, Sandu. When we set out on this path, that warning was always there for us to see, and we accepted it. Andre all but said we would be in terrible danger. I refuse to allow Nera and her army to make me give up one single moment of happiness with you. I hope you won’t, either.

He was grateful to the universe that she had been given to him. That would be impossible, Adalasia. Every moment with you is one to treasure. But we must always be on guard. The brethren know that and surround us with their protection.

Even cooler air met them as they dropped down to stand in front of a round platform filled with creatures of the past. Panels were decorated outside with wild animals, as well as what looked like at least twelve scenes from the Jardin des Plantes. Inside panels had a jungle theme, but Adalasia had eyes on the animals.

“What is this?” Adalasia looked up at Sandu, feeling like a child clutching his arm.

Sandu threw his head back and laughed. “It’s called a carousel, which you well know. It may have strange animals on it, but it’s still a carousel, Sivamet.”

“A carousel,” she echoed, her voice filled with wonder. “I’ve never ridden on one in my life. I’ve never even been this close to one. We used to have a tent sometimes where my mother would read tarot cards at fairs when a carnival would come into town, but she wouldn’t let me leave the tent. Not ever. She said it was too dangerous.”

“You didn’t defy her and sneak out?” Gabriel asked. “You seem the type of child to go your own way and ignore authority. We have one of those children. She’s grown now, but she gave us, and still gives us, gray hair.”

“Gabriel,” Francesca chided, but she was laughing.

“It’s true, and I can see Adalasia being very much like Skyler.” The legendary vampire hunter lifted a black eyebrow at her. “Do you ignore authority figures and just go your own way? Are you going to give your lifemate all kinds of trouble?”

Adalasia couldn’t help looking up into Sandu’s face. She wanted to trace every sensual line—especially now, when he was smiling down at her, mostly with his eyes. He had a way of melting her heart and setting her stomach into doing some strange loop, like a slow roller coaster might do right before it went off the rails.