But she knew why. She knew what they were doing was a nearly impossible feat. They looked so exhausted. Even with Danutdaxton giving his blood and Riley supplying him, she could see and feel they were concerned it was not going to be enough.
Siv suddenly stood. Simultaneously, Dax was on his feet whirling to face away from Adalasia and Riley. Petru rose as well. The three Carpathians placed their bodies between Sandu’s, Nicu’s and Benedek’s bodies, as well as the two women. The wind again moved through the trees, but it didn’t carry scent. The forest hadn’t gone silent as it should have when there was a disturbance.
“I see you have need of a healer, Danutdaxton.” The voice came out of the canopy, but from which direction was impossible to tell. “I offer my services.”
Who is this man who can hide himself from all of us? Siv demanded.
As always, Danutdaxton was strictly factual. He is Luiz De La Cruz. At one time, he was Jaguar, but he was converted, rose, and then when deemed worthy, was taken to the cave of warriors and once again was put in the ground. Zacarias, as head of the family, asked that he be judged worthy to join their bloodline. It is a difficult line, and Luiz was given the choice. He would have led a half life otherwise. He died a second time, and his soul was split in half once he was deemed worthy. This has not been an easy transition for him, any more than it has been for Gary. All of the past warriors of the family poured knowledge and skill into him, but also their despair of not finding a lifemate. He is, however, a tremendous healer.
Adalasia could feel the two ancients in her mind weighing the risks. “In your opinion, Dax, is he trustworthy?”
“He is a De La Cruz.”
As if she should know what that meant. She had heard of the De La Cruz family only because Sandu had mentioned they owned land in several countries in South America. She knew they had human families loyal to them watching over their cattle ranches during the day, but that didn’t tell her anything about the men.
De La Cruz is a very respected name, Petru supplied. They do not go back on their word.
Adalasia opened her mouth to call to the Carpathian male, but Siv hastily stopped her. Not you. Do not ask a favor.
“Please ask him to help,” Adalasia pleaded.
“You could be of great assistance,” Danutdaxton assured the unseen Carpathian male. “We would be grateful if you tried to heal him.”
The air was suddenly charged with energy. With power. It was impossible not to feel it. The tiny hairs on Adalasia’s body reacted. She was used to the feel of the ancients and even the difference in Dax with the Old One residing in him, but this new hunter striding with complete confidence out into the opening carried something with him that was unsettling. Too much power perhaps.
He wasn’t as tall as the ancients. He was built with roped, dense muscles. He walked in complete silence, so much so that it felt to Adalasia as if the world held its breath as he approached Sandu’s body, his strange eyes going from an amber to a true gold. He had the long hair the warriors wore, secured at the nape of his neck with a leather cord that wound around the thickness and length. He didn’t walk so much as prowl, a great jungle cat moving among them.
“Give me the details quickly before I attempt to heal him,” Luiz demanded. His gaze moved over the two women and then settled on Adalasia. She felt that direct golden gaze like a laser piercing right through her strongest barrier. “She holds him to her.”
“Yes.” It was clear Danutdaxton had passed on all information regarding how Sandu had come to have his wounds and what Siv and Petru had found. “There are two ancients with him now, Nicu Dalca and Benedek Kovac.”
Luiz nodded curtly and shed his body without another word, leaving himself completely vulnerable to attack.
“He isn’t too worried one of you will try to kill his physical body,” Adalasia pointed out.
“As I said, he is a De La Cruz,” Dax reiterated. “Should any harm befall him, his brothers would hunt to the ends of the earth those responsible. I can tell you, Adalasia, we are very lucky to have him chance upon us.”
“I don’t believe it was chance,” she whispered. She didn’t. Things happened the way they were supposed to. They were meant to meet Dax and Riley. Luiz De La Cruz was meant to find them. For whatever reason, this was all happening. She had seen terrible danger in the cards. Each rising she read them, and each rising she could see the dangers surrounding them, growing worse.