Dark Promises (Dark 25)

He took a breath. Let it out. She was too intelligent not to know what would happen. He would have no choice but to remain at the monastery, becoming the gatekeeper as Fane had been. Fane had to be released from his duties so he and his lifemate could travel with Teagan and Andre back to the United States.

"I am sorry, little cat, I would have to stay and protect the ancients. We would remain here. I have seen your dream of a house and yard and children playing . . ."

"Dreams change, Aleksei," Gabrielle said, pressing her fingertips to his lips. "That was a child's dream. You are home to me. You. Not a house and a yard. We can turn wherever we are into a home because we're together. My work is important, though. I really feel we've made a tremendous amount of progress. Shea's a great doctor and she has a way of putting us on the right track when we're all throwing out ideas, but with Gary gone, I'm needed."

"Then if we stay, we will have to get together a laboratory for you to do your research in at the monastery."

"You would do that?"

He smiled down at her, shaking his head. "Kislany. I am a selfish man and want you all to myself. I will not ever apologize for that, but I am not so selfish that I would not want you to do important work that only you can do for our people. If we return to the Carpathian Mountains I might even offer my services to the prince. I have not sworn my allegiance to him nor did I think I ever would, but I have a family to think of now."

She burst out laughing. "Such a chore. Swearing allegiance to your prince."

He gave her a mock scowl when her laughter was the most beautiful music in the world. "Woman. I have been on my own for centuries. I take no orders from any man."

"You could just beat your chest," she suggested, still laughing.

He wrapped his arms around her. "We are heading up the mountain, back to the monastery. Just for that crack, you can regulate your own body temperature."

Gabrielle snuggled into Aleksei's arms, realizing immediately that almost from the moment she had gone to him to give her allegiance to him, he had been ensuring she remained warm and comfortable. She hadn't thought about it. She'd struggled with the whole temperature control thing, as well as keeping the volume down. It took practice, and her head was always filled with her work. Until Aleksei. Now it was filled with him. She also realized he was a puzzle her mind tried to work out and she probably would never find an entire solution to him, but that was okay with her. She loved that he'd regulated her body temperature.

She didn't say a word, but as they moved through the cold air up farther into the mountains where the thick mist swirled ominously, she deliberately didn't keep herself warm. She waited. Shivered. Instantly, she was warm. She smiled to herself. Aleksei. Taking care of her even when he threatened not to. She loved that even more.

The mist was disorienting and felt heavy against her skin. She heard voices whispering, warning, and she recognized the power of strong safeguards. She remembered moving through that mass on her own, seeking Gary. She'd been so afraid. Now, with Aleksei holding her, she wasn't afraid at all. She realized he hadn't had her shapeshift to go through the mist. He had noticed it bothered her and held her close to him, once again making her feel safe.

She had never considered that Aleksei could be so thoughtful. I'm falling in love with you. She had to give him that. He'd told her he loved her. He'd put himself on the line and he'd handled her with care once he knew she hadn't been born Carpathian. How could she not have intense feelings for him? She wasn't all the way there; she'd spent too long believing she was in love with Gary, not realizing how she loved him.

Trixie had been right all along. There was a difference. She had no doubt in her mind that had she and Gary never been converted, they would have lived a happy life together, but it wouldn't have been anything like what she had now. She wouldn't have missed what she didn't know, but still, she wouldn't have had Aleksei. She sent up a silent prayer that Gary would find his lifemate and when he did, that he would be every bit as happy as she was now.

She felt the brush of Aleksei's lips in her hair.

Best not to tell me that when we are in the air, little cat. You giving that to me makes me hard. I suppose we could manage to have sex in flight, but keeping you warm, and making you shatter for me, it could be difficult keeping us from crashing.

She turned her face into his chest and laughed. Everything makes you hard and I have no doubt you would have no trouble making me shatter many times, keeping me warm and keeping us from crashing. You're just that talented.

At last. Glad you recognize that.

Okay, that beginning-to-fall-in-love was heading toward definitely-there. She loved that he had a sense of humor and could tease her and that when she teased him back, he was all right with it. More than all right. She felt his answering laughter. She loved the sound because she knew he hadn't laughed often--if ever--before he claimed her.

The monastery gates loomed ahead as they emerged from the mist. She twisted her fingers into Aleksei's shirt. "You weren't very nice to Trixie, Aleksei," she pointed out. "You might want to repair that damage."

Aleksei set her down right outside the gates. "And I should be worried about this because?"

She heard the challenge in his voice. He had laid it out for her earlier, letting her know in no uncertain terms he didn't care if people liked him or not. Not her family. Not her friends. Anyone. She had to handle this carefully. She ran her hand up his chest, staying close.

"Trixie helped me. A lot. I needed to talk to someone . . ." She broke off when his body hardened, every muscle locked down. "Aleksei, just listen to me for a moment. I know it's important to you that we work things out, you and me, together. I want that, too, but I was so frightened of you and so ashamed of myself and feeling guilty that I couldn't talk to you."

"You can always talk to me, Gabrielle. I am the person you should talk to."

His hand came up, sifting through her hair in the caressing way he had that always made her so aware of him as a man and her as a woman. "I know, I know," she said hastily. "But right then, I was grateful to her because she listened to me when I didn't think I was making sense and she told me had I been in love with Gary, and he with me, we wouldn't have been able to keep our hands off each other."

She risked a quick look at his stone face. He definitely looked as if he could have been carved from granite. She sighed. "I'm making things worse. I just wanted you to know she helped me. That's all, honey. I needed to sort through everything in my mind, and she helped me do that."

His hand slid to her face, cupping her cheek. "You called me 'honey.' You have never once used an endearment of any kind." His green eyes moved over her face and her stomach did a slow somersault. "I like that, kessake, I like it a lot."

He was so sexy. Everything he did. The way he touched her. The way he looked at her. The sound of his voice, caressing her, mesmerizing her.

She sent him a quick smile. "Maybe it isn't so important that you get along with anyone else. I can live in the monastery and just stare at you all night and be happy." She bit her lip. Hard. Had she just blurted that out? Aloud? Faint color crept up her face.

His smile sent a minor quake to her sex, and her breasts actually tingled. He didn't have to do anything at all, not even open his mouth,

and she just melted.

"In case I have not told you this rising, kessake, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen." He bent his head and brushed a kiss over her mouth. "Andre and his lifemate will be here in a couple of moments," he added in warning.

She felt it then, the disturbance in the mist. She didn't know if she was enough in Aleksei's mind that she felt his warning system, or if his lessons in being Carpathian were bringing out other things in her as well. She hoped so. She was in his world and now she wanted to embrace it.

Seconds later, a great owl landed on the ground, a few feet from them. Aleksei instantly glided between her and the bird as it shapeshifted. He made the movement seem natural, as if he was stepping forward to greet Andre, gripping his forearms in the traditional way of Carpathian warriors, but Gabrielle knew it was more than that. He had once again used his body to shield her.

She waited while they spoke softly in their language, but when Aleksei made no move to let her greet Andre, she started to step forward on her own. She'd seen Andre on more than one occasion, although she didn't talk to him. He had been there when she'd tried to persuade Gary to go away with her. She wasn't looking forward to facing him, but she figured now was a better time than later. No one else was around. She was completely unprepared for Aleksei to move again, cutting her off. Again, it was a subtle step, but she couldn't move around him.

Wait until his lifemate joins us.

She didn't understand that, either. Outwardly, Aleksei appeared calm and friendly, but she felt the tension coiled in him, like a snake, ready to strike. I thought you two were friends.

Yes. But I never risk you. Never. He can bring his lifemate out into the open before he has access to you.

Gabrielle reached up and bunched the back of his shirt into her fist. Connecting them. Holding on. Forcing herself to push down the natural peacemaker in her and stay where she knew Aleksei wanted her to be. In a way, it was easier. Knowing Andre witnessed her betrayal of his friend--and Aleksei was his friend--having him know just how close she'd driven Aleksei to madness was beyond mortifying. She hated that he knew how she'd rejected Aleksei's legitimate claim on her.