Dark Tarot (Dark Carpathians)

“You were terrified.”

“Not terrified.” She denied, her lashes lifting, her voice a reprimand. “They freaked me out a little bit, that’s all. They were all part of that childhood fairytale, like the original fairytales that weren’t so nice.”

“Tell me about this book.”

“It’s a history, really, of our family, the pictures drawn by an ancestor. Most of the book is in picture form rather than text.”

“You keep this book with you?”

She nodded. “Always. It wasn’t just the cards that told me you were coming. The book did as well. Of course, in the book, you were a lot nicer.” She sent him a faint smile.

She wasn’t smiling in her mind. She didn’t think of him as nice. In the beginning, she had. She had been afraid for him. Afraid those hunting her would harm him. Then, she equated him with those demons she saw in her nightmares. Now, he wasn’t only that demon; he was ruthless and dominating, a dictator as well.

“As a lifemate, I seem to be failing everywhere.” He gave her a faint smile back.

She touched her lips. “You kiss like sin. Like the very devil. I have to give you points for kissing. And you do have a sweet side when you’re not making decisions that you shouldn’t without me.” She sighed. “I want to be a partner, Sandu. That’s what I thought I was signing on for when I began this journey with you. Then, suddenly, I’m out of the loop, you’re making decisions and I don’t trust you. Why would I tell you anything when I know you’re holding very important things back from me?”

“I had to make certain you were safe, Adalasia. I do not expect you to understand a two-thousand-year-old drive, but there is no way I can combat that. I want you as my partner. I have disclosed part of what it entails to become Carpathian. I know the conversion isn’t easy. It is painful. You do have to get rid of the toxins before I can put you to sleep for the rest of it. I will shoulder as much of it as I am allowed. I know the brethren are willing to aid in this as well.”

She rubbed her chin on the heel of her hand. “As a Carpathian, I would have to have blood to survive?”

He nodded, watching her carefully again. Staying in her mind, studying her reaction. Adalasia seemed to like to compartmentalize. She pushed things to the side in order to take them out and examine them later, which was what she did with that news. She was expecting his answer. It didn’t come as a surprise, and she didn’t seem particularly upset by it.

“You know it would be difficult for me to initiate that with anyone.”

“I would take care of feeding you, but you need to learn just in case I’m wounded severely and you have to care for yourself until I recover.”

Her gaze flew to his. “Or you need me to give you blood.”

He liked that she’d thought of that. He nodded. “That might be a real possibility. I am a hunter, and I know no other way of life.”

“I would have to sleep in the ground.” She made it a statement.

He could feel her revulsion of the idea. He’d known all along this was going to be the most difficult hurdle. The moment she saw the caskets, she had retreated significantly in her mind.

“I know that feels nearly impossible, Adalasia. We would take it slow and practice opening and closing the earth. You would have to feel the earth surround you as a blanket would. Until you felt comfortable, I would aid you in sleeping and waking. There are benefits you haven’t thought of that you would find amazing.” He went to the door of the plane, shifting it so it opened to allow the night breeze in. He needed that cool, fresh air.

“I’ve thought of them,” she countered.

She hadn’t said no. That was huge.

“I’d like to take you outside to show you the night.” The strip where Zenon Santos had landed the plane was surrounded on three sides with forest. The trees were several yards away, but he could see activity in the branches, small screech owls moving from limb to limb. It was unusual for several to be so close together the way these were. He studied them for a moment, scanning for the undead, but felt no telltale signs of vampires close by. Still, he was uneasy and shifted the door closed again, turning to face her as she spoke.

“I would like to see the night with you, but I need to talk to you about something important. Something I withheld that was important. We started to go into it, and then I got sidetracked. You told me about becoming Carpathian. You need to know about this.”