"Hey now," Gabrielle objected, "don't turn the spotlight on me."

A small smile curved Traian's mouth. "I think you are misjudging me because of our first meeting, when I was being held prisoner. I have survived countless battles with the undead, Jubal. A master vampire is every bit as powerful as our greatest hunter."

He turned his attention once more to Gary. "Mikhail must know they are traveling in packs, and that they are planning something big. I also believe it is important to discover whatever it is they are seeking in those caves. Vampires always seek power. They would never waste time working the way they are unless it resulted in more power. That cave now belongs, or once belonged, to a powerful mage," he added in warning. "There are items of great power in the caves, guarded by a shadow warrior."

"I don't know what that is."

"Mikhail and Gregori will know. No one wants to meet a shadow warrior."

Gary nodded. "I'll tell him."

"I'll be returning to the cave just before sundown tomorrow. I hope to surprise them before they rise. In any case, I will do my best to discover what they seek."

"Well, of course I'm going with you," Joie said.

Traian brought her fingertips to his lips, breathed warm air over her hand. "I can travel faster on my own, Joie. And you have not yet learned to prevent them from reading your mind. I would be at risk because of your unguarded thoughts."

Joie's gaze flicked to Gary. The man nodded. "They are adept at reading our thoughts and even controlling us. Traian can go in without their being aware of his presence, but they would know the moment you were near."

Joie frowned. "I don't like the idea of you going in alone. There are several of them, and you've admitted there's more than one master vampire. I might be able to help. Could you block them from reading my thoughts?"

"Probably, but the more tasks I have to perform, the more energy I expend. I have to go in fast and hard and get out the same way."

Jubal immediately stepped to his sister's side. "What if we were nearby, waiting just in case you run into trouble?" he suggested.

Gabrielle nodded. "I think that would be best, Traian. We might be able to slow them down and even incinerate the things for you."

Traian looked at the three of them. Family. Solidarity. Jubal and Gabrielle might not agree with Joie's choice. They might be afraid for her. But when it counted, they stood with her. He bent his head and kissed Joie right in front of them. It was that or humiliate himself with tears shimmering in his eyes. As it was, a lump threatened to choke him.

"Thank you for letting me be a part of your family, Joie. They are wonderful." He looked at Jubal. "I appreciate the offer, but it is safer for me if you are here, a distance away, where the undead cannot perceive a threat to them. Should I have need, I will contact Joie immediately."

He looked at Gary over their heads, and the prince's messenger nodded carefully. He would watch over Traian's lifemate and family. A matter of honor in the Carpathian world.

Chapter Ten

Joie dreamt of a hot, moist mouth pulling strongly at her breast, of hands stroking her body. Of lips traveling down her bare skin to her navel, swirling kisses and teasing bites over her stomach. Hands on her thighs tugging her legs apart. She was already damp with invitation.

She opened her eyes as the waves of sensation burst through her like a gift. The wealth of Traian's silky dark hair slid over her skin, the sight more erotic than she had ever imagined. His fingers moved inside her, found secret ways to shimmer fire through her veins. And then his tongue took the place of his hands, stabbing deep, tasting and teasing and stroking her until she was crying with joy and her body no longer belonged to her. Wave after wave, o.r.g.a.s.m after o.r.g.a.s.m rippled through her body, so that she bucked and jumped as he held her firmly, his mouth devouring her, claiming her, feeding her sheer pleasure.

She clenched her fists in his hair, holding on while she took the wild ride, while the earth moved and her body shattered into fragments. He took possession of her then, kneeling above her, dragging her hips to him, thrusting deep with powerful strokes while she came over and over in a mind-numbing climax that seemed endless. He was everywhere, in her body, in her mind, their hearts beating in the same rhythm. She could feel the intensity of his emotions, a tidal wave of longing and love, of absolute need and hunger, of caring and loyalty, far more than she could understand, but real all the same.

Traian loved the way Joie clung to him as his body rode out the storm of roiling emotions, each thrust deeper and harder in a fierce, possessive joining. Thunder roared in his ears, lightning sang in his blood, fire raged in his belly until the conflagration merged together at the core of his body. Her feminine sheath was fiery hot, tight and velvet soft, the friction an unbelievable sensation. He tilted her hips, wanting her to take all of him, wanting to crawl inside her body, his home, his sanctuary after several lifetimes of loneliness. He wanted to give her the world, wanted her body to feel the same flames of pa.s.sion and pleasure that she ignited in him.

He felt her muscles clench around him, the gathering of a great force. He threw back his head, allowed his body to explode with volcanic intensity, thrusting deep, taking her with him, holding her close as they burst into sunlight, the only time he could ever embrace such a thing.

Traian buried his face in her neck and breathed her in. It was early for him to rise, but he had to see her before he went hunting. He had been handed an unexpected miracle and he wasn't about to lose her. "I used to think the word 'forever' was the worst word in any language. And now, I cannot imagine enough time with you."

"I feel the same way," Joie admitted.

His shifted her in his arms, pressed her body to the length of his. "Never go away," he whispered in her ear. "Never leave me to face the endless years alone again."

Joie brushed back the long silk of his hair, framed his face with her hands, and stared up at him-at the lines etched into his beautiful masculine features, put there by battles and years of knowledge of foul things walking the earth. Put there by sheer loneliness. "I want you always, Traian. We'll find our way together."

She shattered his heart so easily with her complete conviction. She had confidence in herself and in him.

"I should have really made you understand about our children and what our women have to go through in trying to have a baby. It has taken a toll on them-one miscarriage after another or carrying the child and loosing it that first year. It is so hard on a mother." He shook his head. "I know I am asking so much of you, Joie, and when I think too much about it, it breaks my heart to think of you going through that same emotional loss."

"I wouldn't be going through the loss of a child alone, Traian. If I get pregnant, I believe you would feel the same sense of loss. We'd be in it together."

"I don't want that kind of pain for you."

She smiled at him. "I can feel that you genuinely don't, but no one can predict what is going to happen in the future, not even an all-powerful Carpathian. Because your prince's wife miscarried, as sad as that is, doesn't mean I will if we are lucky enough to become pregnant."

"I will be more careful in the future to explain details to you, so you know what you are getting into," he promised.

He leaned toward her, kissing her gently, with exquisite tenderness, with the overwhelming love in his heart that he couldn't quite put into words but tried to show by worshiping her with his body. He kissed her over and over, long, slow kisses, his body locked deep inside hers, his hands tunneling in her thick hair. His mouth roamed over her throat, down to her breast, and found her heart unerringly.

Joie felt the swirl of his tongue, and her heart leapt in antic.i.p.ation. Her body tightened around his. White-hot pain lanced through her, and then gave way immediately to pleasure. She cradled his head to her while he fed, while his body moved slowly and erotically deep within her. The sensation was unlike anything she'd ever experienced. He was in his body, in her mind, filling every empty s.p.a.ce with-him while he took her blood, bringing her ever closer to his world.

She writhed helplessly beneath him, arching her hips up to meet him, her b.r.e.a.s.t.s aching and full with need. When his hand cupped the weight of one breast, his thumb sliding over the taut peak of her nipple, she pressed his head closer to her, offering more-offering everything she was to him.

Joie could hear her heart picking up the exact same rhythm of his. Her blood pounded in her veins, rushing toward him, hot and carrying the very scent and taste of her to him, matching the hammering beat of his blood. It should have been frightening, even disgusting, having him take her blood, but for her, the act was sensual.

Traian closed his eyes, savoring the taste of her, the craving for her growing as power and energy rushed through his body, soaking into every cell, sinew, and bone, filling him up with such strength he knew she completed him. She'd given him so much just by being born, being in his world, surrendering herself to save him. The gift was a miracle to him.

He swept his tongue across the pinp.r.i.c.ks, tasted the temptation of her breast before finding her mouth to share the taste of their life's essence. He took his time, his tongue thoroughly exploring her mouth, teasing and dancing and mating with hers.

"Come into my world, Joie. Another step closer," he murmured in his dark, mesmerizing voice, a seductive invitation, she couldn't possibly resist-nor did she want to.

This time she was locked in a dreamy haze, aware of his body's sensations as she moved restlessly, wantonly under him. As her mouth moved against his chest, taking his precious gift, his fingers stroked her throat, her breast, keeping the intimacy between them sensual, as well as helping her to feed. His body thickened inside her, moved with greater force and purpose. She felt the now familiar flames, hot and white and pure, burning in his veins, pulsing through him even as they crackled with life, pulsing through her.

She was overjoyed to be able to bring him such pleasure, so much happiness. She wanted to be fully in his world, with him just like this, so close she couldn't tell where he ended and she began. She moved more aggressively until he was surging into her with strength and power, until she felt the gathering of every nerve ending, every muscle, and the flow of blood, until they soared together higher than ever.

I want more time with you. I want to touch your body and know it the way you know mine. I want to see the things you've seen and make you feel the way you've made me feel, she whispered into his mind.

"We have time," he said. "All the things you fantasize about, all the things that matter to you-we have time for everything." Very gently he stopped her feeding, closing the slash across his chest. He laid her on the bed, his hands gentle, loving, stroking her bare skin while he brought her fully out of the enthrallment.

Joie blinked up at him. "That's twice," she said. "I'm that much closer to being in your world." She touched his face with gentle fingers. "I've fallen pretty hard for you, Traian."

He knew what she was saying. She was fully committed and just that little bit scared that somehow he would change his mind about her. There was no way to adequately explain the concept of lifemates when she lived in a human world where divorce seemed a way of life. It would be absolutely impossible to leave a true lifemate.

"You are not alone, Joie," he a.s.sured. "I had no idea emotions could be so intense, but when I look around me, I can see only you. You are truly the light to my darkness."

She sent him a small, tentative smile, rolling onto her side, propping up her head with one hand. "I don't know about that. I doubt if either of my siblings would ever call me light to anyone's darkness."