Dark Challenge (42 page)

“Try to sound like you might like that,” Desari encouraged him, trying not to laugh at the pained expression on his face.

“I think the only safe thing to do is lock you up somewhere far from the rest of the world and keep you to myself.” For one moment he was half-serious, wondering if there was a possibility he could get away with it.

“I might like that.” Desari put her hands on his chest to push him back onto the bed. “We are never alone like this, and I think it is very necessary that couples have plenty of time for the things in life that they need. Like great conversation.” Her hand moved through the golden hair on his chest to follow the path across his flat, hard stomach. “Do you hear me conversing with you?” she asked softly. Her nails were tracing patterns across his skin, moving dangerously low, tangling in golden hair, encountering the thick length of him.

The breath jolted out of him, and beneath her gently
caressing nails he grew harder and thicker, and the need began to build. “I thought you were listening,” she murmured. “See what can happen when we take a little time to be alone? You should not spend so much time chasing enemies.”

Desari shifted position so she could straddle him, slowly lowering her body over his. Even as she felt his body enter hers, the exquisite slowness heightening the pleasure, Julian suddenly sat up, his arms dragging her against him. He was aggressively male, his hips moving with powerful, sure strokes as Desari clung to him, her breasts pressed into his chest and her head on his shoulder. Julian held her tightly to him as he thrust upward into her. There was no greater joy than to merge with her, physically and mentally. There was no greater joy than to simply be with her, share her body and heart and mind. Julian took his time, wanting their time to last forever, wanting to be one for as long as they could possibly stay that way. In the end, they were gasping for air, clinging to one another, sated and exhausted.

The sun was obviously making its way to the highest point in the sky and their bodies began reacting as they normally did, protesting the time of day with tremendous fatigue. Soon, neither of them would be able to move. Even though they were already deep within the earth, the daylight still had the unwanted effects on them.

Julian raised his head first, all too aware of his growing weakness. “
Cara
, I am sorry, but we have little time, and I must see to your brother. I feel it necessary to sleep above him to ensure his protection.”

Desari nodded wordlessly. She had never felt so tired before, her body like lead, yet her heart and soul were completely content. She wanted nothing more than to lie with Julian in the soil to allow rejuvenation. Secretly she was very pleased that Julian would care to protect her
brother. She loved that about him, his willingness to accept responsibility for her family even though he decried it at every turn.

It took a few minutes to gather enough strength to get up and clothe themselves before moving back through the lava tunnels to the healing chamber. At once, Julian was aware Syndil had been there; he could smell her particular clean scent. The chamber was filled with aromatic herbs and candles and the rich healing soil so important to their race.

Julian opened the earth for Desari right above Darius’s resting place. It beckoned to them, promising them soothing peace and restoration. Gratefully, Julian accepted what the earth offered. He lay beside his lifemate, one arm circling her, her head resting on his shoulder. She kissed him once, very briefly but tenderly, and at once her heart ceased to beat and the air left her lungs. He lay there holding her to him, astonished that his life had changed so drastically, that he was part of something involving so many others, and that he didn’t dislike it as intensely as he made out to all those around him.

Once more he set the safeguards, ensuring that no one would disturb Darius and that the chamber itself was safe from any who might come seeking them in their time of weakness. Once more he waved his hand, and the soil covered him, covered Desari, closing over them so that there was no trace of their existence on the surface. Several feet below them, Darius rested, protected. The last thing Julian did before he succumbed to the sleep of the immortal race was to program his body to awaken just before sunset. He had his mortal enemy to hunt, one who would be trapped by the sun for a few precious minutes, giving Julian time to locate him.

The disturbance that awakened Julian was not one of aggression but of something within the soil itself. He felt the earth move around him, felt the properties of the soil enrich even as he lay within it. Above him, he could hear the soft chant, feel the vibrations spreading out in a ripple effect, one that moved on and outward, one that reached deep within the earth to find Darius and the soil blanketing his body.

Syndil was already up and working her magic. The sun was beginning to make its way across the sky, slowly toward the sea. Julian rose slowly, making certain Desari was aware of his intentions and would rise with him. He did not want to startle or frighten Syndil, a male Carpathian appearing beside her just before sunset.

Syndil sank backward, allowing Julian room as he burst through the topsoil. She was relieved to see Desari right beside him.

“Syndil,” Desari greeted, hugging the woman to her.
“You have risen early to ensure our brother is well cared for. I am grateful to you.”

“I felt his pain within the earth,” she replied softly. “It has used much of its energy to aid him. I thought if I provided for the earth, it would aid in healing him faster.” She was very pale after lending her energy to such a task. She brushed a tired hand across her forehead, leaving a smear of dirt in its wake.

“You know the earth will heal him quickly with your aid.” Desari touched her with a gentle hand. “Your gift is one none of us could do without.”

“I must go now,” Julian said. “I must find the vampire’s resting place before he has a chance to rise. I am already late.”

“Julian, no,” Desari protested. As she turned to face him, she raised her arms in a kind of objection, creating a slight stirring of air.

The wind she brought forth blew softly, a whisper really, tugging at Julian’s long blond hair. He caught up the strands and secured them at the nape of his neck. Very gently his palm cupped Desari’s face. “I have to do this,
cara
. You know I do. I can do no other than to see to your safety and that of your brother and the other female.” At her quick frown he hastily made the correction. “Syndil.” He glanced at the other woman. “I cannot allow this monster to continue to terrorize either one of you.”
And you know he is the one; his shadow is growing within me, a stain I must cleanse from my body.

“Why must you go now? Darius will be completely healed in another few risings. You are not at full strength. I know you must destroy him, but you can wait for a more opportune time,” Desari protested. Her teeth worried her lower lip. She knew he was going to go despite anything she said, but she felt she had to try. She was in his mind, and it was written in stone that he
would hunt the one that had threatened them all and so seriously injured Darius. The ancient vampire was Julian’s mortal enemy; he had robbed him of his life and home, and now he threatened his newfound family.

A slow smile softened the hard edge of Julian’s mouth. “You know very well I am at full strength,
pic-cola
, and that I can do no other than go. Do not give me a hard time over this.”

Desari swept back her hair, her long lashes sweeping down to cover the expression in her eyes. “Then return quickly, lifemate. We have much to do in the next few risings. My concert schedule is already set, and we are expected. It would raise suspicion and cause unwanted attention if we did not show up when we are expected.”

“I have little to say about your chosen profession, lifemate,” he growled, catching her chin, forcing her to look up at him. His mouth found hers in a long, slow kiss filled with promise. “I will return quickly,
cara mia
. Have no fear.”

She shrugged with pretended carelessness. “I have none. You will rid the world of this creature and allow us to continue with our schedule.”

“Of course,” Julian replied, as if he were going off to a banking job. He touched her chin with a gentle fingertip, the gesture so tender, Desari found herself blinking back tears as he moved away from her.

As Julian started out of the chamber, Barack materialized almost in front of him, blocking the way. “It is my right to do this thing. I will hunt.”

Syndil, kneeling in the rich soil near Darius, swung around so fast she nearly fell over their leader’s resting place. “What in the world are you saying? Have you completely lost your mind, Barack? What has gotten into you these last months? You have no business chasing monsters around.” Her voice was the strongest Julian
had ever heard it, a husky blend of sounds that made one think of bedrooms and satin sheets. That voice could easily stop a man in his tracks, and Barack was not immune to its magic.

The Carpathian male turned to look at her, his dark eyes cool and calm. “You will stay out of this business, Syndil, and behave as a woman should.”

“I would think one kill on your hands would be enough,” Syndil went on. “It is not your calling, or have you acquired a taste for such things?”

“The undead cannot be allowed to follow us or make another try for you or Desari,” Barack replied without anger. “You will be protected.”

For one moment Syndil’s beautiful eyes came alive with a flash of brilliance quite close to anger. “You are taking far too much on yourself, Barack. You have no claim to make on my behavior. Our leader can chastise me if he so desires—not that it would do any good if I did not choose to follow him. I tire of these tantrums. Whatever I did to cause Savon to turn on me, I have paid for, many times over. You can quit punishing me for my sins. I refuse to tolerate it any longer.”

“Is that what you think, Syndil? That I blame you for Savon’s behavior?” Barack rubbed his forehead thoughtfully. “What am I saying? Of course you think that. I have been in your mind and have read the guilt you feel. But do not reflect such thoughts back on
me
, Syndil. I live to protect you, that is all. And I will do so despite your harsh judgments of my capabilities. It
is
my duty and my right.”

Syndil stood up, her slender figure fragile and beautiful. Her chin was up, her eyes alive with pain and pride. “You wish me to be responsible for another death? I will not have such a thing happen to you. I will leave,
Barack, and when you come home there will be emptiness in my place.”

A slow smile curved Barack’s mouth. He crossed the distance between them, ignoring Desari and Julian as if they weren’t witnessing the strange conversation. His hand caught Syndil’s chin and held her so that she was forced to meet his steady gaze. “Do you not hear your own words, Syndil?” His thumb rubbed gently, almost tenderly over her skin. “You said
when
I return. You know I will defeat this enemy, just as I defeated the other. Do not fear for my life. I am not nearly so careless as I pretend to be.”

Her large eyes shimmered with tears. “Everything is so out of kilter, Barack. I cannot find myself. I cannot imagine existing if something were to happen to you.” She swallowed, then jerked her head away to shake it as if denying her own words. “Any of you. We have lived so long together, and now it is all coming apart.”

Desari slipped an arm around Syndil. Barack’s teeth flashed again. “It is merely changing, Syndil, not coming apart. We will weather this crisis as we have so many others.”

“We must go,” Julian said. “The undead will rise any moment now, and he knows we will be hunting him.” He turned abruptly and took the passage leading to the chimney entrance, certain Barack would be with him. Barack was correct—he had the right to hunt this demon threatening his family—but Julian was a solitary hunter. He had no real idea of Barack’s abilities and felt responsible for the man’s safety. Silently he cursed the Carpathian male’s sense of duty when it came to their women. Even as he did, however, he knew he was counting on Dayan to guard the women and Darius. Should Dayan fail, he was counting on Darius to protect them all, even wounded as he was.

Barack was silent, allowing the blond stranger to take the lead. Obviously an experienced hunter, the man was accepted and even respected by Darius. Julian was blasting upward through the narrow chimney toward the sky. Once out into the open, he shape-shifted, winging his way toward the south and the thick forest. Barack followed, a silent shadow, willing to do whatever it took to rid their family of this evil entity that threatened Syndil and Desari.

Julian blocked out all unnecessary intrusions and concentrated on the incoming data his senses were recording at a rapid rate. Immediately he turned slightly southeast and streaked toward the blankness in the air. The vampire was rising and radiating the stench of his presence, covering his tracks with a blocking spell. The very absence of data gave him away. Rising was always the most vulnerable, disoriented moment for any Carpathian or vampire, that one wrenching instant they came out of the solace of the earth.

Julian struck, even from the distance they were, hoping for a lucky hit, sending a bolt of light and white-hot energy slicing through the sky over the region of blankness. The sound was tremendous, a loud crack that shook the trees beneath them as the bolt traveled faster than sound. He was rewarded with a hate-filled cry of pain. The sword of light had tagged their enemy but had not disabled him.

At once Julian plummeted toward the ground, zigzagging, spiraling, moving so quickly it was impossible to see him. Barack broke away, realizing Julian was expecting retaliation. He followed suit, splitting off, taking a completely different route to make it more difficult for the vampire to score. At once the sky was lit with jagged bolts of lightning. Like arrows they fell in all directions, leaping from cloud mass to cloud mass and arcing toward
the ground itself. Sparks rained on the earth, and the sky lit up, raining fireworks.