And? he prompted hearing her hesitation.
You're going to think I'm crazy, but when I woke tonight and knew I could conceive, my first thought was that I should have stayed out of the water.
His heart jumped in his chest. He reached down to touch one of the budding branches from a young sapling that hadn't been there a few hours earlier. Who was there with you?
Savannah went with me. Desari, Syndil and Tempest were there, and Corrinne and Alexandria. Sara dropped by briefly. What are you thinking?
The impossible. And because he needed to give more thought before voicing hope, he changed the subject. How is your meal coming? He was feeling much better about tonight's celebration. If this gathering resulted in finding a woman who could heal the earth and help protect their pregnant women and infants, giving their healers more time to find answers, he would be eternally grateful-and their species would truly have something to celebrate. And what if-just what if… He hardly dared to hope that the water or the soil had encouraged the women to be able to conceive. He didn't dare hope, but it was there anyway for the first time in a long while, refusing to be suppressed.
Better than fine now. Christmas always seems to bring miracles. We just have to look for them. Find this person, Mikhail. If she can do what you say, she is more valuable than any of us realize.
Mikhail took to the air once again, his heart pounding in his chest. Far below him, he glimpsed a couple wrapped around one another, oblivious to anything but each other. Once more he quickly scanned the region, needing to ensure the safety of each of his people. Again, although he had that same edgy feeling that kept his alarm system prodding him, he could find nothing that indicated an enemy was setting a trap. He sent a small warning to the male, a slight hint of censure reminding him to keep alert for enemies, and flew on until he found the small remote cabin Lucian had chosen for his stay. Several wolves called a warning as he shifted into natural form and stepped up onto the verandah.
Lucian materialized almost right in front of him, and still, after all the years of power and command weighing on his shoulders, Mikhail felt awed by the man. His black hair flowed down his back, his shoulders were ramrod straight and his eyes blazed with the dark promise of death.
Lucian and Gabriel Daratrazanoff were twins, legends unsurpassed in Carpathian history,
and it showed in the set of Lucian's shoulders and his stern face. Mikhail found Gabriel much more approachable. He always found it humorous that other Carpathians feared Gregori, Mikhail's second in command, best friend and son-in-law, but found his older brothers so approachable when they were at least as dangerous, if not more so.
Lucian gripped his forearms in a warrior's greeting. Gregori's older brother looked fit and strong, his eyes gleaming, piercing through Mikhail straight to his soul as if he could read inside any man.
«It is good to see you again after all this time, Mikhail. You have grown into a powerful leader since I last saw you. Your father would have been proud.»
Mikhail clasped the man's arms, feeling the solid strength there. «You may tell your woman she can put away her weapon now.»
A slow smile warmed the bleak, cold eyes. «She will not be pleased that you spotted her. She is a cop and definitely prides herself on her abilities. Being Carpathian has only added to her skills.»
«I do not actually know where she is,» Mikhail admitted. «Only that she is close by and pointing a weapon at me. I have heard she does not stay home where she belongs.»
A choking sound came from above him and a young woman materialized, a gun in her hand, glaring daggers at Mikhail. «Where she belongs?»
Her hair was the color of platinum and gold, a shorter length than most of the women wore, but attractive, framing her pixie face. Her eyes were dark, a startling contrast to her pale skin and hair.
Lucian casually removed the gun from her hand and leaned over to shove the weapon in her boot. «You cannot shoot the prince, Jaxon. It simply is not done.»
«I wasn't going to shoot him,» she objected, and sent Mikhail a quick, mischievous grin. «At least, not unless he was going to insist that women stay home while the men have all the fun.»
«You call slaying the undead fun?» Mikhail asked.
She shrugged. «If it isn't housework, it's fun. I like action, not sitting at home waiting for my hero.»
«You like to stir up trouble,» Lucian replied, amusement in his velvet voice. «But at least you admit I am your hero.»
Mikhail had forgotten how mesmerizing and powerful a weapon Lucian's voice was. Everything about Lucian seemed to be a combination of «compelling» and «weapon.» The man's face could have been carved from stone, yet his eyes were more alive, more intense
and more lethal than Mikhail had remembered. «It is good to see you again, Lucian. And good that you have found your lifemate.» He sketched a slight bow toward Jaxon. «I could not resist teasing you as I have heard you are fiercely protective of Lucian,» he told her. «We are grateful to you. He is a legend among us.»
«She insists on guarding me,» Lucian said.
«Well, of course I do. Any Carpathian hunter shot by a human after being warned repeatedly to be careful needs a babysitter-um-bodyguard.»
Lucian bent to brush a kiss on top of her head. «No respect.» The deep love on Lucian's face was mirrored on Jaxon's as she teased him.
«I can see that,» Mikhail acknowledged. Somewhere deep inside he felt happiness for this couple-for all the couples-but this one in particular. Lucian had been alone for so long and he'd fought too many battles, sacrificed too much. This small pixie seemed fragile until Mikhail looked into her dark eyes. She had seen too much, was wise beyond her age and had that same strength of will her lifemate possessed.
She flashed a warm smile at Mikhail, even as her fingers tangled with Lucian's. «Thank you for allowing us to use one of your homes. Lucian's home was so far into the mountains we would have spent all of our time flying back and forth and wouldn't have been able to visit.»
«Please come in.» Lucian held open the door, stepping back to allow Mikhail to precede him. «We have much to discuss. I thought, at first, when I heard of the celebration, that it was a foolish indulgence and far too risky, but now I see I was wrong. It has been good to see everyone and to be home once again. I have stayed away far too long and there is a sense of community here once again.»
«I hope we are doing the right thing,» Mikhail agreed as he stepped inside the snug little cabin.
It had been years since he had entered the old house. The walls had been repaired where gaping chinks between the wood had allowed the wind to sweep in. Lucian and Jaxon had fixed the cabin up so that the interior was bright and welcoming. A fire crackled in the old stone fireplace and the furniture was inviting. Lucian waved him toward the couch, and Mikhail seated himself opposite Lucian's chair.
Jaxon hesitated briefly, glancing at the windows, wariness creeping into her expression as she assessed whether anyone could look in and easily see them through the glass.
«I do not actually bite,» Mikhail said, and gestured toward the empty end of the couch he occupied.
Jaxon perched on the arm of Lucian's chair, one foot swinging free. «I'm perfectly comfortable right here, but thank you.»
«She insists on guarding me,» Lucian explained. «Or at least she pretends so. The real reason is she cannot bear to be apart from me.»