«Have you heard anything about this, Jaxon?» Lucian asked. His fingers curled around the nape of her neck in a slow massage. «Have any of the women mentioned it to you?»
«No, but I can ask Francesca. She seems to always be in the know about everything. I don't know how she does it all with a baby and a teenager.»
Mikhail scrubbed a hand over his face suddenly looking tired. «It was a long shot anyway. I cannot remember who the woman was or her lineage, nor do I remember if she aided with birthing.»
«I will ask my brother and the other ancients if they remember more of this woman, but truly, Mikhail, if there is such a woman in our midst, we have only to ask her to step forward.»
«The answer cannot be so simple.»
«Maybe it is one piece of a puzzle we must work out-a very important piece.»
«If we find this woman and she is as important as I hope she is, this celebration will be the best thing we have ever done.»
«You are worried. The attack on Skyler and Alexandria?»
Of course Gabriel would have kept Lucian informed. Mikhail nodded. «I have been uneasy for a couple of evenings now. It has definitely put me on edge.»
«We went out there and looked around,» Jaxon said. «Someone had come from the direction of the inn on a sled and was in a snow blind-a very clever one, manmade-about half a mile from where Skyler and Alexandria were hurt. The feeling of power lingered, but it didn't feel Carpathian.» Jaxon bit at her lower lip, puzzling it out. «I've been really trying to get a feel for the different energy fields. That's all Carpathian magic really is, a manipulation of energy, and this felt off to me.»
A small smile lit Lucian's eyes briefly at the flare of surprise on Mikhail's face. «Did I mention Jaxon is a great cop? She tracks nearly as well as I do now.»
«You said something felt 'off to you,» Mikhail prodded. «Off like vampire?»
«There was an evil taint to it,» Jaxon admitted. «Lucian felt it through me, but couldn't on his own, and that really bothered me. If they've found a way to block their identities from the hunters, all of you could be in real trouble.»
«They have been doing that for some time,» Lucian reminded her, his hand sliding down her thigh in a small gesture of assurance.
«Not like this, Lucian,» she objected. «You felt the difference. It wasn't completely vampire-but still stank of evil.» There was worry in her tone.
«It has occurred to me that if our enemies strike against the women and children,» Mikhail confided, «then they would have the best chance for eradicating our species altogether. I do not know how much you know about the group of humans dedicated to wiping out our species. We always refer to them as the society. The vampires have tricked them, infiltrated their ranks and used them as puppets. The dark mage Xavier may be alive as well as his grandson. If that is so, Razvan is the first Dragonseeker to ever turn, and he is something we have never faced. His sister, Natalya, tells me he is a brilliant strategist when it comes to planning a war. No doubt he's already come to the same conclusions I have regarding the best way to strike the most devastating blow to our race.»
Lucian nodded. «I have believed for some time it is inevitable they will begin to strike against our women.»
«And still you allow your lifemate to hunt and destroy the vampire.»
Lucian's fingers tightened around Jaxon's in warning when she would have protested. «What better way to keep her safe than to teach her how to survive when she is attacked? Jaxon has remarkable skills and natural instincts. It would be a crime to stop her from learning how to kill the undead. And before you object, I do not think all our women should be out hunting vampires. But Jaxon is a special case, as are Natalya and Destiny. You cannot suppress their instincts, and let their abilities go to waste, so I have done all I can to prepare her for the hunt.»
Mikhail sighed. «In the old days, those with lifemates did not hunt the vampire. Now it is a necessity.»
«I have hunted for centuries, as have most of the ancient hunters-and Gregori. We know no other way of life anymore. It is not just a necessity, it is who we are.»
«Why did the lifemates keep them from hunting if they were more experienced?» Jaxon asked.
«Because even when we had women and children, we knew how precious they were,» Mikhail explained. «If we lose the male, we also lose the female, and that was not an option for us. Now we may have no choice but to allow our women to fight as well.»
«Not all the women, Mikhail,» Lucian reminded. «Only those who have the skills and the
desire to fight. Women like Jaxon and Destiny.»
Mikhail sighed. «And Natalya. She was in the thick of the battle. She told me that her twin brother, Razvan, fathered several children. Colby, Raphael's lifemate, is one of his daughters.»
«The Dragonseeker women always were unpredictable. They always will be. If Razvan had other children besides Colby, we need to find and protect them. I take it Dominic will be going out as soon as he is healed to look for his kin.»
«It will take time to heal his wounds. Even with our best healers, it has been difficult. Francesca will try again soon and if we find this woman who can heal the earth, perhaps she can help by enriching the soil where he lays.»
Mikhail stood up. «I must go. The celebration is in a couple of hours and I have several visits still to make. I know I have no need to remind you to be on the alert, but still-I feel I would be remiss if I didn't.»
Lucian stood as well, and once again gripped Mikhail's forearms in a gesture of respect. «You have my full allegiance, Mikhail. Should there be need, call to me-I will fight at your side, always.»
A brief smile failed to take the shadows from the prince's eyes. «The Daratrazanoff family has always been at the side of the Dubrinskys. We fight as one.»
Jaxon lifted a hand to the leader of the Carpathians as he left the house. «He seemed so sad, Lucian, I felt like crying,» she said. «And I never cry.» She pressed a hand to her aching heart. «Sorrow came off of him in waves.»
Lucian swept his arm around her. «You're always so sensitive to other people's feelings. Mikhail has a heavy burden to bear-to keep our species from extinction. He still remembers the old ways, gone now for all time. Back then our people thrived and lived together in a society. It is his responsibility to guide us into a new life, one where we can survive and live in harmony with other species around us. Like me, he cannot help but look back at what we had and look into the future with worry. I do not envy him his task. It is a terrible weight to carry on his shoulders.»
«Do you really think our enemies are going to go after the women and children?» She swallowed hard, closing her eyes against the memories flooding her of her own brother murdered by a mentally ill man. Her heart pounded at the thought of finding young Skyler or one of the infants brutally murdered.
«We will watch over them.»
«But we already know Skyler has been targeted,» she protested. «I tried not to care for her, but it's impossible. She's wonderful-and so young and old at the same time. Gabriel is worried about this Dimitri claiming her, and now this.» She swept a hand through her hair,
clearly agitated. «I feel like locking her up.»
Lucian burst out laughing, carrying her hand to his mouth to press kisses into the center of her palm. «Now you know how I feel-how every male feels about protecting his lifemate and his children.»