«Traian was watching out for me, Gregori,» Joie said. «She's my mother.»
«Traian does not need to hide behind your skirts, Joie. He is an ancient. Born and bred Carpathian and as such subject to the laws of our people. Above all else, we protect our prince. Without him, our species dies. We are extinct. Our first duty always-always-is to protect the living vessel of our people. Mikhail would not have killed your mother to save himself because he is bound to hold our people together. He would have tried diplomacy and she would have ripped out his throat. It was the duty of the three Carpathians in this room to protect him-even from himself.» Gregori turned his head, pinning Traian with his cold, peculiar-colored eyes. «Is that not so?»
«That is so. It was bad judgment on my part and I will not fail our prince again.»
«And you will not fail our people again,» Gregori persisted. He looked to the women. «You must make up your mind whether or not you live as Carpathian. If you do not, I will see to it that you do not live at all.»
Gregori. Mikhail's intervention was calm in the eye of the storm. Enough.
It is not enough. They will protect you or they will answer to me.
«Why did she do it?» Gary asked, pushing his glasses up and rubbing the bridge of his nose. «I swear she was coming for me, not Mikhail. Gregori, I'm certain she tried to kill me. Mikhail moved so fast I didn't see him, and I don't think she did either.»
«Traian needs attention,» Gregori ordered Joie. «See to your lifemate's wounds.»
Traian's snarl rumbled through the room. «I deserve your reprimand, Gregori, but do not extend your orders to my lifemate. I will not allow it.»
Mikhail held up his hand to forestall any further confrontation. «We all forget what is at stake here. Mrs. Sanders is here to celebrate with us and she had accepted Gabrielle and Joie as Carpathians. What we need to find out is what triggered the jaguar into attacking.» He gave his second in command a hard look. «And then we're all going to make peace because nothing, and I mean nothing, is going to ruin this night for Raven.»
Gregori bowed slightly. «Of course.» He exchanged a ghost of a grin with Traian. He is afraid of her.
She has him wrapped around her finger.
And both of you can go to hell.
Gabrielle sank down onto the couch with Gary on one side of her and Jubal on the other. Joie and Traian shared a chair. Mikhail stood in the corner nearest the door and Gregori stood, arms folded across his broad chest, his body between Mikhail's and the rest of the room.
Mr. and Mrs. Sanders came out together holding hands. She had been crying and was obviously reluctant to face them all. When she saw the marks on Traian's chest, a fresh flood of tears began.
«Mom, it's okay,» Joie said. «Please don't cry anymore. Let's just figure out what's wrong and fix it.»
«Is it me?» Gabrielle asked. «I don't want to upset you anymore. This is Christmas night and we're supposed to be together as a family. I don't want you upset by what happened to me.»
Mrs. Sanders shook her head. «Not you. Never you, baby.» Her gaze touched on Gary, and slid away. She gripped her husband's hand tighter. «It's him.» She nodded toward Gary. «He's not what you think he is.»
«Gary?» Gabrielle looked shocked. Everyone stared at Gary.
«What do you mean, Mrs. Sanders?» Mikhail asked.
«He's jaguar. I can smell his blood. The stench is all over him. He is a jaguar male. They are deceptive and capable of great cruelty. I don't want him anywhere near my daughters. Either of them.» She raised her chin, suddenly looking regal. «What I did was wrong, I should have controlled the cat better, but it was such a shock. I haven't encountered a jaguar male in years. I thought that door was long closed. It took me by surprise and brought back painful memories, but I'm under control now. He cannot stay anywhere near them.»
Gabrielle gripped Gary's shirt hard. «You're mistaken, Mom. Gary is the sweetest man I know. Kind and good and brilliant. He isn't a shape-shifter. He's human.»
«He is jaguar,» Mrs. Sanders said harshly. «And he is deceiving you if he has said differently. I am pure jaguar and none can escape my detection.»
«Gary?» Mikhail asked, already probing the man's mind.
Gregori had exchanged blood with Gary and could read his thoughts, and did so often. He had never found any evidence of shapeshifting. He looked at Mikhail and shook his head.
«Mrs. Sanders, it is possible Gary shares a bloodline. Many of the women here do, including your daughters and son. But he cannot shift and, in fact, does not know of his
lineage. Gregori has shared blood with him and can easily read his thoughts, and many times Gary has volunteered to allow me to do the same. He cannot deceive a Carpathian who has taken his blood.»
«He is a jaguar,» Mrs. Sanders persisted. «He is not welcome here nor can he be near my daughters.»
«Your son is jaguar. Should he be banished as well?» Mikhail asked.
«Mom! What's gotten into you,» Jubal demanded. «Dad, stop her.»
«You have no idea what your mother has suffered at the hands of a jaguar male,» Mr. Sanders retorted. «Don't you dare judge her.»
«Not all jaguar males are the same,» Mikhail said. «Any more than Carpathian males are. Many of our males turn vampire and many jaguar males turn on their women, but not all. I've known many honorable jaguars-your own son among them, and his blood is far more pure than Gary's. Give Gary a fair chance. He has been with my people for some time now and is committed to helping us. Gabrielle has worked with him and knows his dedication. Use this time to get to know him as an individual.»
Before she could protest, Gregori stirred, drawing all eyes to him. «This is a small thing the prince has requested, Mrs. Sanders. You have attacked him, as well as intentionally harming your own son-in-law. Your intention was to kill one of ours. Gary is under my protection and is my friend. I will be responsible for his behavior. All the prince has asked is that you give him a chance and given your own behavior, I think it is a reasonable request.»
Mrs. Sanders took a deep breath. «You're right, of course. I was so scared when I scented him. I do apologize for my behavior.»
Gary squeezed Gabrielle's hand to forestall any comments. «Thank you, Mrs. Sanders. I honestly don't know if what you say is true, but I'll do my best to find out. As far as I know, I have no psychic abilities whatsoever, and I certainly can't shapeshift. However, I have always been interested in legends and myths, and did at one time try to prove there were such creatures as vampires and shapeshifters. Maybe I was drawn to those things because, as you say, it is my heritage.»
«Perhaps,» Mrs. Sanders agreed noncommittally.
Mikhail let his breath out slowly. «Our celebration will begin in a couple of hours. I trust you will do your best to work things out so we can present a united front to our guests. And Traian, you will make absolutely certain that our secrets remain safe at all times.» That meant taking the blood of Joie's parents, an unpleasant, but necessary task.
«Yes, of course.»
Gregori turned deliberately to Gary in front of the others. «If you have need of me, you have only to call out in your mind and I will hear you. Take every precaution. I will not suffer a second attack on you without retaliation. My justice is swift and brutal as you well know.» He looked at the others in the room. «Nothing will sway me from my set task should harm come to my friend.» He gave a small half bow and followed Mikhail out into the drifting snow.
«You always did know how to leave with a flair,» Mikhail remarked.
«I swear, old friend, if you put yourself in harm's way again, I'm going to kill you myself and be done with it.»