with pride. It was nearly impossible to believe she was really his lifemate. She seemed an extraordinary miracle of which he would never be worthy.
The air shimmered as her hands dropped to her sides. The faces in the water moaned softly, emitting cries of protest as the book ascended from the murky depths. Red water poured off the oilskins, looking like trails of blood as the thick tome emerged. Small waves crested around the small square of grass, covering Natalya's feet.
Vikirnoff leapt into the air and was on her in seconds, grasping her around the waist and jerking her out of the bog as the book floated into her outstretched hands. A loud hum was his only warning and he wrapped his arms around her firmly, protecting her with his body as he threw shields up around them. Insects crashed into the barrier, the sound breaking the stillness of the night.
Natalya hooked one arm around his neck and wedged the book between them. «It's heavy.»
It also smelled foul and dripped water down the front of them. Vikirnoff immediately cleaned and dried the package even as he streaked away from the bog back toward the mountains and the caverns he loved.
You were incredible.
I know. Shocking talent, aren't I? Natalya did her best to see in every direction as they streaked across the sky. I'm getting used to traveling this way. I kind of like it.
It is very convenient.
Natalya felt him nuzzle her hair. Unexpected desire shot through her. It was such a casual gesture, but at the same time, it felt intimate. My birthmark is beginning to burn just a bit. A vampire is coming close to us.
I do not want to take any chances as long as we have the book. We should go back to the caverns and decide what to do from there. Do you think Xavier is tied to the book in some way? Will he know it is out of the hiding place?
Natalya shook her head. I doubt it. If he could have traced the book, he would have known it was in the bog and he would have sent someone to search the place until they found it. He wouldn't have dared to go himself. The bog is located too deep in Carpathian territory, and he feared Carpathians more than anything else. It was strange to remember small details denied to her for so long. Vikirnoff's safeguards obviously prevented Razvan from being able to suppress her memories. The longer her brother was out of her mind, the stronger her memories became.
I doubt he would have trusted anyone else.
Razvan. He would have sent my brother. Razvan has little natural skill as a mage. He
wouldn't have noticed the safeguards for what they were. He would have done a cursory inspection of the area and gone back to Xavier and told him the book wasn't there.
Vikirnoff took them through the small opening in the chimney and dropped through the mountain until it widened out into the larger chamber. He waved his hand and flames leapt to life on the candles as he placed her feet carefully on the floor.
«Where are we going to put the book?»
Vikirnoff took it from her and slipped it into her backpack. He didn't even glance at the book for which they'd risked so much. «This will do for now. We'll discuss a safer place to hide it later.»
«Sounds good to me.»
«I realized, there in that foul smelling bog, that revelations occur in the most unlikely places.»
Natalya's eyebrow shot up. «Really? What world-shattering revelation was imparted to you there in that foul-smelling bog?»
«Just that I never wanted Donna Reed or June Cleaver. It has always been Xena, warrior woman who had my heart.» His tone was casual, matter-of-fact, not at all as if he were handing over his heart to her.
«The revelation just came to you right there in the middle of the bog, did it?» Natalya slipped out of her double harness and removed several clips. «Somewhere between the water making nasty faces at me and the rather pathetic audio effects?»
He nodded. «Yes. It became very clear to me.»
«You're just a tiny bit slow on the uptake, there, Gomer.» She set her sword up against the cavern wall and laid several knives in a semicircle around it. «You should have figured it out in the forest when I saved your butt the first time we met.»
«Gomer?»
«Pyle. I'll explain later. Right now, I want to hear more about your revelation.» She placed her backpack in the center of the semicircle directly in front of the sword.
«The last time I tried to bring up Xena, you terminated the discussion,» he pointed out, folding his arms across his chest.
«Well, now you've had a revelation, haven't you? That changes things.»
«Would you like me to set the safeguards for that?» He indicated the backpack with his chin.
«You may as well. If I do it, my brother will be able to track us immediately.» She tilted her head, studying him as he glided over to the cavern wall. She loved watching him move. «You could take your shirt off while you're working. I wouldn't want you to get hot or anything.»
His eyes went dark with heat as he shrugged out of the shirt and tossed it aside. She watched the play of muscles across his back as he raised his arms to weave the safeguards.
«You're breathtaking, you know that? I guess I can forgive you for being an absolute dope sometimes.»
Vikirnoff laughed, the sound startling both of them. He rarely laughed and when he did it warmed his eyes and took the hard-edged expression from his face. Natalya found an answering grin on her own face.
«Your adoring compliments take my breath away.»
«Well, don't let them go to your head. I'm only feeling this way temporarily. You said something nice for a change.» Natalya held her breath as he sauntered toward her. He could look so powerful just walking. Just breathing. The effect he had on her was absolutely idiotic.
«I am reading your thoughts.»
«Really? Are you getting the part about what an incredible lover you are and how I might be able to put up with your bossy nonsense if you keep me happy in other ways?» She shrugged. «Just asking, in case, you know, you wanted to start keeping me happy.»
Vikirnoff was suddenly crowding her so that she took several steps backward. «Where do you think you are going?» His hand snaked out to wrap around the nape of her neck, abruptly stopping her.
«Nowhere. You just move so fast sometimes.»
«Are you saying I intimidate you?» There was a wealth of amusement in his voice.
«As if.» She moved into the shelter of his body, loving the way his skin heated her as if he absorbed her, or she just melted into him. «I am not easily intimidated.» She ran her fingertips over his chest, trying to press closer, inhaling him to take him into her lungs. Vikirnoff was like a rock, solid and steady. «Especially by you.»
«That is a good thing.» He bent his head to hers.
Natalya loved how slowly his mouth descended to capture hers. His breath was warm. His eyes changed right before his lips claimed hers, going dark with desire. There was the feel of his hand tightening on her neck, the pad of his thumb sliding over her skin. So many sensations, all before his mouth took possession of hers. He created intimacy between them
with so many small details, each one making her feel like she belonged to him. Like he belonged to her.
She closed her eyes and gave herself up to the wonder of his mouth. She allowed the heat to claim her, to sweep through her body so that she caught fire from him. She wanted to kiss him forever, to drown in the taste and scent of him. His arms closed around her, strong, reassuring, possessive even, dragging her closer, setting off a multitude of butterflies winging their way around her stomach.