“Tatijana.” Natalya rushed up to them. “I’m sorry I’m so late. We were trying to locate Razvan and Ivory. I know they’d want to see you.” She looked around her, disappointment showing for a moment in her eyes. “Branislava didn’t come with you?”
“She may come a little later,” Tatijana said. “I’d love to see your brother and his lifemate,” she added to take the attention away from her sister. “I’ve missed Razvan, and there’s so much we have to talk about.”
Natalya glanced around at the crowd laughing and talking together. Many conversations were taking place in small groups. “Would it bother you if I asked you a couple of questions about Xavier and Razvan? It would mean a lot to me.”
Fen reached for Tatijana’s hand, feeling the sudden distress in her mind. Outwardly she looked perfectly serene. Even her smile was welcoming and gracious.
“What would you like to know?”
Natalya pressed her lips together tightly. “Razvan and I were always so close. He didn’t want Xavier to know that I was the one capable of spells, so he took my place and saved me. Did you know that?”
Tatijana nodded. “Yes. It was his choice, Natalya. He discovered early on how evil Xavier was and more than anything else he wanted you safe.”
Natalya shook her head, her eyes downcast. “We spent so much of our time in each other’s mind. I knew him. I knew how he thought and yet . . .” She trailed off.
Vikirnoff, who had been talking to his brother Nicolae, turned around abruptly and instantly was at her side as if sensing her distress. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back into the shelter of his body.
“What is it?” Tatijana asked gently. “I’m your sister-kin. There is nothing you can tell me that would make me love you less.”
“Were you aware Xavier was the one possessing Razvan’s body against his will and forcing him to do such terrible things, or did you think my brother did them?” Natalya took a deep breath. “I mean, they were such hideous crimes. All those women giving birth to children Xavier wanted to use just for their blood. And if they didn’t measure up to his standards he threw them away. Like poor little Skyler being sold to that awful man she thought was her father.”
“We were there in the caves and observed firsthand Razvan taking blood from his own child, and of course, he stabbed Bronnie so she couldn’t escape the ice cave. But we knew it was Xavier using his grandson as a puppet in his never-ending quest for immortality and power.”
“I wouldn’t believe the things I heard about him, or even saw with my own eyes for so long, but in the end, I stopped believing in him,” Natalya said, sorrow in her eyes. “When he needed me most, I wasn’t there.”
“Natalya.” Tatijana took both of her hands. “You must know Razvan would never hold such a thing against you. He loves you very much. How could he not? The thought that you were free and happy somewhere in the world kept him going all those years. We spoke of it often in the beginning, when he hadn’t been so worn down. Before Xavier murdered the little mage, Lara’s mother, in front of him and left Razvan chained there with her body. After that, Razvan rarely communicated with us.”
“Xavier was so hideous, so evil,” Natalya said with a small shudder. “I have a hard time with the idea that he’s actually my grandfather.”
Tatijana touched Fen’s mind, almost as if she needed reassurance. Those little moments, when his warrior woman was vulnerable tugged at his heartstrings.
“Xavier is my father,” Tatijana said. “He tried to destroy an entire species. He created children using his own son, just for their blood. He tortured and killed well over a thousand individuals of several species, including my mother and brother for his experiments. The list of his heinous crimes could go on for hours, but I refuse to feel shame or guilt for the terrible things he did. I was tortured and imprisoned by him just like his other victims. Bronnie, Razvan and I survived by relying on one another and through Razvan, you, Natalya. In a way, you saved us all. That’s what you need to always keep in your heart.”
Fen was more proud of her in that moment than when she’d fought off the rogue pack so fearlessly. The moment she’d reached out to him telepathically, he had merged his mind with hers, and he felt her response to Xavier’s name. Just his name. She had slammed the door on the memories welling up, but his name made her feel ill.
Tatijana?
Merged so deep with her, Fen heard Branislava’s voice when she reached out to her sister. Clearly Tatijana’s distress and that glimpse of a horrific childhood and the ensuing years had been enough to cause alarm in Branislava.
You have need of me?
At once Tatijana soothed her sister. No. No. I’m sorry I disturbed you. I was talking of difficult times with Natalya. But it is fun here and nice to see the children. The prince has a son, Gregori has twin daughters and Jacques has a beautiful little boy as well. Sara and Falcon have seven amazing children. The world seems a different place with children in it, Bronnie.
Dark Lycan (Carpathian)
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