Dark Lycan (Carpathian)

“Tatijana, there is every possibility that Bardolf might have chosen those caves to retreat into. Look at the mountain. Really look at it. Those caves were your prison for centuries.” He held her while he delivered the blow, his mind firmly in hers.

For a moment she rejected the idea, her mind trying to protect her from the memories of the torture and death of so many she’d been forced to watch.

“Breathe, sívamet,” he encouraged. “We’re here with you. Xavier is long gone from this world and can’t hurt you. You don’t have to go in with us to check. You can monitor us from right here.”

Tatijana had heard the screams of the dying, felt the weight of the dead—so many; Xavier had never discriminated between species. The only things that mattered to him were immortality and power. He thought himself above every other species and he wanted to rule. He wanted for himself the gifts each had and would stop at nothing to get them.

She had been forced to feed her blood to Xavier for centuries. When she and Branislava grew too strong and even keeping them anemic didn’t help, Xavier kept them encased in ice in the form of dragons. They were his laboratory wall decorations, forcing them to watch every heinous crime he committed against humanity, Carpathians and every other species. They were helpless to stop him.

He had possessed the body of his grandson and violated women, impregnating them in order for him to find new sources of Carpathian blood. If the child was deemed unsuitable, as in Skyler’s case, he sold them into a life of misery or simply abandoned them. He kept his grandson prisoner as well, torturing him with the foul things Xavier used his body for.

Tatijana could hear her own silent screaming and abruptly stopped, knowing her distress would pull Branislava to her. She had to gain control. Fen was right. She was safe—but he and Dimitri wouldn’t be if they went into those caves. Xavier might be gone, but his traps and evil spells remained behind. She knew every mage spell ever conceived by him, as did Branislava, as well as where most of the traps were in areas visible to where she’d been held, but Fen and Dimitri wouldn’t know.

She lifted her chin. “I’ll go.”

Fen slipped his hand down her arm until his fingers tangled with hers. “Perhaps you could fly your dragon for us and keep guard, just while we explore the outer caves for signs of Bardolf. If he’s not there, there’s no need for any of us to enter what was Xavier’s domain.”

She didn’t know if it was being cowardly, but, relieved, she took that way out. “That makes sense. But, if you think he may have gone in, give me your word that you will call to me right away. There can be no untruth between lifemates. I need to face this with you, if Bardolf has gone in. With you and Dimitri, I know I can. If you leave me out and something happens to either of you, I would for all time feel as if I caused it through my cowardice.”

“You have my word, my lady. The moment I suspect, you will know.”

She put her arms around his neck and leaned into him, needing to feel how solid and strong he was. “I know both of you are worried about what the change in your blood will do to a woman and our future children, but in this moment, I’m grateful both of you have the mixed blood. And Dimitri”—she turned in Fen’s arms to look directly into Dimitri’s eyes—“I guarantee you, Skyler would feel exactly the same way.”

Dimitri nodded. “I’m certain of it. Let’s do this, Fen.”

His form shimmered and he took to the sky streaking for the mist that veiled the top of the mountain.

Fen sighed. “You be careful, Tatijana. Don’t think because you’re in dragon form that you’re safe from him. If Bardolf is here and he realizes you’re out there circling around, looking for his trail, he could attack you.”

“You do your job, I’ll do mine. Believe me, even the outside of Xavier’s mountain will have a few traps,” she cautioned. “Try not to trigger any of them.”

He leaned down and kissed her upturned lips, shifting as he pulled back.

He followed his brother up the steep, snow-topped mountain and into the veil of mist. The mountains looked peaceful, ringed as they were with the swirling, dense fog, but the upper peaks were inhospitable. Very little plant life managed to grow amid the boulders and rocks, just a few scraggly flowers and grasses. Above the boulders was the glacier itself.

The locals knew to avoid the peaks, and the few travelers ignoring the mountain’s warnings often were victims of falling rocks or avalanches. The mountain trembled and rumbled continually when anyone set foot on those upper peaks hidden within the white veil of mist.