Dark Ghost

by Christine Feehan

  Teagan allowed the energy whip to go back to nature and she flew as fast as possible, shifting as she touched the ground. Again, she forgot her clothes, but as she rushed toward Andre, she managed to add jeans and a T-shirt. Not that it mattered. Nothing mattered but Andre and healing his wounds.

  Up close, the task of healing him appeared impossible. No one could live through those terrible lacerations. He was practically gutted. His belly was open, his chest, his neck. She'd started the repairs to his veins and arteries, but the vampire had done even more damage in those moments while Andre extracted the undead's heart. For one, horrible, time-stopping moment, she feared she couldn't heal him. It was too much.

  She took a breath. He had stopped his heart from beating to keep from losing all of his blood. He lay lifeless, his large frame there on the ground, so completely ravaged she almost didn't know where to start. She even looked around her, as if she could find another healer, one far better than she was, but there was no one else.

  She had asked for this task. She had wanted it. And Andre believed in her. He had put his life in her hands because he believed in her. She closed her eyes and let go of doubts. Of ego. Of fear. Fear was the most difficult, but she couldn't help him as long as that damaging emotion clung to her. So no fear. She could do this. She would do this. There was no other choice.

  For one bizarre second she hung there, teetering between physical and spirit because the fear, entrenched for a lifetime in her very skin, held tight, but she had no other option. This was Andre. Her other half, and he wasn't afraid. He had gone into battle with a plan. That plan included her saving his life. He had known what the vampire would do to him and he had quietly accepted the pain and damage because he believed in her.

  Teagan let go of the last of her fear and allowed her spirit to enter Andre's body. She had a plan and, although she had to slightly alter it, she stuck with it, applying the healing energy from the inside out. She was meticulous and took her time, knowing if she missed something vital, she wouldn't have the energy to go back and fix it.

  She had no idea how long she worked on Andre, but his belly, chest and neck wounds were horrendous. She had to stop when she felt her spirit faltering. She found herself in her own body, swaying with weariness, terrified at the loss of strength, mostly because the moment she came to her unprotected body, she knew she wasn't alone.

  Teagan spun around, facing what could only be an enemy. She had been in Andre's mind during the entire fight with the master vampire, and she knew what it took to kill one, but she had no strength left. Even standing there, keeping her body between Andre's and the stranger, she was swaying, her legs like rubber, knees weak.

  "We heard the battle," the stranger said softly.

  He kept his distance from her. His hair was very long and flowed down his back, as black as a raven's wing. He was tall, not as tall as Andre, but almost. He also looked extremely dangerous. His eyes were midnight black, no hint of any other color and his mouth suggested he had no knowledge of what a smile was.

  She swallowed hard. Notes of music wept into the harmony of nature's song, giving her his identity. "Are you from the monastery?"

  He nodded slowly. "Andre is your lifemate?"

  Teagan stepped closer to her man. She should have picked up a weapon. A rock at least. Andre had told her it was far too dangerous for these men to be in battle--or around anyone at all. There was blood all over the ground. All over Andre.

  "Yes." What was she supposed to do?

  "He needs blood."

  "I was going to give him that next. I have a plan," she blurted out, and then bit her lip, annoyed with herself. Andre found her strange idiosyncrasy funny and cute, this man didn't so much as get a light in his eyes. He was all predator.

  "You are too weak to give him what he needs. I will provide for him."

  "No, you won't. I don't know you. I don't know anything about you. I can take care of my man." She lifted her chin, giving him her sternest, scariest look.

  He, like Andre, didn't seem impressed.

  She knew the worst of Andre's wounds had begun the healing process. It would take time, blood and soil, but she was certain the gaping holes in his neck, chest and belly would eventually heal. She had a long way to go though.

  "You are too weak to give him what he needs."

  They stared at each another. She refused to back down or look away.

  He sighed. "I am called Fane. You called, and we decided to answer."

  She frowned. "I didn't. I wouldn't know how to call you."

  "But you know I am from the monastery. You must know I mean you no harm. We all felt your reach, that you could feel what we could not. That has never happened before, not ever, in all the centuries we have lived."

  Teagan felt a stirring in her mind. It took great effort not to shift her gaze to Andre. She knew he was awake. That gave her confidence.

  "I'm sorry if I disturbed you." She knew she was stalling for time. Still swaying from weariness, she was uncertain if she could protect Andre.

  "I do not understand the connection between us, but there is one. I will give blood to Andre and then to you."

  She bit down hard on her lip. Tell me what to do. I don't want him to give me blood. The idea of taking or receiving blood from anyone but Andre was repulsive. She had just begun to accept her new life. She wasn't ready for that.

  Let him come to me. Step to my other side. There are words he must say to me. If he does not say them, I will know he is our enemy. If he says them, he will keep his word.

  Reluctantly Teagan moved back, her gaze on Fane's face. She worked around to Andre's other side, giving Fane access to her man. "Won't it make you weak, giving both of us blood?"

  "The others are nearby to see to me and to protect all of us while you heal your lifemate. I wish to examine him. You are clearly a strong healer, but . . ." he trailed off, and crouched low, beside Andre.

  Teagan couldn't help but think his movements were elegant and graceful. He moved in harmony with nature, not against it. She heard him murmuring ancient words.

  ", nelkul sivdobbanas, nelkul fesztelen loyly."

  Andre interpreted the words as the ancient continued to chant more obviously ritual words of healing. You lie as if asleep, without beat of heart, without airy breath. I offer freely, my life for your life. My spirit of life forgets my body and enters your body. My spirit of light sends all the dark spirits within fleeing without. I press the earth of our homeland and the spit of my tongue into your chest, your belly and your neck. At last, I give you my blood for your blood.

  Teagan thought there was beauty in the ancient chant. Certainly there was power. She felt it. Fane leaned close to Andre, and her heart jumped. She tried to stay relaxed, but it was difficult when the fierce beauty of the man, all predator, scared her.

  "Andre, take what is offered freely. My life for your life." Fane slashed his wrist and pressed it to Andre's mouth.

  Andre's hand moved. He took Fane's offering respectfully. Teagan nearly sagged with relief. Almost at once, she felt the ancient's presence in Andre's body. She bit down harder on her lip, knowing he was examining her work. She had a long way to go. There were so many lacerations. Too many. She'd gotten tired just trying to repair the worst of the damage. She wanted the help for Andre, but still, it was her job and she'd blown it.

  Fane returned to his body, still giving generously of his blood to Andre. "You did an amazing job. Too good. You are out in the open unprotected. Just the two of you. He shut down his heart so he would not lose more blood. Save the heavy repairs for when you are safe. Do the minimum, give him blood and get him to safety. Remember to set your safeguards and then heal as best you can before putting him in the ground."

  That is my failing. I should have told you, Andre said.

  Teagan nodded at Fane, eager for more advice. "I don't understand what you mean by too good. How can healing be too good? He had terrible wounds and he would have died from them."

&nbs
p; "You are too weak to continue. You need blood and you cannot give what you do not have to your lifemate. How you could repair such wounds without soil or saliva, just you, I do not know. You have a tremendous gift. Just do enough to get him to safety. Once there, you can be more meticulous and precise."

  She understood, although his advice went against her nature. She could understand what he meant. She was weak--too weak to get Andre back to the cave and in the soil like he needed.

  "I think I can help you and the others," she offered timidly. She'd never been timid, but something about the set of his shoulders, his aloofness, his very loneliness, made her aware she was intruding. "I feel it. I've felt it since I arrived here in the mountains. Just ease you a little. Give you more time."

  Those eyes, beautiful eyes but so dangerous moved over her face. "I thank you for thinking of us, but we are beyond all help."

  "Andre had thought to enter the monastery. He is one of you, isn't he? That's why you're here helping him. He's one of you and he found me. If he found me, there's hope for the rest of you."

  "We cannot feel hope. We are extremely dangerous."

  "I understand. Still. I know I can help. I'm just letting you know that the offer is there."

  He inclined his head. "I will take your offer to the others."

  Andre swept his tongue across the ancient's wrist and for the first time opened his eyes. "Thank you, Fane."

  "I gave blood. She healed your wounds. The ones that matter. The rest can be healed in the ground. Can you make it back to your place of rest?"

  Andre nodded. "Yes."

  Fane slashed at his other wrist and held out his hand to Teagan. "I offer freely. My life for your life."

  Teagan closed her eyes for a moment, trying not to see the ruby beads or feel the hunger clawing at her stomach. She knew it would be a terrible insult if she couldn't do this. The ancients didn't leave the monastery, not for anyone, yet they had come to aid Andre and her.

  Can you help me, Andre? He would never know what it cost her to ask. She valued her independence, but she was not going to insult this man, not when she felt his every sorrow, the terrible agony of his lonely existence--both emotions the ancient Carpathian couldn't feel for himself.

  At once Andre was in her mind, directing her movements so that she took the ancient's wrist and respectfully accepted his offering. She was aware of what she was doing, yet far removed from it all. The night was nearly gone. That was how long she'd worked on healing Andre. That was how long they had been unprotected. Fane was right, she should have done what she could to keep Andre alive and then gotten him to safety.

  The moment she knew she had enough of the rich ancient blood to be at full strength, she closed the wound and bowed her head to him. "Thank you, Fane. For everything. For your advice, which I will always follow. For your blood that we both desperately needed, but also for your protection. Please thank the others for us as well."

  Fane had gone very pale. He didn't try to rise, not even when Andre did. Blood seeped from the lacerations Teagan hadn't gotten to, but her lifemate was alive. He needed to go to ground, but she had closed the worst of those wounds. For that she was grateful.

  "The others are close. They will come for me. Go now before the sun begins to rise," Fane instructed.

  Andre reached down to grip Fane's forearms in the way of his people. " wakeva ov o kod."

  What does that mean? Teagan asked, curious. It was a beautiful moment between two warriors who clearly understood each another.

  Stand fast against the dark, Andre interpreted.

  Teagan felt tears burn. "Please do, Fane. Please hold on and let me help." That was all she could do for him. It was his choice.

  Andre slipped his arm around her and took to the air. Below them, she caught a glimpse of four other men, moving in to aid Fane.

  21

  Teagan woke to a multitude of sensations. Pleasure, no, much, much more than pleasure bursting through her. She found herself flat on her back, in the bed Andre had fashioned for her. She was stark naked, her hair everywhere, when she distinctly remembered braiding it before the earth closed over them. The most delicious sensation was Andre's mouth working between her legs.

  She lifted her head to look at him, at his beautiful, glacier blue eyes, so dark now with intensity. With stark hunger. With possession. His tongue, his teeth, his fingers all worked at her, sending familiar fire streaking through her body, building tension so fast, so hard she fragmented before she even caught her breath. Perfect. Beautiful. The greatest start to the night she could imagine.

  Andre wasn't done. He never was. He wanted more. He kept his eyes on her face, a demand there. He didn't stop, not even when her hips bucked and her head tossed. Not when she gasped his name and pleaded with him that it was too much, that the sensations rocketing through her refused to stop. She couldn't catch her breath. Couldn't think. He drove her higher. Demanded more.

  Not enough for me, sivamet. I need it all. Give yourself to me.

  She knew what he meant. She had to trust that he would know when she had enough. But truly, the firestorm raged through her body. The orgasm spread like a wildfire out of control, consuming her. Still his mouth was relentless.

  Again. I need it again.

  She wasn't certain the first had ever stopped. Her body rippled and quaked, the first running into the second, and now he was demanding a third. His tongue was clever and his teeth just perfect, but the way he suckled as if he was dying of thirst and needed every single drop of liquid he could possibly get was her undoing.

  Every cell in her body coiled tighter and tighter until she feared she might go insane with pleasure. Was that even possible? If it was, Andre was driving her there. There was no way to think. No way to be anything but what he wanted. He took her higher than she'd ever been and she reached for him, needing him. Needing to feel something solid beneath her fingertips as she flew apart, fragmenting into tiny little pieces, all of them soaring.

  She heard herself scream. Call his name. Plead with him. She wanted him to fill her. She needed that. And then he was there, holding her thighs apart and slamming into her tight sheath. She heard him groan as her muscles gave way and he drove deep. His thick shaft invading her felt like a burning brand of steel.

  "Hard, Andre. I need hard this time."

  One large hand swept back her hair so he could look down into her eyes. She could see by the look on his face he intended hard. Rough. Brutal even. Perfect. She needed him like that. She needed primitive. A claiming. She could barely breathe with needing him exactly as his possessive look told her the way he planned on taking her.

  He gathered her hips in one arm, lifting her to the angle he wanted and he began to thrust hard and deep, setting a fierce rhythm, a vicious pace, pistoning into her over and over with enough force to rock her body with every stroke. She ran her hands up and down his back, stretching to reach his hips, taking in as much skin as possible, reveling in the way he was as hungry for her as she was for him.

  She was already so sensitive, and her fourth orgasm burst over her before she even knew she was close. She transferred her hold to his hair, clutching tightly, afraid she was going to come apart. He didn't even slow the pace. His eyes never left hers--not for a moment and he didn't even blink. He watched her, drinking in every orgasm. Wanting more. Demanding more from her.

  Andre. She whispered his name in his mind. Filled him with her. Gave herself to him.

  You are mine. All of you, Teagan. Every scorching inch of you. Your heart. Your soul. Your body. Your mind. You belong to me.

  His body surged harder into hers, sending what felt like white-hot forks of lightning streaking through her. She was going up again, even higher. Scary. Wonderful. Impossible.

  Did you doubt that for even a moment? You are mine, Andre. My man. My lifemate. I would follow you anywhere. Do anything for you. And she would. Modern woman be damned. This man was her everything and she was going to love him just as fiercely as he
loved her, wherever that led her. And right now, at this moment, it was leading her to paradise. Unless she could die from too much pleasure.

  She watched his eyes, those beautiful eyes. So gorgeous. So in love. So soft and tender when he looked at her. So fiercely possessive. How did I get so lucky? She meant it, and she didn't care if she was giving away the fact that he really was everything to her. Andre gave that to her all the time. Now, she knew he really meant it. He deserved to hear it back. To know it.

  He suddenly leaned forward and took her mouth. He took it the same way he was taking her body. Rough. Savage even. Demanding. Hard. Hot. Wet. So incredibly perfect. She gave herself up to his hands. His mouth. His cock. She gave herself to him because she knew if she did, the reward would be awesome . . . and it was.

  She felt him swell, then the stretching and burning that was part of the perfection of that amazing friction as he slammed home, filling her, raking over her bud so that her body tipped right over the edge and she began a free fall, this time with him. His groan in her mouth, pouring down her throat, a delicious, amazing perfect moment when they shared everything, skin, bodies, minds, hearts and soul.

  Andre buried his face once again in her neck, holding her to him, his body buried deep, the weight of him crushing her while he surrounded her completely. It didn't matter that she could barely breathe, she knew exactly why she loved this moment, this aftermath. Andre surrendered completely to her--to his love of her. He was completely vulnerable to her in that moment. Every time.

  He gave her that gift every single perfect time. Her big, bad, Carpathian warrior, who could take down a master vampire and had hunted them for centuries, gave her that gift. She held him tight, lifting her legs to circle his hips, to hold him as close to her as possible. She loved that her heart found the rhythm of his. She loved that, although she could barely breathe, he made certain she had air.

  "I love you, Teagan. More than life." Andre lifted his head and brushed a kiss across her mouth before rolling off of her.