Christine Feehan 5 CARPATHIAN NOVELS

by Christine Feehan

  He stood towering over her, blinking down at her as if seeing her for the first time. Slowly amusement crept across his sensual features, warmed the bitter ice in his eyes. Did you hit me, querida? His voice was soft, sexy, intimate there in the middle of the street, making her blood heat and body clench, and that made her angry enough to want to strike him again.

  “Don’t be funny.” She would not be charmed by him. She would not feel her body melting and pooling with hot heat. “You stay out of my business. If I don’t want Tony Harris mauling me, I’ll handle it myself. You’ve made the situation ten times worse; the entire town knows something happened, thanks to you. In case you’ve forgotten, you’re in the United States, not Brazil, and here we call the sheriff.”

  He picked her up easily, casually, right there in front of everyone, cradling her against his chest, moving back up the street toward her truck with effortless long strides. “You know I would not stay away when you are injured, Colby.” His voice whispered over her, velvet soft, irresistible. Magic. There was possession in his burning gaze, and something else, something wild and primitive, as if he wasn’t yet finished with Tony Harris. “And I am not about to allow another man to put his hands on you.”

  Colby reached up to touch his mouth. Her fingers trailed over the lines etched so deeply, lines of strain and weariness that had not been there before, reminding her he had awakened before Nicolas said he should. There were faint marks on his face, slowly receding but evidence of the claws that tore at him. He had suffered terribly to provide a barrier for her. She smoothed her hand over his heart, wondering if the bite marks were still there. Something softened inside of her when she didn’t want it to. “I can handle Tony Harris,” she said more gently than she intended. “Our laws don’t allow people to just go out and kill someone because you don’t like what they do.”

  “Our laws are very clear.” There was no emotion in his voice, just a dead calm and a merciless slash to his mouth.

  “Tony’s a bully.”

  “Tony is going to learn a lesson he should have learned a long time ago or he will not be around to bother women anymore.”

  “Don’t, Rafael. I know you could really hurt him, even from a distance, but it isn’t right. Just don’t.” Her temper was rising in direct proportion to the pain in her leg and the implacable set of his jaw.

  “If you want me to say I will not touch this man, I cannot lie to you and I refuse to make such a promise. If this man ever attempts to lay his hands on you, he will not get another chance. Ever.” He said it with complete finality.

  “How very macho. I’m really impressed. So is Louise. For God’s sake, put me down, I feel like a fool. I’m quite capable of walking.” To her horror tears welled up out of nowhere. Damn the man. The entire town was looking on, smirking at her, right under Louise’s gloating gaze.

  “Stop struggling, Colby, or I will command you to do so,” he bit out. “What did you expect me to do, querida? I could not allow that poor excuse of a man to touch you. You are bleeding and in pain. I am your lifemate and it is my duty and my right to see to your care. I intend to do just that.”

  She felt it then, deep inside him, the volcanic rage that had not been allowed near the surface when he faced Harris. Barely leashed, barely controlled. Her large eyes were swimming with tears and it added to the fury burning in his gaze as it roamed over her face. “I just want to go home, Rafael.” Away from here, away from you. It slipped into her thoughts before she could prevent it.

  A muscle jerked in his jaw. I will never, ever, give you up. Not now, not ever. We should be past this. There was a lash to the quiet whip of his voice.

  Past this? Are you crazy? I have a few issues, you know. Like you pulling a man’s heart right out of his chest. That isn’t done, Rafael.

  He deposited her very gently on the seat of the pickup truck, ignoring Paul’s black scowl. “Move, kid, I’m driving.” He said it softly, but there was something in his voice, a warning note that had Paul shrugging helplessly at his sister before jumping into the back of the truck.

  Nothing dared defy Rafael’s power and the truck started up immediately.

  “Do you know how to drive?” Colby asked.

  His black eyes flicked over her and then he stared at the road, driving straight through town, narrowly missing Tony Harris as the man stood by his car. “You were thinking of leaving me. And you defend that poor excuse of a man.”

  “Of course I was thinking of leaving you.” She glared at him. “Do you think I’m nuts? And damn Tony Harris. Do you think this is about him? It isn’t about Tony, Rafael, it’s about you nearly killing me. Do you think I’m going to fall into your arms and trust you not only with my life, but with Paul and Ginny’s lives?”

  There was a small silence. “I can explain about that, Colby.”

  For the first time Rafael seemed hesitant. Her eyebrow shot up. “I don’t want to take a chance that Paul might hear. Let’s wait until we’re at the house. But you are going to explain. All I’m thinking about right now is the way my leg is hurting,” she added and knocked on the window. Paul slid it aside. “Hand over the pain pills. I’m taking all of them.”

  Paul put the bottle in her hand and Rafael took it out. “You do not need those.”

  “How do you know? It hurts like hell.” She glared at him. “You’re making me crazy. You really are. You did something to tie us together and then you got yourself nearly killed and left me to go sleep in the ground. Give me the pills.”

  “No. And you do not need to chastise me, I have done so enough for both of us.”

  “Maybe enough for you, but it will never be enough for me.” She let her breath out slowly and lay back against the seat. “My leg really hurts, Rafael.”

  “I am aware of it. I feel what you feel, remember? It is not good to use such medications; you are partially in my world and your body will reject such things.”

  “Like the way it’s rejecting food?” she asked, glaring at him.

  He glanced down at the bandage. “The doctor sewed your leg. Very barbaric.”

  “Should he have packed it with dirt and spit in it? Maybe shoved me in a grave and left me there for a few days?”

  “Just be quiet.” He knew she had a mad desire to leap out of the truck. She was confused and agitated and the pain was making her feel sick. “I’m pulling over so I can relieve the pain in your leg.”

  Colby didn’t argue. If he could take it away, she’d be more than grateful. He found a small sheltered area on the winding road and pulled off so he could focus his attention completely on Colby. Rafael sent himself seeking outside his body, allowing it to fall away and leave behind a light, pure energy, traveling into her body to heal her from the inside out. He took his time to repair her leg carefully, ensuring the swelling was gone, the ragged edges would become seamless, and the injuries to the muscle and tissue inside were healed.

  When he pulled back into his own body he leaned over her, touching her leg with gentle fingers. “Does that feel better?”

  Colby could only stare up into his dark eyes, drowning there like an idiot when she wanted to be strong. Her leg felt perfectly fine, but the lines in his face were etched deeper than ever. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

  “I had no choice.” He bent to kiss the corner of her mouth, her eyelids, the tip of her nose. “You scared me. Do not ever do that again.” He reached for her wrist, the one she had slashed open to save his life. He brought it to his mouth, his tongue moving over the faint scar.

  The intimacy of it sent heat curling through her body. “Rafael, you need to heal more yourself.” She could feel hunger beating at him, a living, breathing monster that roared for attention. “You should take care of your own needs.”

  “I am taking care of my needs.” His voice was low and husky, a seduction on all of her senses.

  The shadow was the only warning, dark and ominous and filled with a black kind of evil as it loomed over the two of them. The door jerk
ed open behind her, nearly spilling Colby out of the truck. She screamed in shock and horror as her brother, his face twisted into a mask of hatred, lunged at her with a knife.

  15

  Rafael moved too fast to be seen, placing himself between Colby and Paul. Savage growls emerged from Paul’s throat and he slashed wildly with the weapon. Rafael clamped down hard on his wrist, easily removing the knife, and at once, Paul’s expression changed. He blinked rapidly, his eyes clearing, becoming aware, and he gave a startled cry of recrimination that tore at Colby’s heart.

  “Colby!” He sounded like a lost child, the little boy she had loved so much, had cared for all of her life. “What am I doing? What have I done?” He didn’t struggle in Rafael’s grasp. Tears filled his eyes and tracked down his face. His entire body shuddered.

  “Honey.” Colby reached out to him, wanting to comfort him.

  Paul jerked backward out of her reach. “It is me! The vampire did something to me when he bit me, didn’t he? That’s why Nicolas wanted me dead. He knew I was going to hurt you.” He turned to look Rafael straight in the eye. “Could I hurt Ginny? Was I the one who did something to the horse to hurt Colby?”

  Rafael probed the boy’s memories and saw him finding his sister’s bra in the barn where it had been forgotten. The undergarment had triggered the hidden compulsion buried deep in Paul to kill Colby. He saw the boy prepare a syringe and shoot the horse full of drugs before saddling it and waking Colby. He pulled out of the boy’s mind and let out his breath slowly. “Paul,” he spoke gently, “this is the kind of thing vampires thrive on. It is not you. They take someone good and try to get them to perform acts that the person would never conceive of doing. You cannot remember because it is so against your nature to harm either of your sisters. He couldn’t twist you into something evil. He can only use you when you are vulnerable.”

  Paul backed away from the truck. He didn’t remember jumping out of the back or tearing open the door behind his sister. He didn’t even know where the knife came from. “I love my sisters. I’d rather be dead than hurt either of them.”

  Colby made a single sound of distress that tore at Rafael’s heart. She tried to slide out of the truck and go after Paul, but Rafael caught her hand and held it to him, never taking his eyes from the boy. Querida, allow me to try. He is ashamed of what he’s done and terrified he might succeed. “Paul, we know you love your family and that you would never do anything to harm them.”

  “I did, though. I did.” Paul turned as if to run, but Rafael was faster, holding him there, his arms locking around the boy.

  “Listen to me.” Colby recognized the compulsion in Rafael’s voice. “Now that we know what he has done and who he is, we can better stop him. He cannot have you. You belong with us. You are família, family to us. You will be the one to bring about his downfall if he continues to try to use you.”

  Paul burst into tears, sobbing wildly, burying his face against the Carpathian. Rafael found himself comforting a teenager, a human boy, his heart reacting right along with Colby’s to Paul’s unrestrained crying.

  “I saw what the vampire did to you. He was hideous. And his teeth going into my skin.” Paul shook with revulsion. “I have nightmares.”

  “I have hunted the vampire a long time. I know you think he is invincible, but I have destroyed more than you can imagine over the years. I was careless, feeling too many emotions, and was not as wary as a hunter should be. The vampire took you with the intention of using you against us, but found you much stronger than he expected. You could have killed Colby in her sleep, anytime during the afternoons.” That was not strictly the truth; Paul could have attempted, but Nicolas had provided safeguards to her room while she slept and the Chevez brothers had watched Paul closely. Paul had never made the attempt in spite of the vampire’s compulsion. “Your character proved too strong for him. All these days and nights have gone by, yet only now, when I was close to rising, did you succumb to the demands.”

  “But I hurt her.”

  “You had to obey him. Paul, look at me.” Gently Rafael held him at arm’s length until the boy’s shattered gaze met his. “You know I am far stronger than you, and far faster, yet you attacked when I was here to stop you. He did not defeat you and yet you are a boy, a human thwarting his plans.”

  Paul bristled a little at being called a boy, his pride surging forth. “I’m sixteen,” he said and stepped back, wiping at his eyes.

  “Yes, you are, and I am counting on the fact that you have been shouldering a man’s responsibilities. You are definitely mature enough to understand the stakes and what we have to do.”

  Paul glanced at Colby, a quick, nervous shift of his eyes. He straightened his shoulders. “Tell me how to stop this.”

  “We have to kill the vampire in order for his hold on you to be completely gone, Paul,” Rafael explained. “In the meantime, I can aid you in the same way Nicolas can.”

  Nicolas hasn’t been much help so far, Colby was compelled to point out.

  Nicolas prevented him from outright killing. Rafael was gentle, but firm. Without his interference, Paul would be in bad shape.

  He is in bad shape. I’m in bad shape. My ranch is in bad shape. My life is a mess ever since all of you came here. Did that vampire follow you here . . . ? Colby trailed off, her mind racing. The accidents on her ranch had started long before the Chevez brothers had come to make their claim on Ginny and Paul. She couldn’t blame them for that.

  “Whatever it takes,” Paul said. “Whatever you want me to do.”

  “It may mean leaving here, Paul,” Rafael said.

  Colby stiffened. “We’re not leaving, Rafael.”

  “We have no choice, Colby,” he said. “Until the vampire is destroyed, all of you are in danger. Paul, most of all. We need to put distance between them.”

  Colby suddenly felt trapped. She turned her face away from Rafael and looked up at the craggy peaks of her beloved mountains. “You’re talking about sending Paul to Brazil, to the Chevez family, aren’t you?”

  There was absolutely no expression in her voice, but Rafael felt the surge of adrenaline, of resolve. “There are five of us in South America to protect Paul and his sanity. Across such a distance, the vampire could not so easily direct him when he is vulnerable. He will have his uncles and cousins to look after him during the sunlight hours and all of us when the sun is down.”

  “Paul, get in the truck,” Colby said.

  The boy hesitated, but she was giving him her fiery gaze, so he climbed into the back, still unsure and confused and very upset.

  Rafael started the truck. “Colby, you cannot run away from your feelings for me. Vampires are utterly evil. This is a dangerous situation.”

  “I’m well aware we’re all in danger,” she replied stiffly. His black eyes flicked over her, just once, but sent a shiver down her spine. She was afraid of him, afraid of his control over her. She slid the window back in place to give them a semblance of privacy. “I don’t know what my feelings for you are. We have sex. Great sex, but still, I don’t really know you. You deliberately seduced me, Rafael. Don’t deny it. You did. I’m lonely and I was easy prey.”

  “I have no intention of denying I seduced you. Why should I? But you would not have responded to me the way you did if I were not your lifemate.”

  “Rafael, any woman would be seduced by you. You’re very sexy and an incredible lover. It has nothing to do with being lifemates.”

  “I could not be seduced by any other woman,” he said quietly. “You belong with me. The rest will have to come later.”

  “What rest? The part where I do everything you say?”

  “No, that needs to come now.”

  She glanced at him to see if he was attempting a joke. She didn’t feel any amusement on his part and she had the sinking feeling he was very serious. “Here’s the thing, Rafael: vampires and Carpathians aside, I believe in compatibility. I speak my mind, make my own decisions, and go my own way. I also t
hink things all the way through. You want to make up my mind for me. Why would you think we’re even remotely compatible?”

  His black eyes slid over her a second time. Hot. Possessive. He robbed her of breath with that single seductive look. Colby had to look away, out the window, her fingers twisting together hard. He could look right through her and own her. Once he kissed her she seemed to lose her own will. Colby pushed at her throbbing temples.

  She tentatively touched his mind with hers. Emotions swirled, violent and turbulent and unlike anything she was prepared for. Rafael intended to have her at any cost. He was every bit as ruthless as she first thought, maybe more so. He would have his way and do what he thought best to protect her in spite of her fears and misgivings. Colby pulled out of his head, more afraid than ever. Rafael didn’t like anyone telling him no and he believed he had a right to her.

  How could she survive with him? He lived so differently, thought so differently. He was a mixture of animal, instinct, Latin male and dangerous Carpathian hunter. She was the epitome of an independent woman, yet she could no longer trust her own judgment around him. She wanted to be with him more than she wanted anything, but she was losing herself. She needed to be with him and yet she knew he would rule her. She wasn’t the type of woman to be ruled. She closed her eyes, trying to keep her mind blank, not wanting him to read her confusion.

  Rafael thought of a hundred arguments, a hundred explanations, but none of them would matter. Colby feared what he was and she feared his hold over her. After she had witnessed his nearly losing control, she had every right to fear him. She didn’t even trust his purpose with her brother and sister and he couldn’t really blame her. He and his brother had come with the sole intention of removing Armando Chevez’s family to the ranch in Brazil and that purpose remained the same. Colby had clearly read that resolve in his mind. She was trying to keep from thinking, not wanting him to read her thoughts, but she planned on calling the sheriff as soon as she was home and talking things out with him. She trusted Ben like no other.