Dark Challenge. Christine Feehan. Dark Series – book 5

Desari was silent for a moment, suddenly aware of how vulnerable she felt. It wasn’t just her body so open to his, or the depth of her desire, it was the emotions he evoked in her. Her long lashes swept down to conceal her sudden doubt.

At once, Julian’s hands tightened in her hair. “Cara mia, do not fear our union so much. I will see to your happiness. I could never hurt you. Do you not understand yet?” He captured her hand, brought it to his mouth, and kept it pressed against his finely chiseled lips. “Even if you chose to be with another male, I would never harm you. It would not be possible for me to do such a thing. But I am being honest with you when I tell you I would kill the man. I am a predator. Nothing, not even your light, can change completely what I am. I will allow no one to take you from my side.”

“Does it not scare you, Julian, the intensity of our feelings?” she whispered, her dark eyes clouded. “It frightens me more than anything I have ever encountered. I could not bear to be the cause of another’s death.

I see you struggling with your emotions, those that I have brought to you. It is a battle within you that you cannot hide from me. And there is something else, something you struggle to hide even from yourself.”

His teeth scraped the knuckles of her hand lovingly. “Yes, the emotions are new and strange, unknown to me these many centuries. And yes, they are difficult to learn to deal with, as they are intense and violent.” The “something else” he could not yet share with her, could not yet face. “But we have centuries for the learning,” he concluded. Reluctantly he eased his body from hers. “I feel your discomfort, piccola. Come here to me.” He was already drawing her up so that he could examine her body for marks.

“I am perfectly fine, Julian.” For some reason it embarrassed her that he was searching her fair skin for telltale bruises his passion might have left on her. “Explain to me why Syndil has experienced sexual feelings while I did not before you. Am I so different? Not feminine?”

Julian’s head came up, his amber eyes heating. “How can you not know how desirable you are, Desari? Surely you see the effect you have on males, mortal and immortal alike.”

Her fingers clung to his. “You are the first immortal I have ever encountered outside of my family. And just because human males find me desirable does not mean I am. Our race often has that effect on mortals. It is not me. Besides, I felt nothing in return.”

“For which I am eternally grateful. Why Syndil has felt these urges, I do not know. Perhaps she has sensed her lifemate near but without recognition of him.” There was a faint frown on Julian’s granite features. “It is possible some women are able to have sexual affairs with men other than their true lifemate prior to their claiming. But I cannot see how, given how closely our women are guarded. I cannot see Darius allowing males near you or Syndil, even though he was not raised in the traditions of our people.”

“That is true. Darius would never have allowed either of us to carry on with a male. Neither would Dayan or Barack. They watch us all the time. Since Savon’s treacherous behavior, they watch one another just as closely,” she added sadly.

“It is only Darius who fights the darkness so desperately,” Julian answered grimly. “He has been drawn deep within the shadows because he has had to kill to protect you all. The others can hang on longer if they wish it. Darius’s battle is a difficult one.”

Tears swam in Desari’s dark eyes. “I cannot leave him, Julian. He cannot think we can do without his protection. I have seen the same thing in him, and I fear for him constantly. More and more he keeps to himself. He rarely shares his thoughts with me. He is a great man, and I do not want to lose him.”