“Then Gregori is a risk also.” Shea found herself shivering at the idea.
“Gregori is the biggest danger of all, and Aidan is not far behind him. Yet Aidan has a family of sorts. Humans, generations that have served him faithfully. He has given them a fortune, yet they choose to stay with him. Mother to daughter. Father to son. He is the only Carpathian I know of that has such a family.”
Lightning flashed, and on its heels thunder crashed almost overhead. Shea stiffened, the smile fading from her lips and eyes. Her open palm went to Jacques’ chest, held him away from her. All at once the welcoming forest and wild storm were no longer a sensual playground but a dark and sinister world. Shea scrambled to her feet, swiveling around, inspecting the darkened woods. Jacques rose with fluid grace, circled her waist with his arm protectively.
“What is it?” Instantly he was scanning the area around them, seeking outside himself to reveal his enemies. He stepped in front of Shea to block any threat to her. He found nothing that alarmed him, but Shea’s mind held real fear.
Shea stepped away from him, eyes anxiously sweeping the forest around them. She caught up her shirt, held it protectively against her body.
“The others are far away,” Jacques said, but he moved again to place himself squarely in front of her in an effort to protect her from the unseen enemy.
“There is something out there, Jacques, something evil watching us.” She dragged her shirt over her head quickly. “I know. I always know. Let’s get out of here.”
Jacques waited for her to pull on her jeans before stepping into his own. His every sense was flaring out to the night, searching for anything to prove her right. He could detect nothing, yet her uneasiness was beginning to seep into his blood- I stream. He could feel himself bristle like a wolf ready for attack. “Describe what you feel to me. Let me into your mind fully.” It was an imperious order.
Shea obeyed without thought. Dark, malevolent, something not human, not Carpathian, crouched in the storm, watching with red, feral eyes, watching and hating. She had the impression of sharp, dripping fangs and unsheathed claws. Not animal.
Vampire, Shea. He is out there now. The words were a soft whisper in her mind. Jacques “saw” through her mind, caught the impressions that identified the killer stalking them. You must obey me at once, everything I say. Do you understand?
Yes, of course. Where is he?
I do not know. I can neither smell him nor hear him. But what is in your mind is vampire. As you have never seen one I before and the impressions are so strong in your mind, I can do no other than believe this is real. Stay close to me. If he attacks, run.
I would never leave you. Her chin went up, and she looked mutinous. I’m perfectly capable of helping you.
He would use you to defeat me. I have fought them before. His body was crowding hers, urging her back down the trail toward their cabin. He was not looking so much with his eyes as with his entire being.
Shea moved quickly, tried to concentrate on the strong feeling inside her.
Whatever was tracking them so silently through the dense forest was exuding a black hatred that made her feel weak. Her heart was pounding in alarm. The thing was sinister, so evil and perverted she could feel the heaviness in the clean, rain-soaked air.
To their right, a strange fog glowed eerily, streamed through the rain and wound through the trees. It moved forward at knee level coming straight toward them now.
Shea felt her heart in her throat. She touched Jacques’ back for reassurance. He stopped, seemingly relaxed, his muscles coiled and ready, like a panther awaiting its moment. She could feel it in him, his readiness, so still and confident.
As the fog grew closer, only several yards away now, the moisture began to stack itself higher and higher, the droplets connecting and forming the shape of a man. Shea wanted to scream with fear, but she stayed very still, afraid of distracting Jacques.