Shea was lying across Jacques, her head on his shoulder, her eyes closed. She groaned—a low, husky sound that added fuel to Jacques’ rage. His fingers brushed the dark smudges along her swollen throat, and he turned a murderous gaze on Mikhail.
“Leave us alone.” Her voice was barely a whisper, hoarse and raw .She did not open her eyes or try to move
“I can help him,” Gregori persisted, using his same compelling tone. The woman was so obviously the key to reaching Jacques. It was in the way he held her, the protective posture of his body, the way his eyes moved possessively, even tenderly, over her face. His hands were continually caressing her, stroking her hair, her skin.
At the underlying command in Gregori’s beautiful voice, her long eyelashes lifted, and she studied his face. He was savagely beautiful, a blend of elegance and untamed beast. He looked more dangerous than the other two strangers did. Shea made an effort to swallow, but it hurt. “You look like an ax murderer to me.”
This one has brains. Mikhail’s soft laughter echoed in Gregori’s head. She sees beyond that handsome face of yours.
You are so funny, ancient one. Gregori deliberately reminded him of the quarter of a century difference in their ages. Jacques is gathering himself for the attack. Hear the wind pick up outside. He was silent for a moment, searching every path known to him. I cannot find a single fragment to reach him, and she is very resistant to mental compulsion. I can use her, but he will know what I am doing. He will fight me, fearing I am taking her from him. She is too weak to survive such a struggle.
Can you immobilize him? Send him to sleep?
Not in his present state of agitation. He is more animal than man and more dangerous than you can know. Gregori gave a slight bow toward Shea, continuing his conversation aloud with her. “Nevertheless, I am a healer for our people. I can help Jacques, but I will need information.”
Jacques’ palm slid from Shea’s throat, down her shoulder, to tighten around her arm. Do not listen to him. They speak to one another without our knowledge. They are not to be trusted. The words were hissed, low and commanding. Already his brief moment of sanity was beginning to slip away with the intrusion of other males so near to Shea.
If he is a healer for your people, he can make you well faster than I ever could. Let’s at least listen to him. Shea kept her voice as soothing and as unafraid as she was able. She was tired and wanted to drift away, but she would not desert Jacques.
“You speak with Jacques in the way of our people.” Gregori said, “as a true lifemate.” His eyes were on the strong fingers circling her arm. “You must not sleep. You are his sanity. Without you we cannot help him.”
Shea’s tongue darted out, touched her lower lip. Her small teeth bit nervously. “Tell us something about Jacques,” she challenged. “Prove you have met him before and are friends to him.”
“He is Mikhail’s brother, lost to us these seven years. We sought him and, thinking him dead, sought his body. Mikhail, Byron, and I have all exchanged blood with Jacques. It strengthens out telepathic communication. We should have been able to reach him. When none of us could feel him, we all were certain he was dead.”
Shea took a deep, calming breath for both her and Jacques. These men were powerful and dangerous. Although the healer looked as if he might be the prince of darkness, there was a sincerity about him. But his words were fanning the smoldering embers of Jacques’ killing rage. She tried to keep him as calm as she could. “I found him buried in the cellar of a burned-down structure about six miles from here.”
Jacques’ grip on Shea tightened to the point of pain. Do not tell them anything.
Jacques. She said his name gently. You are hurting me.
Gregori nodded. “He lived there on and off before he disappeared. This cabin is Mikhail’s. Years ago Jacques guarded Mikhail’s wife in this place, fought a betrayer to save her. He nearly died here.” He saw a flash of hope in the woman’s eyes. Gregori knew her control of Jacques was but a slender thread. He had to reach her, get her on their side. She recognized the truth of something he had said. “After that incident, we left this area for a while. About eight years ago, Jacques returned to his home near here. There was much danger that year and the next. Humans and Carpathians alike were being murdered. Mikhail, Jacques, Aidan, and I were hunting the assassins. Jacques was supposed to rejoin us in three days several hundred miles south of here. When he did not meet us and did not answer our summons, we came to his home. It was completely destroyed. We could not detect his life force, nor did he answer our calls.” Jacques venomous hiss called him a liar. Red flames leapt and burned in the depths of his eyes. I called and called, Shea. Do not believe this betrayer. The strength of his grip on her arm increased, threatening to crush her bones.