“Jacques…” Raven ventured hesitantly. This stranger was more beast than man, not the gentle brother-in-law she had known. At one time, Jacques had been filled with lazy amusement, with laughter and boyish pranks. Now he was a being without mercy, dangerous, insane perhaps.
Mikhail silently pulled her from the cabin, his body already beginning to lose form. They have to work it out themselves, my love.
He seems so dangerous.
He cannot harm his lifemate. Mikhail tried valiantly to believe it. There was a darkness in Jacques, a truly frightening void none of them could breach.
Gregori hesitated in the doorway. “Take precautions when you sleep, Jacques. We are hunted.” He, too, shimmered, dissolved, and streamed into the night.
Gregori, will he harm her? In spite of his reassurance to Raven, Mikhail felt he couldn’t take any chances with Shea’s health. If anyone could assess the damage to Jacques’ mind, it was the healer.
He thinks to punish her impetuous behavior, Gregori replied softly, but I can feel his mind turning to hers, taking in her overwhelming emotions. He tries to be angry with her, but it will not stay in his mind.
The blood from the ancients had given Jacques his full strength. He felt his immense power, savored it once again. On bare feet he padded across the room to the door and inhaled deeply. Despite the storm, he knew exactly where Shea was. He was in her mind at all times, never separated. He could feel her wild emotions, her panic and desperation, her need to escape the mountains, the Carpathians. To escape him.
You will return to me, Shea. It was a clear order, and he hoped she would obey him, hoped he would not have to force her.
Shea leapt over a rotting log and stopped abruptly under the canopy of a huge tree. The command was stark, impressive in its absence of emotion. She recognized anger in herself. It was new to her. Brand new. She couldn’t remember being angry before. Shea was usually careful not to feel anything at all. She preferred to analyze things.
Please try to understand, Jacques. I won’t be a part of this.
I will not argue long distance with you. Come to me now.
For strength Shea clutched at an overhead tree branch. Jacques’ lack of inflection frightened her more than his anger could have. She sensed a power in him, a total confidence. I won’t come back. I can’t. Just live your life, Jacques. You have it back now. If Jacques had really felt no emotion in centuries, then he would be struggling just as she was to stay in control. Everything seemed so intense. She wanted the calm, tranquil world she understood, where her brain ruled and emotions could be pushed aside.
You cannot possibly win this battle, Shea. It was a warning, nothing less. The tone was devoid of any feeling whatsoever.
Why does it have to be a battle? You need to accept my decision. I have the right to leave.
Come to me, Shea. There was iron strength in his command. This time he exerted a subtle but frightening pressure.
Shea pressed both hands to her head. Stop it! You can’t force me.
Of course I can. Even as the words echoed in his mind, he realized they were true. He could do almost anything. He stepped off the porch into the driving rain and stretched his muscles lazily, reveling in their response. He was truly alive again. He could easily bring her to him, bend her will to his. She needed to learn that Carpathian women were under their lifemate’s protection at all times. She never took precautions, never scanned her surroundings; she never took care for her own protection.
Was that the kind of man he had become? Had he always been so? Someone willing to force his will on the one person who cared for him, risked her life for him? Was it so much to ask that he give her time to adjust? Jacques rubbed the bridge of his nose thoughtfully.
She was so fragile, so vulnerable. Shea could brave the wildest river or highest mountain. She had the strength to handle any crisis, but not her own emotions. His competent little redhead was terrified of her feelings for him. Her childhood had been a nightmare. He could not allow her life with him to become the same thing.