“I still feel ashamed that I brought him into your life.” She had led a monster to her parents. And now she had allowed him to find Nicolae.
Nicolae tugged at her hand until she lifted her head. He brought their clasped hands to his heart. “I have seen this tragedy so often over the centuries. The things we think of as our sins as a child cannot be released even as adults. It is sad we cannot let go, because those things color our lives. Think of that poor little boy who will always believe he was responsible for his mother’s death simply because he didn’t do the dishes. He will never feel worthy of love.”
Destiny leaned into the wall of flowers. She knew very well what he was saying to her. “Where are the thorns?”
“Thorns? What are you talking about?”
“On the roses. Where are the thorns?”
Nicolae looked puzzled as he nibbled on her fingers. “I would never leave thorns on the plants. You might be injured.”
Destiny burst out laughing. She couldn’t help it. “Nicolae, do you have any idea how absolutely silly that is? We hunt vampires. We have tainted blood flowing in our veins. I don’t think getting scratched by a thorn is going to harm me.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “I do not like your hunting vampires, and I hope to rid you of the tainted blood. It is unnecessary to risk your getting scratched by a thorn if I can prevent it.” He sounded perfectly reasonable.
Destiny groaned, trying not to notice the way her heart was melting at his words. Trying not to notice the brush of butterfly wings fluttering in her stomach at the touch of his lips against her skin. “You’re going to be one of those overprotective idiots who are always tripping over their own feet trying to rescue the fainting little woman, aren’t you?”
He winced visibly. “I do not much care for the image you are conjuring up. I would put it in a much better way. I do feel it is my duty and right to protect you.”
She rolled her eyes and heaved an exaggerated sigh. “You are one of those he-man kind of rescuers. Something in your childhood maybe. Perhaps we need to explore your psyche a bit.”
His eyebrows shot up. “I do not think it is necessary. Protecting one’s lifemate is as necessary as breathing.”
“Really?” Destiny stood up, pulled him up beside her. “Next time you decide to make a decision like taking tainted blood, you might want to consult me first. I might hit you over the head if you pull something like that again.”
He found himself grinning down at her exasperated expression. “You have problems with authority.”
She tossed her head, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Waves of dark hair spilled around her face and down her shoulders. “Fortunately, I don’t acknowledge anyone as an authority, so there’s no problem whatsoever.” She clothed herself in the manner of the Carpathian people. She did so smoothly, naturally, without hesitation. She had been six years old when she’d been taken from her family. She knew more of the Carpathian way than the human way. “If the Prince doesn’t like me all that much, well”—she shrugged—”it’s perfectly fine with me.”
He caught her chin, lifted her gaze to his. “You need to perfect the art of lying if you are going to be telling such tales.”
She shrugged, unrepentant. “I’m going to have to figure out what to do with you, Nicolae. I hadn’t planned to let you in my life, and you’ve turned everything upside down. What exactly are we supposed to do? It isn’t as if we can have any kind of a normal life. We certainly can’t have those children you seemed to want.”
“Why not?”
Her eyes glittered with sudden fire. “Your blood, thanks to your being so stubborn and impetuous, is tainted. Or had you forgotten?” There was still a trace of accusation in her voice, and for a moment the flames leapt in her gaze.
He clothed himself in his usual elegant style, turning away from her to hide his amusement. She wouldn’t be pleased that he thought her humorous when she was scolding. “I am stuck on the word impetuous. Surely that does not describe my carefully thought-out action.”