There was no reprimand in Vikirnoff’s voice; there never was. He was mildly curious about behavior he couldn’t fathom. Vikirnoff clearly found it incomprehensible that a Carpathian male would allow his lifemate to live in constant danger.
Nicolae shrugged his broad shoulders. The simple movement sent a ripple through his powerful muscles, a subtle warning to those who might see only his unfailing elegance. “She is my lifemate. I will do what is necessary for her, no matter what the cost. Destiny needs to be in control of her life more than she needs my protection.”
“That makes no sense. We have few women. She is needed, alive and capable of giving birth to a female child. Why would you allow such unnecessary danger to her? Take her to our homeland where she belongs.”
“A vampire robbed her of her life, forced his domination on her. Should I do the same?” Nicolae shook his head. “You know she would never stand for such a thing.”
“You can take control of her. Once she is healed—”
“Vikirnoff, she will never be completely healed, you know that. What was done to her is there in her mind for all time. She must come to me of her own free will.”
“The cost to you—”
“Does not matter. Will never matter. The physical danger to her is nothing in comparison to the danger of losing her to her own demons. They are more real and more lethal than any vampire she chooses to fight. I know you cannot understand, but you and I have stood together for centuries. You know me. You know my strength. There is no danger of my failing her by turning vampire. If she chooses another world, another time and place, I will follow her.”
“Do you remember all those years ago when our Prince called us to him? We were already aware our lifemates were not in the world with us. Most of us had already fought battles and had seen brothers and friends turn to a corrupt existence. We accepted that we would not have our lifemates, that something had happened to prevent their birth or that they had died before they had a chance to grow.” Vikirnoff casually tugged at his wrist with his teeth.
Nicolae would never leave Destiny unprotected while she lay helpless in the healing sleep he had commanded. Not even with Vikirnoff to guard her.
Nicolae accepted the offering just as casually, nodding before bending his head to his brother’s wrist.
“I have given this situation much thought,” Vikirnoff said. “We accepted our lives as guardians of the world. We asked for nothing in return, and we did our duty and upheld the honor of our people.” Vikirnoff glanced at the woman lying so still, her body battered and bruised, the tears in her skin still ragged. “This is not right. She should never have suffered like this. It is the very thing we gave our lives and our hopes to prevent. Of all people, it should not have happened to your lifemate. The undead should never have touched her.”
“And yet he did,” Nicolae said with resignation, closing the laceration in his brother’s wrist. “Thank you for your help in this difficult situation.”
“It is easier to continue when I see your lifemate and I know there is hope for our race. That there is hope my brother will live on and continue our line.”
“Perhaps Prince Vladimer knew that some of us would find our lifemates in this century rather than in our own. He did have precognition. If there is hope for me, surely there is reason for you to continue your existence, Vikirnoff.”
“Perhaps that is why he chose certain ones to stay and others to go. Our Prince was a great man and saw far into the future. I thought at first he was wrong not to tell his son of our existence, but Vlad was right. Mikhail drew our people together as no other could have. They were few, and they fought hard for the preservation of our race.”
Nicolae nodded his agreement. “Our people would have become divided had we not remained hidden. Vlad foresaw much, and that is why it is so important that all of our males continue to hold on.”