“I’m afraid that if I leave, I might never get the children. The officials are disturbed because I’m asking for all seven of them and there are no records.” Sara’s ringers twisted together in agitation.
“Mikhail will be able to get rid of the red tape for us. He has many businesses in this area and is well known.” Falcon brought her fingers to the warmth of his mouth to calm her. “I have not been to my homeland in many years, but I am well aware of everything that is happening. He will be able to assist us.”
“How do you know so much if you’ve been away?” Sara wasn’t ready to trust a complete stranger with something so important as the children.
He smiled and tangled his fingers in her hair. “The Carpathian people speak on a common mental pathway. I hear when hunters have gone through the land or some trauma has taken place. I heard when our Prince nearly lost his lifemate. Not once, but on two occasions. I heard when he lost his brother and then his brother returned to him. Mikhail will assist you. When you reach the area, he will find you in the evening and you will be under his protection. I will rise as soon as possible and come straight to you. He will assist us in finding a good location for our home. It will be near him and within the protection of all Carpathians. I have marked the trails for you in the mountains.” Falcon bent his head to the temptation of her breast, his tongue lapping at the tight, rosy peak. His hair skimmed over her skin like so much silk. “You must be very careful, Sara. You cannot think you are safe because it is daylight. The undead are locked within the earth, but they are able to control their minions. This vampire is an ancient and very powerful.”
Her body caught fire, just like that, liquid flames rushing through her bloodstream. “I will be more than careful, Falcon. I’ve seen what he does. I’m not going to doing anything silly. You don’t have to worry. After I contact my friends and get a call through to my lawyer, I’ll be going straight to the mountains. I’ll find your people,” she assured. Her heart was beating a little too fast at that thought, and she knew he heard it. Her own hearing was far more acute than it had been, and the thought of food made her feel slightly sick. Already she was changing, and the idea of being separated from Falcon was frightening. Sara lifted her chin determinedly and flashed him a reassuring smile. “Once I set everything up, I’ll get on the road.” Her fingers were continually sliding over the bust of Falcon’s head, lovingly following the grooves marking the waves in his hair.
Watching her, knowing that statue had been her solace in years past, Falcon felt his heart turn over. He gathered her close to him, his touch possessive, tender, as loving as he could make it. “You will not be alone, Sara. I will heed your call, even in my most vulnerable hour. Should your mind start to play tricks on you, telling you I am dead to you, call me and I will answer.”
Sara molded her body against his, clinging to him, holding him close so that he felt real and strong and very solid. “Sometimes I think maybe I dreamed of you for so long I’m hallucinating, that I made you up and any minute you’ll disappear,” she confessed softly.
His arms tightened until he was nearly crushing her against him, yet there was great tenderness in the way he held her. “I never dared to dream, even to hope. I had accepted my barren existence. It was the only way to survive and do my duty with honor. I am not ever going to leave you, Sara.” He didn’t tell her he was terrified at the thought of going to ground while she faced danger on the surface. She was a strong woman, and she had survived a long, deadly duel with the vampire completely on her own. He couldn’t find it in him to insist she do things his way simply for his comfort.