“You look like your mother,” Aidan observed.
“Thank you. I take that as a great compliment,” she said, suddenly wishing her mother was there. She missed Raven and Mikhail. “You honor me, to come at this time of the evening to share my grief. I know it’s difficult for all of us, but I had to choose a time to accommodate Peter’s human friends.”
“There is danger for you nearby, Aidan,” Gregori warned. “I would have you and your family safe from these butchers. They are human, of the same secret society that hunted in our lands several years ago.”
A shadow crossed Aidan’s face. He had humans in his family to protect, as well as his lifemate. The amber eyes glowed a deep gold. “The reporter.” A soft growl of menace rumbled deep in his throat.
Gregori nodded. “I will find out what I can this night from Mr. Wade Carter. I intend to take Savannah and lead him and whoever his cohorts are far from this city, so that there is no danger to you or yours.” They were in the house, free from prying eyes, but Gregori could feel the reporter’s evil presence permeating his territory. “I sent a clear warning to you, Aidan.” There was a hint of censure in his words, although his voice was soft.
There was a hard edge to Aidan’s mouth. “I received your warning. But this is my city, Gregori, and my family. I take care of my own.”
Savannah rolled her eyes. “You could just beat on your chests, you know. It probably works just as well.”
You will show some respect, Gregori ordered.
Savannah burst out laughing, then reached up to caress his shadowed jaw. “Keep hoping, my love, and perhaps someday someone will obey you.”
Aidan’s mouth twitched, the golden eyes sliding over Gregori in amusement. “She inherited something besides her mother’s good looks, did she not?”
Gregori sighed heavily. “She is impossible.”
Aidan laughed, ignoring the warning flash from Gregori’s pale eyes. “I believe they all are.”
Savannah ducked out from under Gregori’s arm and found an overstuffed chair to curl up in. “Of course we’re impossible. It’s the only way to stay sane.”
“I would have brought Alexandria to meet you, but Gregori’s warning dictated prudence.” Aidan sounded smug, as if he had been able to lay down the law to his woman when Gregori was unable to do so.
Savannah flashed an impish grin up at the man. “What did you do, leave her sleeping while you ran off to play hero? I’ll just bet she has a thing or two to say to you when you wake her.”
Aidan had the grace to look sheepish. Then he turned to Gregori. “Your lifemate is a mean little thing, healer. I do not envy you.”
Savannah laughed, unrepentant. “He’s crazy about me. Don’t let him fool you.”
“I believe you,” Aidan agreed.
“Do not encourage her in her rebellion,” Gregori tried to sound severe, but she was turning him inside out. She was everything to him, even with her silliness. Where did she get her outrageous sense of humor? How could she ever be happy with someone who hadn’t laughed in centuries? She melted his insides. Melted him. He was careful to keep his face expressionless. It was bad enough that Savannah knew he was practically wrapped around her little finger. Aidan didn’t need to know it, too.
“Seriously, Gregori, there is no need for you to lead these butchers from my city. Together we can deal with them,” Aidan said. “Julian is somewhere close. I feel him, though he will not answer my call.”
“Julian is close to turning. You would not want his help. The more kills, the more the danger increases. You know that. Julian will work out his destiny, Aidan. And if it becomes necessary to hunt him, if he does not come to you before the change, you must call me. Julian has grown very powerful. Very dangerous. Do not take chances because you are his brother. One of Mikhail’s brothers turned, and when justice sought him, he tried, like any other vampire, to destroy everyone. He would not have spared even Mikhail.” Gregori did not add he had been the one to bring justice to Mikhail’s brother. It had been such a difficult deed, he became determined never to get close to another as he had to Mikhail and his family. Gregori glanced at Savannah, found her incredible blue eyes on him, and somehow the painful memory was eased. “Julian has always been a dangerous and knowledgeable man,” Gregori concluded.