“I am sorry I was too late to save your friend. By the time I was aware of the vampire’s presence, he had already struck.” He didn’t add that he had been too busy rediscovering emotions and getting them under control to sense Roberto immediately. It was his first slip in a thousand years, and he wasn’t ready to examine the reason too closely. Guilt, perhaps, for the manipulated chemistry he had with Savannah?
Savannah’s mind brushed his and found genuine regret for her sorrow. “How did you find me?”
“I always know where you are, every moment. Five years ago you said you needed time, and I gave it to you. But I’ve never left you. I never will.” There was a gentle finality to his words, an echo of the resolve in his mind.
Savannah’s heart lurched. “Don’t do this, Gregori. You know how I feel. I’ve created a new life for myself.”
His hand, gentle in her hair, sent butterflies rising in her stomach. “You cannot change what you are. You are my lifemate, and it is time for you to come to me.” His voice held velvet-soft compulsion when he whispered lifemate, reinforcing his tampering with nature. The more he said it, the more Savannah would believe it. True, he suddenly saw in color and felt emotion because he had found his lifemate. But Gregori also knew he had programmed their chemistry to be compatible before she was born; she had never had a chance.
Her teeth bit at her full lower lip in agitation. “You can’t take me against my will, Gregori. It’s against our laws.”
He bent his dark head, his warm breath sending a shiver of heat coiling in the pit of her stomach. “Savannah, you will accompany me now.”
She flung her head up, her blue-black hair cascading in all directions. “No. I’m the closest thing to family Peter had. I will see to the arrangements for him first Then we will discuss us.” She was wringing her hands, betraying her nervousness of him, unaware that she did so.
Gregori’s larger hand covered hers and stilled the desperate twisting of her fingers. “You are not thinking straight, ma petite. You cannot be found on the scene. You would have no rational way to explain what happened here. I have set things up so that when his body is found and identified, no suspicion can fall upon you or any of our people.”
She took a deep breath, hating that he was right. No attention could be drawn to her species. She didn’t have to like it. “I won’t go with you.”
White teeth gleamed at her, a predator’s smile. “You may attempt to defy me in this, Savannah, if you feel you must.”
She touched her mind to his. Male amusement implacable resolve, utter calm. Nothing ruffled Gregori. Not death and certainly not her defiance. “I’ll call for security,” she threatened desperately.
The immaculate white teeth flashed again. The silver eyes glittered. “Do you wish me to release them from the orders I gave them before you do so?”
She closed her eyes, still trembling in shock and fear. “No, no, don’t do that” she whispered in defeat
Gregori studied the misery so transparent on her face.
Something tugged at his heart, something unrecognizable to him but nevertheless strong. “The dawn will be upon us in a couple of hours. We need to leave this place.”
“I won’t go with you,” she insisted stubbornly.
“If your pride dictates that you must fight me, you may try to do so.” His voice, with its Old World War cadence and formality, was almost tender.
Her eyes deepened to purple. “Stop giving me your permission! I am Mikhail and Raven’s daughter, a Carpathian like yourself and not without my own powers. I have the right to my own choices!”
“If it pleases you to think so.” His fingers curled easily around her slender wrist. His grip was gentle, but she could feel his enormous strength. Savannah pulled hard, testing his resolve. Gregori appeared not to notice her struggles.
“Do you wish me to make this easier on you? You fear needlessly.” His mesmerizing voice was incredibly tender.