Gregori turned the power of his silver eyes directly on her face. “Your father and I have lived over a thousand years, bébé. Why would you think you should have the knowledge of the ancients? You are a beautiful, intelligent fledgling, and you learn quickly.”
“Maybe I can never live as you want me to. Maybe I was born too late.” There was an ache in her voice, betraying her lack of confidence in herself. The silver stars in the centers of her eyes deepened the blue to a vivid violet. Her anxiety was easy to read.
He went to her immediately and framed her face with his hands. “You have a lifetime to learn the things your father and I have learned. It took us a lifetime. We had none of your responsibilities at such an early age. We were able to wander the world, to live freely. We had no overbearing, dominating lifemate we had to live with.” His thumbs caressed her delicate jaw. “Do not, chérie, ever think you cannot measure up to my expectations.”
“You might get tired of teaching me things.”
His hand spanned the slim column of her throat so that her pulse was beating into the center of his palm. “Never. It will never happen. And I have much to learn from you. There has been no laughter in my life. You have brought that to me. There are many things you have brought to my life—feelings and emotions I could never experience without you.” He bent to brush her mouth with his. “Can you not feel that I speak the truth?”
Savannah closed her eyes as his mouth took possession of hers, as his mind merged firmly with hers. There was such an intimacy in sharing his thoughts and feelings. Gregori was intense in his hunger and need. There were no doubts in him, no hesitation. He knew they would always be together; he would accept nothing else. If something ever changed that, he would choose to follow her into the dawn.
Gregori released her slowly, almost reluctantly. She stood very still, looking up at him, her blue eyes studying his face. “We can do this, Savannah,” he encouraged her softly. “Do not get frightened and try to run from your fate. Stay with me and fight.”
A small smile touched her mouth. “Fate. Interesting word to use. You make it sound like I’ve been sentenced to prison.” She took a deep breath and made herself relax. “You’re bad, but not quite that bad,” she teased him.
His white teeth gleamed, his predator’s smile. “I am very bad, ma petite. Do not forget that if you wish to be safe.”
She shrugged casually, but her heart leapt in response. “Safety is not a concept I strictly adhere to,” she answered, her chin up.
“That is a double-edged sword for me.”
Savannah burst out laughing, her natural sense of humor bubbling up. “You bet it is. I don’t intend to make things easy for you. You’ve had your way for far too long. Now teach me how to do this. It’s fascinating.” She waved an arm to encompass the shimmering script.
Gregori caught her arm to hold her still. “To release the pattern to our eyes is very simple. First study the pattern, then simply reverse it. Hand movements spread the molecules in the first place. Disturbing the air in reverse brings the designs back to where they were originally placed.”
“Who taught you such a thing?”
“Many arts have been lost through the ages. Buddhist monks in Tibet had this one at one time to communicate without others knowing. We are one with the earth, with the air, with space. To command and move it is not so difficult.” His hands began moving again, and Savannah was fascinated with the beauty and grace of his rhythm. “Do you know the ancient language? Read it? Write it? Speak it?” he asked her.
“A few words only. My mother was just trying to learn it from my father when I left for America. I never had a chance to learn.”
“One more thing for me to teach you, chérie, and we both will enjoy the experience.” His silver eyes were eloquent.