A flicker of impatience, of menace, crossed Mikhail’s brooding features. “Then I will command you and give you the healing rest your body and mind require.” His voice was as soft and neutral as ever. If it hadn’t been for the fury burning in his black eyes, Raven would have thought him gentle and caring toward the man. “We cannot afford to lose you, Rand.” His voice softened to velvet, enticed, commanded. You will sleep, Rand. You will go to Eric and have him prepare you, guard you. You will remain until you are no longer a threat to yourself or others.
Raven was shocked and alarmed at the absolute power in his voice, the power he wielded as if it was his due. Mikhail’s voice alone could produce a hypnotic trance. No one questioned his authority, even over so grave a decision as keeping a child. She bit at her lip, confused over her feelings. He was right about the baby. She sensed something wrong in Rand, yet that a grown man would obey his order—had to obey his orders—frightened her. No one should have such a voice, such a gift. Something so strong could be misused, could easily corrupt the one who wielded it.
They stood, regarding each other in the gathering darkness once Rand left them. Raven could feel the weight of Mikhail’s displeasure pressing down on her. She lifted her chin defiantly. He moved closer, gliding unbelievably fast, his fingers finding her throat as if he might strangle her. “You will never repeat this foolhardy act again.”
She blinked up at him. “Don’t try to intimidate me, Mikhail; it won’t work. No one tells me what to do or where I can go.”
His fingers slipped to her wrists, tightened, threatened to crush her fragile bones. “I will not tolerate any foolishness that might put your life in jeopardy. We have lost one of our women already. I will not lose you.”
His sister, he had said. Compassion warred with self-preservation. Most of this confrontation was because he was so afraid for her. “Mikhail, you can’t put me in a box and keep me on a shelf.” She spoke as gently as she could.
“I will not argue over your safety. Earlier, you were alone with a man who thought of forcibly taking you. Any wild animal could have attacked you, and if you had not been under my protection, in his present state, Rand might have harmed you.”
“None of those things happened, Mikhail.” She touched his jaw with gentle, placating fingers, a tender caress. “You have enough to worry about, enough responsibilities, without adding me to them. I can help you. You know I’m capable.”
He tugged at her wrist so that she lost her balance and fell against his hard strength. “You are going to make me crazy, Raven.” His arms came up, pinning her soft slenderness against him. His voice dropped to a drawling caress, mesmerizing, pure black magic. “You are the one person I long to protect, yet you will not obey. You insist on independence. All others lean on my strength, yet you seek to help me, to shoulder my duties.” He lowered his mouth to hers.
There was that curious shifting of the ground beneath her feet, the crackle of electricity in the air around them. Flames licked over her skin, heated her blood. Colors whirled and danced in her head. His mouth claimed hers, aggressive, male, totally dominating, sweeping all thoughts of resistance aside. She opened her mouth to him, allowed his probing exploration, his sweet, hot assault.
Her hands found the broadness of his shoulders, crept up to circle his neck. Her body felt pliant, boneless, like hot silk. Mikhail wanted to press her to the soft ground, tear the offending clothes from her body, and make her irrevocably his. There was far too much innocence in the taste of her. No one had asked to share the weight of his countless burdens. No one, until this little slender slip of a mortal, had even thought of the price he continually paid. A human. She had the courage to stand up to him and he could do no other than respect her for it.