Dark Song

He is not your master. Ferro couldn’t keep the clipped, fierce note from his voice. He went directly to dominant in seconds, without thinking. Just the idea that his woman would think of Sergey that way set his teeth on edge. He was never your master. He was a cruel Carpathian who kidnapped an innocent young girl. He will pay for what he did to you.

At once that soothing breeze swept through his mind, clearing out his need to find the vampire and rip out his heart. There was only Elisabeta and her sweetness, that gentle soul with her light and the courage to guard his soul for centuries.

You are right, she agreed. He is not my master. The point is, I can look a little closer at him with you here holding me and see things I could not before. I would not have the courage if you were not with me. I would fear he would find me the way he did when I was in the healing grounds. He always told me he could find me anywhere.

Gary’s spirit emerged from her body, his light much dimmer than when he had entered, and his body jerked with weariness as he reentered. Siv immediately offered him his wrist and the others waited in silence for the healer’s verdict while he fed.

Andor followed Gary out and fed as well, slipping into the background with Benedek. Ferro met his eyes and Andor shook his head, indicating he didn’t think Gary had found anything Sergey had left behind in Elisabeta. Ferro frowned. If the breakdown of safeguards wasn’t in Elisabeta, where was it coming from?

5

The fog along the ridge, drifting through the trees;

A shadow in the distance, nothing but a breeze.

Elisabeta, you do not have to obey every single order your lifemate gives you. A woman can talk to other men. Some of the men in this room are barely out of the caves the way he is, but others are very modern and would address you themselves. They would treat you with the respect you deserve. Julija was totally indignant. Isai swore to me that Ferro would take good care of you and be whatever you needed.

For the first time that she could ever really remember, Elisabeta felt what it was like to really know what humor was. What it felt like. Ferro is exactly what I need. I told him there were too many people and I could not have them looking at me or talking to me. He said he would take care of it if that was what I desired, and he did. He asked Isai to bring you to me so I would have you to visit with because he knew you did not frighten me.

Elisabeta kept her eyes fixed on Julija’s face as she told her what her lifemate had done for her. Julija’s expression was priceless as her gaze flicked from Elisabeta to Ferro and then back to Elisabeta.

Wait. Are you saying that Ferro deliberately made himself look like an asshole in order to protect you? Julija scowled at the ancient hunter.

Ferro didn’t deign to look her way. The healer had gotten to his feet and once more had taken a chair beside Tariq.

Yes. I do not like being in the open. This room is too big for me. He is protecting me so I do not have to look at the entire room. I do not like all these people seeing me but he does not want to hide me away like the vampire did, so he holds me in his arms where I can hide my face. I did not want to answer questions so he told them not to talk to me directly.