"Another good reason for the two of you to stay and help us out," Gregori said.
"They fight like a well-synchronized army. They strike fast, do as much damage as possible and kill as many as they can before they disappear. They nearly always go for the belly, ripping their adversary almost in half," Fen told them.
"I've got the scars to prove it," Dimitri said with a small self-deprecatory shrug.
Gregori smiled at him. "You're not alone. I think half our men had their bellies ripped open, me included. They definitely made us look like amateurs."
"I knew better than to let him get that close," Dimitri admitted.
"Packs are dangerous fighters and very skilled," Fen said.
"Think about the wolf packs in the forests," Dimitri added. "The Lycans are even more of a threat than an animal pack when they come at you because their very best strategists lead the hunt."
"But the Lycans don't hunt humans or Carpathians," Mikhail said quickly. "When you talk about pack hunting you're actually talking about the rogue, werewolf packs."
"True," Fen agreed, "but they start out as Lycans. Most of the time individuals within a pack drop out to become rogue. The rogues form their own packs."
Natalya, Vikirnoff's lifemate suddenly frowned. She was Tatijana's niece, daughter of her long dead brother, Soren, but the Dragonseeker features were there, including the changing eye and hair color. Having come to know Tatijana as he had, Fen wasn't surprised to see Natalya fighting by her lifemate's side or entering the cave of warriors with absolute confidence.
"What is it?" Fen asked.
"The elite hunters like Zev. Everyone's talking about him and how skilled he is."
"I saw him in action," Gregori said. "He's every bit as good as our best."
"So I've been hearing," Natalya said. "Do they ever go rogue?"
"It's possible," Fen said. "But I've never seen it happen. Our best hunters eventually succumb to the darkness and become vampires. Our species aren't that different. We're both born predators and we do have to submerge that part of our natures in order to keep our honor."
"You're part Lycan," Natalya persisted. "Do you have to fight the inclination to allow the animal side of you to take over?"
She knows the right questions to ask. Can you imagine Zev being a Sange rau? There was pride in Tatijana's voice.
She'd never had the chance to know her niece while she was growing up. In a way, Fen knew, she was grateful for that. She'd endured watching her father torture his own grandson and use him in horrendous experiments.
Tatijana was firmly merged with him as she had been since the moment they'd entered the cavern. She'd been so determined to protect him from the slightest insult, but it left her open to Fen reading her thoughts. She wanted a relationship with Natalya. Natalya had helped to rescue her aunts, but both Tatijana and Branislava had been so frail they'd been put in the earth almost immediately. She hadn't had the time to get to know her relatives.
She certainly does ask the right questions, Fen agreed. She's definitely a Dragonseeker.
"On the other hand, my friend, Vakasin, became Sange rau while we were hunting." Fen paused, shook his head and corrected himself. "Not Sange rau, he was a Guardian of all."
Once again Tatijana filled him with-her. Pure love. Closeness. The moment he felt sorrow for his lost comrade, she was there, sharing the emotion with him, comforting him. She was such a miracle.
Each rising, I hope to give you happiness. He didn't know how else to put into words his feelings for her. He could only hope that she felt that overwhelming emotion he had for her each time she merged with him.
Wolf man, don't get too romantic on me with your brother eyeing us both like he is.
You started it, he teased, but she had a point. Dimitri was sharp and he was watching both of them with a faint, knowing grin.
"We have to be far more creative and prepared for attacks during the day," Mikhail said. He'd been quiet through most of the discussion on fighting the packs. "Sara and Falcon's adopted children are human and they must be protected. We have only Jubal and Gary to help fight off the packs if they come while we're at our most vulnerable, and Gary is not in a position to help us at all for some time."
"Zev and his pack will defend them as long as the rogues are in the vicinity," Fen said. "They're sworn to hunt the rogues and bring them to justice."
"Will they be more interested in actively hunting the werewolves, or protecting our children?" Gregori asked.
Mikhail shrugged. "We will protect our own children with or without them. I have much to consider before we call a full council of warriors. I want to meet with Zev as soon as possible, meet his pack and get them to take an invitation back to their council to meet with us. As soon as we have an answer, if it's positive, I'll call in the others."
Mikhail turned back to the thick bloodred crystal, still pulsing with light. "I thank my ancestors for their kindness in making the journey to be with us and help guide us through these difficult times. Be well and go with honor."