into her own and recognize that she was every bit as powerful as either of their enemies. Anatolie and Barnabas were far more experienced, but her blood was both Carpathian and mage, and she had the best of both species. He was ancient and had no doubt that he would kill one or both of them, but it would take time and they would throw everything they had at him. If they were very, very lucky, his brethren would come.
“I understand,” she said. She tilted her head and looked him in the eye. “I can do this, Isai. I’m with you all the way. I knew it would come down to this someday. I have always been afraid Barnabas would convince Anatolie to let him have me again. If that happened, I promised myself I would never make that descent into hell again.”
He cupped her face in his hands. “You do know that I can find you anywhere. Anywhere. I would follow you straight into hell if that was where you were. I’d come for you, Julija, never doubt that.”
He kissed her with exquisite tenderness. “My beloved. My little mage. I love you more than I can ever express.”
“I love you the same way.”
She had stars in her eyes. They were surrounded by her worst enemies and she looked at him as if he was everything. He brushed her lips again. “Are you ready?”
She nodded. “Let’s do this.”
Facing the lake, Julija took a deep, cleansing breath and closed her eyes to remove one of her senses, better to feel what she needed. The moment she did, Isai kicked the wind up a notch and the clouds above them swirled and groaned with the heavy burden of so much snow. Flakes fell in little flurries, were caught in the wind and carried out over the water.
She lifted her hands toward the lake. Isai knew the two high mages were expecting the book to be buried in the depths of the water, just as they had been. Both men would be concentrating their energies on the lake. He increased the snowfall so that their world turned white as the clouds, burgeoning with snow, finally burst open. He made certain the snow felt entirely natural. It was already there, he just added to the intensity of it.
Blood calls to blood, to that which is unseen.
Syphoning away darkness, so clarity is seen.
I call to the power of the earth below.
Open your arms that I may see what is hidden beneath and now know.
Isai wrapped Julija in his arms, pulling her back from the earth where it fell in on itself. He hoped that they could only be seen as shadowy figures walking closer to the lake.
The moment the deep grave was open, something stirred at the very bottom of the hole. It appeared indistinct, transparent, shimmering one moment black and the next gray, insubstantial in the ever-moving smoke. The thing tilted its head and looked up at them. The pits that had been eyes took on a fiery glow.
Isai’s breath caught in his lungs. “Shadow warrior,” he identified softly. Now he knew why his brother’s burden had been so intolerable, so heavy. He hadn’t just buried the book and chanced that no one would come upon it. He had left himself behind as a guardian. It was a terrible—and wonderful—sacrifice.
“Stop admiring him.” Already the apparition was standing upright, looking up at them, his body beginning to take form. She patted her thigh hard to clear her mind. “Vapor. Particles. Dust, dirt, whatever is available. Small molecules.” She murmured aloud what the shadow warrior was made of. She swallowed hard.
“Hear me now, Iulian. You deserve to rest in peace after all your years of service. Your blood-kin Isai will take over to allow you to go to your lifemate. I am Julija, his lifemate, and I bear the mark of the high mage and the Dragonseeker.”
I call on the wind to take this warrior home.
I call on earth and fire to carry him to rest.
I call to the powers of air, circle and clear that which has been shadow so long.
I call to the powers of earth, open and provide a resting place for this warrior.
I call to the powers of fire, bring back his heart so he may find his true love.
I call to the powers of water, may this warrior find peace and balance within you.
Air, Earth, Fire, Water, hear me.
Surround this warrior, take him home, give him rest.