of code, her honor, her duty. She would not have forgiven herself for denying him in his moment of need. She would have dwelt on her refusal in the long hours of the day when Dominic couldn't comfort her. He had a code, too, and that code was to provide his lifemate with everything she needed, even if that meant stretching her limits beyond what she thought she could handle.
But this might be stretching his limits beyond what he could handle. She had been a warrior to Zacarias, but Dominic had seen her vulnerable. Her vulnerability was beautiful to him and that she would show it to him was an honor. It brought out his every protective instinct, and the beast prowling inside of him roared for her. Not simply the physical mating, but the completeness of what a lifemate was. She needed. He provided. He needed. She provided. Each was dedicated solely to the other.
But this--this shocking reaction of body and mind--was nearly his undoing. Her blood swept into his body and the parasites cowered before it, more than they had with Zacarias's pure Carpathian blood. They retreated, became quiet, hiding from the royal jaguar blood as if afraid of the fierce fighting cat. As her blood spread through his system, the internal fire started, a great sweeping storm that burned hot and fast and out of control.
Her body moved against his, inflaming his already rock-hard groin. He didn't want to stop; his hand stroked the underside of her breast, although what he wanted--no, needed--was to feel her silken skin against his. Her small sob brought him up short. Restored control. Order. An awareness of where he was and what was happening around him. He'd been so far into the throes of madness, he was astonished as he took a slow lick across the pinprick holes and followed the ruby-red drops of blood down her shoulder. He straightened slowly, breathing her in, absorbing the feel of her small, curvy body tight against him. Nothing had ever felt so right to him.
Aware of her growing fear, he pressed his mouth to her pulse, wanting only to calm and comfort her. His little wildcat had a feminine side she considered submissive, and it terrified her. It was up to him to show her that part of her was every bit as important as her warrior persona and that being a woman didn't in any way take away from who she was.
" Pes?d te engemal--You are safe with me." He whispered the words against the frantic pulse, his tongue swirling there, holding her while she calmed. Her wild nature was evident. Solange had lived her life on the fringes of society, never in the midst of it. Laws didn't apply in her world. She didn't need to learn the niceties of city life, or even life within a community. Her world was survival only--very much like his world had been.
Zacarias went to slide his tongue over the laceration to politely close it, but Dominic pulled her wrist to his mouth. He took one drink, felt the fireball rolling through his body and then he closed the wound himself.
"Thank you," Zacarias said.
Dominic knew the Carpathian hunter was thanking him, not Solange. In ancient times, lifemates were sacred and others didn't speak to them without express permission. Zacarias was of that old school, and perhaps, if he was entirely truthful with himself, Dominic was, too.
He lifted his head to meet Zacarias's gaze. "The dawn approaches."
Zacarias nodded. " Kolasz arwa-arvoval--may you die with honor." He stood for a moment. "It is long since I have heard our own language spoken. For a moment, I felt the call of our homeland."
"Veri olen piros, ek?m--blood be red, my brother," Dominic answered. The meaning was clear. Find your lifemate.
Zacarias looked from him to Solange, her clothes and skin stained with blood. He shook his head. "My time is past for that. The world has changed and left me behind. I will aid you when you call, old friend."
He simply vanished, the vapor merging with the smoke from the dying fire. There was silence. Solange didn't turn her head to look over her shoulder at Dominic, she simply stood waiting for his direction, holding herself very still, although he could feel the tremors running down her spine.
Above her head, he smiled, the tension easing from his body now that there were no males near her and they were alone. He gathered her to him. "I will take us to