Dark Carousel (Dark #30) - Christine Feehan Page 0,110

admitted, “but we were looking out for two women. Genevieve Marten, originally from Paris, and Charlotte Vintage from here. I don’t know how to explain what’s going on, but believe me, they’re in trouble.”

That, at least, was sincere. And the absolute truth. Genevieve and Charlotte were in more trouble than either woman realized. As was Emeline. And now Amelia. He hadn’t thought Vadim had looked at Amelia, but after what the teen had revealed to Charlotte, it was clear the vampire was interested in her as well. Inwardly he sighed. The number of women needing protection was growing fast. He had to find a way to keep all of them safe from Malinov’s master plan.

He’d sent word to the Carpathian Mountains, to the prince, letting him know what Vadim and his brother were plotting. More, he’d sent for available hunters, a healer, and with each hunter came more safeguards woven around the property, below and above it as well, in order to keep his family safe. He knew Josef was coming, a younger Carpathian male, still a child by their standards, but he was good with technology—something all Carpathians needed to catch up on.

His people were gathering, but it would take time to get his defense in a solid position, enough so he could go on the offense—actively go after Vadim and eradicate each and every one of his soldiers. They needed to find out more about the human male psychics Vadim recruited and why they couldn’t be detected as vampire puppets. The men in the memories Charlotte had accessed didn’t seem entirely under Vadim’s control, but acted independently of him.

“Charlotte Vintage is my fiancée,” he announced, using the human term rather than the Carpathian. “She is very safe. My property is guarded and has a full security system as you can see.” He waved his hand toward the high fence. “Genevieve, her friend, is also staying with me. She is safe as well.”

Daniel shook his head and took a step closer. “No, that’s the thing. Neither of them is safe. They’ve been . . . targeted. I can’t explain to you what that means, but I’m telling you that you can’t possibly keep them safe. The men after them are ruthless. Powerful. They can get to anyone, and they’ll take them. We’ve been following them since Paris, and someone is always watching them. Even now, someone is watching. The moment they leave your property, or maybe even before, these men will be after them.”

It was an impassioned speech. Daniel Forester was afraid for Charlotte and Genevieve. There was no disguising the tremor in his voice. The genuine fear.

“I am well aware of the danger to them. We ran into these men the other night in the club’s parking garage. Fortunately, I had several of my security team with me and they decided to try for the women another night.”

Daniel raked agitated fingers through his hair. “You still don’t understand how dangerous these men are. I don’t know why they want specific women, but they kill to get them. They’re vicious and cunning. They won’t stop. You can’t stop them.”

Tariq studied the man’s face. Psychic energy poured off of him. In his own way, Daniel Forester held power. This was the kind of man Vadim would have chosen to recruit for his human army. He decided to take a chance. “I’ve seen the way these men murder. Tearing out throats. Draining their victims of blood. You believe the ones after Charlotte and Genevieve are vampires, don’t you?”

There was a small silence. Daniel glanced at his two friends, his face flushing dark as he tried to figure out whether Tariq was making fun of him.

“Vampire?” He echoed the word, stalling for time.

Tariq nodded. “That’s the point you were skirting around. You believe the men after Charlotte and Genevieve are vampires.”

Daniel’s chin went up. His shoulders straightened. A muscle jerked in his jaw. “They are vampires. You can think I’m crazy, but I’ve seen what they do. You can’t just stop them with a security fence.” There was a sneer in his voice.

Daniel expected Tariq to make fun of him, but he was standing his ground. Tariq gave him points for that. “If you believe them to be vampires, then surely you must have considered that along with them, there are hunters of vampires.” He spoke softly, planting the thought carefully with just the gentlest of pushes.

Tariq was well aware of “the society”—a group of humans hunting vampires. These men and women