Dark Curse Page 0,43

a great line of warriors, sent to spy in the enemy camp with the poisonous blood of the vampire eating him from the inside out.

Nicolas met Dominies gaze, steady and true, refusing to look away from greatness. He couldn't save him, but he could send him away with honor, and give him the respect due him. Dominic gave him his blood and then clasped his arms in the way of the warriors.

"Arwa-arvod mane me kodak. May your honor hold back the dark," Nicolas said softly. "Fight fiercely."

"Kulkesz arwaval. Go with glory," Gregori said. "Jonesz arwa arvoval. Return with honor."

Mikhail stepped close. "Jonesz arwa arvoval. Return with honor." He clasped Dominic's arms hard and they stood toe to toe.

"It is the right thing," Dominic assured in a low voice as he gripped his prince's forearms. "The only thing. Give me a couple of weeks and have someone start the rumor of my turning. Make sure it is subtle. It would be news, the first Dragonseeker to succumb to the darkness. People would talk, but the news cannot come from anywhere near you. Talk will get to them and the Malinov brothers will seek me out in an effort to recruit me."

Gregori pulled the precious vial of blood from a small box and handed it to Dominic, who pulled the stopper out and drank without hesitation. The silence in the room was complete. Even the crystals ceased

humming. No one moved or spoke until Dominic gave them a slight bow and took his leave-alone.

Destiny choked and turned her head away, burying her face against her lifemate. "It is like a razor is ripping through your insides," she murmured, the memories vivid and sharp.

Nicolae put his arms around her and held her to him, speaking softly, his tone low, but comforting.

Something soft inside of Nicolas rose to the surface as he watched the two. Nicolae's body posture was not simply protective, but loving. And when she turned her face up toward his, he could see the love shining back. He didn't have that. He didn't even have Lara's respect, let alone love. Nicolae had a treasure, a gift, something so precious-a lifemate was beyond comprehension-but with being so gifted, he should never be foolish enough to risk her.

Mikhail faced his warriors. "We have much to discuss before this night's end. Nicolas has brought us news of our enemies and their plans. He will speak this night. A young woman has arrived in our village and she is Nicolas's lifemate. He has made his claim and bound them together although the ritual is not complete." His gaze rested on Natalya. "We believe his lifemate, Lara, is the daughter of Razvan."

Natalya let out a single, small sound. Her twin brother had been lost to her for many years. She had believed she killed him in a recent battle, but he had returned, possessing an elderly woman's body to attack Shea and her unborn child.

"There is reason to believe that Razvan has been used for experiments, that possibly he was a prisoner for some time before he succumbed," Nicolas added.

"I want to talk to her," Natalya said.

Nicolas shook his head. "We have not completed the ritual. She does not trust us and has bad memories of her father. I do not want her distressed. She needs time."

Natalya's eyes went from deep green to ice blue. "She would want to talk to me."

Nicolas shrugged his shoulders, a casual ripple of muscle that put Vikirnoff just a little in front of his lifemate. "It matters little to me at this point. She does not know about you and I am not going to tell her until we have sorted out our lives. I have a very tenuous hold on her at the moment, only through our soul bond, and I will not risk it."

Natalya opened her mouth to protest, but Mikhail suddenly whirled around, his entire demeanor changing, his expression stricken as he stared for one heartbeat at Gregori, and then his brother. Without a word, his body shimmered and he leapt into the air, shifting as he did so.

Gregori's face went pale. "We will discuss the things we have gathered to talk about as soon as possible. Hopefully we can reconvene this meeting on the next rising. I must go with Mikhail to Raven now." He was gone nearly as fast as the prince.

Lucian and Gabriel stepped forward, facing the other warriors. "Go with honor. We will meet when the prince summons us."

Nicolas didn't wait for Natalya or