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to me that Xavier not only possessed Razvan's body, but he injected him with something that took his will-not his mind completely because he tried to resist, but ultimately, it appeared as if Xavier was making him do terrible things and Razvan was unable to overcome the combination of drugs and spells that Xavier wove."

Vikirnoff and Nicolas came back into the room, catching the last part of the conversation. Nicolas didn't look quite as drawn. He sat on the arm of Lara's chair, his body positioned protectively toward her. "Possession and taking over minds, making people into puppets, was Xavier's forte. No one had his skill and he continued to perfect it over the years. It was one of the things the prince and he disagreed on. Some things shouldn't be done." Nicolas tangled his fingers in Lara's hair. "Xavier felt the Carpathian people used mind control to get their way and he had every right to do so as well. It was difficult to argue with his logic."

"Because there was truth in it," Lara said.

Nicolas nodded. "At the time, I felt we were using our mind control for good, and he wanted to use it to further his own ends, but lately I have learned that I certainly used it for my own selfish purposes. It is much easier and faster when I want cooperation so I just do so without thinking."

Vikirnoff made a sound of disgust. "To ease someone's fears is not the same thing as making them do things they would never ordinarily do," he objected.

"Such as give blood?" Lara asked.

Vikirnoff shifted forward aggressively. Natalya put a gentle hand on his arm. "You have scars on your wrists, Lara. I found a ceremonial knife that had been Xavier's and when I accessed the memories, there was one of a young girl Razvan was using to feed from. Xavier came in and tried to take her blood as well and she was able to escape the cave with the help of two dragons."

Nicolas's hand curled around the nape of Lara's neck. "That was Lara. Her aunts were caught in the form of dragons and were too weak to escape as well. We are going back to the cave to determine their

fate as well as to try to figure out what happened to Razvan."

Vikirnoff sat up very straight. "That cave is one big trap, Nicolas. We barely escaped with our lives. Xavier left guardians and there were signs that the chambers are still in use at times. We have been watching it closely, but no one goes in there, it is far too risky."

Nicolas's long, strong fingers began a slow massage on her neck. "We are well aware of the risk, Vikirnoff, but we cannot live with ourselves if we do not find out the answers to our questions. The aunts risked everything to save Lara. And the evidence that Razvan has for centuries-not a few years, but centuries-endured torture. He is Dragonseeker, which means there is the possibility that he could survive."

"We saw him attack Natalya," Vikirnoff pointed out. "He was in her head, tracking her, trying to lure her to him, to use her against us."

"But was Razvan in his own mind? Or was it Xavier possessing or controlling Razvan? Lara and I need to find the answer to that question. And her aunts have been imprisoned long enough. Dead or alive, and we do not expect to find them alive, we want to bring them home."

Vikirnoff took Natalya's hand. "You knew Razvan better than any person alive. Could this be possible? Could it have been Xavier controlling Razvan?"

She closed her eyes briefly and shook her head. "I don't know, Vikirnoff. I truly don't know. He only came to me in my dreams. How could Xavier intrude on dreams?"

"How can Xavier find a way to imprison and keep from suicide one of the most powerful Carpathian women? Rhiannon's lifemate was murdered, yet Xavier managed to force her to have triplets with him," Nicolas pointed out. "I knew Rhiannon and her lifemate. She would have followed him if she could have."

Lara cleared her throat. "The aunts talked about her often. She was held prisoner by Xavier and once she had the children, she stayed alive willingly to help protect them and teach them as much as she could about the Carpathian and mage cultures. She imparted knowledge to them at a fast rate because she knew eventually Xavier would murder her, and he did."

You didn't tell me this.