him. How could she possibly understand what she meant to him?
“I’m sorry, Traian. I know I can’t begin to understand what it must have been like, but I feel the weight of it in your mind.”
More than that, she felt how alone he had been. The intensity of his pain shook her. His life had been stark. Ugly. Bleak. She caught frightening glimpses of scenes in his past. Terrible battles that lasted for hours. Severe injuries. Death all around him. No one to comfort him. No one to care.
Joie closed her eyes briefly, overwhelmed by longing, by the need to wrap her arms around him and just hold him. Very slowly she removed her outer jacket. Although they hadn’t heated the room, after the cold of the mountain, she found it almost too warm indoors. She tossed her gloves on top of her jacket.
“It is almost dawn, Joie. I will need to go to ground. I have lost too much blood and the wounds on my body require healing. There is no other way to do it quickly and the separation from me may be difficult for you. You will need to stay in this room where you will be safe.”
“What do you mean, difficult?” Joie couldn’t help that her voice was filled with suspicion. Traian didn’t just throw things out there for dramatic effect. Clearly he was warning her about something she had yet to experience.
“The pull between lifemates is very strong. You will not be able to reach me telepathically and yet your mind will insist on reaching for mine. You could, if not prepared, believe me to be deceased. My heart will cease to beat and my breath will still in my lungs while the rich soil of my homeland heals my wounds and rejuvenates me. It would be best if you allow yourself to sleep through the day. You are exhausted as are your siblings, who, by the way, are very anxious to reunite with you.”
“I don’t think I’ll have any problem sleeping the day away,” Joie assured him. “I’m almost too tired to take a shower, and man, do I need one.” Exhaustion had definitely set in.
“I can take care of that.”
Joie didn’t know what she expected—perhaps for him to throw a bucket of water at her, but she ended up clean with a wave of his hand. It wasn’t as satisfying or as soothing as she found a very hot shower was, but she did feel clean. She sank down on the bed and passed her hand over her face.
“Do what you have to do, Traian. I’ll survive.”
“I will put heavy safeguards on your door and windows. No one will be able to penetrate those safeguards without you opening the door for them,” he warned.
“I thought vampires couldn’t be in the sun.”
“That is true, but do not ever think they work alone. They create puppets of humans, servants to do their bidding. They promise them immortality, but in the end, these puppets go insane and live off the flesh of mortals. They cannot be saved. They are abominations of nature with rotting flesh and brains. They will only do as their masters command. You cannot allow yourself or your siblings to fall into their hands.”
Joie considered a smart-ass reply, but pressed her lips together. Traian’s world was fraught with more danger than she’d ever faced. It had become a way of life for him. He looked at her as if she was everything to him. While it was exhilarating and a little sexy, it was also very frightening. How could she possibly live up to his expectations?
“If you can put safeguards at my door, can you do the same for Gabrielle and Jubal?”
“Of course.” He glanced out the window. “I really cannot stay much longer. I will be here when you awaken. Give me your word that you will remain here waiting for me.”
Joie nodded. “If that will give you peace of mind, Traian. I’m tired. I just want to see my brother and sister and know that they’re all right.”
Traian crossed the room to stand in front of her. He reached down to take her hand and draw her close to him. “I know you are afraid of what is between us. In truth, for me, it makes perfect sense. Lifemates are natural to us, but it is not the same for you. If you wake without me, promise me you will not try to run from this. It is overwhelming for you.