“We do not have much time. We need to get her out of this hallway and back into the bedroom where I can convert her. I will need blood,” he instructed.
He became aware of Jubal shielding his mind, and realized the vampire had tried to prevent him from healing Joie’s worst wound.
“You can step aside,” he said quietly. “I thank you for what you did.”
This does not end here. I will find you again, the vampire promised both of them—and then he was gone.
Tangling with a master vampire was never a good idea. They were vengeful creatures with long memories, and this one—and Traian was afraid he knew who the master was now—would not forget Jubal as long as he was alive. He would hate him with every breath he took and he would never stop plotting revenge. A vampire could live a long time and while the memory for Jubal would fade away, it never would for the undead.
With a small sigh, Traian lifted Joie into his arms and carried her into the wrecked bedroom. “Gary, have Mikhail send a couple of our people to repair the damage here when we know the master vampire has left our region.” He laid Joie carefully on the bed and slipped to the floor beside her, weak, his body swaying.
Gabrielle swallowed hard and stepped close to him. “You’ll have to use my blood.”
Traian glanced at her pale, set face. She looked determined but very frightened. He half smiled. It was all he could do to give her reassurance. “Gary or Jubal can give blood.”
She stuck her chin out. “They both have done so already and they’re wounded. Use mine.” She stuck out her wrist and closed her eyes. “I can’t cut myself, so just do it fast.”
For the first time Traian was uncertain of what to do. He needed the blood. Time was slipping away for Joie, but this was her sister, sacred to her.
“Do it,” Gabrielle hissed without opening her eyes.
He raised his eyes to Jubal. The man nodded. Traian took the extended wrist gently and murmuring softly to enthrall Gabrielle so she would not feel any sensation, he took what she offered, drawing vital sustenance in order to provide enough blood to Joie for the conversion. All the while, he kept Joie’s spirit locked to his, preventing her from slipping away. She was no longer losing blood, but her human body was giving up the fight for survival.
Very gently he closed the two wounds on Gabrielle’s wrist and woke her from the enthrallment. Gary swept his arm around her shoulders and stepped back, taking Gabrielle with him. “Only Traian can help her now.”
Gabrielle swallowed hard. “What can you do?”
“I will bring her fully into my world. She had consented to be Carpathian,” Traian said.
Jubal met the Carpathian’s gaze squarely. “Do it. Whatever you have to do. Just don’t let her die.”
Traian looked at their faces, swollen and red from the bites of the insects. Joie’s siblings were brave, but watching their sister go through such a difficult process might be too much for even them. “Should anything go wrong, I will follow her and care for her, but you must know, Jubal, that the chances of any hunter killing the one who got away are very slim and he will come after you. Never forget him and how he felt in your mind.” Traian glanced up at Gary. “I will need candles, herbs, soil. Everything to help her through this, and quickly.”
Gary tugged at Gabrielle. “Come with me. Mirko will have most of the herbs and candles. I’ll need you.”
They rushed from the room.
Jubal watched every movement as Traian laid his hands on Joie’s wounds and bites from the insects. Once again, Traian left his own body and entered Joie’s. Jubal remained vigilant in case the vampire returned, ready to place himself as a shield between the Carpathian and the undead. He could see the lines deepen in the hunter’s face, his color paling visibly as if his strength was slowly being drawn from him.
This time was much shorter. He swayed a little, his face lined with exhaustion, but he gathered Joie into his arms, cradling her now, close to his chest.
Gary and Gabrielle hurried back into the room. Gary set a bowl of rich, dark soil on the floor beside the bed, and Gabrielle dumped various herbs into a second bowl.
Gary handed candles to Jubal. “Spread these around the room and light