Dark Promises(129)
“I have given that location to Josef. He is looking up any psychic women who might be in the database right now. Dragomir, that does not mean she will be one of these women. Not all psychic women went to the institute for testing. You will need to search the entire area,” Andre said.
Dragomir nodded. He stood up, a fluid ripple of muscle, much like a great jungle cat stretching. He bowed toward the three women, the gesture old-world and courtly. “I cannot repay you. Whether what you have given me to aid me in finding my lifemate actually brings her to me or not, I am indebted to you.”
He looked around him at the other ancients who had shared the monastery with him for the last century or more. “Do not hesitate. Arwa-arvo olen isäntä, ekämak.”
Honor keep you my brothers, Aleksei interpreted for Gabrielle.
Andre clasped his forearms in the traditional way of the Carpathian warriors. “I will send you every location of psychic women in that area as they come in. Teagan and I will be following you soon to the United States. Tomas, Mathias and Lojos have gone ahead of us and I promised them I would join them. We will be there soon should you need aid.”
Dragomir looked to Fane and Aleksei. He stepped close to them, reaching toward Fane. Fane caught his forearms in a firm clasp. “Arwa-arvod mäne me ködak,” Fane said.
May your honor hold back the dark, Aleksei whispered into Gabrielle’s mind.
That’s so beautiful, she whispered back. And it was. These men, so determined to help one another hold on.
Dragomir turned to Aleksei and clasped his forearms in a strong grip.
Aleksei returned the grip. “Arwa-arvo olen gæidnod, ekäm. Honor guide you, my brother,” he repeated in English for Gabrielle.
With one more bow toward the three women, Dragomir was gone, leaving the monastery for the first time in over a hundred years. There was a long silence following his departure. A cool breeze slid through the courtyard. Teagan moved first, pulling out a different stone. This one was the color of indigo. She knelt in front of the ancient called Andor. Waited. Slowly, very slowly, almost as if he were a wild animal being pushed into a corner, the man sank to the ground and fixed his eyes on her.
They worked through most of the night, bringing a little relief to each of the ancients. Shockingly, each of their lifemates seemed to be somewhere in this century. Had Mikhail’s father known when he chose the ancients to leave? It was said Vlad had precognition, so it was possible.
Not one of them had any idea how long Teagan’s infusion of color into their relentlessly dark auras would last. For some, like Andor and Ferro, the colors refused to penetrate even all the way through the first layer. Still, through Trixie’s ability to see their songs, Gabrielle found a pull for each of them. The women were scattered across several continents, but she was able to point them in a direction.
The moment the last of the ancients had gone, the three women collapsed, exhausted. Pale. In need of blood. Aleksei gathered Gabrielle into his arms to hold her close to him, his body sheltering hers.
“Next rising, I will find Denny Jashari and bring a little justice into his life,” he told the others.
“Two of Mazur’s pawns were disposed of,” Andre reported. “The third disappeared.”
“He will likely move on,” Fane said.
“And the other human hunters?” Aleksei asked.
“They were headed for the nearest airport,” Andre said, as he wrapped his arms around a swaying Teagan.
Trixie gave a disgusted snort. “Cowards. Fred and Esmeralda Wilson recruited me. Esmeralda pretended to be my friend, but I heard her talking with her husband and the others that they needed to kill me as soon as I led them to all of you. They were already complaining about having to hike in the cold. Jay Benson was with them. He was with me on the plane, and we had coffee many times back in the States. He wanted me dead as well. I’ll bet all of them are already on a plane heading back to the States.” She sank to the ground and looked surprised that she was there.
“They will not escape,” Fane said softly, reaching for her. “We will be going home as soon as Josef has all of our papers in order. That should be next rising.”
Aleksei nodded. “Gabrielle and I will remove the monastery and ensure there is no evidence of it, and then we will go to the prince and let him know that the three women were able to help the ancients.”
“He will want to send other ancients to them,” Andre said. “Clearly what you three did for the ancients was successful, at least in giving them hope, time and a direction.”
“Difficult if Gabrielle is working in her laboratory in the Carpathian Mountains and Trixie and Teagan are in the United States,” Aleksei pointed out.