Genius didn’t mean experience in battle. Aleksei slammed his head into Gary’s forehead, shifting just enough to put a sledgehammer there. Gary fell back and down, and Aleksei went down to one knee, his fist going in for the kill. Something hit him from behind and he caught the attacker with one arm behind his back, circling the small waist and nearly hurtling the featherlight body toward the gate of the monastery. At the last moment he realized his attacker was his own lifemate. Simultaneously he heard the low protest of his brethren and Andre’s sharp command to stop.
He set Gabrielle down gently and rose slowly, shocked at her behavior. He could see that his brothers were stunned as well—all but Andre, who appeared to stare at her with compassion. Her wrists were bloody and he could smell her, the faint, almost elusive feminine scent that called to every cell in his body.
She had betrayed him. With another man. The man she was trying to protect. The man that wasn’t him. No Carpathian woman would do such a thing. She stood there, staring at him with huge, frightened eyes. He knew why. Everyone knew why. There was absolute silence. Even the wind held its breath while he decided whether to kill her, or keep her. She didn’t deserve to live, and neither did Gary Daratrazanoff. He had been betrayed by his own kind. By a family he knew and respected.
He let his breath out slowly, his eyes on her. She was beautiful even in her fear. Her entire body trembled. She lifted a small, delicate hand to her mouth and he could see that it shook. She was tall, with a lot of curves, but she seemed fragile to him.
He heard the murmur of his brethren and turned his head to see Mikhail Dubrinsky, the reigning prince of the Carpathian people, and Gregori Daratrazanoff, his second-in-command, materializing close to him. Close enough for them to be a threat to him. He felt that threat emanating from Gregori, and his brethren did as well. They moved closer, ringing the newcomers, forcing Andre into the middle. Andre was a wild card, but the others would stand with him. None of the ancients residing within the monastery had sworn allegiance to the prince. Not him. Not the others.
Mikhail stepped closer but Gregori and Andre closed ranks instantly, preventing him from moving toward Aleksei. Mikhail held up his hand as Aleksei remained over Gary, holding the man down with his mind, his fist ready to remove the heart. He heard his lifemate make a single sound. Low. One of terror.
“They deserve death.” Aleksei made it a statement, but he knew he didn’t want to kill her. He wanted to keep her. He wanted the prince to perform a miracle for him. He thought Gabrielle was his miracle, but he was wrong and the bitterness in his mouth, in his mind, had turned an ugly, dark flavor.
He planned every move in his mind. The speed he would need to kill Gary and then Gabrielle. His brethren would end him when he went into the thrall and he would still have his honor. Still. He waited. For a miracle.
“I know what this appears to be,” Mikhail said. His voice was soft. Low. The sound alone carried power. Not the challenging power of a male hunter, but a magnetic, compelling sound that got into one’s mind and took away anger. Rage. The driving need to kill. “I assure you, my word as the prince of our people, this is not what it looks like.”
“She is mine.”
“I am aware of that,” Mikhail said, in that same calming tone. “She does not understand, and the fault does not lie with her, or with Gary, but with us.” He indicated Gregori. “We are solely responsible for this mess.”
Gabrielle cried out. Low. Afraid. He half turned so he could try to reassure her without putting himself at risk. She looked terrified. “Don’t,” she whispered. “Mikhail, don’t.”
“You are his true lifemate, Gabrielle. He won’t harm you. He will cherish you and protect you.”
Gabrielle shook her head, tears running down her face. “No. I won’t accept him. I can’t. You can’t ask me to do that.”
She really was frightened, and it was clear to Aleksei there was something he didn’t understand about the situation. She was breaking his heart standing there, one pleading hand out toward Mikhail, the blood streaking her soft wrist. Imploring him.
Aleksei sought to reassure her. He spoke in the ancient language. Clearly she didn’t understand, continuing to stare at him with frightened eyes. How that could be, he didn’t know, but he switched to English and translated for her. “There is no reason to fear now. I am here, your true lifemate. This man will not touch you again.”
She shook her head, tears spilling down her face. “No, you don’t understand. I refuse. I refuse to be your lifemate. I love him. I’m his.”