Dark Promises(30)

“I felt them, too,” Mikhail said grimly. “Human hunters. The society is on this mountain, trailing after someone. Still, they are miles away.”

“I can stay behind and hunt them,” Andre offered. “You take Gary home and put him in the ground. Try to heal him, Gregori. We cannot lose him.”

“There is greatness in him,” Mikhail said softly. “He is destined to do great things for our people. I should have sat Gabrielle down after I converted her and explained her duties as a Carpathian woman. I did not. I thought her sister would. I thought others would aid her in learning, but ultimately it was my responsibility and my failure.”

“None of us could have foreseen this,” Gregori said, reaching down to pull Gary to his feet. Gary’s eyes burned with dark fury. He could hold his brother in check with Mikhail’s help because they shared the same bloodline.

“No, but we could have helped Gabrielle adjust to our way of life so she would not have felt so dependent on Gary. We practically threw them together. From the beginning, I was uneasy over their relationship, but still, I did not interfere,” Mikhail admitted. “I thought, once Gary became fully Carpathian, they would understand they were not destined for each other. I did not factor in human love, which is very real.”

“Mikhail,” Gregori warned. “We have to leave now.”

“They are a distance away.” Mikhail glanced toward the gates of the monastery, a frown on his face. “I do not like leaving her to her lifemate. Aleksei did not understand what was happening, and he is very close to turning.”

“None of those inhabiting the monastery have sworn allegiance to you,” Gregori said. “You cannot risk going in there. Gabrielle has a lifemate, and how they choose to fix this mess is on them, not you. We have to leave. Right. Now.”

A stirring in Gregori’s mind startled both of them. The thrall was there, a killing frenzy brought on by the sudden loss of all emotion and the pouring in of centuries of too many battles, too many deaths far too fast for one mind to cope with.

I feel them. Down below us. Eager to kill. Leave me behind and I will keep them from the prince. Gary used the more common telepathic path of all Carpathians, so that not only could both Mikhail and Gregori hear him, but so could any other Carpathians in the area, including the ancients.

Gregori heard his brother quite distinctly. He was still there. Different. But his mind was there. Gary’s intelligent mind was quick and fearless.

It is too dangerous for you, right now, Gregori responded. Andre can take care of this threat. You come with me back to our home to guard Mikhail.

They have new weapons. Weapons Andre has not yet seen. I have been researching the society and found some of their schematics. They could kill him or those inside the monastery.

They knew Gary spoke of Gabrielle. Already, his memories would be fading fast. She would be the last for him. The memory of love that most Carpathians tried to hold on to. Love of family. Of siblings and friends. He would lose even that, and if it was anywhere as fast as the loss of color and emotion, his memories of those emotions could go at any time. He would be left with only his honor to sustain him. And he would hold the darkness of all the ancients that had gone before him.

They will not kill me, Andre assured. Nor will they kill the ancients.

“We need to get word to the De La Cruz brothers. They need to watch over Luiz. The same thing will happen to him,” Mikhail said.

“I’ll call them on my cell.” Andre flashed a faint smirk. “Imagine Zacarias with a cell phone. His brothers call him just to make him crazy. And Josef texts him. How do I know this? Zacarias had a few words to say about it to me the last time I saw him.”

Even Gregori gave pause at the idea of anyone calling Zacarias De La Cruz on a cell phone.

We need to get the prince out of here. Gary clearly was pulling it back, taking control back.

Gregori was a little shocked that he was already strong enough to do that. He exchanged a long look with Mikhail. He had taken hold of his brother with the prince’s help, keeping him from moving, preventing him from killing anyone. It had taken both of them, and both together were exceedingly strong. Still, it was a struggle. Now, Gary was exhibiting signs of that strength by thinking clearly when his brain shouldn’t be able to process anything but killing.

“Gary’s right, Mikhail,” he agreed. “We need to get you out of here. Andre, no trace of us left behind.”

Mikhail sighed. “You will never change, Gregori.”

“Not when it comes to your safety.”

“And Gary is going to be just as bad.”