Rolf seemed to grow impatient with Arno's questions. "This is becoming tedious, Arno," he interrupted. "It's important to find out who is behind this treachery. In case you've forgotten, it was not only Dimitri who was targeted for death; we were as well." He looked around the room. "Mikhail, if you don't mind me saying so, I think we should clear this room. Tempers seem to run hot the more of us there are."
"I agree," Mikhail said.
Skyler felt his relief rather than heard it in his voice. She was more than happy to exit the room and find her adopted mother, but as she turned to go with Dimitri, both Mikhail and Rolf stopped them.
"If you don't mind," Mikhail said, "we'd prefer that you two, as well as Fen and Zev, stay just a while longer to help us."
Dimitri took a deep breath. Their eyes met. He inclined his head. You don't have to stay, csitri. I can do this alone and you can visit with Francesca. He had spoken to her on the common Carpathian path, not their private one, indicating to Mikhail that if she wanted to leave, Dimitri would insist on it.
She sent Dimitri a reassuring smile. I wouldn't mind hearing what they have to say. Sometimes I know when someone is lying. I might catch that vibe and we'll know if someone here really is behind this conspiracy.
I'm not certain it is a conspiracy, not in the way you mean, Zev chimed in thoughtfully, shocking Skyler.
She hadn't realized he was able to speak telepathically to all Carpathians, but she should have. He had been inside the shelter she'd created, and only those with Carpathian blood could pass the shield. In order for him to cross that barrier, he had to be fairly advanced as a mixed blood.
"We'll stay," Dimitri said aloud.
They waited until most of the Lycan and Carpathian guards left the room. Dimitri took a careful look around the room. It appeared to be nearly empty. The four council members remained, each with two guards. He recognized Daciana and Makoce from Zev's elite pack. Both had stayed behind with Rolf. Each of the other council members also retained two guards.
Mikhail had Gregori and his brother Jacques with him. Dimitri knew better. Gregori would never allow the prince in a room where the other faction had more men. He found himself uneasy, but couldn't put his finger on why.
Rolf and the other council members seemed sincere in wanting to talk about the issue of the Sange rau and whether or not any mixed blood should be hunted and killed regardless of whether or not they had done harm to anyone.
Fen. This time he used the private connection he had with his brother.
I've been feeling uneasy for some time.
Yet no one else does, Dimitri pointed out. Not even Mikhail.
If there is danger close by, no doubt, it is either a few of the Lycans who just left, or we've got a Sange rau close.
They use sniper rifles, Fen. These are trained assassins coming after us.
Gregori waved his hand and a large round table appeared in the center of the room. "I suggest you all sit down, gentlemen."
They won't be able to get a shot through the windows, Fen said. Gregori has already thought of nearly any kind of attack that could take place. This room is sealed. Even the Lycans who left cannot get back in without Gregori allowing it.
Dimitri toed a chair around, straddling it, uncaring what the Lycans thought of his actions. He pulled Skyler's chair closer to him. Knowing he could shield her from any trouble made him feel a little better, although he was still very uneasy. Fen toed the chair on the other side of Skyler around and straddled it as well. Both were in a position to move fast if they needed to.
The council members and Mikhail took their places. Only Zev sat at the table, while the Lycans guarding the council lined up with their backs to the walls.
Again Dimitri took a long slow look around the room. Gregori was standing within striking distance of Mikhail, but there were others. He found himself focusing on the wall where all the Lycans had draped themselves. Of course that wall had been left temptingly blank, perfect for the councils' guards to wait for their council members.
There were at least four Carpathian warriors somewhere on that wall, a part of it, knots in the wood, perhaps a tiny insect, and each would have already chosen their targets.
Lojos, Tomas and Mataias, he guessed. And the ghost. Andre's here as well, isn't he?
Fen sent him a little grin and inclined his head very subtly. They wouldn't miss the party.
"At the risk of offending Dimitri," Arno began, "I believe very strongly that the things we've been taught since practically the very beginning of our existence, that mixed blood is far too dangerous to be tolerated, are sacred. We can't abandon the very code we live by because a few of the Sange rau have not yet turned rogue."
Mikhail leaned forward, his eyes meeting Arno's. "We've come together to discuss this subject and we want to hear all opinions. This sacred code is something that has been in your culture for centuries and shouldn't be so easily discarded. We have to examine what we know now, versus what those who put the code into existence knew in their time. Knowledge is power, and hopefully, over the centuries, we've managed to gain more awareness, understanding, comprehension and information."
"Our experience with this issue clearly has been different than yours," Rolf said. "Our packs were destroyed. No one was spared. We nearly were extinct thanks to the Sange rau."
Mikhail nodded. "It is easy to understand why your ancestors laid down such extreme rules, but you are sitting at this table with one of our most skilled ancient hunters. Dimitri has defended Lycan, Carpathian and humans alike for centuries. He has hunted and killed both the vampire and rogue wolves and has done so with honor for centuries. Clearly, he is no threat to the Lycans, and in fact, is an asset."
Arno shook his head. "There is no guarantee that he will continue to be so. Again, Dimitri, I must apologize for speaking as if you aren't sitting right here, but these things must be said."
Beneath the table, Skyler put her hand on his thigh. He felt her trembling. Keeping his face expressionless, he placed his hand gently over hers. The things he is saying have no impact on me one way or the other, he assured her. Fen and Zev are also as I am, of mixed blood. This council member isn't stupid. He knows that because we're lifemates, we exchange blood, and eventually you will become like me.
He might not know that.
He knows. Just as Randall knew not to touch you earlier. Zev would have given them every detail about our culture possibly before they ever came here. They would have researched carefully and consulted with those who have known Carpathians. These council members have been around a long time, Skyler. Believe me, they act as ambassadors and they don't make mistakes in protocol. Zev took the blame by pretending he hadn't passed on the information about lifemates, but Randall knew.
"I have no problem with you speaking your mind, sir," Dimitri said politely. "Hearing truth is always preferable to lies."
Are you saying that shaggy old bear of a Lycan deliberately made me feel like a schoolgirl in front of all the Lycans?
Dimitri didn't dare answer that, not when Skyler had a bit of a fiery temper. He took another look around the room just to assure himself there was no beehive clinging to the rafters.
Randall reached for his glass of water, and raised it to his mouth. Without warning the glass slipped out of his hands, dumping the water down the front of him. The amount of liquid pouring into his lap seemed to exceed the size of the glass.
At once Randall's bodyguards sprang to help, handing him napkins and small towels from the table of food. The council members were not as polite, laughing and teasing Randall good-naturedly about his big hands and how he couldn't even hold a glass of water. Randall took it all in stride, grinning at his friends and shrugging his shoulders.
Lycans can detect energy when Carpathians use spells, Zev warned, frowning at Skyler. These men are used to deference.
Skyler raised her eyebrow, looking more innocent than ever. Dimitri kept his face impassive, controlling his amusement.
Are you accusing me of causing an accident? Did you feel energy coming from me? She managed to sound as blameless as she appeared.
Dimitri waited for the merriment to die down. "I have a lifemate. It is impossible for me to turn vampire. In order for me to become the Sange rau you fear I would have to choose to give up my soul. There is no way for that to happen."
Mikhail nodded. "Carpathian males who have lived too long and have not found a lifemate are in danger of turning vampire, but no man with a lifemate could do that," he reiterated. "There is a difference between a Hän ku pesäk kaikak and the Sange rau. All Lycans do not become rogues. All Carpathians do not become vampire. All mixed bloods do not become Sange rau."