Dark Wolf(69)

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."