“Then I will take my leave,” Tiberiu said and bowed in an old-world courtly way. “I have not spent this long in the company of others in a very long time. If you do not mind, I shall return occasionally to ask after Gaia, to ensure she lives and that her decision remains firm.”
“I will look forward to your visit,” Liona said.
Sandu’s gut tightened. An unmated Carpathian male could turn at any time, and Tiberiu was ancient, very close. Liona had given him permission to return alone, and that didn’t sit well with Sandu or with any of the ancients.
Sandu stood and went with Tiberiu to the door. He respected the warrior. He’d held out with honor for longer than most Carpathians could ever conceive of doing. Sandu gripped his forearms. “Arwa-arvod m?ne me k?dak,” he said. For Adalasia, he interpreted, May your honor hold back the dark.
“Be well, Sandu. Take care of them.” Tiberiu was gone, melting away into the night as if he had never been. Sandu stood in the doorway, his heart heavy as the wind slipped through the trees and rustled the leaves.
Come join us, Adalasia whispered into his mind. Stroking caresses. Stroking love. He will choose honor. He always has, and he will continue to do so.
Sandu turned his head to look at her. His woman. His lifemate. His gaze slid over his brethren. Good men. The best. How had he managed to find a miracle when they had yet to find theirs? And his sister. She had been so courageous all these long centuries. Waiting for him to come back. Waiting for her lifemate. She’d been alone. Why had he been given this gift, this treasure, and they were not?
Sandu, you are deserving. They will find happiness.
“Adalasia, I must renew the card in order to strengthen the gate,” Liona said.
Adalasia slipped her hand inside her shirt to retrieve the final card, the goddess card she guarded fiercely, protectively, even from Sandu in the beginning. He closed the door and returned to the stand behind the two women who meant the world to him.
Liona placed the goddess card on the small table between Adalasia and her and then used the tip of her fingernail to open her wrist. Holding her wrist above the card, she allowed the crimson drops to fall onto the card one by one, until the red rain had saturated the material. Until the image couldn’t be seen beneath the coating that was already turning a dark ruby. Liona licked at her wrist to close the wound. They all watched, even the guardians crowding close, fascinated, as the card slowly absorbed the blood and began to clear.
A great roar echoed through the room, a bellow of rage followed by a soothing song as the cards fought the sensation of rebirth.
“The gate is once again strong. It has been repaired,” Liona said with satisfaction.
It didn’t take long until the goddess stared back at them, wholly clean and looking as if she were brand-new.
Adalasia smiled at Liona as she took out the pouch that held the other cards and slipped the goddess card in with them. “Thank you, Liona.”
“I am the one grateful to you. You saved my brother and arrived in time to keep Justice from escaping and the demons from getting free.” Liona tipped her head back to look at her brother. “Will you really make your home here?” There was the slightest quaver in her voice.
He dropped his hands on her shoulders. “Yes. Adalasia and I want to stay close to you.”
Adalasia is tired and wants to be with her lifemate alone, Adalasia whispered into his mind. Her voice was sultry. Sensual. An invitation.
Sandu dropped a kiss on the top of his sister’s head. “We will find a place to go to ground this night, Liona, and meet with you next rising.” He looked to the guardians.
“We will stay around until you are settled, Sandu,” Benedek said. “Then we will hunt for our lifemates. Adalasia gave us direction, and that is what we needed.”
Sandu smiled at his woman. “She is very good at that.”
Color crept underneath his woman’s skin.
I do not think you need any direction, Sandu.
Not this night, he didn’t. He swept her up and took her outside, feeling as if he had everything. He had it all. He was very far from the rooftop where he’d contemplated going back to the monastery or ending everything. He’d been given a miracle, and he wasn’t wasting another moment.
APPENDIX 1
Carpathian Healing Chants
To rightly understand Carpathian healing chants, background is required in several areas: 1. The Carpathian view on healing
2. The Lesser Healing Chant of the Carpathians
3. The Great Healing Chant of the Carpathians
4. Carpathian musical aesthetics