“He knows about you? That you’re Carpathian?”
“Yes. He comes from a family that has lived in a symbiotic relationship with one of our families for centuries. They have passed the secrets down from father to son, mother to daughter, and protected our kind just as we have protected them. They have fought by our side when the vampire attacked full force in an attempt to wipe us out.”
That was interesting. They had humans as allies, ones they trusted. The humans trusted them. “Are there others like them? Humans that know about your species?”
Sandu lifted her into his arms when she had gathered her things into her satchel. “A few.” He nuzzled the top of her head with his chin, causing her hair to get caught in the bristles along his jaw, connecting them together.
A shiver of awareness ran down her spine. Each strand of her hair seemed to deliver information to her, which was an impossibility, right? Right? That can’t be. It certainly seemed to be as if not only the cells and nerves in her body were aware of him, but now her hair was, every hair on her body tuned to him.
What are whiskers on animals? They are really a guidance system, or radar, with a bundle of nerve endings telegraphing to the animal everything it needs to know. Prey. Distance. Air pressure and currents. If he can fit through an opening. How far away his prey is or if danger is close to him. Whiskers are their tracking systems, guidance and radar. They perform acrobatic stunts and know when and where to strike on prey, all because of those whiskers.
I don’t have whiskers. She tried to be indignant.
He bent his head to the nape of her neck and scraped his teeth along the hair there, sending jagged little shocks through her veins, like tiny spears straight to her sex. You have bundles of nerve endings, and they will continue to grow more sensitive.
She turned that information over in her mind as they moved with blurring speed through the cave system. The other Carpathian males went before them, moving toward some unknown exit. She didn’t even hear the grinding as they widened the crevice so they could emerge, and then closed it as if it had never been tampered with as she tried to puzzle out what he meant. She was missing something important, something he meant by saying her nerve endings would grow even more sensitive. Why would they?
The night breeze was cool on her face, and Adalasia looked around her. Sandu hadn’t set her down, so she knew they were going to take to the air. She positioned the satchel on her lap more securely and tightened her arm around his neck.
“You’re safe, ewal emninumam,” he whispered. “I would never allow anything to harm you.”
There were times, like now, she could hear the sincerity in his voice, and she would begin to believe him, which was a little frightening in that she’d never trusted anyone outside of her family. Now, suddenly, with no real explanation but her cards, she was supposed to trust this stranger with her life . . . and if the cards were right . . . her heart. The problem was, he was hiding things from her, and even though he’d asked for forgiveness and he’d sincerely apologized for hurting her, she knew he wasn’t in the least bit remorseful for binding them together or taking her blood without her permission.
* * *
*
Wrought iron gates, tall and intricate, the iron twisted into beautiful rods of art guarding the estate, opened inward to allow the car entry. Their chauffeur took them up the long drive to the house. Everywhere Adalasia looked were tall ferns, bushes and trees, giving the estate a wild, forestlike appearance. She looked up at the house. The structure was several stories high, with turrets and balconies jutting out in all directions. There were beautiful stained glass windows everywhere, as well as stained glass woven throughout the walls. She’d never seen anything like it. The house appeared to be a mixture of old-fashioned and modern, but very, very beautiful.
Far too close, they heard the hunting cry of a wolf. Another took up the call and then another. The sound sent alarms rushing down her spine.
“Adalasia, stay in the center of us,” Sandu ordered softly. “If Lucian feels threatened, he can be extremely dangerous.”
She didn’t have to be told twice. She felt the danger. She looked back toward their chauffeur. Lucian had sent the car for them. It was already leaving them, driving away. She wanted to call it back. Sandu slipped his hand around hers.
“Lucian is a good man, Sivamet, just careful when his lifemate is close. It is something all of us must do. That is why you have four of my most trusted brethren surrounding you. Should anything happen to me, they will escort you to Tariq if we are here in the States, or to the prince in the Carpathian Mountains to ensure your protection.”