Dragonseeker is the only lineage in our world that has never had a single member turn vampire in its history.
Adalasia could tell Sandu was having a difficult time not helping her at least regulate her body temperature. She had specifically asked him not to. She didn’t really understand why they suddenly went from flying through the forest from their cave system to walking in these miserable conditions, but she was taking every opportunity to learn as many skills as possible—not that she was doing very well.
So the man they were going to see came from a very strong line. Why do they call them Dragonseeker?
They are born with a small birthmark, a dragon that will warn them if the undead are near.
She had a small birthmark. Her mother said it was the mark of the warrior, reminding her always to be ready to fight when necessary, to keep the world safe. It wasn’t for glory, because no one could ever know. She was a sacrifice, and she had to be okay with that.
You are not a sacrifice, ewal emninumam. You are my beloved lifemate.
She might feel like the drowned rat the others had called her, but Sandu made her warm inside.
What do you know of the Dragonseeker’s lifemate?
Solange is Jaguar, royalty in her own right. She is a very tough woman, a warrior through and through. She fought for the women of her species alone for years against impossible odds.
Adalasia thought about that as she rubbed at the wet material of her cotton shirt. She’d chosen the right clothing for walking through the jungle. She’d known what she should wear, but she hadn’t been able to stay focused enough to keep herself warm and dry as they moved through that weird steam rising up from the forest floor.
She thought she caught glimpses of a large shadowy cat moving through the branches of the trees above them every now and again. It wasn’t even that she caught glimpses. It was more in her mind. As if the creature passed through her mind, more imaginary than real, a transparent shadow she could see through the tree trunks, leaves and vines, but she was aware of its presence as it moved with them.
Do you see that? She shared what she thought she saw with Sandu.
Yes. We are aware of it. Pay it no mind.
Adalasia thought that was a difficult thing to do, but she decided to focus her attention on the two men who had thought to reprimand her lifemate for allowing her to work on her skills.
She concentrated on the large leaves that held the pooling water. As Benedek and Petru walked beneath the trees and automatically protected themselves, she waited until they thought themselves safe.
Trying to be casual, she paused, holding Sandu’s arm as she bent to her boot, as if checking it. Using every ounce of focus and concentration, she moved those funnels of water right over the two Carpathian males’ heads and dumped them. The water sloshed over them in a cold fall running down their hair and faces.
Sandu, will you help me now? she asked as innocently as possible.
Of course, ewal emninumam.
There was sheer laughter in her mind. She knew Sandu had helped her keep Benedek and Petru from knowing she was sneaking up on them with the water. Siv and Nicu had turned back, hands on hips, observing their two soaked brethren, eyebrows raised, looking sober.
Adalasia stood looking at them also, perfectly dry, her clothes immaculate, her hair in a tight weave up off her neck to give her relief from the unrelenting heat and humidity. Her shirt was long-sleeved, a light tan; pants lightweight, khaki in color; and her boots were made for the jungle.
“Benedek, Petru, have you grown slow as you have aged?” The voice came seemingly out of the trees themselves, as if the jungle had come alive. There was amusement in that rich, mellow tone, a mesmerizing, almost hypnotic quality to the velvet sound.
Adalasia pressed her fingers to her mouth to keep from laughing, turning away from the two men. She noticed Sandu had gone on alert, as had the others. She always found that interesting. They had come to the rain forest specifically to find Dominic and his lifemate, Solange. They had sent word ahead, requesting an audience as they had with the others they had visited. She realized that Sandu had been very formal each time he had made a request to speak with another Carpathian couple. She found that odd.
Why didn’t couples welcome visitors, and why were they so wary when they first met with one another? She had so much to learn about the Carpathian way of life. She was always thinking in human terms. Maybe she always would. Would that make her a liability to Sandu?
You are my greatest asset, Sivamet. We can easily navigate two worlds.
Sandu’s assurance made her feel as if she were the only woman in his world. She looked up at him, her heart reacting to the absolute conviction and belief in her—in them—she saw in his eyes.