Tariq waited just outside the door to his home, Maksim on one side of him, Mataias and Lojos on the other. That meant Tomas was somewhere near. Dragomir would bet his life that Afanasiv Balan, one of the ancients who had briefly stayed in the monastery, was also close. Afanasiv had been a good friend of Tariq’s growing up and they had remained close, yet he was a member of the brotherhood.

“Én jutta félet és ekämet,” Tariq greeted in their ancient language, stepping forward to clasp Dragomir’s forearms in the way of warriors.

Friend and brother. That greeting told Dragomir everything he needed to know. Tariq would have chosen another salutation if he was opposed to having Emeline in his compound.

“Bur tule ekämet kuntamak.” Well met, brother-kin, was Dragomir’s choice of greeting.

“Thank you for saving the children,” Tariq said, stepping back. “They are confined for the moment until we decide what to do about the situation.” While he spoke, his sharp gaze moved over Dragomir, assessing the damage to him. “Tell me what you need.”

“We must drive the rest of the parasites out of my lifemate and the child. Vadim flooded her with them and they torment her continually. She was able to direct the fertilization and carries a girl. I do not know if Vadim became aware of that and chose to kill the child, but he was close to his goal. He will fight us for her. I must convert Emeline as soon as we rid her body of his parasites, and that means the child will go through the conversion as well. They cannot feel pain or the baby will be lost.”

“You and the healer vouch for this child?”

“We examined her carefully. She is female and therefore cannot hold darkness. She will have my blood and her developing organs will be from me. Essentially, she’ll be my child, but there will always be that part of her that is Malinov. They are highly intelligent and fierce fighters. She will be an asset to our world.”

He felt like he was fighting for his child in that moment. The baby had gone from being Emeline’s child and therefore his responsibility, to being just plain his. His child. Theirs.

Tariq nodded without hesitation. “I gathered the richest soil I could find and brought it back little by little. It lies deep beneath this house. Bring her there, and we will all gather to aid you. We are still learning, but we seem to be able to do so much better controlling pain and convulsions when we’re together.”

“Will the others welcome us here?” Dragomir was blunt. “If not, after she is converted, I will take her and we will go.”

“As long as the compound is mine, she will always be welcome here,” Tariq said. “Naturally there are some with concerns, but we refuse to give anyone up to Vadim, not the child and certainly not Emeline. Your word and the word of the healer are good enough for us.” He indicated Maksim.

Dragomir knew Maksim had established the nightclubs and compounds with Tariq, but clearly Tariq was the acknowledged leader.

Dragomir. There was panic in Emeline’s voice. He is attacking us. The baby…

He whirled and took the distance between the houses, half flying, half running. Sandu, Andor and Ferro flanked him instantly.

Come to me, sívamet. I am right outside. He gained the porch.

She flung open the door, doubled over, her eyes wide with pain and shock, her breath coming in ragged pants. She alternated between putting her hands over her ears and over her womb. “He’s talking to me. Taunting me. Telling me what he’s going to do to me.” All color had leeched from her face. She swayed there a moment and then her knees buckled.

Dragomir swept her up in his arms before she had a chance to fall. Cradling her close, her pushed his mind into hers. At once, he encountered that barrier that partially shielded her from commands and compulsions. Let me in fully, Emeline.

I can’t. He will get in.

Dragomir heard the echo of Vadim’s harsh laughter. The sound was ugly, a jarring note that hurt the ears. His voice, when he spoke, was just as grating. I am already in. I am her lifemate, and you cannot keep me out as much as you try. You cannot drive me out. You can lie, give her blood, try to confuse her, but my claim is first and she is mine.

Aloud, he said, “Emeline. Sívamet. You are my heart and soul. I need you to trust me. We knew he was going to fight us. That was a given. Let me in fully.” He kept his voice calm and soothing.

She turned her face against his chest, both hands gripping his shirt, her eyes closed tight. “He said he would hurt you. He told me the terrible things he would do to you. Because of me.” Her body shuddered and then shivered over and over in pain.

Dragomir carried her over to Tariq’s home. The Carpathian held open the door and waved him inside. The ancients followed. Tariq led the way through the hall and downstairs to a basement filled with woodworking projects, including carousel horses. They crossed to a section of floor Tariq opened with a wave of his hand. Below, Carpathians had gathered, several men and a couple of women.

Cement borders surrounded the huge healing grounds. Just beyond the cement were the wooden boards cleverly constructed to make up the walls beneath the basement of the house, yet between every so many support beams were cracks to allow the moonlight in. Above the grounds were raised platforms surrounding them so the Carpathian people could gather for ceremonies.

The soil gleamed, a dark, rich loam. It glittered with minerals from the light provided by the flickering flames of scented candles. Dragomir searched the surrounding platforms until he spotted Blaze. He knew exactly who had set everything in motion and he gave her a nod of his head to acknowledge her. She stood beside Charlotte, Tariq’s lifemate, and she looked frightened. He understood even more than she did the enormity of what they were attempting as he had seen the overwhelming number of parasites in Emeline’s blood.

Emeline cried out and twisted in his arms. Dragomir’s brows drew sharply together. Her pain was increasing. Vadim’s parasites were at work, torturing her, and he couldn’t take it. Not one more minute of her indecision when he knew, ultimately, they had to stop Vadim now.

“I am no longer asking, Emeline. I demand that you allow me into your mind.” He could push past the barrier but it would cause her pain, more than she was already in. He never wanted to be a part of her suffering, even if it was to save her from the torments of Vadim, but he would if necessary. Modern rules didn’t always make sense to him. She suffered. He could stop it.

Emeline lifted her head, her eyes drowning in pain and despair. She searched his face, then nodded, and that fast the shield went down in her mind. The moment she gave him full access, he built a defense so strong in her mind that Vadim’s voice couldn’t possibly penetrate to her.

He also did his best to protect her from the pain of the parasites biting her bones and scoring wounds in her organs as they bored holes and wiggled inside to gnaw with their teeth. So many were back; they had reproduced during the day in anticipation of their master’s commands.

Dragomir floated to the expanse of deep, rich soil below them. Gary was already there. Dragomir sank down, placing Emeline beside him. Instantly the healer shed his body and entered Emeline’s. Dragomir brushed kisses across her eyelids and then followed the healer.

The Carpathians began a soft chant, the lesser healing chant, and the lullaby for unborn babies.

Tumtesz o wäke ku pitasz belső. Feel the strength you hold inside.

Hiszasz sívadet. Én olenam gæidnod. Trust your heart. I’ll be your guide.

Sas csecsemõm, kuńasz. Hush, my baby, close your eyes.

Rauho jone ted. Peace will come to you.

Tumtesz o sívdobbanás ku olen lamt3ad belső. Feel the rhythm deep inside.

Gond-kumpadek ku kim te. Waves of love that cover you.

Pesänak te, asti o jüti, kidüsz. Protect, until the night, you rise.

The song was sung to unborn infants, created when so many had been lost. Dragomir loved the beauty of it, that all the Carpathians would sing to their child to try to save its life.

I have a special death planned for you, Dragomir. One that will take a century. You will feed us. Feed my children. You will be nothing but fodder for those stronger and better than you.

There was something both soothing and incongruous about hearing the lullaby at the same time as the jarring, ugly voice of Vadim’s taunting. Dragomir didn’t bother responding to his threats. The vampire had no idea what they planned, and he wasn’t about to tip him off.