He used their private telepathic pathway rather than that of the brotherhood or the one established by the soul-bond. He didn’t know why he wanted to exclude the healer, but for the moment, he needed to count on those he had formed a bond with in the monastery. Gary, sent by the prince, was loyal to Tariq.
Until we know what is going on, we cannot go outside of our circle. Something is not right and the danger is spreading.
They had to know where each of the brethren stood. Dragomir was the biggest question mark, as he had a child with Emeline and she wanted to stay in the protection of the compound. If his loyalties were to Tariq rather than the brethren if they decided to leave, they would have to withhold that information from him. That would forever weigh heavily on him.
As they walked across the compound grounds, Elisabeta clamped to his side, her face buried in his ribs so she didn’t have to look at the wide-open spaces, he scanned continually, searching the ancients surrounding them for signs of emotions that shouldn’t be there, whether they had lifemates or not. He didn’t need to be able to get into their minds, just read the energy surrounding them.
Maksim seemed fine to him. He walked with Gary, Tariq between them. Dragomir sat on his porch with Emeline, holding hands. Ferro could no longer detect any surge of violence in Dragomir. Benedek hadn’t been near Josef, nor had Petru or Nicu Dalca. The three had spread out, but kept pace with Ferro and Elisabeta as they made their way to Tariq’s home. Ferro found himself slowing his steps, reluctant to enter and put his woman in the position of danger he had a feeling she would be in.
I do not like this, Sandu. Something feels very wrong to me.
A trap? Is it the vampire? We know he will come for her. The safeguards on this compound have been woven and interwoven again and again. We provided extra layers over those after Tariq and the others used their strongest. We provided for every eventuality we could conceive of.
And yet Elisabeta summoned him and he was able to slip in like a worm from the netherworld right under our very noses, Ferro pointed out. He still had that feeling that Gary and Tariq regarded Elisabeta as a threat to them. He just wasn’t certain how or why.
Elisabeta winced. He tightened his arm around her. That is not a condemnation, piŋe sarnanak. We are grateful to you for showing us one of the many weaknesses a fortress this size holds. We need to find them all.
Ferro let his mind expand, reaching as he had done for centuries, looking for hidden ruses, a deception or illusion that his eye might miss. He knew the brethren at his back were doing the same.
Elisabeta, we are not necessarily safe. I want you to be very alert at all times. If you feel anything you are distrustful of, no matter how small or elusive, you alert me. Do you understand? Even if you think it is coming from someone I trust. That is an order and I expect obedience. He poured command into his voice. He disliked sounding as if he was controlling her, doing anything that in any way resembled Sergey, but this was too important and she responded to clear guidelines. Tell me you understand.
Yes, of course, I will tell you.
Pay particular attention to the healer, but be cautious, Elisabeta. He is extremely powerful and he will know if you are touching his mind. Anyone or everyone in that room is a potential enemy or they may be marked by the enemy to use against all of us here. We have to know to be able to help them.
They were right at the door, the entrance to Tariq’s home, and Ferro knew he couldn’t hesitate to enter. He’d already gotten Tariq on edge just by making a common and proper request. He stepped across the threshold, lifting Elisabeta as he entered so that her feet didn’t touch the floor. She didn’t protest. If anyone noticed and became upset, he had the perfect excuse; he could tell them that she was unused to walking. He was certain Gary would notice.
Tariq and Maksim led the way to the conference room and took their places at the large oval table where often they had to hash out war plans against the vampires who were already in place, doing their best to stamp out the existence of the Carpathian people.
“We’ve sent for Josef,” Maksim said. “Traian and Joie both have said they are willing for Gary and Elisabeta to examine them if Gary feels it is necessary. They traveled together.”
“If it comes to that,” Gary said smoothly. “I think all of us are in trouble, Tariq. I think there is something working against us within this compound that is not yet known to us.”
Tariq rubbed at his temples. “Something is happening. We never seem to be able to have five minutes before we’re attacked by something new.” There was an accusation in his voice, as if he blamed Gary. He even narrowed his eyes at the healer. His face was flushed. His heartbeat accelerated. It was clear to those in the room that his blood pressure was rising and his body was preparing to take physical action against some unknown threat.
Elisabeta’s hand slid up Ferro’s chest. His head is hurting very badly. He feels . . . anger mounting to rage and is not used to such an emotion. He is fighting against it. It flared bright and hot when the healer suggested there was a problem here. He is very strong and does not like the idea that he cannot control his emotions.
Can you soothe him without touching his mind?
Elisabeta tilted her head and suddenly Ferro found himself looking down into his lifemate’s dark eyes. His heart stuttered at what he saw there. Amusement. Warmth. She looked at him as if he might not be quite as bright as she first thought. He was concentrating on her safety, not paying as much attention to the details of his woman’s abilities. Of course she could soothe Tariq from a distance. She had that gift from when she was a child. As she had grown, so had that talent and that need in her to bring peace when those around her were agitated or lost. Tariq seemed both.
Ferro had never forbidden her to use her talent. If anything, he had encouraged her. He had told her he was proud of her for it. He should have known she was already sending those waves of peaceful energy into the room, encompassing everyone, not just Tariq. Every ancient felt the way her gift penetrated straight to the soul and healed the centuries of shredding, of that gray void of emptiness.
Scents of Italian bergamot and rare camellias mixed with extract of orange, lime, vetiver and sandalwood, drifting across the room in just a hint of a blended fragrance. Ferro knew it was all Elisabeta. It was impossible for any negative emotion to persist under the onslaught of that gentle persuasion.
I realize now that you will always have the upper hand between us, piŋe sarnanak. How will I ever stay annoyed with you when I inhale and you smell like the breeze that takes all cares away? He ran his hand down the back of her head, making certain she knew he wouldn’t ever mind that she would have the upper hand between them.
Elisabeta had found her way into his heart with her quiet stillness. With her gentle compassion and this—that need to bring peace to his brothers, the other hunters weary from holding on to honor over so long. Not just those in the monastery, but all Carpathian hunters. It was his lifemate’s nature and he loved her all the more for it.
Why would you become annoyed with me? Do I do anything that already makes you believe I will upset you?
The anxiety in her made him want to groan. She was very literal with him. She was programmed to want to please him. Naturally, she would take him seriously in spite of the fact that he was all but petting her hair in an effort to show her he was teasing her, trying to keep a balance when he didn’t know what they were going to find and what the others were going to expect from his lifemate.
“Perhaps everyone should be examined again,” Ferro said. “Starting with me. Starting with all of us from the monastery. Is it possible, Tariq, that we carried an unknown shadow with us that Xavier or another mage cast upon the gates without our knowledge? I do not want to take chances with the women and children here in the compound. If there is the slightest possibility that you believe we are putting them at risk, we will be examined or we will plan our escape. We can get past Sergey and his spies and cross back to the Carpathian Mountains. Once there, he cannot get to us.” He poured confidence into his voice. All the while he kept his gaze fixed on the leader’s eyes, needing to see what was going on with him.
Tariq once again rubbed hard at his temples and once again the flare of his rage filled the conference room. They all heard his elevated heartbeat. Gary glanced at Ferro as if he knew the ancient was doing his best to get Tariq to suggest that all warriors in the compound be examined. Clearly that wasn’t going to happen. Before Tariq could speak, Gary did.
“We need every warrior here, Ferro. Had there been a taint on those of you from the monastery, we would have known. Valentin and Dragomir have been here for some time, as has Siv. All have the code of honor scarred into their skin as brethren.”
Maksim nodded. “That is so. I agree, though, Ferro, that we should all be scanned again. First young Josef and then the rest of us, starting with Gary so we clear him to look at the rest of us. Tariq and I can go next.”
He is aware something is wrong with Tariq, Ferro said to Elisabeta.
You have not told me what I have done to upset you.
She sounded on the verge of tears, although none glittered in her eyes. He still felt them in her mind. She kept her face turned away from the others, buried in his rib cage, pressed deep.
I was teasing you, letting you know that you will always be my greatest treasure. I should not tease you when we are in the middle of serious business.
Her fingers crept up his belly to fist in his shirt. I do not mind. I am learning.
Josef strode in, deliberately slamming the door behind him. He had piercings in his lip and eyebrow and a bar in his nose. “I can’t imagine what you want from me now,” he snapped. “It isn’t like you aren’t already working me like a dog. You said your computer system was the latest and yet I’ve been updating it for hours. You said your people could learn and they all have the IQ of a peahen.” He put his hands on his hips and glared at Tariq.
Tariq surged to his feet, the chair falling over backward. Maksim and Gary stood as well, Gary gliding to put his body between Tariq and the young Carpathian boy. Ferro calmly rose, taking Elisabeta to the other end of the room out of harm’s way. All the while, he kept his gaze fixed on Tariq. He didn’t know Josef, but he was somewhat familiar with the leader of the Carpathian people here in the United States. He was acting very far out of character.