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was Desari's cry of fear as she launched herself skyward or their own instincts, but as Julian turned to
face whatever was threatening him from behind, Darius, flying slightly above and ahead, plummeted to
place his body between his sister's lifemate and the incoming spear.
The streamlined weapon the vampire had fashioned was well made and deadly. It sliced through flesh
and bone, catching Darius's body, imprisoned within the bird, just below the heart.
Dayan! Without conscious thought, Julian took over the leadership, calling the other Carpathian to their
aid, then racing to catch Darius's body as it fell from the sky, at the same time searching around him for
the vampire who had suddenly turned the tables and was now in the far better position to escape or
attack.Desari, breathe for him, now. Take a breath. I need you calm. Breathe for him, and keep
him alive. The spear sliced his heart, and he had no choice but to cease breathing on his own.
Merge with him and bind him to us . Julian gave the order as a healer. He had learned much of the
ancient art by watching Gregori, the Dark One, Darius and Desari's brother and blood kin, their people's
healer.
Dayan .reached them, cradling Darius in midflight, leaving Julian free to guard them as they raced toward
their own safe haven, a mountain with pools of heat and fire within it. Julian's breath came out in a long,
slow hiss. He could not continue to track his archenemy while Darius was in such need. Darius had saved
his life and Desari's. Julian's sense of honor would never allow him to do other than what was right. The
others did not have his powers of healing, although their closeness would help enormously.
Julian followed the others, guarding them from behind. His mind was already merged with Desari's so
that he could better follow the patterns inside Darius's mind, so that he could examine the mortal wound
even in flight. Darius had a strong constitution, a will of solid steel. Ultimately he would choose life or
death for himself. No one would hold him to earth if he decided to go to eternal rest. It only strengthened
Julian's own belief that Darius was blood brother to Gregori, the Dark One, the greatest hunter and
healer of their time.
Barack and Syndil had already opened the mountain to make entry easier to the narrow passageway
leading deep within the earth. Barack moved ahead of the group as their scout, his senses flaring out for
every scrap of information he could ferret out. He looked for traces of the undead, blank spaces, strange
smells, anything that might signal the presence of an enemy. Together he and Syndil worked to prepare a
healing room. They found the richest soil. Syndil went down on her knees to add to the richness, chanting
softly while Barack circled the cave, placing herbs and candles in a pattern along the wall.
Dayan placed Darius's body into the bed of soil so carefully prepared, and stepped back to give Julian
room. Desari sank onto the edge of the sunken earthen bed, her entire attention centered on her brother.
He was no more than a spirit while his body lay lifeless under her stroking hand. Tears were running
unchecked down her face. She was well aware of Darius's strong will. If he chose to stay with them, it
would certainly be his choice alone. She could not make him do anything he didn't want to do.
He will stay with us. Julian's calm voice was in her mind. Strong. Gentle. Certain.Darius knows that
all of you need him. He will not leave you alone until he is certain all of you will be safe without
him . Julian said it firmly, knowing Darius's spirit could easily read Desari's mind and hear his words.
Desari needed reassurance badly.
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Julian touched her shoulder, brushed her hair tenderly. Without looking at the others, he took a deep
breath and released it, concentrating on losing himself, becoming pure energy, a white healing light that
floated out of his strong body and into the body lying so still before him.
The wound was a terrible thing. The spear had entered just below the heart, tearing through sinew and
tissue, arteries and veins. The tip had caught Darius's strong heart, slicing a wicked cut before driving on
through almost to his back. This spear had been meant for Julian.
Most likely it would have killed him. And Desari would have died, too.
I owe you a tremendous debt, he murmured softly in his mind even as he began the difficult work of
healing Darius from the inside out. Darius had managed to shut down his systems immediately, his spirit
merged with Desari's that he might aid them if necessary. Julian could read the intentions of the leader as
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