"Natalya, just what are you doing with that hairspray and lighter?" Vikirnoff Von Shrieder demanded. He peered out the kitchen window to the silent sparkling white world surrounding them. "There aren't any vampires around, are there?"

"Don't be silly. I've learned to call down the lightning when I'm fighting a vampire. I needed a flame thingie for the creme brulee. See, it says so right here on the recipe." Natalya bent forward to reread the card she had on the low-tiled counter.

"Give it up. The silly recipe isn't worth the amount of time you have put into it." Vikirnoff came up behind her and circled her waist with his arms, drawing her back up against him.

"I thought you always wanted June Cleaver cooking in the kitchen with her little apron on," Natalya teased.

"It was you who mentioned June Cleaver, but I do like the apron," he admitted, kissing his way down the side of her face. His hands burrowed under the thin material stretching to cover her breasts. "If you wore this all the time, I might consider trying out one of these strange concoctions you seem to be attempting to whip up."

He nibbled on the back of her neck and let his hands slide down her flat stomach to the junction of her legs beneath the short apron. His palm caressed the short curls, and moved up to cover the birthmark in the shape of a dragon. The pads of his fingers traced the

familiar shape, and then moved on around her hips to her firm bare buttocks. "Ainaak enyem, you do not have a single stitch on beneath this apron."

She leaned forward just a little more to peer at the recipe and frown at her concoction. The action brought her enticing derriere brushing the front of his body, sending a small electrical charge right through his groin. "I don't think anyone who cooks actually wears clothes. It's too messy. I changed three times and gave it up."

His hands continued their journey, shaping her hips and running over her bottom to slide over her thighs. He felt her shiver of awareness-of answering excitement. "So humans stand in the kitchen stark naked and cook." Once more his hands moved, widening her stance, caressing the inside of her thighs, going higher so his knuckles could brush back and forth across her sensitive core.

"I'm certain of it," Natalya said. "I've discovered their secret." She closed her eyes to absorb the feel of his hands on her bare skin.

His mouth nuzzled her neck, tongue stroking caresses over her pulse, teeth teasing and nipping. "I will ask Slavica's husband if that is why he spends so much time in the kitchen with her. I wondered what they did together in that big room with so many counters."

His teeth sank deep, locking them together, his larger body bending hers forward, pinning her against the low counter and his body. His clothes were gone and his body already hard and aggressive, his fingers pushing slowly, seductively into her body so that she gasped and pushed back against him, already wet and welcoming for him. Already hot. He loved her ready response and the way her body began to ride his hand eagerly.

His hands went to her hips, holding her still, preventing all movement, so she waited for his attentions, unable to bring any pleasure to herself.

"You started this," Natalya complained.

He didn't answer, savoring the spicy taste of her, the way her smaller body waited for his, open and ready, so vulnerable and so willing. It was a heady feeling to be able to take a woman warrior, to wrap his body around hers when she was every bit as lethal as she was beautiful. He held her down with one hand on her back, heightening her pleasure, forcing her to wait for him, breathless, her hips trying to entice him, her body wet and needy. He loved especially when she grew anxious and demanding, yet submitted to his domination¨C like now.

Vikirnoff swept his tongue across the pinpricks, waited again, waiting for the telltale beat of her heart to accelerate, and he thrust hard, driving deep into her, burying himself all the way. She cried out, a low keen of joy as they joined together. She was so tight, a fist clamping around his shaft, hot and velvet soft, slick with welcoming cream. He took her hard and fast, driving her over the edge without preamble so that her body clamped down and her orgasm rushed over her, rocking her legs, rippling through her belly and crashing

through her womb.

He kept the pounding rhythm, moving like a piston, dragging her back with every forward surge so they came together in heat and aggression. He could feel the streaks of lightning racing through her bloodstream, gathering-building, always building, the pressure relentless so that after the first rush to bring more sensitivity to the bundle of nerve endings, he kept her poised on the edge, pushing her higher and higher until she was nearly sobbing for relief.

Vikirnoff could stay there all day, his body buried deep in silk and fire, her tight muscles squeezing and grasping, her body subject to the rule of his. Her hair spilled around her, banded with color, her skin soft and inviting and every square inch of her, every hollow and shadow, his to do with as he pleased.

Right now he felt her tigress close, clawing toward the surface, wild and abandoned, adding fuel to the fire, wanting him rough, wanting him to match the cat rising with heat in her. He threw back his head, nearly coming up on his toes, surging deep over and over, so that the friction was nearly intolerable, a pleasure bordering on pain that went on and on because he dictated it so. Because her body was his body when they came together like this. She gave herself to him unconditionally, trusting him to bring her absolute ecstasy, and it was his privilege to accommodate her. Because they needed this sometimes more than anything else, this coming together almost in violence after they had both been alone for so very long.

He murmured softly to her in his own language. "Te avio palafertulam. Ainaak sivamet jutta." You are my lifemate. Forever to my heart connected-forever mine.

She answered with one of the few words of the ancient language she knew, her heart in her voice. "Sivamet." My love. And she meant it.

Vikirnoff plunged into her until her breath was coming in gasping sobs and his body burned with a kind of fury, until their hunger for each other was so sharp and terrible there was no holding back. Her body tightened around his, clamping down with hard spasms that sent fire racing down his spine straight to his balls. His entire body shuddered as he thrust one more time, hard steel penetrating hot silk, as he emptied himself into her deepest core, further uniting them.

He lay over her, holding her close, kissing her back, nuzzling her neck, all the while trying to struggle for air. Their hearts beat the same rhythm, but the gnawing hunger, so insatiable, was still there. He could feel it in her, stirring and clawing like the greedy cat inside her, and also deep in him, where his demon roared for its mate.

Very slowly, very reluctantly, he separated their bodies and allowed her to straighten up. He crowded close, not giving her space, establishing his intentions with his wandering mouth and hands.

"I always knew you liked the June Cleaver thing. You have a secret food fetish," she told him with a small smile.

"I will admit to a fetish, but I think it's for you." He bent his dark head as he dragged her even closer, forcing her to bend backward so she offered her breasts to him. He lapped at the sensitized nipples, drew her breast into his mouth, sucking with strong pulls, teeth teasing, causing aftershocks to ripple through her body. "Ainaak enyem, forever mine," he whispered. "You know you are my heart and soul. My very life."

Natalya loved the way his hair brushed over her skin, the way his mouth was so eager for her. She could lose herself in his body all night, never think of anything-or anyone else. He looked at her and wanted her. One brush of her hand set him on fire. Once he had taken her right in the village, shielding them from prying eyes, but it felt so decadent. She had deliberately tempted him, allowing her fingers to trail over the front of his trousers, rubbing against him, her blouse gaping open to show her breasts-and he had responded in just the way she loved. He shoved her against a wall and took her right there, unable to wait one more second. She loved teasing him, seeing the heat building in his eyes and that stern mask disappear only for her.

He always told her how much he loved her-how much she meant to him. She found it difficult to put her emotions into words, afraid if she tried to voice the depth of her emotion, that would somehow take it away from her. She had never loved the way she loved him. She hadn't even known it was possible.

Vikirnoff reluctantly released her breasts, skimming her mouth with feather-light kisses before straightening. "Did you hear something?"

"Someone is in the woods near our house." She wrapped her arm around his head and drew him back down, her mouth melting provocatively with his. Heat flared instantly. Her tongue dueled with his, teasing and stroking while her hands slid over his body. Her fingers danced over the hard length of him, satisfaction making her purr as he grew thicker and harder. She wrapped her hand around him and bent down to breathe warm air over him.

His shaft jumped. She licked him much like a cat licking cream. The moist heat of her mouth engulfed him, spreading fire through his belly. He forgot visitors and caught two fistfuls of tawny hair, dragging her closer as he thrust with his hips, surging deep into her mouth. She went to her knees, wrapping her arms around his hips and taking him down her throat, squeezing and nibbling and licking until he thought he might go insane from sheer pleasure.

Natalya never did anything halfway, abandoning herself to the joy of serving him, of taking all power through her joy of sex. She loved touching him and tasting him and drawing out every drop of his seed just to see how fast she could bring him back to a fever pitch.

She made a small little purring noise deep in her throat that sent a vibration right through

his shaft, and spread out to his entire body. His balls drew tight and hard, and every nerve in his body seemed centered in his groin. Lust was sharp and hungry and raking at his insides as he watched her lips slide over his shaft and he felt the white hot curl of her tongue, the heart-stopping edge of her teeth.

"Harder," he bit out through clenched teeth. She was close to swallowing him, doing something fantastic with her tongue and throat muscles.

She looked up at him and there was so much joy in her eyes. For him. For her ability to give him this gift. If it was possible, she tightened her throat and flicked with her tongue, pushing him over edge just as fast and hard as he had pushed her. Fire streaked through his bloodstream, tore though his body. She milked him with her tight hot mouth, with his fists twisted almost violently in her hair holding her still while he thrust helplessly, going as deep as he could. His body shattered, from his toes to his head, burst into flames as jet after jet of seed was drawn from him.

Woman, you are killing me. And it felt like it, a beautiful death. He dragged her to her feet, not relinquishing his hold on her hair, his mouth finding her breasts, feeling her heightened desire. He flicked her nipples, felt the ripple of response rush through her body. He bit down gently, felt her jump, her womb clench and spasm.

"I love doing that to you," she whispered. "It always makes me so hot to see you like that, and you always give me what I want. And I want more, Vikirnoff. I want much, much more."

"I am always ready to accommodate you."

Natalya wrapped one bare leg around him, rubbing against his thigh. "Keeping me happy is a full-time job."

He reached down and lifted her with casual strength, turning her so he could rest her bare bottom on the counter. "You have nowhere to run, sivamet."

Secretly, it was one of her favorite things when he spoke his ancient language and called her his love. His accent was sexy and intriguing and his words seemed a secret world no one else could share. "Was I running? Being in the kitchen, surrounded by all this food, I was hoping you'd be hungry."

Vikirnoff laughed softly, his eyes going midnight dark. "I am always hungry for you." He simply pushed her thighs wide, lifting her legs over his shoulder, and bent his head to the sweet scent of her hot core. He licked her in much the same manner as she had him, a cat lapping at cream. He knew every spot intimately, every secret hollow and what it could do to her. He made slow lazy circles around her sensitive bud, torturing her until she wanted to scream with pleasure. Her thighs jumped helplessly, hips arching toward him, as his fingers slipped into her heated channel adding to the pressure so his tongue could lap at her, suckle and stab with wicked expertise.

He did just what she asked for, but in a manner she could never conceive of. He ate her ¨Cdevoured her, using his tongue as effectively as he used his shaft. His fingers only added to her slow torment, pushing her far beyond her limits into another realm.

Natalya bucked against his mouth, her body raging for release as he worked his magic. Her head thrashed wildly back and forth. Her body built up pressure fast, needing release, the tension winding tighter and tighter until she thought she might implode. Vikirnoff always held her off, pushing her further than she thought she could ever go, until she was pleading with him, sobbing, almost insane with arousal.

A sensation somewhere between pleasure and bordering on pain gripped her stomach fiercely, tightening her womb, and spread through her body. Her breath slammed out of her lungs and she swore her insides nearly convulsed. She shuddered as the spasms continued and wave after wave of sheer ecstasy washed over her.

Before she had a chance to catch her breath, Vikirnoff brought her hips down, holding her legs apart, and slammed deep into her slick hot folds. She screamed. There was no stopping the cries of pleasure as her body orgasmed again and again.

He pressed down against her small bud, as he slammed deeper and deeper, needing to hear those soft cries, to see her throat working convulsively and feel her body rippling with so much pleasure. He thrust hard, building the friction until her face was flushed and her mouth was open and her eyes wide with shock and lust. Only then did he take her over the edge a second time.

Natalya lay under him, clutching his shoulders, desperate to regain control. Only Vikirnoff could shatter her like that, and it was the only time she felt total release, relaxed and free of all the responsibility she had carried for so long. She turned up her face for his kiss. She loved his mouth and what it did to her. She loved everything about him. "Someone is at the door," she said softly as she kissed the corners of his mouth and ran her lips down his throat to his chest.

"It's just my brother and he can wait," Vikirnoff said, his hands cupping her breasts again, thumbs stroking, sending vibrations through her entire body. "I have far more important things to do."

Back off Nicolae. I am just a little busy here. He sent the impression of bared teeth for good measure, but his brother only sent back amusement.

Her tongue swirled over his pulse. Her teeth scraped and his entire body contracted in anticipation.

The knock at the door persisted. Vikirnoff swore. "I'm killing him." Abruptly he left her, striding across the room.

"Put some clothes on," she reminded him with a little mischievous grin. "You just might

need them."

Vikirnoff just managed to don a shirt and jeans as he jerked open the door. "Did you not hear my..." He broke off, recognizing his visitor. One hand raked through his hair. He glanced back at the kitchen. You knew. "Mikhail."

Of course. I was looking out for you. Her laughter tightened his body all over again. She even managed to blow in his ear.

I'm thinking of spanking you.

The last time I rather liked it. You were rather wild that night.

His body jumped again, swelling beneath the thin material of his jeans. Her voice was seductive, suggestive, almost purring. He tried to manage a smile of greeting, grateful his shirt wasn't tucked in.

Mikhail's dark eyes slid over him, taking in far too much. "You failed to scan. You should have known it was me and not Nicolae."

"My woman is far too distracting," Vikirnoff admitted. "I think of little else." He stepped back to allow Mikhail entry. I'm killing my brother. He's probably laughing like a hyena right now. He must have known and could have warned me.

"Welcome to the club," Mikhail said, but shook his head. "It takes a great deal of discipline to learn to satisfy their needs as well as see to their protection."

Their needs? Natalya sniffed. You cannot go two hours without sex.

I take no responsibility for that. You are an addiction.

Natalya's soft laughter brushed through Vikirnoff's mind teasing his senses.

"I just dropped by to make certain you had everything you needed for tonight," said Mikhail. "I have a couple more stops to make before I can go home, and Raven is waiting."

"We're fine. Natalya is making some strange thing." He glanced nervously toward the kitchen. "Unfortunately, it calls for a flame of some sort, and you know how she is so inventive. We could have a fire any minute."

"I heard that!" Natalya called. "For your information, it is working. Well, I did set the curtain on fire and there's a scorch mark or two on the wall."

"She isn't joking, is she?" Mikhail said as the smell of smoke drifted toward them.

Vikirnoff heaved a sigh. "Regrettably, no."

"I will leave you to it then. Let Natalya know Gregori will be playing the role of Santa Claus tonight. She was concerned that no one would be doing it and she volunteered you."

"She what?" Vikirnoff scowled toward the kitchen.

"And she said if they needed an elf for the pageant, that you look rather elvish in tights." Mikhail's features were completely expressionless.

"She said all that?" I am so spanking your bare little ass.

Promises, promises.

"I am not certain we have need of an elf, but I'm going to check with Sara and Corrine. They're the ones putting the pageant together, and I'll let them know you offered."

Vikirnoff rubbed the bridge of his nose thoughtfully. "Mikhail, I am fully aware that you are the prince and as such should be protected at all times, but should you deliver that particular message to those women, I will be forced to cut off your head and stuff it somewhere unpleasant."

Mikhail nodded, still without expression. "I think that is a fair reaction and one I myself might have. Suffice to say we understand each other perfectly."

"On the other hand, should you really command Gregori to perform as Santa Claus, I would ask for a front row seat."

Mikhail held out his hand. "Done."

Vikirnoff, I have need of you and Natalya. Nicolae's troubled voice filled his mind as Vikirnoff shook the prince's hand.

He waited for Mikhail to dissolve into vapor and trail through the scattered trees toward Corrine and Dayan's home before responding to his brother. We are on the way. "Natalya. Nicolae needs us immediately."

"I was just putting the finishing touches on this thing. It smells funny."

"That's probably the lighter fluid-or the hair spray. I imagine it tastes as funny as it smells."

Do not let on to my lifemate that anything could be wrong, Nicolae warned. If Destiny thinks for one moment that someone-or something-has tried to harm MaryAnn, she will go ballistic on me. She does not trust many people yet, and MaryAnn is family to her.

Vikirnoff whirled around, his lazy, casual demeanor gone at once. And to me. Tell me what you believe. He shared the information with Natalya.

I have a blood bond with Mary Ann and I can feel something is not right. I thought a vampire had come into my home and taken her blood, but I cannot get a feel for it. Perhaps Natalya's birthmark will roar for us and let me know for certain. MaryAnn remembers nothing, but she seems disturbed, restless, definitely different. And I feel uneasy in my home.

Vikirnoff reached for Natalya's hand as she hurried to join him. Have you examined her memories? They both dissolved, shimmering into droplets of vapor and streaming outdoors toward Nicolae's home.

Of course I have. Over and over. Something happened to her right here, in our home. If a vampire has penetrated our defenses, I need to know. There was a moment's hesitation. And if a Carpathian has used her to feed when she is under my protection and also Gregori's, that is a killing offense. This is a very dangerous situation.

Vikirnoff could not imagine that Nicolae could be mistaken. If he said something was off, then no doubt it was. What Carpathian would dare risk the wrath of two ancient warriors as well as that of the "Dark One"? Everyone knew Gregori was an executioner. One did not take chances with such a man. The attacker had to be a vampire, but how could a vampire slip past an ancient into his very home?

Vikirnoff and Natalya settled into their normal forms just outside Nicolae's home. They made a circle of the house, looking for tracks, for some sign that an enemy was near. Natalya put her hand over her birthmark and shook her head.

"The dragon is silent, Vikirnoff. There isn't a vampire nearby, nor any evidence that one has been in the vicinity recently."

"But something is off."

"I agree, but I can't figure out exactly what it is."

She inhaled sharply, her eyes going from brilliant green to sea blue and finally opaque. Stripes banded across her hair, orange and black and even white. She dropped to all fours, fur rippled and the majestic tigress paced around the house, using her cat senses to try to find an enemy.

Vikirnoff followed the tiger back into the woods. It padded patiently through the brush and snowdrifts, following an elusive scent he couldn't quite catch. Natalya regained her natural form a few yards from the house.

"Someone watched them from over there." She indicated a thick tree. "I cannot catch his scent. He's very clever. He uses what is natural around him, mimicking whatever he chooses so that only that is seen or smelled. He watched them drag the tree into their home and must have entered at that same time. They were distracted by the Christmas tree and not paying any attention to the something like a wind or small snow flurry. I'm betting he used

both. There would have been snow flying from the tree."

"He's smart this one. An ancient with very sophisticated ways. Why would he choose to go after MaryAnn when she is doubly protected?"

"The challenge of it? A dare maybe. Beating Gregori and the ancients protecting MaryAnn?" she guessed.

"And the penalty, if caught, might be death? Certainly, Destiny would kill him. She's extremely protective of MaryAnn. Nor can I see Nicolae allowing such an insult to his house. And if he didn't kill the attacker-I would. MaryAnn saved both my brother and Destiny. She gave Destiny back her life, and in doing so, gave Nicolae life. I will not allow her to be used in this manner."

"Be careful of what you say," Natalya reminded him, taking his hand. "Destiny is very edgy when it comes to MaryAnn."

Both made a long, slow perusal of the area. Were eyes watching? It felt that way, yet for all of their skills, they couldn't ferret out the enemy.

MaryAnn greeted them at the door, her smile genuine. "Vikirnoff. Natalya. It's so good to see you. We've just been putting up the Christmas tree. Skyler is visiting us. Have you met her?" She indicated the young teenager, who stood staring transfixed at Natalya.

Vikirnoff took MaryAnn's hand and bowed low, startling her, his lips touching her skin. He inhaled deeply and allowed her hand to drop away. "You look wonderful."

Natalya stepped close and hugged her, kissing both cheeks. "You do look radiant. Are you looking forward to tonight?"

She does look radiant. She's always been beautiful, but now she has a dangerous allure about her. And a male has definitely been close to her. Very close. His scent is eluding me; not even my tigress can pick it up. I wont be able to track him. But he isn't vampire. He's Carpathian.

MaryAnn smiled at them both. "Yes, of course. Everyone's been so good to me. We were just about to walk Skyler home. Would you like to come with us?"

Natalya crossed the room to the teenager. The girl stepped back avoiding physical contact. Natalya smiled at her. "It's nice to finally meet you. You must have difficult psychic gifts. Can you read people when you touch them?"

Skyler nodded. "I don't like it."

"I don't like it either." She glanced over her shoulder and Vikirnoff took the hint, taking MaryAnn by the elbow and walking with her into the kitchen, leaving Natalya with the younger girl. "You seem a little nervous. Are you really sensitive as well? I often have this

dread that swamps me when something dangerous is near."

Skyler nodded. "I hate that too. You never know if you're crazy or if something really is out there stalking you." She glanced uneasily out the window.

Natalya nodded. "It does feel like that. If you tell, people think you're weird, especially if they can't see or find anything wrong. And if you don't tell and something bad happens, you feel like an idiot for not telling."

"That's happened to you too?" Skyler asked. "It's difficult being here because there's so much energy being used all the time and sometimes I can't tell the difference."

"Did you feel something earlier, when you were with Nicolae and Destiny getting the tree?" Deliberately she avoided using MaryAnn's name.

Skyler nodded slowly. "Usually I can tell if something is evil, but it just felt dark and like someone was watching us. It didn't feel good."

"Why didn't you tell Nicolae?"

Skyler looked away. "I didn't want to feel stupid. And none of them felt anything. They're Carpathians-ancients like Gabriel. Shouldn't they know if something is out there stalking us?"

Natalya remained silent for a long moment allowing the teenager to squirm. "That isn't the real reason. Why didn't you tell them?"

Skyler blinked, looked as if she might cry. She turned away, shoving her hands into her pockets. "I thought it might be Dimitri," she admitted in a low voice. "I didn't want to get him into any more trouble on my account."

Natalya gentled her voice, knowing the recent problems through the Carpathians' common path. "I know what that feels like too. Wanting to protect someone and feeling like you're the one causing all the trouble for them." She sighed. "I still don't know how I managed to get together with Vikirnoff. I'm not at all what he wanted." She waited until Skyler turned back to look at her. "Did it feel like him?"

"It just felt like someone was watching us." Skyler frowned.

"Do you feel it now? This minute?"

"That's what's crazy. On and off. Like he's here, but then he's gone. Could someone do that? Could someone be watching me even here in the house?" She shivered. "I just want to go home."

"Well take care of you, honey. Vikirnoff, Nicolae, Destiny and I are all very capable when it comes to vampire attacks. None of us would let anything hurt you."

"What if it's Dimitri?" Skyler whispered. "He tries to block me out, but I can feel his pain. I caused that. It hurts him so much, but I can't stop it. I can't be what he needs me to be."

"He's a Carpathian male, Skyler. He'll do whatever it takes for you to be happy."

"I don't want to be responsible for him."

"I know." And God help her, she did. Natalya fought Vikirnoff every inch of the way, not trusting who or what he was. "You don't need to think about it yet. You're a child. Let yourself be one. From everything I've heard of Francesca, she will get you through this, and time has a way of working things out."

The others came in, drawing on jackets. "Are you ready, Skyler?"

The girl nodded, casting one more nervous look around the house. Destiny and MaryAnn went out with Skyler between them. Nicolae followed with Natalya, but Vikirnoff slammed the door closed and stood just inside the house, his senses flaring out in an effort to find the intruder. Like his brother, he felt something, but he couldn't find it. Whatever, whoever, remained in the house was an ancient and very powerful and skilled.

He turned abruptly and left, slamming the door hard enough to make the windows rattle. Nicolae. I doubt that it is vampire. It has to be a male using her for blood. Is there any sign whatsoever of any kind of other attack on her?

The thought that a male Carpathian would use a protected woman-a potential lifemate ¨Cand she would not be aware was distasteful to him.

Nicolae sighed. Many of our unattached males are in the vicinity. There is no telling who it is. I couldn't get a scent.

We have to be dealing with a very skilled ancient.

Vikirnoff moved up closer to Natalya, scanning, not liking the way the clouds overhead began to swirl and darken. The wind rushed at them, kicking up the snow as they moved in a tight group toward the house where Gabriel was staying. Skyler kept shooting anxious little glances toward the deeper woods.

"Have you ever flown with Gabriel?" Nicolae asked her.

"Or run with the wolves?" Vikirnoff added.

"Or a tigress?" Natalya volunteered.

Skyler's gaze jumped to her face. "I love animals. Wolves especially. But I always wanted to be close to a tiger. Is it dangerous?"

"Whoa!" MaryAnn held up her hand. "I know you re not going to do something crazy right in front of me. I'll go back to the house. My heart can only take so much."

"You wouldn't really like to fly, MaryAnn?" Destiny coaxed. "Or pet a wolf or a tiger? Just once, to say you did it?"

MaryAnn looked at Skyler's hopeful face. She sighed. "Okay, here's the thing. I'm really not adventurous at all. I'm a real city girl, you know, boutiques and girlfriends shopping in a mall, not petting wolves. But if you really want to do this, child, I'll climb one of those trees over there and watch you do it."

Nicolae slung one arm around Skyler and the other around MaryAnn. "We were thinking more of you riding on the back of one of the wolves."

Lightning edged the sky, turned the darker clouds to a fiery orange. A whip lashed out and slammed to the ground, rocking the earth and scorching a long streak in the snow. Thunder clapped directly overhead. In the deafening roar, a beast growled a distinct warning, sending the hair on the back of their necks up.

Skyler stepped away from Nicolae looking anxious. "Was that Dimitri? He doesn't like it if anyone touches me."

Vikirnoff and Nicolae exchanged a long look. "I don't know, honey. We'll talk to him later about it. I can't see him angry over one of us being affectionate. We have lifemates."

"He knows it bothers me to be touched," she admitted.

"Well, if it was him, then he's within his rights to protect you. He would want to keep you safe and happy and if it was bothering you that one of us made you uncomfortable, then he would send a reminder."

MaryAnn moved closer to Destiny, one hand going to a spot just over her breast where it throbbed and burned. She pressed hard with her palm, holding the ache to her. She hated being afraid all the time, and here, in these mountains, she seemed to have lost her usual confidence. In a city she would walk into the worst parts of town and feel in complete control, but here, in this world, nothing was as it seemed. And she wanted no part of wild animals or men who could reprimand others with violent storms.

"Let's just get Skyler to her house and get back home," she said.