caress of his tongue, at the same time opening the buttons on his shirt with one hand while the other palmed her nape. he murmured something to her in italian, something soft and aching and sexy, and the smoky need touched off a wildness in her she had never known. he pressed her to his heavy muscles, reached down to gather her small, jeans-clad bottom into his hand so he could urge her more closely into the thick evidence of his arousal.

he smelled fresh and masculine. her body was on fire for him, her skin so sensitive her breasts ached, her nipples chafing in the thin, lacy bra that confined her. hunger was swamping her, sexual as well as physical. she couldn't begin to tell where she began and he left off. his heart beat strong and fast, waiting for her, needing her, wanting her. hunger was a raw ache between her legs, in her stomach, her breasts, gnawing mercilessly at her until she felt her teeth pierce his skin.

at once pleasure beat at her; it took hold and rushed through her body like a wall of flame, a firestorm of beauty and ecstasy. sweet and hot. immeasurable. like nothing she had ever known. it was addictive, consuming, eternal. there would never be a desari without julian. never a julian without desari. she would need his body, his blood, and his soul for all the rest of her days. he would need hers.

gasping, terrified, desari closed the tiny pinpricks and held on to him, the only solid anchor in a world that seemed to be disintegrating around her. at once his arms were there, real and strong, his chin nuzzling the top of her head so that silken strands of her hair were caught in the golden shadow on his jaw, weaving them together like threads. "do not fear this, piccola.

i know what to do. i am ancient and powerful and know the ways of our people. this is natural for us."

she shook her head, her heart pounding. "not for me. you do not understand at all, julian. i cannot leave my family. i have been in your mind and know your intentions for us. you are a loner, even a bit of a renegade. you like to set your own rules and go your own way. you follow your prince, but rather loosely."

julian's hand again came up to caress the nape of her neck, easing the tension out of her. "we have time to get used to one another."

"i sing, julian. i love to sing. i like the crowds, the sharing, the excitement in the audience, the connection with them. and i love my family. if we have a prince, a leader, it is darius. he had dedicated his life to us, lived for us, protected us. you do not know what he has done for us. i cannot leave him at this time, when he is so close to the edge of destruction."

the night whispered to them, enfolding them in its dark cloak. julian lifted his face skyward, staring at the stars spread above them like a glittering blanket. "tell me about him. tell me how it is possible that no other carpathians know of your existence. if you managed to escape notice, perhaps there are others, also. this could be very important to the continuation of our species."

his voice was so gentle and tender, it turned her heart over. yet she could sense his implacable resolve. like darius, he had a strong and relentless will. he chose to follow his own path, make his own rules. he coaxed the entire long-ago story out of her. the terrible massacre. the precariousness of the ship. the terror of the children in a savage, lawless land surrounded by predatory animals.

julian soon realized that darius and desari were indeed living relatives of the healer, the dark one. they had to be gregori's younger brother and sister, presumed murdered by the turks. perhaps others had escaped as well. the moment he knew the truth, he reached across time and space.

gregori! i have found what i long sought. there are others. your bloodline. they survived the massacres and escaped far away.

it was no wonder that darius reminded him so much of the healer. darius was every bit as resourceful and powerful as his older brother. he would make a bitter, relentless enemy, dangerous beyond imagination. he would make a loyal, protective friend despite his inability to feel emotions. his word was his law. he recognized no other. julian found himself respecting darius where he respected few others.

i thank you for sending me word of darius and dara, julian. i also feel your need, julian. desari is your lifemate. attend to her.

there was great satisfaction evident in the healer's voice even over the distance.

have you need of me at this time? no, healer. i welcome the challenge your male kin provides.

and julian did. the wonder and beauty of the world was within his grasp.

i will contact mikhail and inform savannah. we will come if you have need of us; otherwise, we will all meet at a later date. i have no need, julian assured the healer. he had faith in his own abilities. he didn't want or need the healer's interference or presence. gregori doubtless knew the exact nature of the darkness crouching in julian's soul, a fact julian had successfully kept even from his own twin. gregori believed in his honor, but he also knew julian was shadowed, and might decide such a one had no right to desari, no right to her atal

julian had no intention of giving up desari. it would be impossible even if he were inclined to do so. they were tied together for all eternity. the ritual words had been spoken. although they had not completed the entire cycle of the ritual, the ancient words themselves were binding, and julian knew the consequences. they would be unable to be apart without intense grief, without dire physical discomfort. and the waves of carpathian heat would eventually overcome them, demanding they unite.

it was a protection for the male's sanity, for his soul, that he could bind his mate to him for all time regardless of her fears. fears could be dealt with; the destruction of one's soul was for all eternity. desari believed she could control her destiny, that she had a choice, but julian knew better. she belonged to him, was a part of him. not even darius could change that without destroying her. and if his own honor demanded he do the right thing, release her from one such as him, it was already too late. he had tied them together in the heat of their first meeting. it was done.

julian sighed softly and held her close to him. "your brother is carpathian and blood kin to you. i would not wish harm to him. if it is necessary that we remain with him to ensure that he does not allow harm to come to himself, then that is what we will do."

desari knew julian believed he was making a great concession for her, but he wasn't doing her any favors. darius would not accept him easily into their circle. neither would dayan or barack. the males were difficult at best. for hundreds of years they had depended upon one another, interacted with one another. they would not willingly allow a stranger into their midst.