Chapter 1
The Carpathian mountains were encased in hauntingly beautiful shades of deep blue and pale moonlight. Further punctuating this scene of wondrous majesty where the myriad amount of stars that dotted the expansive canvas of the night sky.
While some people comfortably slept others couldn't help but stare in awe at the beautifully frozen kingdom. The night belonged to the Carpathians and they accepted that knowledge with humble gratitude.
Except for him.
Flying through the night in the form of an owl Ion Volkov paid no mind to the sights this night offered.
On the other hand, the man whom he took blood from earlier tonight had thought that the night was so beautiful that he couldn't resist heading out for a short stroll through the village. It took no effort from Ion to lure him into a dark corner of the village in order to take his blood. The hard part was having the willpower to stop himself every time he fed. With each passing day he could feel the beast in him growing stronger, it's demands become harder to ignore. He had lived centuries fighting the darkness in the world as well as in himself. Tonight marked the beginning of the end for him. He knew he was nearing the end of his existence and the looming choice was bearing down upon him like never before. The choice of either killing his honor, or dying with it. To become a vampire, or to meet the dawn.
Like all ancient hunters Ion had carried the hope that he would find her. His lifemate. Only she could restore the colors and emotions that had died out centuries ago, leaving only the encroaching darkness to devour what was left of him.
It was so close now, he could feel it. That thick cord of hope he had once carried in his youth was now reduced to a single thread. Already he could feel the thread ready snap under the weight of the beast in him.
He had to finish what he came here to do before that happened. His final act as a Carpathian warrior in this world.
He shifted from an owl into his tall and muscular form as he landed in front of the house of Mikhail Dubrinsky, the prince of the Carpathian people. He had sent word of his arrival before he had even come close to the house. Mikhail was already standing on his porch, waiting for him. Standing next to him was his second in command, The Dark One, Gregori Daratrazanoff.
"Well met, hunter." Mikhail spoke softly. Even those words of greeting carried the weight and power of the Carpathian people.
Gregori strode up to him, all power and muscle that just seemed to glide across the snow covered landscape.
"What brings you here, hunter?" Gregori asked, his voice carrying both a greeting and a command.
Somewhere in the back of Ion's mind he knew that if he still carried his emotions he probably would have smiled. Gregori was all no nonsense and overwhelming intimidation when it came to the protection of the Prince and his lifemate. Even before the loss of his emotions Ion was a man of few words, so he got to the point.
"I am near the end of my life, Dark One." He probably should have felt sadness with those words, but there was nothing.
Both Mikhail and Gregori were silent for a few moments, obviously weighing the sincerity of his words. Sometimes a hunter would come to them feeling like they were at their end. But at Mikhail and Gregori's insistence they could convinced to hang just a little longer. By the look on Ion's face they knew that would not be the case. There would be no swaying him.
"When do you intend to go?" Mikhail asked.
"I'm waiting for Vasya to arrive." Ion replied.
"Vasya, he still lives?" Gregori asked.
"He has chosen to give up his soul." Ion replied flatly.
Again there was nothing inside him. Ion couldn't even feel the sorrow that he should have felt, the sorrow he could see on the faces of the Prince and the Dark One. His childhood friend Vasya Ivankov was gone, what was left was an abomination.
"How long has it been since he turned?" Mikhail asked.
"Just over hundred years ago."
"And you've been hunting him all this time when you yourself are so close to turning?" Gregori said. His question was asked softly yet it carried the sting of a whip.
Ion shrugged. "He's my responsibility."
"And he has arrived here?" Mikhail asked.
"Not yet. But I've been tracking him, and all signs point to the Carpathian mountains. He will be here soon."
"I will bring him to justice." Gregori said.
"He is my responsibility. We had hunted together for years. Dispatching the undead together. Keeping each other from the darkness. Holding onto our honor. He is my responsibility."
The silver in Gregori's eyes grew in intensity. "Do not let your personal feelings for Vasya make you lose sight of your own honor, not when your soul is at stake."
It was a clear warning for Ion to stand down and let one of the other hunter's who was not close to turning take him down.
Ion shook his head. "Vasya has become very powerful and dangerous. I know his attack patterns, his skills, and his strength better than anyone else. I would have the most success in defeating him."
Gregori crossed his arms. "Then why hasn't he been brought to justice yet?"
Gregori There was a warning tone in Mikhail's voice.
Ion is an ancient hunter, he should know better than anybody the dangers of letting his pride get in the way of bringing justice to the undead, childhood friend or not.
Ion knew that barb should have stung. Yet he continued to stare placidly back at the legendary hunter.
"I came here for your assistance Dark One."
Gregori lifted an eyebrow, slightly surprised by the statement. "What do you need?" he asked.
"In order to dispatch Vasya I will have to go all out."
Both Mikhail and Gregori knew what Ion meant. Carpathian males relied on the beast to help them in battle, drawing on it's strength to sharpen their senses and unleash their full potential. However this came with a price, every time they tapped into the strength of the beast, every time they made a kill, it always took a piece of them with it. Ion had hunted for so long that he had nothing left to give. If the beast took from him again as he killed the vampire it would push him over the edge.
Still, Ion continued speak. "If I destroy the vampire, I may not have enough strength to meet the dawn."
"You're that close to turning, and yet you still continue down this path?" Mikhail chimed in.
"It is the only path left to me." Ion replied.
"What of your lifemate" Mikhail asked. "Have you given up hope on her?"
"That path is closed to me. I have just enough strength to destroy Vasya. I will look for her in the next life." Ion turned to Gregori and offered his wrist. "If I should fail to meet to dawn."
Both Mikhail and Gregori paused studying the resolve on Ion's face.
"Are you sure you want this?" Gregori asked.
The two Carpathians knew that is was no small thing that Ion was asking of Gregori. By allowing Gregori to take his blood he was giving Gregori an easy way to track him should he turn vampire. All the Carpathians knew that it was a sure death by allowing the Dark One to take their blood. Gregori was powerful and relentless, and would destroy any threat to the Prince without hesitation. Most Carpathian hunters were too scared to offer him their blood for this very reason. Yet here was Ion, with no hesitation, offering his wrist to Gregori.
"It would be an honor." Was all that Ion said.
Gregori studied his resolve a few moments longer before stepping up to the offered wrist. "Very well." He said before sinking his teeth into this wrist.
When he was done Gregori closed the wound before stepping back, giving Ion a nod of respect. "It is done."
With that Ion turned and strode away.
"If you are ever in need. Call. And I will come." Gregori said to the departing hunter.
Ion turned to look Gregori and nodded. After taking a few steps Ion shifted into an owl and took to the skies.
Mikhail and Gregori watched. The despair of losing another hunter evident on Mikhail's face.
"We'll be losing another great hunter soon." Mikhail said with a sad and weary voice.
Despite having so many lifemated couples they were still losing their hunters. They were still losing hope. At that moment he could feel Raven enter his mind. Feeling his sadness and weariness she was there in an instant. Raven. Just the feel of her in his mind was enough to chase away all the bad in this world that threatened to crush him.
What would I do without you. Mikail said as he sent her love and warmth.
Her soft laughter filled his mind. Anytime my love. I am always with you.
"Not many hunters are willing to do what Ion has done this night." Gregori said. "We should respect and honor him for that."
Mikhail looked at Gregori for a few moments before nodding in agreement.
"Besides, you still have me to kick around." Gregori added.
Where are you? He thought. Why can't I find you? Why haven't you come to me?
As Ion soared through the night his pleas seeped from what was left of his tattered soul and into the night.
Come to me. Find me. Save me.