Somewhere deep in the caves under the Carpathian Mountains a conversation between two old as the time Carpathians was led.

"You are close to turning, Marcus; you can play around no more! "

"Ah, old friend, I'm more than aware of how close to turning I truly am." – They were deep in the lair of the one named Marcus, and the sigh that came from the other person echoed through the chamber as the whole mountain breather with him, for him.

"I dare to say you are not. You have found your lifemate, but you don't have any time to spare to give her the years she needs to get accustomed to our ways. You need to put your claim on her; you and I both know that the darkness in you is stronger than in every other. You have been fighting it a long time, fighting with iron will and strength not many posses, but you can keep this up no more. The time for fighting that particular fight is long gone, you need to give yourself to your urges and claim what is yours. "

"How many times do I need to repeat myself over the years that I will not cut her free will. She'll never come to me willingly and I will never force her into anything. I think that the conversation is over." – And it was over, obviously Marcus had no intention of hearing more because her just shifted into mist and disappeared.


Three years later.

Nobody really knows what the old as time Carpathian suffered through those years, the torment must have been unbearable, at least in my opinion but the ancient Marcus never showed anybody anything thorough that time. He had been always aware of his lifemate, where she was, what was she doing, and despite his absence she had been happy, truly happy.

He had decided that he would interfere only if there was any problem, her safety had been first, always was, always will be. Those were the words that he used to repeat to himself but they no longer made any sense. He knew what he wanted, what he needed to survive but he couldn't find the will to disturb her life with his claim. He rarely went hunting, refused to do so knowing that the darkness in him grew with each second, until it grew to a point he could no longer stand it. What would he do when that time came, he didn't know. Facing the dawn had been a solution, but he knew that even if his lifemate didn't feel his absence now, she would at some point miss him. After all they had met, talked, and shared a little more than a simple conversation.

His lifemate was an outgoing person, she loved her freedom, he had the feeling that she would do anything, even kill herself if her freedom was at stake. And it was exactly what he would do if he puts even the smallest of steps into her life, he would put his claim, but he had never been a person you could call easygoing.

He had been different from the start, but he had seen what happens to other soul mates, he could see the way even his Prince cut his lifemate's freedom, the way he forbid her to do some things. Even a woman, even a lifemate, even if it was dangerous, had to have a choice of her own.

He despised himself because of what he knew he would do to that beautiful girl. His soul seeked to reach to hers, sometimes he would allow himself to walk in her dreams, to tell her suiting word and whisper to her softly, and then she would wake up after he made sure she wouldn't remember a thing.

He was already controlling her, wasn't he? He had done it without even realizing. Maybe she had the right to know he was visiting in her dreams, even if she thought they were just that, dreams.

His Prince had summoned him more than once, he responded on the first call, they were all gathered to tell him that he needed to claim her. After that he never went again. Never in the Prince call there was urgency, no fear, meaning that it was nothing life threatening. Until now.

He could feel the Prince's call, strong and powerful in him mind. And it wasn't just to him, it called for every near Carpathian, because he needed help. Then a next call followed, one only and specially for me. Marcus, we need you. You are the only other healer that can help. I had called Savannah and Raven is here, along with Gregori, but is not enough. My second in command is quickly fading and he told me that you are the only other capable enough.

It had nothing to do with me than, but as I shape - shifted in an eagle I started to wonder what would be so urgent for Gregori not to be able to handle? All those centuries of existing one emotion never faded – curiosity. It was what kept me going from years, I knew about things nobody else had bothered to neither think nor research about. I was more than a walking encyclopedia and through my mind were moving thousands of variations about what may have happened, but none of them reached the real situation.

I landed in the woods near the Mikhail's home, knowing that there would be guars that I needed to show myself to. I just walked, past them, bowling from the neck in recognition. They didn't keep the suspicion hidden, giving me at least that respect. I knew only a few of them, the others were unfamiliar to me. Maybe they had right to doubt me, after all I had been one of the few that didn't bother to answer to the Prince's calls, it meant disrespect, but also they had no right to interfere in business that was only mine. My solitary life, single mostly had never been any of their concern.

The moment I walked inside the big house the scent of blood hit me, flaring my hunger to life. It wasn't just blood, it was human blood and I haven't fed for the night. I snarled. Why would they call me for a mere human, why would it be so urgent, they could always use conversion as a tool to salvation? Why did they need me of all people?

The answer was more than clear the moment I went to see what the whole fuss was about. I snarled, barring my teeth, not carrying about bowling to the Prince, or to even recognize him as a leader at all. I was just asking for a fight of whose bigger, I knew that, but that would be later, later when I would kill and tear in rage that they had called me for the same reason they did before. The room was full of warriors, hunters but they didn't take a step toward me, waiting, waiting but for what. I could feel her scent in the air, deep, sweet and perfect like everything else in her, but something was wrong, it was her blood that lay so thick in the air. She wasn't in the room, but I could feel her in the house, down, in the chambers under the ground.

"What have you done? What in the name of gods have you done, my Prince?" – I asked in anger. My voice was cold, but calm, but I was projecting the emotion in the room. I let them feel what I felt. I felt betrayal from my own leader, it was strong and powerful emotion when you have hunted, killed and lived in torment for centuries in the name of honor and for that man, that man that had just done something that would cost the life of many.

"I did nothing. She came here, searching for somebody, wanting to speak to me personally. But she did not stay conscious long enough for that to happen. She had fought more than one battle to come here, two vampires that we know of had died from her blades, but she is suffering a severe blood lost among other injuries. "– I smiled, an evil half smirk that was very much not a happy expression.

"And who is she, my Prince. Will I even find the name behind the she?"

"She is your lifemate."

"And from where do you know who my lifemate is? I never told her name, especially to you and your people she stayed a she, no name, no nothing. None of you have met her, even Lucian that has the freshest information, does not know her name. I made perfectly sure of that."

"She told us your name, she has been in and out of consciousness, and we made assumptions."

I snarled. I had been close to turning, so close that I the idea of snapping at my Prince did not seem like a bad idea. My existence was spinning around only one person, and I would be damned if she ever knew about me, or what I was.

"You have no need of me here; I will go before I do something that would be wrong, but not regretted." – Whatever he was about to say it was cut by a trail of curses and shouts.

"Fuck you, let me go!"

"You need to heal, your wounds are severe, you need to lie down!" – That was the voice of Raven I presumed.

"Where the fuck are my weapons, let me go dammit. I don't have the time to lie down, Jesus."

"You need to lie down! If you don't I swear I'm going to force you! "–That was Savannah, the sound of her voice was unmistakable.

"Was that a threat, if it was you are in a serious shit. Don't fuck with me, whoever you are, I have every intention of getting out of here. "

"You are safe, come and lie down. I'm not going to hurt you." – I could taste the strong compulsion, feel it even. The only response Savannah got was an evil laughter.

"Play shit all you want. I have wards that won't be easy to break, and if you don't force that healer to stop trying to break them I'm going to force him myself, you understand. " – I followed the sound, walking down the corridors to the underground chamber.

"You look like you are about to faint." – I noted when I first saw her. She jumped startled, spinning around, but the action obviously made her dizzy.

"Thanks a lot." – She muttered sarcastically, but I was there to catch her when she fell.

I shook my head, chuckling as I lifted her, moving her back on the bed. Gently I examined her wounds, but obviously she had been here from a while.

"Why hasn't she been healed?" – I asked, looking at the two women that stood awkwardly in the corner of the chamber.

"Her safeguards didn't allow any kind of healing. Gregori is still trying …"

"... And he is still no succeeding." – I finished for her, earning myself a glare from Savannah. She shook her head, turned around and left. Two seconds of gazing at Raven were enough to make her leave as well. With the wave of my hand I closed the entrance.

My attention went on the woman on the bed. I was about to start healing her when I was interrupted yet again. I swear that there was some force that was designed specially for my irritation. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. You must be careful, Marcus. Somebody build those wards for her. I shook my head at the sound of Gregori's mental voice. I know. I did.