~*~*~*~

It took almost two and a half hours to finish destroying the parasites in Dominic's body. Gregori checked Autumn again for anything that he had missed in during the intense healing sessions the rising before. Once Gregori was satisfied Dominic woke Autumn from her death-like sleep. Wake for me, Cistri.

The moment she opened her eyes she immediately found Dominic with them. The dragon swam in Dominic's mind again. We have healed your wounds, Dearest. He held his hand out to her. After a minute she slipped her much smaller hand in his and allowed Dominic to help her to her feet.

"Autumn, you need to feed. You are still too thin." Gregori said.

Autumn looked over her eyes strangely unblinking and distant. She stared at him for a moment before turning back to Dominic. Images swirled behind Dominic's eyes, but like before they moved by too quickly for him to understand. But the last image was very clearly Gregori's face. He is Gregori. Your sister's lifemate and one of our most skilled healers. He came to help us.

Autumn turned to look at Gregori again. She tilted her head to the side before moving on to study Jacques and Aiden. The silence of uncertainty stretched for several minutes before she started to walk, ignoring the men completely.

"Autumn?" Dominic called, falling into step behind her as she walked to the entrance of the cave.

She stopped at the edge of the cliff and slowly looked out over the entire landscape. A light layer of frost clung to the trees and rocks, probably the last frost between winter and spring. The full moon hit all of the frost and reflected like millions of tiny diamonds. Autumn slowly turned her eyes upwards to look at the moon.

Dominic paused, eyes widening. The way the moonlight played across her face and hair gave her a positively ethereal glow. Her eyes captured every beam of light and reflected them back, making her dark blue eyes look like the night sky itself. He'd never seen anything more beautiful. She was like a mythical empress of magic and the night. Need slammed into him again. He had never wanted anything more in his life.

Autumn looked back at him and smiled. Dominic swore that his heart stopped. That smile made his heart soar. The horrible weight that seemed to press on her had lifted with that smile. Images of broken chains filled his mind and he nodded. Yes, Dearest, you're free. I swear to you that you will never be in a prison again.

Her smile widened before she turned back to look out at the wilderness below. "Dominic. She needs to feed." Gregori said.

"I am aware, Gregori." Dominic replied. Cistri. Cistri, your hunger beats at me. You must feed. Red flashed in his mind. No? She was refusing? My love you must feed. Another flash of red. Autumn! You will come to me and feed. He shamelessly imposed his will, using his strongest compulsion.

She resisted the compulsion, fighting back almost immediately. Dominic was surprised at the sheer amount of will she was using to battle him. He was an ancient and could impose his will on almost anyone. And yet she was able to completely resist him. Autumn sent him an icy look as red flashed in his mind again.

Autumn, I will not allow you to ignore your health. You will obey me in this.

"You must feed, little sister." Gregori said. "You are far too thin."

She turned and sent Gregori an even colder look than the one she gave Dominic. Aiden quickly stifled a laugh. "You have such a way with women, Gregori." Silver eyes slashed, warning Aiden against making those sorts of comments in the future.

"I believe my brother said something similar." Jacques added, ignoring Gregori and his silver glare.

Dominic ignored the other men. Gregori is right, Autumn. You are starved.

Autumn narrowed her eyes and folded her arms over her chest. She was far too strong willed to give in to their demands. She didn't bend to anyone. Suddenly, her form shimmered, reflecting a slight amount of light. Not even a heartbeat later Autumn shattered, the tiny rainbow particles swirling up into the sky. "Autumn!"

"Wow, Dominic…you've got a fast learner there…" Jacques commented as the trail of mist streamed off.

"Thank you, Jacques." Dominic dissolved and streaked after Autumn. This was ridiculous. There was absolutely no reason for Autumn's sudden disobedience. He was only trying to take care of her. To stop the hunger that he was all too aware she was feeling. Why was she being so dratted difficult? Autumn, you will stop this foolishness. There is no reason for your hostility.

Chains crossed Dominic's vision. A net of thick metal links that seemed to want to trap him inside. Autumn, I don't understand. What are you trying to tell me? Autumn made a noise of frustration in his mind. The chains shrunk, increasing the claustrophobic feeling of being utterly surround by the metal.

Autumn, where do you think you're going? You don't know this area. More vampires may be lurking nearby. You can't just run off like this. Suddenly, Autumn's mind slammed shut, cutting off Dominic instantly.

Dominic put aside his anger at the sudden turn the night had taken and put on a burst of speed, trying to catch up with his clearly unhappy lifemate. They streaked over the mountains, towards the small village that was nestled on the other side. The same village that Aiden and Jacques had hunted in the night before.

Autumn descended onto the outskirts of the village. Cursing to himself, Dominic quickly summoned a layer of mist to disguise them as they made an unnaturally quick descent.

The mist that was Autumn swirled around in a column in the middle of the small graveyard. Dominic was quick to reform right next to the column. Autumn formed a moment later, looking furious. "Autumn, this fighting is unnecessary. I only want to help you and you are starving."

Autumn turned on heel and started walking through the headstones. It was when she was walking away when Dominic noticed quite clearly that Autumn had failed to don any clothes upon reforming. Dominic pushed down his lust and quickly followed her through the row. "Autumn, would you please stop trying to run away from me?"

She swung around instantly. Her dark blue eyes seemed to spark dangerously as she glared at him. The same vision of chains appeared in his mind. Autumn held out her hands, shaking them slightly as she tried to convey what she meant.

"Chains?" Dominic put his hands on her shoulders. "Cistri, I don't understand. I don't know what you're trying to say."

Autumn made a noise of pure frustration. Pulling out of his grip she started to pace. Every once and a while she'd stop and look at him before making another cry of annoyance and starting to pace again. The image of chains shifted to nothing but black only to shift back to the chains.

Frustration was rolling off of Autumn in waves. Dominic could feel it. Every attempt Autumn made to communicate was stopped dead, completely misunderstood. Every second she only got more upset.

Quickly Dominic stepped in front of her, stopping her pacing by holding her arms. "I know you're frustrated, Autumn. I can feel it. It's okay to be frustrated! I am sorry that I can't understand."

Autumn thumped her fist against his chest. Images flashed each one making less sense than the one before. Dominic wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against his chest. "We'll find a way to fix this, Dearest. I won't stop until we fix this." He whispered against the top of her head.

For several minutes he just stood there, holding her close. She clung to his shirt, face hidden in his chest. Dominic muttered soothing things in the ancient language and gently stroked her head. Slowly, the hard edge of her frustration and anger slipped away.

Gently, Dominic tilted her head up to look down at her face. His heart shattered when he saw the sparkle of moisture clinging to her dark lashes. "Oh, Dearest, please don't cry. I never want you to cry." He whispered brushing the moisture away with his thumb. He bent down and followed the path his thumb took with gentle kisses. Slowly, he trailed kisses down her cheek reaching the corner of her mouth.

He traced the line of her lips with his top teeth before pressing his mouth to hers. Cradling the back of her head he deepened the kiss. He loved the feel of her mouth against his. Reluctantly he pulled away slightly, she was still so very upset. "Don't cry anymore." He murmured against her mouth.

She rested her head against his shoulder. An image of a river drying up entered his mind followed by the golden dragon wrapped around a small flame. Dominic smiled slightly and kissed the top of her head.

After a moment of just holding her Dominic stepped back. "Now…while I don't particularly mind seeing you as you are…I think it would be better if you wear some clothes, especially when we go see your family." Autumn tilted her head to the side in clear confusion. "Your parents have spent twenty years looking for you and they are very anxious to see you again. But probably with clothes on. What would you like to wear?"

Autumn frowned and the image of the destroyed and rather pathetic excuse of a shirt she was wearing before appeared in his mind. "You've never worn anything else?" A flash of red. "Oh, Cistri…you deserve clothing that will suit your beauty." He said lightly stroking her cheek.

Dominic held out his arms quickly manufactured some clothes for her. "Here, Cistri." He said handing her the clothes. Autumn fingered the fabric for a moment before slipping them on. He had made her a deep purple shirt that emphasized her tiny waist and a long straight black skirt. "I always thought women looked elegant in a black skirt." He commented.

She looked down at herself in her new clothes before smiling. Dominic brushed her cheek again. "I'm glad you like them, Dearest. And it is good to see you smile. You have a beautiful smile, Autumn."

Autumn was still for a moment before standing up on her toes and gave him a gently peck on the cheek. "You're welcome."