Copyright…I do not own the Carpathian Race …or books for that matter.sigh of resignation

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Chapter 6

He stood in vigil over her all night deep in thought. Stood at the end of her deeply skilfully carved oak four poster bed gazing at her he contemplated how such a small woman with her soul searching green eyes yet seemingly emotionless porcelain face could affect him so deeply in so short a time. Angelus could not believe what he had witnessed in this mortal, his lifemate. Without realising what she was doing her body had contained the poison in her system and completely shut of her body and mind in a state of comatose so that it could not spread and do further damage to the rest of her body. This was a feat unknown to have been harnessed by the human race as a form of healing but often used by that of the Carpathian race. Not even psychics, some of whom had successfully joined with their males, could do what Shannon had just done. Pulling up a chair sitting close to the bed in which she was lain, he watched her sleep as he contemplated what had happened. When he had last seen he had promised himself he would guard her from any imminent threat that were sure to come now he had found her and completed one blood exchange. After this most recent incident he needed to conduct another exchange in order to help her heal completely but besides that the damage was minimal as she had contained it before it had done any severe damage to her internal organs. He had watched her constantly even when in the healing embrace of the earth. Watching her day and night ensure her safety before his own to give her the time she needed to come to terms with what Angelus had presented her with, until tonight's attack. The seething rage and anger the beast inside him gave off at the threat posed to his lifemate was intolerable to say the least. He attacked after building up an instant fog thick enough to cloud their enemy and shield Shannon from the horror of slaughter and destruction. Always a shadow in her mind he felt the burning and terror she had felt upon the poison entering her body. The beast inside of him roared for action to be taken to ensure her survival. He knew he could allow her no more time. It was just too dangerous, especially for her.

Darkness was her only companion in an endless eternity of nothingness, until she heard the voice calling, soothing and anchoring her to her body. She would have rather have flouted off on the wave of contentment she felt upon realising that her struggle on this earth was over. The terrible fear she had carried around with her for so long could now be relinquished.

Please no more. I'm not as strong as I was. Its so much harder now she called out, not so much with her voice but using her mind to think it, as she felt strong arms enclose her. Pulling her back towards her body. To reality and her everyday struggle with her worst fear.

You are alone no longer. I am here with you now……came her unexpected reply. Coming back to her body she stirred. Her body felt like a leaden weight but she was warm. Reluctantly she opened her eyes knowing that he was there with her. She felt him before she laid eyes on him. She could hear the beat of his heart, the ebb and flow of fluids. He was standing there like some kind of guardian- strong, powerful and so deliciously gorgeous that he took her breathe away.

"You" , she whispered almost as a sigh of relief, " We have to stop meeting like this" She attempted humour to ease the tension she felt at being yet again in a vulnerable position while he didn't have that problem at all. Standing as immovable as a stone he just stood there pinning her with his intense green gaze. Almost like that of a hunter or predator set on its prey. He said nothing but merely stood there watching her.

Slightly disconcerting she thought

Always a shadow in her mind he knew how she was feeling but ignored what she thought was only being spoken to herself.

"What's with the stern guardian angel look you have going on? I'm well aware of what happened. Well most of it! and I'm grateful that you saved my life for the second time but is this really necessary. Your starting to freak me out." Still he said nothing but moved gracefully around the bed and sat next to her planting his hands on either side of her shoulders. If it was even possible his gaze seemed to increase searching for something Shannon wasn't sure she could give.

"Guardian, yes. Angel, no. You were very close to journeying to the other world. You must never place yourself in that kind of danger again" He never once raised his voice but commanded her with a whisper. That was all it took, his voice was mesmerizing weapon of black velvet. It was far more affective than a raised voice have ever been. She couldn't speak he was far too close for any sane thought or any other thoughts for that matter to run through her mind. There was only him. Angelus. He had guarded her and saved her life twice. What was he if he denied being human?

"Are you sure you are not an Angel?" was all she could whisper, her mind in too much of a dream-like state to guard her thoughts as closely as she usually did. He smiled then, raising a hand to gently smooth a tendril of her almost black hair from her forehead.

"I have been called many things but never in the entire course of my life has someone referred to me as you just have." The situation was leaving Shannon with a slightly too vivid impression of vulnerability especially when she realised that besides the coverlet that lay over her, she was completely naked with the exception of the ornate silver cross she always wore.

"Um..not to sound ungrateful but uum where are my clothes? I …..you didn't" she whispered finally realising what may have caused her clothes, that she was sure she had been wearing, could have disappeared to. Her latest trauma had been cloudy at first but it was gradually clearing.

"Did you?" she asked almost desperately clinging to the hope that her realisation was nothing but a fabrication of her eccentric imagination. Angelus said nothing merely moving a few steps away from the bed to give her room to breathe, which of course she had stopped doing after asking what she desperately hoped to be denied readily by him. Which of course he was not going to hide the truth.

Shannon groaned both mentally and outwardly as Angelus's silence answered her previous query. She curled up facing away from Angelus and pulled the coverlet up and over her head trying to deny the truth still even when she had her answer. For all his experience in war, etiquette, the worldly arts, leadership and combat Angelus was at a complete lose as to how to handle this small woman. She was completely baffling to him. What did a Carpathian, whose life had consisted of death, destruction and struggle, know of the ways of woman? And not just any woman. His one and only true lifemate. The vessel of light. The embodiment of compassion and hope to all Carpathian males whose struggle lasted throughout the centuries. One thing was certain in Angelus's mind - no mistakes would be tolerate as disaster would be inevitable.

" Shannon"

That was it. That was all he could say. He was experiencing everything vividly- colours, emotion and his own desires. Inside a storm had been brewing to the extent where Angelus required all his self control now to claim her as his own instantly and for all eternity. No matter what destructive devices the human race devised they would never in all their existence be able to compose such a weapon as he had just used on her. He used it shamelessly to draw her to him. They both knew it was so. It was the way he said her name that brought Shannon from under the coverlet. His voice was like black velvet caressing her skin filling her with warmth and a hidden promise. Just that one word and her mind went blank. Her eyes and body seemed to be moving forward towards him. Just waiting for him to speak.

No!….thought to herself. She had spent to much time and energy on getting away from strong men like Angelus & she absolutely refused to give up her self control so easily. Looking away from those eyes, anything but those deep obsidian eyes. Her feet became the object of her complete attention. Not only had she lost herself in his eyes and voice but she was standing like a ninny no longer with the added support of the bed. To top it off she realised that she had also lost her sheet. Grasping at and then clutching the darn thing for dear life she ran straight out of the room.

Exquisite

Absolutely divine

"Beautiful." he whispered to the now silent room. Angelus was pinned to the spot. He had never in all his days or rather nights on this earth seen anything that would equal what he had just seen. He had felt male amusement at her attempts to hide only moments before and then he had caught sight of her body. He groaned both inward and out at the memory of what her body had invoked in him. He was still shaking with the effort to stay in control. Her body would make the sculptures of ancient Italy and France envious for never in their careers had they been able to sculpt such intricate curves. The way her long dark thick ebony hair curved around her face and body accentuating her curves further……..she was to him completely inspirational

"magnificent " and completely his. That was all there was to it.

How can I be so stupid? She chastised herself. There were not enough words in the English language to describe such a slave driven reaction she had had to his voice. Slave to her hormones. Slave to his nearness. A slave to their chemistry.

"Oh yeah. By the bucket loads!" She muttered to herself sardonically. She was at the bottom of the stairs undecided as to what direction to take. She wasn't exactly dressed for gallivanting off in the wilderness in the middle of the night and although she wouldn't admit it to herself she liked his home. Its elaborate carvings, stained-glass windows and marble floors where beyond sinful. Pushing nervously at her hair to get it out of her face, Shannon decided to wander to her right. There were several wooden panelled corridors with various doors leading to who knew where. At the end of the corridor she had chosen to follow Shannon glimpsed a blazing glow that got even brighter as she got closer to it. The door was slightly ajar so steadily, half with curiosity and half innocence, she pushed open the door further to glimpse to inside. What she saw in this room was a dream, literally. She had dreamt about one day building a room exactly like the one she was stood in the middle of. A library made up of marble and onyx pillars, a huge blazing fire, 17th century window seat and canopy overhead. The Library was extensive with books of all kinds. Some rare, antique, unknown even some considered to be non-existent and therefore considered myth were here right in front of her. She could reach out her hand and touch unknown text written by Homer as well as a biography. Unknown plays written by Shakespeare, novels written by the renaissance group by the two Shelleys, Byron and …………………There were papyrus leaves on display in glass cases which to her knowledge where the legendary lost scrolls of Alexandria. The most priceless finding was what seemed to be the first ever written chapter of the book of genesis. Never in all of her life had she thought that she would behold such a treasure trove. It was just too much. This one room held more history, human accomplishments it was just …..too much. Abruptly Shannon found herself sinking down to sit on the marble floor too preoccupied with her surroundings to notice she was only wearing a thin cream sheet. Whoever would be mistress of this treasure would be a truly blessed in more ways than one. She felt a slight twinge in her stomach at the thought of Angelus with a wife in his arms. Was it jealousy? Envy? Or fear? Whatever it was it was getting strong. She was resolved to living a life alone as she didn't trust anyone enough to let them near her. She preferred and even liked being alone. She trusted herself enough to make her own life content maybe her life would be lonely without a family but some people were just not cut out for parenthood. One thing was certain and that was that Angelus no matter how many times he saved her life was not helpful in her independent life. She liked her solitude and she wanted to be solitary.

"What a litany for life!". Not impressed that she had managed to get herself into a depressed state while being surrounded by all these treasures, she pulled herself up off the floor and walked towards the window. But she found that no matter how she tried she just couldn't shift her mood to a more positive one. Outside the window she could see that a storm was steadily coming in fast. Rumbling its way around the mansion and surrounding forest. Shannon loved the thunder and lightning. She wasn't like every other child who would hide from the bad weather under their beds or run into their parents room but rush out to bask in natures beauty. She especially liked the storms that would turn the daylight hours as dark as night no matter if the sun was at its peak. It just went to show that anything is possible. There were no set rules, no boundaries, no limits. Like Angelus. She could see him as he was. Unblemished, untainted no matter what crimes he had committed. A warrior of nature fighting for his and the human race. A strong seasoned man who had lived a hard struggle through life. It was another of her gifts that she could really see a person for who he or she was and within seconds know what they are.

Angelus waited in the shadows silently observing Shannon. Constantly a shadow in her mind following her thoughts, tuning into her mood. She had an intricate brain enabling her to mull over several issues simultaneously. It also meant that her abilities were beyond that of an average human. The things she was capable of were astounding. She didn't realize that it was her mood that was conducting the storm outside. She didn't realize that she had saved herself when the poison had entered her body. She didn't realise she was attuned to his mind able to move in and out without even thinking about it. She didn't realise the type of power she was able to wield. Angelus couldn't help but think that if she was taught to concentrate on and develop her abilities she could be the most powerful woman on the planet.But power draws power. He knew that there were those who would seek to take her from him, to use her, to tie her to another.Not as long as he still existed on this earth would he ever allow that to happen.He would come hell or high water to bring her back to him, to his side where she belonged. He knew they were created for each other by the Being who had created everything else.That there was a reason why Shannon was able to do the things she was able to do and why he had been able to survive this long until she came into this world. They had both only half lived but now that they had found each other there was no way Angelus would allow anything other than that they be together.

Shannon could feel the intensity in Angelus, had known when he was near her. She had never had that. Someone always there.

Almost as if I could rely on him she thought to herself. He moved at that moment swift and sure straight towards her. Eyes locked as if on his prey like he was some kind of hunter. Her heart beat became erratic with each step he took. He was acting on both of their need. Within a few strides he was next to her. So close she could feel his body heat reaching out to her shivering one. Closing her eyes she savoured the moment knowing that it would never come again. She couldn't think as there was just too much to feel. Gently with two fingers he tilted her head up so that he could look into her eyes. She was just so much in such a delicate package that a rebellious wind could knock her over without too much of an effort and yet she was more than he could ever want or need in several lifetimes.

"In this room of treasures there is but one in my view that could be classified as such"

No more would he tolerate any torment on his or her part. Tenderly he feathered his lips over hers teasing, taking his time. Compared to him she was both delicate and fragile needing to be treated with absolute care. Shannon had never felt the tenderness that Angelus was showing her. It shock her that such a powerfully strong man could display this kind of attitude towards a woman. It was enough to make her knees go weak, and they did. He simply swooped his arm around her waist pulling her closer to the support of his body as well as his heat. As she was brought right up to him he deepened the kiss. No longer able to control his need for contact with her he willed her to open her mouth to him. The intensity only increased shaking both of them with its force. Of their own accord her arms wrapped around his neck in order to savour the feelings he was invoking in her. Electricity, chemical reaction neither of these words could describe what they were both feeling. It was so much more than either could ever imagine. It was almost as if their life depended on this intimate contact with each other.

Angelus felt the beast within rise whispering that it would always be like this if he but claimed what was rightfully his. He knew that if he continued to kiss her he would not be able to stop himself claiming her, right here. He broke the kiss unwillingly but knowing that it was right by her that he took his time rather than forcing himself on her. Shannon felt truly bereft when he pulled away not realising that she now found it difficult to breathe normally again. Reluctantly Angelus took his eyes off her in order to recover his breathe as with being in her mind he wasn't able to separate his thoughts from hers. He realised then than the weather outside had become turbulent, strong and wild……just like Shannon at this moment in time.

Shannon's rational mind slowly and gradually began to reemerge. Willing her legs to hold her up she stepped out of Angelus's arms and walked back to her room. These emotions were far too domineering to relinquish her rationality and control not to mention her independence. She would not rely on a man not matter he seemed to be weddling his way into her life. Angelus stayed where he was using all his self taught self-control to struggle with the beast within that femanded he go after her, to claim her and to leave his mark on her. Shannon would not have appreciated any hindrance to her newly acquired independence. Angelus trembled with his inner struggle. He would be patient with Shannon, she deserved that.

In her room, Shannon got dressed and gathered her belongings. Work would be wondering where she was and she had worked far too hard to lose her career over a little romance.

De nile is not only a river in Egypt you know

Okay so it wasn't a little romance, she wared within herself.

She could try and deceive everyone else but not herself. But as far as she was concerned she was heading home. She headed towards the door of the bedroom and headed down the corridor she knew led to the door only to find that Angelus had positioned himself in front of it.

I'm getting a weird sense of déjà vu here

"Angelus can you please allow me to pass. I'm grateful for all you have done but I have responsibilities back home that need to be attended to" Shannon asked patiently. Angelus simply crossed his arms over his expansive chest.

"Angelus I don't want to fight with you after all that you have done for me but I cannot stay here". His expression only slightly changed to become even more impassive than before.

Fine

Shannon turned on her heel and marched away from Angelus in search of another exit. Finding her way to the kitchen, she knew that there would be a back door and a porch. She had realized long before that Angelus had picked out these features for his home through some knid of telepathic link between them. Considering that she had already accepted him for what he was this idea didn't seem far from possibility after all she had seen him do in his defence of her. But then if a previous telepathic linked had been formed between the two of them long before they had met then why hadn't they been aware of it and why did they have this connection? Shannon had never thought much of the concept of soul mates but it seemed to be that this situation was similar.