Chapter 10

Janelle tore through the enormous home, looking for a way out. She soon realized she was in the basement as there were no windows anywhere. Finding a staircase, she raced up the steps only to find yet another level with no windows.

How far underground did this house go?

She was in a vampire's house, so God knew how many more levels she had to climb!

There are only three levels underground. Two more flights and you will be on the main level.

Janelle froze as Armando's voice suddenly spoke within her mind. "Get out of my head!"

You do not need to speak out loud. I can hear your thoughts.

"Exactly! Stay out!"

She actually heard him sigh. I apologize. Go and get the air you seek.

But not freedom. She didn't care if he heard that thought since it was true. Janelle continued climbing until she finally reached an area where she could see windows.

Lots of windows.

She realized she was standing in an enormous room, the windows stretching from the floor to the ceiling which was several feet above her head. A chandelier hung from the ceiling and the light cascaded over a variety of expensive furniture. But the trendy furniture wasn't a stuffy feeling, rather tastefully decorated and comfortable.

Janelle spotted a set of French Doors and yanked them open. She flew outside only to find herself on a large verandah that wrapped around the house. She let out a gasp when she looked down. The home was far up in the mountains, so high she couldn't even see the bottom as clouds and fog blocked her view.

There had to be a way down. Janelle began to follow the verandah, searching for any additional staircase or garage. After walking for quite a while, she was shocked when she came upon a large grassy area, like a huge meadow. There were various gardens with stone paths for walking. The moon cast light on various plants and flowers that seemed to endlessly stretch out as far as the eye could see.

How any of this was possible up on a mountain was a completely mystery to her.

Regardless, she enjoyed walking through the grass, her bare feet feeling cool as the blades tickled her feet. There was a soft, crisp wind which gave her a peaceful feeling. She was still frightened and wanted a way out of here, yet this area definitely calmed her nerves.

It also made her begin to think more.

Was Randy really dead? How did he die?

Tears formed in her eyes once more. She hated herself because of the way she was feeling. Armando was right. Janelle felt extreme guilt over the situation. She'd thought about leaving him more than a few times. Her fear of what he would do prevented her from carrying out any of those plans. Randy was well known in the police force and she imagined he would make up any story to paint her as the one who was wrong. Even worse, she didn't seem to be able to hold any job. How could she live on her own?

There was suddenly a feeling of complete emptiness that consumed her. Janelle crossed her arms and held herself. It was like nothing she'd ever known. She had no one. No parents, no real friends. There was nothing. Sadness cascaded and hit unexpectedly hard. Tears began to roll down her cheeks and she began to sob, unable to hold back any longer.

"I cannot bear it when you cry."

Janelle whirled around to find Armando standing several feet away from her. The instant she heard his voice, the sadness within her actually eased. It was as if his voice chased away all hopeless feelings.

And she resented him for it.

Her throat tightened. "Go away."

The look of sadness on his face almost made her sorry for what she said. But this was a man who kidnapped and seduced her. Not to mention he was a damn vam-

"I am not a vampire," he interrupted. "I am Carpathian. You are now Carpathian."

"No, I'm not!"

"Why then, did you experience such pain? Please, after last night, I cannot bear for you to be in pain again. You must accept my mind touching yours or it will grow worse."

She almost choked. "I don't want you in my head! I want privacy!"

He held out his hands in a peaceful gesture. "I can still give you some privacy. I promise not to read your thoughts, just touch your mind so you feel assured."

"No, I don't believe you."

"I am asking you to try and trust me. I know this is all a shock to you. But you cannot survive without me."

"Why should I believe a man who kidnapped me? And what about the sex?"

She saw him visibly stiffen. "I can only hope you will forgive me. But can you deny what you felt?"

"You mean fear?" she snapped.

"No," he replied softly, "the pleasure. For the first time in your life, you experienced real lovemaking."

"Lovemaking?" she asked in an incredulous tone. "I think that was more like forced sex."

"It is true I held your mind. But your body also acted on it's own. It sought out mine to seek the release it finally needed."

Janelle's faced burned. He was talking about her having…

"You cannot even say the word," he said with a slight tone of amusement.

"We don't need to talk about me having the big 'O', so drop it!"

Armando arched an elegant eyebrow. "The big 'O'? I have never heard such a term."

"I don't want to talk about this!"

He gave a soft laugh. "You are blushing."

She changed the subject. "I want out of here."

Armando's face became serious again. "And where would you go? I promise I will take you wherever you wish. But I must remain with you."

Tears welled up in her eyes again. "But I want to be alone! And now that you are telling me all this, I feel trapped!" She wiped away a tear, furious at herself for crying. "I don't want you to touch me in any way! Not your mind and certainly not your body!"

"Then you will stay here. I cannot allow you to leave these grounds without me. It is too dangerous, especially if you refuse to touch my mind."

"So I am your prisoner, then."

"I am trying to give you choices," Armando corrected.

"To stay in your house or leave with you? Doesn't sound like much of a choice to me!"

"As I said before, this is not my home. We are guests of the prince."

"Prince?"

"Yes, Mikhail is the prince of our people. He is allowing us to stay here until I can build our own home."

Okay, the shallow part of her had a fleeting thought of what he meant by building a home. She'd never had a brand new home before. Randy had always wanted to live pretty simple…so he could afford to buy a nice car and go out all the time.

"You can have any home you wish. Whatever you can dream, I will build for you."

Janelle shook her head, trying to knock some sense back into herself. "Buying material things won't work on me."

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Armando saw the fleeting thought Janelle held of a new home. He sensed she'd never had a real home. After her parents died, she most likely moved around until she finally married the human male. Armando would move heaven and earth to build her dream home. But not just a physical house, he would ensure it was a home filled with love.

For a moment, he had doubt about this thought. He had absolutely no bond with his lifemate. She didn't trust him and believed he held her as his prisoner. The only bond he had was the physical tie of their bodies and minds. The challenge before him was overwhelming.

This would have been the perfect opportunity for Janelle to even just touch his mind which would reassure him. But she only stood before him with her arms crossed over her chest; her mind completely closed from him.

Armando drew a deep breath. "I do not wish to buy your trust, Janelle. If you could just try…"

"No!" She was beginning to cry again. "Leave me alone."

His heart heavy, Armando touched her mind one last time in an effort to ease her. Within hours, she would become too uncomfortable to ignore her needs. "Very well, I will let you be."

"Promise?" she asked in a sarcastic tone.

Armando's jaw clenched. "Your mind and body will crave mine. However, I…will not ask you. You must come to me should it be too much for you."

"That will never happen."

He bowed deeply to her. "You only need to call me." Before she could say anything else, he disappeared, dissolving into a fine mist and traveling back inside the home. He took shape in a room with windows that looked out onto the garden. She was still standing in the same spot with her arms wrapped around herself. She finally turned away and his heart sank as he watched her walk toward a fountain.

"How is she?"

Even at the sound of Mikhail's voice, Armando continued to watch her. "How do you think?" he answered.

"And you?"

Armando frowned. "I have never in all my existence experienced the pain I now feel. I have betrayed her and she thinks of me as a complete stranger. I'm beginning to think you made the wrong decision, Mikhail. Perhaps you should have let me seek the dawn as it may have been less painful."

"I highly doubt that," said the prince. Armando detected a hint of amusement in his tone. "It can be very difficult at first but give it time."

"She refuses to let me touch her mind."

"Eventually she will have no choice."

"I hate this," muttered Armando. "I have no control over the situation."

Mikhail gave a light laugh and clapped Armando on the shoulder. "Get used to it. Once tied to a lifemate, it turns your world upside down. Raven still scares the hell out of me sometimes. But words cannot express what I feel for her."

"Her pain is unbearable for me."

"That is because it is your duty as her lifemate to see to her happiness."

"And how can I even possibly do that? Look at what I've done. I took away her freedom."

Mikhail's voice softened. "That is not completely true. You knew what little life she had."

"The human husband…what happened? I heard the various communication going on between Carpathians but not the details."

"A master vampire had planned an attack. Somehow he knew I was in the area and paired with another vampire in an attempt to get to me."

"You should have let me handled the situation. It was far too dangerous for you."

Gregori's voice cut in. "Which is why I am always nearby," he said as he walked into the room.

Mikhail scoffed. "Ah yes, because I am so helpless I cannot defend myself."

"Well, you are getting old."

Armando looked at Mikhail. "Who was the vampire?"

The prince shook his head. "I do not know. He did not resemble any Carpathian I used to know. He took the human with him into the swamp."

Gregori nodded. "Any master vampire could be thousands of years old. It is not always easy to recognize them." His silver eyes narrowed at Armando. "Unless you can."

The SongMaker turned away and stared back out the window. Janelle was still standing by the fountain motionless. He desperately wanted to touch her mind, to see what she was thinking, but he refrained.

"Well?" prompted Gregori.

"No doubt Aiden said something to you," replied Armando in a soft voice without turning around.

"What?" asked Mikhail. "What happened with Aiden?"

"Armando was never introduced to Aiden and yet knew who he was," said Gregori in a low voice.

"You know every Carpathian?"

The ancient slowly turned back to look at Mikhail. "When I look upon them, yes."

"In other words, even if you have never met them? You suddenly know who they are?"

"It is one of my gifts."

Gregori crossed his arms over his chest. "And you can recognize vampires?"

"Who they once were as Carpathians? Yes."

"That is quite a gift," replied Mikhail. "And do you know their lifemates as well?"

Damn. The prince was dead on in pressing the issue further. "Yes," he answered honestly.

Gregori raised an eyebrow. "I suspected as much since you immediately knew Savannah was mine."

Armando took a long look at Gregori. "And what you did."

"Excuse me?"

"It is against our laws to converse with a child while still in the womb."

Gregori stiffened. "How is it that you know not only who we are but the events in our lives?"

He shrugged. "Once I recognize a Carpathian, any significant events within their lives flash through my mind."

"Could this be possible with vampires as well?" asked Mikhail in a thoughtful voice.

"Possibly. I am only a warrior when necessary as it was not meant to be my main purpose in serving our people."

"Singing," said the prince, "it soothes and calms even the most distant warrior."

"Is that your only purpose?" asked Gregori in what Armando detected as a sarcastic tone.

The SongMaker looked coolly at Mikhail's second in command. "Your sister appears satisfied with such a purpose. Or is it that she is a female so therefore such a talent is fine for her, but not me?"

"Or that you are hiding something else you do."

Mikhail sighed. "Enough, Gregori." He looked at Armando. "As we also know, the SongMaker is responsible for some of our healing chants as well. That is a purpose which has saved countless lives." Suddenly, Armando stiffened as sadness swept through him. He turned around to find Janelle now sitting by the fountain and weeping.

"Why do you not go to her?" asked Gregori. "Touch her mind and at least ease her."

"She refuses me. There is nothing I can do. She must come to me."

"I would not allow my lifemate to suffer like this. You are not helping."

"Oh? Like all you did for Savannah when you first bonded with her?"

Gregori growled. "You know nothing of what happened."

"Stop," said Mikhail in a calm voice. "Each pair of lifemates must connect and sort through their first bonding within their own way. We will leave you for now, but call upon us if you need anything." Armando bowed his head at the prince. "Thank you, Mikhail."

"And you do not need to be so formal to me. I do not expect you to bow down to me all the time."

"I fear that is something I can never change," replied the SongMaker. "It is too far engrained within me."

Mikhail smiled. "I will not force the issue, but know it is unnecessary."

After the two left the room, Armando closed his eyes, trying to block out the sadness penetrating his very soul. He clenched his hands into fists. This was unbearable. Before he could stop it, the clouds moved in and it began to rain. He cursed himself for not having more control. When he looked outside, Janelle was jumping up and running back toward the house.

Once inside, she slammed the door shut and stood on the far side of the room, shivering. Instinctively, Armando wanted to wave his hand and immediately make her dry while explaining to her that Carpathians could actually regulate their body temperatures. But he remained completely still, trying hard not to reach out to her when he said he would not.

Surprisingly, she didn't try to leave the room. He noted the cotton nightgown had been completely soaked within just a few minutes of the downpour and he could easily see the outline of her breasts. Armando shifted uncomfortably as he also saw her nipples straining now against the fabric, her body already calling out to him.

Janelle stiffened even more while she trembled. Most likely, she was feeling the same thing he did with being so close to him. It became so uncomfortable, Armando took a few steps back from her when all he could think of was tasting her lips once more. He needed to leave before he did anything he regretted.

With her eyes glued to the floor, Janelle finally spoke in a quiet voice. "Armando…?"

He held his breath, remaining completely still.

Janelle slowly raised her eyes, filled with tears. He could tell she was in great pain, the sorrow she felt consuming her. And yet her body was throbbing, filled with a terrible ache only he could fulfill.

He couldn't stand it any longer.

"I am…asking," he whispered. "Please."

She gave the barest nod of her heard which was all it took. He was across the room in an instant, his mouth coming down on hers. She went limp, giving herself over to his passionate kiss. Within moments, Armando picked her up and carried her back down to the bedroom.