Gregori burst out of the woods infront of Mikhails house and he found Mikhail standing on his porch with Jacques. They were deep in conversation.
"Mikhail, we need to retrieve Sarah." Gregori said as he sprinted across the yard.
"She is with her Lifemate. There is not much we can do, he is protecting her." Mikhail said. His brow furrowed in deep thought.
"She has left." Gregori corrected.
"What?!"
"She left him. She would find away even if we would not help her. She is trained but she is not sure of her own location. She is lost and trying to find her way. We need to get to her."
"Where is her Lifemate?" Jacques pondered.
"Hunting. She had to wait until he was pissed off enough to were he would not check in on her. She has a window of opertunity that she took." Gregori explained.
"Then we must go." Mikhail said calmly. The three males took to the sky.
Sarah was miles away from the house and Sodo had not checked up on her yet. She was traveling quickly in the form of mist.
"Sarah." The voice of Mikhail came so suddenly she faltered and almost fell from the sky. "We are coming. Where are you?"
"I fear not far enough, its getting late, im sure he went home and found me missing by now."
"We are close. Toboe is with us, he is leading the way to the cabin. We should meet on the way."
"Okay, hope to see you soon." Sarah cut off the connection and kept going, afraid that Sodo would find her soon and then it would all be over. She had to keep going. She came up short when lightning struck across the sky. The clouds were gathering. The guessing and hoping was gone now. Sodo knew she left. She sped up and in her haste failed to see anything before her. She hit a solid mass and she fell to the ground. She looked up to see Gregori, Mikhail, Toboe, and Jacques.
"We must go. He knows!" Sarah pleaded.
"We need not hurry. Mikhail has the authority needed to do this. His word is law." Gregori soothed. With a wave of his hand Sarah collapsed. He strode foreword and scooped her up in his arms.
"We should go quickly though." Toboe warned. He was not sure if Sodo would listen to Mikhail or not. They started for home and just barely made it there before the big storm hit. Trees were ripped from the ground and animals fled. Gregori and Jacques started to try to calm the storm above the village. Mikhail woke Sarah and gave her blood.
"Start from the beginning and tell us what happened."
"I was taking lessons, I did not know I was pregnant for a few months. Umm... Then sodo said I was not to take another lesson ever. I flew off the handle and went to Savannah who gave me an easy spell to do and when I attempted it it backfired because I was too tired. Gregori had to heal me and then Sodo grabbed me roughly and drug me to this cabin out in bfe. There was nothing there and i was left alone with nothing to do. I understand he must care for my safety and I love him but I will not be locked away. If he ever does it again I will not run, I will commit suicide. I will not be hidden away for my safety." Sarah said firmly. They all looked at the door, Sarah's eyes widened in fear. Somebody was pounding relentlessly. Gregori moved to open it but Mikhail shook his head. It was his house and he would see to his guest. Sarah ran to Gregori who enveloped the frightened female in his arms. He was shocked at how thin she had become and how she was shivering. Mikhail opened the door and was blown back by the wind. He took a few steps back to allow admittance to his guest. It was Sodo.
"Why have you taken that which is mine?" Sodo demanded.
"look at her Sodo. She is scared of you. You have changed my friend. She needs comfort during her pregnancy, not violent anger. She will not be locked away. She does not like it." Mikhail said calmly.
"Do not call me friend. I would never have had to hide her away if you all had not been teaching her petty magic tricks." Sodo snapped?
"Petty?" Gregori mused.
"Yes, I will protect her, I will always protect her. She is mine and none of you will ever touch her again!"
"No one is accusing you of failing to protect her; we are merely saying that she needs some freedoms." Mikhail said.
"She needs nothing from you, least of all freedom." Sodo roared.
"Sodo, are you alright?" Toboe asked suddenly.
"Why do you care?"
"You need to calm down. This is not a battle. We are not at war. We are not stealing her from you. You must know we are your friends." Toboe reasoned. He was looking at Sodo with genuine fear in his eyes.
Sodo froze. What had he done? Where was he now? Why was Sarah sobbing in another man's arms? Toboe's voice had broken through his anger and chained his beast. All the males looked aat Sodo with questioning looks. Sodo let the air he had been holding in his lungs out in one big sigh.
"What happened?" He asked, he was genuinely worried and had no idea. Gregori looked to Mikhail for an answer but got none.
"You hurt Sarah brother. You took her away and hid her from the world. She escaed and you came here to battle, I think." Toboe explained. Sodo looked over at Sarah and gasped. She wa frightened, of him. She wa crying in another man's arms. She was hurting.
"Please Sarah; I don't know what that was. I never-"
"You have. This happened when you fed too deeply. Your beast rears up and causes you to treat life like a battle. That's why you are so good at fighting. You need to chain it. You need to tell it no. You are a strong fighter because of the beast but you must learn you don't need to fight so hard any more. The war is over, The battle won. Please for her sake, chain it down." Toboe pleaded.
"Is that was causes such a violent outburst?" Gregori asked.
"Yes, It happened when he was a kid, he was attacked by a vampire and he berserked and destroyed it. He was a child to human standerds. He was not yet 13. After that he berserked a lot for a while but t the time we were battling vampires all the time so there was no objection. Now we must put our foot down before Sarah is injured in one of his tirades." Toboe explained.
"This is true. Sodo, until you control that beast I forbid you from associating with Sarah. She needs to be in a happy safe environment when she is pregnant and when she gives birth. If you are not in control you will not see your child." Mikhail said firmly. Sodo looked at Sarah and meant to protest but at the sight of her frail body wracked with sobs he nodded and left without another word. Gregori set Sarah down on the couch and fed her. She was so low on blood that Jacques to had to feed her. Toboe lingered on after the others had left the room and he knelt beside Sarah.
"I am sorry little sister. We tried to keep it a secret that he had the berserker problem because we thought he had gained control. I would have rescued you if it was safe to but him in his berserker mode, he may have killed us both. I apologize for being weak and silent."
"It is alright big brother. I understand. I just hope he controls it before e I give birth. If he does not though, will you stand in his place, not as father or my Lifemate but for moral support?"
"Of course. Now get some sleep little sister." Toboe said after he placed a soft kiss on her forehead. He left without another word and Sarah was left alone. Soon the lights were extinguished and Sarah was asleep. She slept for three days and on the fourth day woke before the sun went down. She looked out the curtain to see it still high in the sky and the rays burned and blistered her skin. She retreated to the bathroom where she drew a cold bath. It soothed her burs and she could just float there. Gregori came as the sun was going down and found her there. He healed her burns as Savannah talked with her parents.
"You should not have looked."
"Yes, I know." Sarah said evenly.
"As long as you know." Gregori said cheerfully. Sarah could not help but smile at Gregori's cheerfulness. When Gregori smiled you had to smile, because he never really did and it would be wasted. Gregori led Sarah into the kitchen where the others congregated.
"Well, good evening dear." Raven said happily.
"G-good evening." Sarh replied shyly. Sarah ventured over to the window and gazed deep into the woods.
You wont see him." Gregori said, his mind always in her own. He just had the tact not to speak up all the time. Sarah looked back at Mikhail. She kind of knew she would not see him but still, she had to look. "I know"
"Mr. Dubrinski, do you think he will gain control in time for me to give birth?" Sarah asked heesitently, she was noty sure if she could handle an answer.
Mikhail looked at his once adoptive daughter and saw fear, fear that her Lifemate would never gain control.
"I think that if he loves you as he has told us he does then yes, he will fight to be with you."
"And if he doesn't love me as he says he does?" Sarah asked, her heart falling, she had never once suspected he did not love her as he said. He had shown her happiness and love that she thought did not exist.
"Impossible. I have been in his head, there is no way he does not love you." Gregori spoke up.
"We are having guests tonight. Falcon is coming, along with Vikirnoff and Jacques. We hope you will be present for their arrival." Mikhail said.
"Yes, though this will be the first time since they rescued me that ill see them as a group together." Sarah said thoughtfully. The men exchanged looks.
"Are you alright? That sthe first time you brought that up." Mikhail asked, genuinely concerned.
"I suppose I will have to be okay. For the sake of my child."
The weeks ticked by with no word from Sodo or his brothers who were helping him to control his beast. Sarah became restless and edgy as the time she spent without her Lifemate grew. Raven was sympathetic and tried to ease Sarah but Sarah just could not make the empty feeling go away. Mikhail regaled his old battle stories to entertain Sarah and that seemed to work but as she neared her seventh month of pregnancy she was fidgety, shifty, restless, and her mind was wild.
"Sodo had better hurry." Raven whispered to Mikhail as they watched Sarah.
"I hope so. Sarah is very lonely, she needs him. Now more than ever…" Mikhail replied. Gregori had been coming each day to see How Sarah was, lately his hopes fell each day that Sodo was not there. Sarah's heart was slowly giving up and that was bad for the child as well as herself.
The new came shortly before the waning of summer. Sod had regained control. Not even his brothers could explain how but He had the control to only go into berserker mode when he chose to. Sarah remained at Mikhail's house for the rest of her pregnancy and although Sodo visited each night, he wa still training to strengthen his control. He had no idea how many times his beast almost cost him his Lifemate and he would not risk it again.
The Sun was setting on the last day of summer and all were gathered at Mikahils for a small party. This ws just the Carpathians and not quite as big of an even as the others had been. It was a party to sellebrate the going of summer and the return of fall. Sarah remained sitting for most of it, whe was eight months pregnant and the baby was due next month on the fifth.
"Are you feeling well?" Gregori asked, concerned that this party may be too much for her and the child.
"Dear, it's a party, I have been to some big parties in my day." Sarah said sweetly.
"Dear?" Savannah asked, with a smile. "She has you pinned."
"Another word and I will spank your cute little ass." Gregori hissed.
"Promises, promises."The couple left Sarah alone. Sodo was over with the hunters, telling all they wanted to know. Many were sympathetic to his story and all were sorry for gossiping and trying to pressure answers out of Sarah.
Sarah fidgeted in the soft chair. It was comfy and sot but something was off. She looked at the clock on the mantle and found a regularity to the discomfort. Sarah rose and made her way down the hall. Each Carpathian was busy with mingling and none noticed her leave the room. Sarah made her way to the bathroom and shut the door. It couyld not be… It was too early. Sarah's pains got worse and more frequent and one of them caused her to cry out in pain. She hobbled to the livingroom to try to find Sodo but a wave of contractions hit her and she was floored by the pain. Gregori raced to her and scooped her up. Sodo followed as well as Mikhail who the party followed. They made their way to the caverns in the mountains with the richest soil.
Sarah was in pain now, her Lifemate had her head in his lap and was rubbing her tempoles. Gregori knelt between her legs and looked to see the top of the head.
"Cripes, ill never live it down that Gregori has seen my…stuff." Sarah ground out through contractiuons.
"I have seen a lot of women's stuff." Gregori chuckled. "It no longer bothers me, and besides, im a healer delivering your child, that's different."
"If you say so." Sara replied. Toboe looked down at his sister in law, amazement in his eyes. In all this pain, Sarah was still able to joke. He knelt beside her and held onto her hand as the birthing progressed. Everyone else started a chant in the old tongue and with so many there it almost drowned out Sarah's cries of pain. Toboe had to look away as so much blood spilled forth when the child was brought into the world. It was a miracle to him, but at the same time it looked like it hurt too much. Now wonder his Lifemate did not want any children, look at the pain she would have to go through.
"Is it over?" Sarah asked, blood seeped out her pores on her forehead and Sodo had to wipe it away several times. Even Gregori seemed a little uneasy.
"You are almost there, just give it one last push." Gregori soothed. Sarah looked at Gregori as if she may kill him.
"If its so damn easy, why don't you lay down and give birth while is si above you barking out orders." Sarah snapped.
"That would be a silly sight." Gregori conceded. Sarah laughed and with one giant push, the baby was out. The first thing the child hears was her mother's laughter. The baby had hair so blond it was white and her eyes. They were eyes of wonder, full of so many colors. Her skin so pale but not sickly so. Gregori searched her body for imperfections and found none, but the thing that almost worried Gregori was the amount of raw power she had. The baby girl smiled up at Gregori and pulled on his hair. Gregori smiled and coddled her while her mother got cleaned off. He gently placed the baby in Sarah's arms and Sarah cried with joy at the sight of her little daughter who got to see her father's face at the birthing. Sodo soothed Sarah and turned to Gregori.
"Lets go home and finall Sarah said with a . I have missed you so." Sarah said with a sigh.
"I am sorry, I made you wait, and sorrier still that I hurt you so."
"It was not your fault, though I did almost hate you for a bit there. Just teasing dear. I love you with all my heart.
"Thank you for your help. I would never have been here tonight if not for your aid." Sodo bowed and picked up his Lifemate and daughter after Gregori scanned for injury, aand went home.
Mikhail turned to Gregori. "Aid?"
"I merely helped him along to chain his beast. I have read about his case befor it is very rare. The first since Alexander the Great. His beast just had to be put in a cage" Gregori said with a sly smile.
"Alexander the Great was a berserker?" Savannah asked with curiosity.
"If you ever paid attention or took history lessons from me like the other Carpathian schildren do then youd know wouldn't you." Gregori said stiffly.
"Okay, so not fair." Savannah said before she punched his arm. Her punch did not effect him which seemed to infuriate her more. "Whatever. I am going to talk to mom." Savannah flounced off hautilym, leaving the men staring after her.
"Never did grow up that one." Gregori said with a proud smile.
"Don't blame her parents, we tried our damnest just to keep her safe." Mikhail said throwing his hands up. The two men chuckled together as the earth was renewed by some of the femaled. Mikhail looked around at the scene before him. His race was on the verge of thriving now. Children were being born without a hitch, Lifemates were being found quicker than they used to, and the parasite was easily delt with. He had brought back a species on the verge of extinction.
And we are all proud to serve you my lord." Sarah's voice resonated through his mind.
"My lord?" Mikhail asked, with the picture of fancy clothes, and bowing servants.
"Try not to let that go to your head." Raven said walking up to him. Mikhail smiled wickedly and his mouth captured hers. In the midlle of the preparation of the healing haves, they made sure all knew their love. Raven pulled back first, aware that they were surrounded but people. A light blush covered her cheeks as all pointedly averted their gaze.
"You have not changed much yourself" Mikhail said softly as they left the chamber to go home.
The new family landed outside their home and spent many hours just talking and holding their daughter. They went to ground with nothing but the sweet satisfaction of just being together as a family for the first time and for all time.
