Chapter 21

After ensuring the Albino was far enough away, Tyrell waved his hand and Arianna found herself clothed in a simple, long dress. It was dark blue, the fabric soft against her skin and it felt good to have some fresh clothes. She was surprised he even thought of such a thing. Surely that counted for something.

"Those minerals didn't control you," she said.

"So you do have a mind after all."

"I'd heard about them in the lab," Arianna said, ignoring his sarcastic remark. "It was supposed to be the most powerful thing to control vampires."

Tyrell walked to the opening of the cave, looking out into the night. His hunger was at its peak. He'd awoken to find Arianna in danger. The urge to immediately kill the Albino had been overwhelming. But when he realized the man had the minerals he'd been seeking for so long, Tyrell knew he had to come up with a plan. There was no telling how large this vampire army was by now. If the Albino had been in danger, there was no telling how many vampires could suddenly be called to his aid.

Tyrell needed to leave in a few hours and find where the Albino was hiding. He could not risk Arianna. She had to be protected. And yet the hunters had sworn to obey Mikhail in his command to not interfere.

What the hell was he supposed to do? And then a sharp pain sliced through his head.

"Go to Mikhail."

Tyrell whirled around to find her standing close to him. "I told you to stay out of my head."

"I can't help it sometimes."

"If you were to see truly inside my mind, you would stay away from me."

"Tell the Prince about the Albino," she urged. "Let him know about what you just did. You could help find him the vampires."

He gave a low laugh. "And then what, my dear? See if Mikhail will forgive me? Do you really think I would be accepted by the hunters? Give up this false hope that you can save me."

"I know there is good in you."

"Really? How interesting you do not see the monster in front of you." His skin became pasty white, his hair coarse. Tyrell's fingers grew into claws and he pulled her close. "Look at me."

She shook her head. "I don't care. This isn't you."

"No?" He suddenly thrust into her mind and she gasped. Images of death and years of violence swirled into her eyes. Tyrell smiled, his teeth now yellow. "Do you see now the monster you want to be chained to for life?"

Tears stinging her eyes, she broke free from him. "I don't care about your past. And I don't want you to find that strange man. You could die."

"I don't die so easily, my dear. Surely the images you just saw should convince of you of that."

"I still don't understand what happened and why you think you turned."

Narrowing his eyes, he studied her face. She wasn't even flinching away from his horrible appearance. The images might have horrified her, but she was still refusing to even think about leaving him. He could put safeguards in place to the cave once more, blocking her in while he left. But the fact that the Albino broke through such complex safeguards, greatly concerned him. He could certainly make them the traps stronger. But what if the Albino was waiting for his return and had other allies ready to take her while he was gone?

"Tyrell?"

He bared his fangs. "You are a relentless when it comes to annoying me."

"You won't let me into your mind so I have to always ask."

"If it hasn't occurred to you, I don't enjoy pain. For whatever reason, your presence in my mind at times can literally bring me to my knees. So apparently my real punishment is a lifemate who can cause me pain whenever she wants."

To his complete surprise, she laughed. "I have a feeling most women would love such a gift with their husbands."

"A lifemate is not even close to a human marriage," he retorted. But his heart was doing something odd. The fact that he made her laugh gave him a warm feeling in his chest. For some ridiculous reason, Tyrell wanted to please her. Ah yes, the urge to provide for her happiness was definitely there. They'd shared two blood exchanges and the bond was strong.

"Well, there's no reason to worry," Arianna replied as her smile disappeared. "You haven't said the words, so we are far from being married."

"Why do you wish for death?" he suddenly asked.

"Excuse me?"

"If I say the words, you must follow me in death."

She gave a loud sigh. "How many times must we have this conversation? I am nothing without you. I can't live like this. All I can think about is being with you, no matter how cruel you are to me."

Tyrell winced at her words. Deep down, he did not want to treat her badly. He did it in an effort to make her fear or hate him. He did it so she could be free of him for her own safety and well being. With a grim thought, the only way to protect her while he went to find the Albino, was to leave her with a hunter. Mikhail's nephew was not the answer and no other would protect her because of the Prince's order.

But Mikhail also said if he chose to claim her, help would be given. Tyrell did not want to fully claim her. Perhaps he held out hope that there was still a way to set her free. Maybe if he said the words but did not mate with her, his death couldn't completely allow her to follow him. And she was not yet Carpathian. Maybe the SongMaker knew of a way to find her a new lifemate after he was gone.

He suddenly looked at her with a new determination. "Te avio palafertulam," he said.

Her eyes widened. "What?"

"I claim you as my-" Intense pain sliced through his head and he fell to the ground. He vaguely heard Arianna's cry as she rushed over to him. Breathing heavily, he looked up and tried once more. "Entolam kuulua, avio-"

The pain this time was so blinding, Tyrell actually screamed in agony. He helplessly held his head, while waves of pan radiated through his mind.

"Stop!" Arianna cried. "Whatever you were trying to say or do, stop it!"

Finally, the pain receeded and Tyrell lay on the ground in exhaustion. He was in need of blood and it felt like the room was spinning. When he opened his eyes, Arianna's face was filled with fear. His fangs lengthened at the sight of her neck.

"Get away from me," he said gruffly.

"But you're hurt!"

"And you are the cause of it!" he snapped back at her. Before the darkness overcame him, Tyrell struggled to his feet. He transformed into mist before she could say anything else and he went out into the night. Desperate for blood, he found a local village and all but snatched up one of the storekeepers. In the deepest shadows, he hungrily fed from the man, greedily taking far too much.

Tyrell!

Once more the pain returned and he let go of the man who stumbled away. If it hadn't been for Arianna's voice, he may have killed the man. But why should he care? For whatever reason, he couldn't even say the words to claim her. Anger radiated through him. How could a small, insignificant human female control him like this? And yet he could not even fully bond with her. If he could not say the words, she would never be safe. And he could not convince any hunter to protect her.

There was one more possibility, but he was hesitant. He had been telling the truth when he told Mikhail he could very well kill Arianna when completing the full ritual. But if he could not say the words, there was only one other way to convince Mikhail's hunters that he attempted to at least partially claim her.

Flying back to the cave, he entered and found her huddled in a corner. Holding herself, she looked up at him. "I give up," she said softly.

"What?" he asked, not exactly sure if he heard right.

"You don't want me. No matter how hard I try, you don't want anything to do with me. And I cause you pain. If…if it means you won't be in pain anymore, then leave me."

"And then what?" he bit out. "You said yourself, you cannot live such a life alone."

"No," she whispered. "But I don't want to hurt you anymore either."

She still cared for him. No matter what he tried to do, she still wanted to please him. Even if that meant letting him go. Tyrell's chest hurt with the knowledge that someone could give him such unconditional love. And he wasn't able to leave her in such despair.

The cycle was unending. And neither could bring the other happiness. The best he could do was find and kill the Albino, ensuring the minerals were secured. Maybe it would help find a way to prevent more psychics like Arianna from being captured.

"Foolish female," he said.

"I'm not foolish," she said standing up. "Go on! Leave me and find the Albino."

"I cannot leave you unprotected and no hunter will defend you."

"Then what do you want to do?"

Tyrell approached her. "Something I thought I would never do." His voice became sinfully seductive. And his appearance once more became beautiful.

"Wait, what are you doing?"

He reached for her, pulling her close to him. "I cannot say the words to claim you, Arianna. For whatever reason, it causes me too much pain." His gaze locked with hers. "There is only one other way to prove I tried to claim you."

"Are you going to convert me?"

"No," he answered. He bent his head, his lips almost touching hers. "But let us hope this path does not lead to your death. The darkness is so very strong inside me. I cannot claim you with words, but the darkness will allow me to take you in another way."

Arianna was so surprised when Tyrell kissed her, she stood there in shock. And then heat bloomed deep within her. Her body temperature felt like it went up a million degrees and she lost the strength in her legs. He easily caught her from falling, never breaking away from the kiss. He slowly lowered her to the ground and she easily accepted his partial weight on top of her. Arching up to him, Arianna broke the kiss and pushed his head downward.

Tyrell growled, throbbing with the need to take both her blood and her body. He caught her hair in one of his hands, fingering the long strands while he lowered his mouth to her neck. His fangs actually throbbed, but with all his strength, he resisted her blood. He would not risk taking too much and then being force to do one more blood exchange.

Instead, he nipped at the skin, making her tremble. Impatient now with the dress, he willed it away in less than a heartbeat and she sharply inhaled as cool air hit her breasts. His own breath caught in his lungs as he looked at her exposed skin. Unable to resist any longer, his lips tasted her sweet flesh. He paused, taking his time to rub his lips over her nipple.

"Tyrell," she said urgently.

"I cannot hold back much longer," he replied in a rough voice. The demon inside him was roaring for release. He did not want to be gentle. There was a terrifying need to rip into her flesh. He could feel himself losing control.

"It's alright," she whispered. "You don't have to wait. I want this."

Tyrell paused and raised his head to look at her. Her lips were swollen and her eyes were full of desire. Beating down the darkness, he kissed those lips once again, causing him to grip her arms and hold her in place for him. His clothes were gone in an instant and he positioned himself over her. Raw hunger was rising fast and he spoke in a graveled tone. "Should I lose control…"

"I don't care," she gasped as he rubbed against her. She was so ready for him.

Tyrell felt himself coming undone. The darkness was fighting to break free. Drink her dry.

No. He began to fight the dark voices. But it was difficult with a red haze overtaking him.

Hurt her. Take her with force.

He growled. He had no need to force her. She wanted him.

She lies.

No! I will not listen.

Arianna's hands suddenly captured and held his face. Those beautiful eyes met his and Tyrell grew completely still. "I trust you," she whispered.

His hard flesh pushed into her, his hips surging forward. Tyrell was now drowning in such pleasure it was hard to think straight. He began to thrust hard and deep, each stroke connecting them more than he thought ever possible.

Arianna was completely swept away by his body. Her head arched back as she gasped. All those years her body had been used. And now she was experiencing real physical pleasure. He was the other half of her soul. She didn't care if it was dark. He was meant for her and she needed him. An unbearable ache began to burn inside of her. She was taken higher and higher until she finally cried out in release.

Tyrell was helpless to stop himself as he drove into her in with mindless need. She clawed at his shoulders and he threw his head back in ecstasy as he poured into her. Collapsing on top of her, Tyrell almost wept with relief that he hadn't given in to hurting her. And when she held his face and kissed him, for a moment in time he felt at peace, with a hope he'd never known rising up within him.

But his thoughts once more turned to dark times, and what he really was in this life. He would never deserve Arianna. Abruptly, he moved off her, waving a hand to clothe themselves.

Arianna reached for him, but Tyrell stood up and walked away. She had felt so complete just a few moments ago and now once again felt alone.

"Come, we are leaving," he said in a deep voice. He did not even hold out his hand to offer and help her stand.

"Where are we going?"

He looked down at her with eyes appearing full of determination. "The SongMaker's home. You will be safe there."

Author's note: Sorry it has been so long; hopefully 2 chapters and a little physical intimacy makes up for it...-Anne