Chapter Three
AN: Sorry about not updating for so long, but I was on vacation, and I haven't had much time to work on the story. I'm working on chapter four, but I am starting school again soon, and I won't have a lot of time to type it up. But never fear. I won't stop! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: All characters stated in previous chapters belong to me. All other Carpathian ideas and characters belong to Christine Feehan. In following chapters, when I write "disclaimer," this is the disclaimer that you should understand is there, but I won't type it out.
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As she waited for someone to answer the door, Aristes stared up at the giant mansion.
It's huge son! But beautiful she added.
I hope they have a lightproof room he worried.
Oh I'm sure it will be fine! If anything, you can sleep in the basement. Do you have the extra blood I gave you?
For the third time; yes!
Sorry. Oh I just wish you could see this place! It has three stories with beautiful windows. There's Victorian-style molding and the colors are so bright!
And now that I can finally see them, I can't! Rub it in mother!
Stop moping! You will be fine. You will find your lifemate and live happily ever after.
As she said this, the door opened and Arianna beamed at them.
"Sorry. It took me awhile to get to the door. But please come in."
She stepped aside as Aristes moved to wheel her son in.
"I'll do it myself." Eranites spoke. Ari trembled at his velvet voice and simply nodded. It was all she could do. His rich tones caused heat to feather over her skin and her heart to beat wildly.
"Help him in dear would you? I want to put this chair in the car and get his bags."
"Uhh sure." Ari didn't know what it would be like to touch this god, but she was eager to find out.
But before she could take his arm, Beth appeared.
"Oh Eranites, you're here! Here, give me your arm. I'll help you up to the room that I prepared for you."
Ari trembled again, but this time with fury. How dare Beth take credit for the room, she, Arianna, had labored to make perfect!
Ari glared at Beth's retreating back as she flirted outrageously with the handsome Eranites. Then she sighed. Just let it go. Beth is the one all the boys like. She's blonde curvy, and taller than me. She wants him and he probably wants her too. Maybe I should have put condoms in his room? She grinned.
"Arianna dear, I appreciate this so much." Aristes read Ari's distress in her mind. She definitely hoped that Arianna was her son's lifemate, but the girl seemed so willing to let him go. On the other hand, that other girl was hanging all over him.
"I don't want to be a burden, but you will find that Eranites has…special needs. He will be mostly nocturnal, and will need a lightproof room. He will also need to drink the medicine I brought him, and probably won't each much food."
"Sure. We'll take good care of him. Don't worry." Ari smiled.
"Well, I guess we're all done. He has the phone number of the campground where Hadriel and I are staying. We will be seeing the sights and traveling close by. Good-bye and thank you."
Aristes hugged Ari and left.
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Outside, Aristes grinned at she and Hadriel's good luck. How fortunate that their son find his lifemate before he was doomed to the unforgiving task of being leader of the Carpathian people. And he would be soon. Mikhail and his lifemate had decided together that they wanted something else for the rest of their lives. And Mikhail had earned it. His many centuries of leadership had granted him a respite. He and Raven planned to travel, while still doing their duty by trying to discover others of their race. And Eranites was ready to lead their people. If only the accident hadn't happened. But Aristes was sure that his lifemate would heal him, just as she was sure that the snakebite was not an accident. A normal snake couldn't have bitten a Carpathian like that.
I know darling. It was no regular snake. We must look into this. Hadriel spoke in her mind.
What if someone is trying to kill him?
We can take care of it until he is able. And he WILL be able to soon. I have faith in the healing powers of lifemates. And I speak from experience. He sent her a loving caress. Now come back to the house, and enjoy the rest of the vacation we meant to spend with Eranites.
Aristes smiled and got into the car.
Oh I think I can make it plenty enjoyable. She sent him a kiss and started the car.
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Upstairs, Eranites examined his room as Beth hovered close to him. Though of course he couldn't see anything, he quested with his mind and found the room's single window could easily be boarded up. Eranites could also sense the general shapes of the three doors, the dresser, bed, and Beth. He could tell the room was large and that Beth was almost touching him.
"So Eranites" she purred. "What do you want to do? Do you play poker?" While he was in fact an excellent poker player, Eranites had other things on his mind.
"This is what I want to do." He growled as he grabbed her and crushed her body to his. Only one way to find out, he thought. A little more gently, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her.
AN: Ok, so if anyone has any questions just email me, and don't forget to review!
Also, I know that Aristes says they are staying at a campground but later Hadriel says house. Obviously, Aristes makes up the campground story so that Eranites can be with Ari and Beth. And the vacation they take is just to give their son a break before he must assume his duties as Prince; something he doesn't know is soon to occur.
