Disclaimer: I do not own Christine Feehan's dark series. I do own Hadrian, Isa, their families, and the humans (dead and alive).
Isa felt weak, dizzy, and sick to her stomach. She knew she had been cut. She had been cut and hit so many times that she had lost count. She hadn't been able to touch their minds either. A fact that frightened her thoroughly and utterly. She did know that she wasn't confined anymore. She was being held safe in strong arms. She felt warm and safe. Instinctively, she moved closer to the warmth, spending what was left of her strength. She collapsed against a hard, broad chest and gave herself up to unconsciousness.
Hadrian knew when she succumbed to unconsciousness. A wave of fear and panic washed over him before he quickly regained control of his emotions. He did not have time for such luxuries. He had to find a safe place to heal his mate before he lost her. Hadrian landed in the entrance of the cave and shot off through the intricate tunnels. He went deep into the earth and laid his mate next to one of the underground pools. Hadrian made himself into light and went into Isa's body. There was a substance in her tainting her. It had come from the final knife wound she had received. Hadrian aided her body in expelling the chemical and stitched up some of her wounds.
He withdrew slowly and felt weak from the expenditure of energy. He needed blood. His lifemate needed blood as well. Hadrian called to the human family that kept up his own family's supplies in the tunnel system. The seven family members in residence came swiftly and without hesitation or compulsion. There were five males, all over the age of twenty-five, and two females. Hadrian took blood from each of them before sending them away.
Hadrian went back to his lifemate and took her reverently into his arms. Hadrian bent over her neck and found the pulse. It was sure and soft. He sank his fangs there. He took little from her. She had little to give. Hadrian pulled away from her sweet life force and closed the pinpricks with a swipe of his tongue. Hadrian extended a nail and created cut his chest before cradling his lifemate even closer and making her drink. He had to use compulsion to make her body comply.
Finally Hadrian pulled her away and closed the cut he had created for her. She needed rest as did he. It was dawn and he was growing tired. Hadrian placed safeguards around the cave that they were going to inhabit for the next few days and curled himself around his mate. You will not awaken until I call to you. He sent the compulsion straight into her mind. She could fight it. Nor did she try as they both fell into their own deep sleeps, hers untouchable by the world and his like death.
She felt groggy at first. Then she heard her sister's voices in her mind. I'm coming for you now Rachel. Diane's thoughts were strong and sure. Do you know where Isa is?
Here… Isa hadn't realized she was so weak until she had tried to send out er thoughts to her sister.
Isa. You have to tell me where you are. Diane replied quickly. I'll come and get you, but you have to give me your location first.
Something separated her from her sisters. She couldn't touch them, couldn't reach them. There was only a solid masculine wall around her mentally and physically. She tried to touch the masculine mind, but there was only a red haze of anger. Isa plunged inside it and tried to force calm into it until the masculine mind surrounding hers was calm. Why can't I touch my sisters?
Not until you understand that you cannot leave me, the man's thoughts were cold and uncompromising. Until you know that you can never leave me…then you can touch their thoughts as I touch yours and my brothers. Not until then.
A ripple of fear ran through her. You can't control me. I need my sisters. You are asking what I cannot give.
You are my lifemate. I will do whatever is necessary to keep you safe. This sister of your's Diane would have you leave me. I cannot protect you if I am not with you. I will not allow this. In this…your happiness must come second to your safety. I will not lose you to your sister's folly.
Diane just wants us safe. It has nothing to do with anything else.
The man seemed to dismiss the words easily as she felt arms tighten around her. You must rest, you need to heal Diane. They hurt you more than your sister. Why?
I made them certain I was a vampire…I made them think I was biting Rachel. It was the only way to protect her. She would've died if they thought she was a vampire. Rachel was getting weaker. She could feel her energy draining.
You are brave little one. Sleep now. She relaxed into the masculine presence and tried to succumb to sleep. She leaned her head against the man's shoulder and sighed. A mouth pressed against her neck. Then something like a bite, a nibble, yet so much more. It was a glorious feeling, a rush. Then the warm swipe of a tongue. She was turned to face his chest. Her lips pressed against a cut. She knew it was blood, but it was warm and so good. Sustaining. She was pulled away from the cut. Sleep, the thought was gentle and compelling. She couldn't resist. Deep sleep came quickly. She took a deep breath and clung to the male as sweet dreams came to her.
Two blood exchanges. One more would turn his little mate. She would have no choice. Then he would bind her to him. What would she say when she knew. Would she understand? How long would it take her to forgive him. He could only pray that it wasn't too long. There was no choice. He would turn her. He would bind her to him. After that, she could never leave him. He drew his mate closer to him and shut his body down falling into the Carpathian sleep.
