Chapter 4

Samuel stared at his twin. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Pierce sat down in a chair, looking exhausted. "It's true."

"How do you know?"

"I…feel even when you're mind is closed off from me."

Samuel barked a laugh. "That doesn't mean you have the same illness as Draven!"

"And I see everything in color."

Okay, that was a little strange. "Maybe it's just your connection to me."

"It's never happened to any other twin in this situation."

"So? That doesn't mean we are exactly like them. And, wait, how do you know? Have you asked any of the other twins with lifemates?"

"As if I need to?"

Samuel frowned. "Come on, do you know for sure? Have we even really spoke of such a thing with other twins?"

Pierce narrowed his eyes. "Fine, let me put it another way so you understand how serious this really is: I want your lifemate."

Okay, that definitely got his attention. "You want my lifemate," he repeated. "As in how?"

"How do you think?" snapped Pierce.

Samuel swallowed hard.

"When you fed from her, you weren't the only one who felt like he wanted to possess her with his body." Pierce placed his head in his hands. "I'm sick. It's the only explanation. Either that or I'm turning vampire."

"Oh please! I refuse to believe that!"

"Well? What other damn explanation is there for all this?"

"Well, it's not because you are turning vampire!" exclaimed Samuel. "That's ridiculous!"

"And how would you know?"

"Come on, Pierce. Think for a moment. If you were vampire, wouldn't you want to do more than just be with my lifemate? Such as kill for pleasure? Or kill me for that matter?"

Pierce looked up at him. "No," he whispered. "Which is why the only other explanation is that I'm ill. It has to be the same illness that happened to Draven. I heard he wanted women that were lifemates to others."

"We didn't even really know him. Only the prince or Gregori would be able to tell us more about his sickness and what really happened. But I don't believe it's the same with you."

"It has to be. What other explanation is there?"

Samuel sat down in a chair across from his twin and let out a harsh breath. "What if you are the one really meant for Carissa?"

Pierce glared at him. "No! She is your true lifemate."

"I was the one close to turning! What if it's me turning vampire?"

But Pierce slowly shook his head. "No. If that were true, I'd want you to be dead for even touching her."

Samuel blinked. "So you're not angry that I'm with her?"

"No. I'm not jealous of you being with her at all. That's why it's impossible for me to be her lifemate."

Samuel was silent for a moment. This was extremely confusing. Could his brother be ill? But why didn't it feel right? "What if I'm the one who is ill?"

"Will you stop?" snapped Pierce. "I just said that I'm not jealous at all. In fact, it's even worse."

"How can it be worse?"

Pierce closed his eyes for a moment. How could he tell Samuel that he wanted Carissa but at the same time he wanted his brother to have her as well? It was just…wrong. He abruptly stood up and walked to the window. "I have to leave."

"Do you need to feed? I'll go with you."

Pierce whirled around and looked at his twin with serious eyes. "No, Samuel. I need to leave and get away from you and Carissa. I don't want my illness to harm what progress you've made with her."

"I haven't made any progress with her," muttered Samuel as he thought about Carissa running from him earlier.

"You will," Pierce assured him. "And you will take her to the Carpathian Mountains. Let the SongMaker look upon you and her together. Present your union in front of our prince."

Samuel grew angry. "Stop this. This is insanity!"

"Exactly," replied his twin, referring to what he thought was his illness.

"That's not what I meant! We just need to stop and think about all this. Or what if we ask for help from the Prince?"

"If you think that's what's best," replied Pierce in an oddly calm voice.

Samuel narrowed his eyes. "You're thinking if you go before the Prince, he will condemn you to death."

"It may be for the best if there is something wrong with me."

"No, I refuse to believe that! There has to be another explanation!"

"Samuel," said Pierce in a dark voice, "it's time you need to start thinking logically about what is happening."

"Or do you need to start thinking with optimism?" challenged Samuel.

"I'm being realistic."

"No, you're being stupid. As always, you're the pessimist. It's amazing how we are twins and yet so completely different!"

His brother's eyes softened . "You are my brother and always will be."

Samuel grabbed his twin's forearm and clasped it with his own. "And will you protect me?"

"Always."

"Would you do anything for me?" When Pierce did not answer, Samuel hissed. "Would you? If my life depended on it?"

"Always," whispered Pierce.

"Then promise me you will hold on. Stay here. I need you. Hell, the Carpathian people need you! Do you think I can run these businesses alone?"

"I thought you were the optimistic one." There was the slightest hint of humor in his brother's voice.

"But you know I'm not the one with the business sense to make safe decisions."

Pierce nodded. "That's true. Half our businesses would be bankruptcy if we took on all the risks you recommend."

"Exactly!" He let go of his twin's arm and walked to the balcony. Looking out at the stars, Samuel sighed. "I cannot lose you, brother. And my first encounter with Carissa has turned out to be a disaster. I have all these emotions and yet I feel hopeless!"

Pierce stopped thinking about his own problem and focused on his brother. "It can't be that bad."

"Oh really? I used your name with her! Are you sure she isn't yours?"

"You're not giving yourself any credit, Samuel. It was logical to give her my name as an explanation as to why you went to see her." When his twin didn't turn around, Pierce came up behind him. "And you also forget, if it wasn't for you taking risks, our businesses wouldn't have experienced the growth and fortune with where they are today."

Samuel bowed his head. "Because we balance each other," he said softly. Slowly, he turned around. "It's always been this way. We appear exactly alike but are opposite. We need each other. I cannot live without you. I do not want you to go before the prince."

"Because you fear what he will say," answered Pierce. "You're afraid he will tell you the truth."

"I can't lose you," repeated Samuel. "Please, stay a while longer. If we can't figure out what's going on in the next few weeks before our scheduled flight, then I will go with you to face Mikhail. I will stand by your side no matter what happens."

"Even while Gregori strikes me down?"

Samuel's chest constricted. "I don't want to think about that right now. You must give me your word that you will wait for a while longer, so we can see if there is another reason."

Pierce bowed his head. "I will hold on as long as I can. But if for one moment I think you or Carissa are in danger because of me, then I will leave."

"With me. You will only leave with me to go the Carpathian Mountains. You will not leave alone," he demanded.

"Agreed," replied Pierce.

"Good. Now, you're the smart one, I need your help in figuring out what to do about the mess I'm in with Carissa."

Carrisa opened her eyes and found herself in her bed. Memories flooded back as to what happened and she abruptly sat up, only to gasp as she found Pierce standing against one of her bedroom walls.

"What are you doing here? Wait, how did I even get here?" Her heart was beating so hard, it felt like it was ready to come out of her chest. But a curious warm feeling began to stir inside her, as if something were trying to calm her fear.

"Carissa," he said in a quiet voice, "we need to talk."

"Talk? You wouldn't let me go! And now you brought me into my house? Actually, how did you even get in?" Hell, where was her faithful dog? He was named cujo for a reason! A low whine gave her the answer and her gaze went to the floor…finding her Siberian Husky curled up at Pierce's feet.

"I think he likes me," Samuel said with a hint of amusement.

"What did you do? Poisen him?" She flung back the covers and was relieved to see she still had the same clothes on.

"Although tempting," said Samuel, "I would not change your clothes without your permission."

Carissa, who had made it to the bedroom door in an attempt to escape, abruptly stopped as it felt like he just read her mind. She turned around and looked at him. "How did you know…" She shook her head. "Never mind." Carissa turned back to the door, thinking the guy knew little tricks into scaring his victims. She needed to get away from him and call the cops.

"I do not play tricks on people," Samuel said.

Okay, that scared her. She tried to yank the door open and panicked when she found it wouldn't open. "Let me out! Right now!"

Samuel watched as Carissa repeatedly pulled on the door. He reached out to his twin. And this was your brilliant idea?

You need to start building trust, replied Pierce calmly. You have no choice but to begin telling her what we are.

What about my real name?

We'll get to that later. One thing at a time, Samuel.

Samuel raised his hands in the air, an attempt at a peaceful gesture. "Carissa, look at me." When she refused to turn around, Samuel tried again. "I promise not to hurt you. I only want to talk with you and attempt to make you understand."

She whirled around, her face looking far too white. "If you only want to talk, why are you trapping me in here?"

He couldn't help but smile. "It's hard to talk when you keep running away from me."

"You got that right! Now let me out!"

Samuel leaned against the wall. "Have I hurt you at all?"

"Well, no but…"

"And have I in any way threatened you?"

Carissa held herself with her arms. "You broke into my house!"

"Only to make sure I left you in a safe place."

"Wait, you left me?"

Samuel tilted his head. "I needed to check on my brother."

Carissa glanced at the clock and bit her lip when she realized it was three in the morning! "You just left me here?"

"First you want to run away from me, and now you are angry that I left? I have heard lifemates can be confusing and I'm beginning to understand the concept."

"Lifemate?"

Samuel nodded. "You are my lifemate."

Carissa's heart began to pound again. "You're not normal, are you?" she asked with a strange feeling in her gut. She'd always had a sixth sense and it was telling her that this man standing before her was like no one she'd ever known. Actually, not a normal human she'd ever known. Carissa froze, shaking her head at such a thought.

"What you are thinking is true. I'm not a mortal man."

Carissa held herself even more tightly, conscious that her back was up against the door and he was on the other side of the room. "Can you really read minds?"

"Yes."

"So…what are you?"

"I am what is called Carpathian."

Tell her everything.

Easier said than done, muttered Samuel to his twin. He drew a deep breath. "In your mind, you would think I am like a…vampire. But I am not. Vampires are what we become if we do not find our lifemate."

"This isn't real," whispered Carissa. "Or you're the one insane."

Samuel felt he had no choice, so he transformed into a hawk and flew onto her bed. He transformed back so that he was now sitting closer to where she was standing.

Carissa was astonished. "How did you do that?"

"I am Carpathian. I can transform into any animal."

She swallowed hard. "And what else?"

"I can make things." He held out his hands and a wool sweater appeared. He held it out to her.

"That's…that's impossible."

"And yet here it is. Carissa, take it, I can sense you are cold."

She reached out timidly, and touched the wool. "This just can't be real." Her head felt dizzy and her stomach felt sick.

Alarmed, Samuel stood up and gently took her arm. "This is all too much of a shock to you. Sit down."

"Yeah, okay," Carissa said. She felt like she had no choice. Her body was failing her as her mind was going in circles. "I don't know if I can handle this."

"I know," said Samuel softly, "but I promise things will get better."

Carissa dropped the sweater on the bed and rubbed her face with her hands. "I don't see at this moment how anything can get better."

Samuel was at a loss for words. He was supposed to be strong when the reality was that he wasn't sure about anything. He found it hard to believe that he loved her so strongly when he hardly knew her.

Show her.

His twin's strong voice gave him confidence. Without even thinking, Samuel knelt down on the floor at her feet. He reached out and held her hands. Bowing his head, he spoke softly. "You are everything to me. All those years you were alone, without any family. I should have been there, to protect you. I searched endlessly but gave up hope of ever finding you. I hope one day you can forgive me."

Carissa felt everything inside her grow still. She suddenly forgot all about her shock and fear. Here was the most powerful man she'd ever met at her feet, asking for her forgiveness. She had a feeling that something had been missing her entire life. She had no idea what he was, but he seemed sincere, even remorseful. Carissa wanted to believe him.

"I know," he said in a graveled voice, "I know you need time to trust me."

She finally found her voice. "Yes, I need more time. But…I feel like this is crazy, but it's like I'm afraid because I can't believe it's true. I always thought there was something missing and it feels like you belong."

Samuel raised his head. "You are meant for me. You are my salvation. Please, give me a chance to prove everything to you."

Carissa trembled. "I'm afraid…"

Samuel squeezed her hands. "I know. Let's start over. Tomorrow evening, let me take you out after work. I will answer all of your questions."

She swallowed. "And?"

"We have all the time in the world, Carissa. We can take things as slow as you wish."

"This feels so impossible. I don't even know who or what you are, Pierce." She saw him wince and had a strange urge to soothe him. "Okay. What time will you, or your driver, pick me up?"

Samuel smiled. "I will be the one to pick you up. How about right after your finished with work?" When she nodded, he found himself feeling relieved. He stood up and headed toward her bedroom door. "Your car is in your driveway and I will make sure your home is secure before I leave." He nodded at Cujo who immediately went to Carissa and sat at her feet.

Carissa nodded again and in an instant, he was gone. Cujo rubbed against her legs and put his head on her lap. As she rubbed his ears, she found her heart pounding. How was it possible to be so excited and scared at the same time? She shook her head. This was definitely insane.