Author's note: a reminder before this next chapter that this story is rated 'mature'

-Anne

Chapter 25

"Carissa, you don't know what you're saying." Pierce was worried. If they said the words, she was bound to them…and in a dangerous situation.

"If you say the words, it means if anything happens to either of you, then it will affect me," persisted Carissa.

Samuel frowned. "You're thinking this will prove to the Prince the three of us are lifemates."

"Yes! If they see we are tied, there is no way they can harm you. Not without hurting me."

"But they may also think this is temporary," interjected Pierce. "Jacques, brother to the Prince, explained the phenomenon of what happened with his own lifemate when a vampire connected to her."

"So what are they going to do?" she challenged, "I'm the one insisting that both of you are my life mates! This is different. Don't you think they'll at least hesitate when I'm the one saying I'll die if either of you are killed?"

"And they can insist you are thinking this way under a vampire's influence," said Samuel. "But I do agree, they will hesitate." He looked at Pierce. "It could still buy us some time if she is bound to us."

Pierce looked down at Carissa. She was still sitting next to him, and the thought of binding her to him was creating a physical ache which was almost unbearable. His voice dropped to a whisper. "This isn't how it was meant to happen."

She squeezed his hand. In truth, she was scared and also a little relieved. She'd been afraid to go through with turning to Carpathian. She'd never been intimate with even one man. She didn't know what sex was going to be like and the unknown frightened her. And then, what of the pain in turning Carpathian? Would she make it through the transition?

Suddenly, Carissa just wanted to get this done. Change was going to happen whether she was ready for it or not. Her only control in the situation was the decision itself. The sun was going to rise soon. It had to be now.

When Pierce did nothing, it was of course Samuel who took the first step. He crossed the room and sat down on the other side of her. She didn't let go of Pierce's hand as Samuel turned her head gently toward him. Bending down, he kissed her lips with infinite tenderness.

Her mouth was so sweet that Samuel had to place a chain on himself to remain in control of his body. He made sure his twin felt every sensation, from her lips to when his tongue invaded her mouth. He knew Pierce would be hesitant and unsure of the situation. Samuel's only hope was to convince his brother by pure seduction. Male Carpathians were easy to arouse when it came to claiming their lifemate. And Samuel was going to make damn sure his twin's natural instinct would override any logical thoughts.

Pierce was barely holding on from watching his brother kiss Carissa. She was still holding his hand and he looked down to see that her grasp was losing strength. Samuel was working her mouth in such a way that Carissa was completely losing herself. She was no longer thinking, but only feeling extreme pleasure.

As should you, said Samuel.

Pierce drew a deep breath, his body uncomfortably tight. How can we do this? There are two of us.

We'll say the words together.

But what about joining with her? What about-

Pierce shut off your damn brain and just feel what I'm doing.

Feeling what his twin was doing was not an issue. He didn't understand how or why they shared a soul. What he did know was that he felt everything Samuel was doing to Carissa. Pierce's body began to throb in pain, his instinct to claim Carissa killing him. The waves of pleasure from Samuel eventually became too much and he finally gave in to his desire. He bent down and kissed Carissa's neck. Her skin was so soft and he could hear her heartbeat racing as his tongue ran over a vein. Pierce felt her go completely limp, and he freed his hand from hers to place his arm behind her. Her head fell back as Samuel continued to sinfully kiss her mouth. Pierce could feel the blood running in her veins just underneath the skin. His fangs elongated, the desire to taste her blood overwhelming him.

Carissa broke the kiss with Samuel but reached up to touch his jaw, tugging him down further . She gasped as now both were passionately kissing her neck. She turned her head toward Pierce who did not need an invitation to work his way up and take his turn with invading her mouth. Carissa was now drowning in such physical pleasure that she forgot all about her fears. She felt like she was falling and then realized Pierce was lowering her onto the bed. She broke the kiss and gasped again when she discovered Samuel had already managed to open her blouse and kiss the swells of her breasts.

Samuel was impatient and made Carissa's lacey bra disappear. He heard her low moan when nuzzled her breasts. She was absolutely beautiful. His tongue stroked her flesh with increasing need, while at the same time he could feel his twin's mouth becoming more demanding on hers. Samuel shuddered as his fangs throbbed with longing. He had been the one closest to the edge, tempted by darkness before they discovered her. Pierce's urgency wasn't helping to control Samuel's inner demons. He wanted to ravage her, plunging into her softness with all of his strength.

Fear hit Samuel hard. Carissa was innocent and her first time needed to be gentle. His body wasn't listening as he continued to explore every inch of her breasts. He was suddenly worried he wouldn't be able to stop himself from hurting her.

Pierce.

His twin only growled in response, obviously showing he was a Carpathian male beyond logic and only focused on his current exploration.

By now, Samuel found himself moving over top of her, his mouth never leaving her breast. Desperate, he tried to reach his twin again.

Pierce!

Something in his plea must have registered in his twin's mind as he felt Pierce break from Carissa's mouth and return to tasting Carissa's neck. He didn't answer Samuel, but it was obvious he was trying to slow down his body's demands.

So at least one of them had a little more control.

With a mere thought Samuel's clothes disappeared. He wanted nothing more than to wish Carissa's pants to also disappear but then it would be too late. the fought with himself, trying to pull back and not giving into that final thought. With nothing between them, Samuel's demon to possess her would be completely unleashed. He managed to glance up at Pierce who was nipping at Carissa's neck.

Blood. That was his solution.

Bite her but don't drink., demanded Samuel. Pierce made a disgruntled sound, no doubt his own thirst was at its peak. But Samuel knew his twin had more control. Please, begged Samuel in a desperate tone.

Pierce suddenly glanced down at Samuel and realized his brother was in trouble. His twin's eyes were glowing red, his fangs elongated. Samuel spoke again, a low voice in his mind.

Switch. You will take her.

Pierce grew still. I-

Samuel let his free hand punch the bed in a last effort to stop himself. I can't hold out much longer! You will be gentle in taking her innocence. I will complete the final exchange. When Carissa moaned, Samuel couldn't stop his response: Carissa's pants disappeared and Samuel was positioning himself between her legs.

With lightening speed, Pierce struck the opposite side of Carissa's neck with his fangs and her blood trickled down her skin. In that same instant, he shoved Samuel off Carissa, making sure to position him right at Carissa's neck. Samuel's hunger gave him no choice but to latch onto her neck. As the sweet taste poured into his mouth, he finally regained some control. Take her.

Pierce was staring down at Carissa's naked body, drinking her in. He wanted nothing more than to cover her body with his own. And yet, when he saw Samuel at Carissa's neck, he felt a wave of desire in imagining Samuel joining with her.

God, that was sick.

Samuel hissed in his mind. Enough Pierce! She is our lifemate!

Pierce moved over her and Carissa opened her eyes. "I'll be as gentle as possible," he whispered.

She wasn't sure why, but she completely trusted him. And she wanted Samuel too. Carissa felt Samuel reach for her hand, and she sighed from the erotic pulls he was doing on her neck.

Pierce entered her slowly, pushing forward until he met resistance. Out of nowhere, the twins began to say the words, neither of them even communicating when or how to say them.

We claim you as our lifemate. We belong to you. We offer our lives to you. We give your our protection, our allegiance, our hearts, our soul, and our bodies. We take into keeping the same that is yours. Your life, happiness, and welfare will be cherished and placed above our own for all time. You are our lifemate, bound to us for all eternity and always in our care.

It was amazing. Neither of them even had to think about how to modify the words. It was pure, natural instinct. If there was any doubt left with the twins both having Carissa as a lifemate, it had now completely vanished.

Carissa reveled at the feeling of being tied to them. The words were beautiful and a rush of heat enveloped her entire body. She gasped as there was a flash of pain and pleasure as Pierce surged forward.

Samuel moaned at Carissa's neck. He'd been feeling everything that Pierce had with Carissa. Yet now with the three of them bound together, Samuel was completely lost in physical pleasure. Not only could he feel each and every movement from Pierce as he buried himself with her, but he could now feel the incredible sensations of Carissa as well. With every surge, she was getting hotter. Her fingers tightened around his and without a word, Samuel closed the wound at her neck.

Pierce paused for a moment and bent down to give Carissa a soft kiss. And then as Samuel rose above her, Pierce lowered his lips to her breasts and began to move again.

Samuel slashed his chest and lowered himself to Carissa's mouth. She was amazed that she didn't even hesitate as what tasted like a dark wine flowed into her. She heard both twins groan at the same time and she went over the edge. She felt a rush of wet warmth and realized Pierce was reaching his own heights. She felt like she was being swept away. Both of them were there to hold and protect her.

Carissa made a small noise of protest when Samuel stopped feeding her. Then she opened her eyes and realized Pierce had taken in place. Samuel was now lowering himself onto her. He also kissed her softly before Pierce slashed his chest. Carissa sighed in pleasure as Samuel surged into her while the rush of warm wine filled her mouth again. Moments later, she shuddered and cried out as did Samuel.

For a moment, everything was quiet. When she opened her eyes, she found the twins looking down on her with warm eyes filled with love.

And then there was pain.

Pierce and Samuel immediately moved off of her as her body began to convulse. "We're right here, Carissa," said one of them in a frantic voice.

She couldn't even tell which one of them said it. All she could think about was wave after wave of pain. Was this the conversion? Oh God! She didn't even imagine it being this bad.

"Yes, this is it, Carissa, but we will not leave you," one of the twins assured her. Their hands moved over her body in soothing gestures, desperately trying to do anything to help her through the transformation.

It felt like an eternity. Carissa cried. She screamed. She begged them to make it stop even though she knew there was nothing they could do. Then because she hadn't eaten for hours, she fell into dry heaves.

It's safe to send her to sleep.

Are you sure?

She has nothing left in her body.

The twins whispered a forceful command in unison and Carissa immediately grew still. Breathing heavily, they looked at each other. With their heads now clear, they realized the prince would be even more furious. Not only had Pierce not followed as he was commanded, both had tied Carissa to them.

"What have we done?" whispered Pierce.

Samuel gathered Carissa into his arms. "What we were born to do," he answered. He lifted Carissa and walked away from the bed.

Pierce followed and then opened the earth. His twin gently placed her within the ground. After staring at her for a few moments, they silently lowered themselves to join her, sealing themselves within the earth.

Author's note: Thanks to those who have given reviews. A reminder that reviews keep me motivated to keep writing. The information tells me if people are still interested and if I'm on the write track with what readers are thinking. Thanks, Anne