Chapter 5

"Carissa!"

Pierce cursed as he felt her grow faint. With lightening speed, he raced to the office and barely caught her before she hit the floor.

What's happened? demanded Samuel. His twin was out feeding when he felt the same sensation.

She fainted. Samuel, get back here.

But Carissa's eyes fluttered open. It's okay. I'm…fine.

You don't sound fine, replied Samuel

Pierce didn't take any chances and lifted her into his arms. Carrying her down the hall and up the stairs, he headed for their bedroom. It was more like a suite, with a huge sitting area, complete with fireplace. He considered taking her into the bathroom so he could set her in the Jacuzzi, but he felt her fatigue.

And sadness.

He gently set her down on the enormous bed. After covering her with the blanket, he sat down next to her. Reaching out, he touched her face. "Talk to me."

To us, corrected Samuel.

Apparently that was the wrong thing to say as Carissa began to cry. Pierce immediately gathered her in his arms and held her. He whispered words of comfort, hoping she would calm enough to tell them what was happening.

"It's Tyrell," she choked out in a sob.

Pierce ignored the jealous streak which ran through him. "What about Tyrell?"

"Something is wrong! I can't connect with him at all!"

Good, said Samuel to his twin.

If you could see the state she is in, you'd think differently, retorted Pierce.

I already feel it. And I hate that he is doing this to her.

Ignoring his twin, Pierce tried to gently soothe her. "I'm sure he's fine."

"No. It's never been like this. I can at least always feel his presence, somehow. We are connected."

Pierce heard Samuel growl in his mind.

Carissa pulled away and lay back on the pillows. "He's turning…isn't he."

"I think you know the answer," he replied softly acknowledging she'd just made the statement herself.

Her eyes looked at him with sudden realization. "Gregori." When Pierce didn't respond, she swallowed hard. "He's going to hunt Tyrell. That's what he really meant those years ago. Gregori isn't going to just check on him. He's going to kill him. You can't deny it, can you?"

"Carissa…"

To his dismay, she turned her head away from him. "I want to be alone."

Pierce sighed and stroked her hair. "We love you. And, as much as I loathe to admit, I don't think Tyrell would want you to feel this way. He cared about you. Do you think he would really want you so unhappy because of him?"

She sniffed. "I know…but it still hurts. I wanted him to find his way back," she whispered.

"I don't know if that was ever possible. I know we've had discussions about why some males turn vampire. You wonder if some intentionally do so, while others believe they can hold out until it's too late for them to realize what is happening. Maybe that's true, I don't know. But what I do know is that no male who has committed such crimes could ever be redeemed. Honor is something imprinted upon us males at birth. While you brought forth a glimmer of his former soul, Tyrell would never be able to reconcile his vampire ways with his true Carpathian honor."

Carissa turned her head and looked at him. "Do you think that's why he isn't sure what he is? He always said he wasn't a vampire, but he wasn't Carpathian. After he'd been exposed to those minerals, it was like he was in between both."

"He was also exposed to your lightness," Pierce added.

Tears rolled down her cheeks. "He still helped in the end. Look at all the labs he found and destroyed. I don't care what anyone else says. He was honorable to me in the end. Even if Gregori hunts him down, Tyrell deserves to be recognized somehow."

"Then we'll return to our homeland. When you know it's time, we will honor him there."

Despite her tears, Carissa's eyes looked slightly relieved. "You…you would do that?"

"Of course. Vampire or not, he saved you and our Prince. He found and destroyed so many of Morrison's labs these last five years. I'm sure we can do something. Maybe the SongMaker will help us have a ceremony to put him to rest."

Samuel's voice connected privately with him. You know that will never be true, my brother. No vampire can reclaim his honor, even through any ceremony.

I didn't say he would regain it. But is it not right for us to at least honor the acts he did for us? For our lifemate?

"He isn't gone yet," she said softly.

"How do you know? I thought you said you couldn't feel him anymore."

"Something just tells me he's still alive." Her eyes welled up with tears again. "But not for long." She blinked rapidly. "Kiss me."

Pierce obliged, bending down and kissing her lips. But what he thought would be a soothing gesture, turned into something else as Carissa licked his lips. Desire shot through him, straight to the physical point of hardening, making his pants uncomfortably tight. He tried to back away, knowing this wasn't the time, but she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer.

"Carissa," he groaned as she began to invade his mouth. She was pressing against him, the full curves of her body tempting him beyond reason. He was surprised by her sudden fierceness as she grabbed onto him. Pierce firmly held her shoulders and pulled away from her. "I think you are upset and I'm not sure if this is what you really want to do."

Her beautiful eyes seemed to shimmer when she looked at him. "I need you. I feel so empty. I need to feel complete. Please…"

Pierce inhaled sharply. He hesitated, but only for a moment before Samuel could chastise him. He took his hands from her shoulders and cupped her face. Bending down, he kissed her with infinite tenderness, determined to fill the emptiness which consumed her. He and his twin were meant to be with her and only they could complete her soul.

He lightly pushed her down onto the bed, stretching out to lie beside her. His fingers went from stroking her cheek to trailing down her neck until they reached the buttons of the blouse she wore. While he gained entrance to her mouth, his hand slipped inside to caress one of her breasts. She immediately trembled, and his lips traveled downward.

Carissa gasped as his fangs nipped her neck and his fingers rubbed against her sensitive nipple. She felt so warm and ached for him to completely unclothe her. Pierce obviously had other ideas, as he took his time in his explorations, driving her to the point of madness. Her hands moved inside his shirt, feeling the heavy muscles of his chest.

Pierce groaned as he felt her fingertips tail across his chest. Unable to stand it any longer, in the blink of an eye, both of their clothes vanished. Positioning himself over her, his knee nudged her legs to open for him. She arched up before he could even take control, taking him by surprise as they became one. She cried out and he silenced her with a kiss. He moved with powerful strokes until he had to release her lips to breathe.

Carissa suddenly grabbed hold of his shoulders and then her left hand reached out as Samuel was suddenly there, sinking his fangs into neck. Her fingers caressed Samuel's face as he drank deeply, causing her and Pierce to explode in what felt like a thousand pieces.

Pierce caught his breath, then bent down to bite the other side of her neck. He moved off her, and Samuel quickly took his place. Carissa was swamped with so much pleasure, she thought she might not survive it. Samuel sealed his bite mark shut on her neck, then kissed her lips passionately, his tongue invading, while his twin continued to drink his fill of her sweetness. Then Samuel released her mouth and placed his hand under her head, pulling her up to his neck. Without hesitation, she bit into him, causing him to shout his release.

After, she lay on her back while the twins curled around her, pulling her close. Their legs entangled with hers and each of them wrapped an arm around her waist. Both of them rested their chins near the top of her head, each kissing and caressing her.

She squeezed both of their hands with her own. "I know you don't always understand the way I feel about him. Please know, I can't live without either of you. It's not the same love I feel for him as I do for both of you. But…I want his soul to be redeemed."

"We know," whispered Pierce.

"There is good in him," she said with a tear sliding down her cheek. "I just know it."

The twins looked sadly at each other for a moment. They knew deep down, there was no hope for Tyrell, no matter what their lifemate said.

Derrick stared down at Arianna as she held back her tears. "Why are you so upset?"

She trembled as she looked a the vampire, now unconscious on the floor. What was this strange feeling she had to protect him? She focused on Derrick's question. "You throw me in a cell with a vampire to be raped and you ask why I'm upset?"

He smirked. "Well, this one didn't rape you. In fact, I'm surprised he only killed the other one and didn't do anything else. I'm sure just like the others, he was drawn to you. So why didn't he take you? In fact, it seemed almost like he was afraid of you. How very odd!"

Arianna had no explanation. Why didn't he come after her? Why was he in so much pain when she tried to communicate with him?

"God! Look at him! He's absolutely enormous! I don't think I've ever seen one so healthy. Look at his chest and shoulders! His physique is amazing."

She loathed to admit it, but Derrick was right. The vampire's body was nothing but pure muscle. Others she'd seen were more lean or even gaunt. And his long, black hair was absolutely beautiful. It was like fine silk, looking so soft she had the urge to actually touch it. Arianna was shocked to find her body reacting to the sight of him. As her only experience had been assault, she was amazed and scared when she found herself thinking about what it would be like for him to touch her in an intimate way. When an image of him making love to her flashed through her mind, she stiffened.

Making love? Where did that expression come from? This was a deadly vampire, twisted and evil. And yet he wanted nothing to do with her. For some reason, that thought made her even more upset.

Which was ridiculous.

The other remaining scientists were now scrambling in the room, most looking absolutely terrified over what just happened.

"Tom and Nick are dead," said one.

"So is Mark," said another.

Derrick grimly nodded. "We'll bury them at first light."

"But…what about their families? Shouldn't we notify-"

"All of you went through top security clearance for this opportunity!" snapped Derrick. "Or did you forget the part about that you signed up at your own risk? We'll tell their families in due time, once we have a valid story to tell. For now, no one is to know!" He glared at them. "Shackle him! We won't waste any time, even tonight, in conducting experiments. I want blood and tissue samples!" He turned his head back toward her. "And get rid of her for now. We'll use her another night."

Arianna began to cry as two men came forward and pulled her off the floor. As they carried her out of the room, she looked back and felt a strange twist in her stomach as the remaining scientists struggled to lift up the vampire. Her tears went unnoticed as they continued to carry her down the hall and dumped her back into the cell she knew so well.

For some reason, she felt frantic, a sudden urge to break free overwhelming her. She always wanted freedom, but something had changed. Her emotions were of fear and terror. But not for herself. Arianna curled into a fetal position on the floor as she realized what she was feeling.

She was terrified of what they were going to do to the vampire.