Chapter 19

Arianna stared at the man who looked so much like the Prince. Slowly, she shook her head. "I belong with Tyrell."

Nikolai's eyes narrowed. "This foolish behavior is at an end."

Before she could understand what he meant, Arianna gasped as she was suddenly pushed by some unseen force toward Nikolai. He quickly wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close to him. Her heart was racing as Nikolai transformed into a large, red dragon. She was lifted into the air, his claws surrounding her entire body.

"Let me go!" But struggling was useless. She was completely immobile and began to feel dizzy as they climbed into the sky. Arianna closed her eyes, wanting to reach out to Tyrell but couldn't focus.

Then they were rapidly descending, the wind hitting her face. Her feet suddenly touched the ground and when the claws around her disappeared, she stumbled as she tried to regain her balance. A hand encircled her arm, steadying her. Breathing heavily, she opened her eyes to find a breathtaking view. They were standing on a large verandah which wrapped around an enormous home high in the mountains.

Nikolai was tall standing next to her and spoke in a low voice. "I forgot how beautiful this is."

She swallowed. "Why did you leave?"

His dark eyes shifted down to hers, but they didn't seem threatening. "One sometimes has to be alone before he can fully understand himself."

Arianna didn't want to be alone. She wanted Tyrell. No matter who he was or what he did in his past. "Please let me go."

"Being tied to a vampire is not meant to be, little one. We will seek other alternatives for you."

"Nikolai?"

Both of them turned around to find the Prince looking at both of them. Behind him was the man with the eerie silver eyes which seemed to narrow with distrust.

"Hello, Uncle."

Mikhail looked with surprise at Arianna. "Why are you here? What has happened?"

"He attacked Tyrell." There was an urgency in her voice. "I don't know where he is now. The sun rises in only a few hours!"

Nikolai frowned. "Tell me you did not actually leave her to face a fate with him."

The Prince sighed. "You do not understand. What is more important is that you are home." He took a few steps closer. "Nikolai, I have been worried about you."

Nikolai seemed to smirk. "Really? Tell me, did Raven miss me as well?"

"Of course she did. We all did. We have been searching for you for the past five years, Nikolai."

A smooth voice came from behind Mikhail. "What is going on?" Arianna blinked to find the man with glittering eyes coming out of the house. When he saw Nikolai, he grew still.

"Surprised to see me, teacher?"

"I knew you would return one day," he said softly.

"Ah yes, because as the oldest ancient, you know everything. You probably knew the only way for me to find myself was to leave."

The man with the silver eyes spoke in a low voice. "And what have you found?"

He gave a light laugh in response. "I am certain the bodyguard of the Prince would like to know a great number of things regarding my journey."

Arianna was growing desperate. She didn't understand anything they were talking about. "Please! We need to find Tyrell! He will be facing the dawn."

Mikhail grew serious. "Gregori, go with Julian and gather a search party of hunters to find him."

She flew forward and grabbed his hand. "Let me go with them. His blood is in me. I can help to find him!"

Nikolai scoffed. "If you are even thinking about letting her go, things are far worse than I thought."

Gregori folded his arms across his broad chest. "And exactly what do you mean by that?"

"No female belongs to a vampire."

"The SongMaker declared their union. It is real."

"Real?" Nikolai shot back. "These unions, are they what is meant to be, or what the SongMaker has us believe."

Mikhail's jaw tightened. "I trust Armando."

"Do you? Or are you the one behind his declarations?"

The Prince looked down at Arianna for a moment, then let go of her hand. Hw walked calmly toward Nikolai and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You are my nephew, my blood, and my family. And I want you to come home."

"Home, is an interesting word, uncle. Is this my home? I seem to recall your hunters not giving me a warm welcome."

Mikhail lowered his hand. "What is the reason for this anger?"

He shrugged in response. "Perhaps like father, like son."

"You are not my brother," the Prince firmly replied. "I refuse to believe there is anything but good in you. The children have missed you, Nikolai. You were their leader."

"Indeed," Nikolai said in an oddly confident tone. "And perhaps decisions such as the one with this female indicate you may not be what our people need."

Gregori hissed. "Mikhail is the Prince. Are you questioning his leadership?"

Nikolai suddenly pulled Arianna back, his arm encircling her tight against his body. "I believe there are other alternatives rather than throwing a special female's life away on a vampire. In fact, I have learned much on my travels, Dark One. Magic is not only meant for wizards. We are the most powerful beings in this world. It is time to expand our abilities."

Before Gregori could lash out, Mikhail looked at his nephew with a steady gaze. "Let her go. You do not understand the bond she has with the male you attacked."

"I don't understand? It is interesting how you always kept information from me, uncle. Not volunteering any information about my father…"

"I was only trying to protect you. In time, I would have told you everything."

Nikolai shook his head. "You treated me like a child." He glared at Gregori. "All of you. I was trapped in time and leader to the children. But I quickly found out how insignificant my abilities were in comparison to other Carpathians."

"Developing our gifts take time," replied Mikhail. "Patience is what you first must learn."

"Patience did not give me the skills I needed. Anger and emotion gave me more power than anything."

"Nikolai, that power can be dangerous. It must be controlled."

"Only once out on my own did I discover my hidden talent, one that none of you possess. But why reveal it now? I shall use it to my strength when the time is right. Even your precious SongMaker could not bring it forth until I discovered it on my own."

Armando spoke in a quiet voice. "You have not found everything just yet, Nikolai."

"No?"

The SongMaker looked at him with knowing eyes. "Five years was not enough time for you."

Nikolai clenched his jaw. "In other words, you want me to leave."

"I want you to complete your path and unfortunately, it has only just begun."

Arianna gasped as Mikhail's nephew tightened his grip around her waist. "I spent an eternity in that cave! I am far older than others! No, my path has led me here, to finally understand my purpose in the life I have left. And once I have the Albino and his vampires under my control, you will think twice as to who should lead our people."

Gregori stepped forward, his intent to obviously take down Nikolai. But Mikhail stopped his second in command. "Do as you will," the Prince replied in a sad voice. "But you should not have interfered with this woman and her lifemate. Let her go."

"She is special and will be useful to me. Why sacrifice such a gift?"

The Prince looked directly at Arianna. "I am sorry for what has happened. It appears your pain must continue."

She stared back at him. He was abandoning her? Couldn't he think of some way for her to get free? But there was something in Mikhail's eyes which made her puzzled. He was sending her some type of message…

Nikolai smiled. "You will not find me."

Arianna cried out as she was suddenly swept up in rush of wind. She lost sight of Mikhail and everything else around her. When the wind finally stopped, she opened her eyes to find herself back in the forest. Shaking, she looked at him. "How did you do that?"

He gave her an amused look. "One learns many new things in the world of magic."

"I don't understand."

"The only part you need to understand is how to use your special gift."

To her horror, Nikolai held up a syringe. She backed away. "Where did you get that?"

"I have picked up a few things in my exploration. And you as a psychic will attract the vampires once this enhances your mind. There are some useful discoveries from those Morrison labs. And this is one of them."

Arianna tried to pull away, his grip on her like iron. She was being used. Tyrell thought Nikolai would protect her, but he had other plans for her to help him achieve power. She thought about Mikhail's words and suddenly lunged toward Nikolai. He was taken off guard, and she raked her nails down his face.

Nikolai hissed. "Stop this," he said as he dropped the needle and held her arms. "I do not wish to hurt you."

But that was exactly what she had in mind. She began to twist in his grip, the force so extreme that to his complete shock, Arianna broke her wrist.

A look of true concern filled his face as she cried out. He loosened his hold while she still continued to struggle. "Do you want to break the other wrist as well? Cease this futile attempt which is only hurting yourself!"

And then a swirl of mist appeared, the tall dark figure of Tyrell taking form in front of them. He felt his eyes blacken when he saw what happened. His fury was like nothing he'd ever known, and he attacked the hunter before there was any chance for him to see it coming. The hunter let go of Arianna in an attempt to block his blows. Tyrell showed no mercy, remembering this young hunter was extremely skilled in battle. But when he pinned the hunter to the ground and went for his heart, Arianna stopped him.

"Don't! Please don't kill him."

Without taking his eyes off the hunter, Tyrell growled.

Arianna continued to plead with him. Her pain had called out to him, but she also should have realized Tyrell would end Nikolai's life. "He is the nephew of the Prince!"

In response, Tyrell gave a cold smile. "I should have known. A young hunter, ready to challenge the world and rebel against his family."

"I almost beat you before," said Nikolai as he struggled to break free. "You are fortunate I was distracted."

"Hmm, yes she is distracting, that is true. I found out that little detail ever since I laid eyes on her." He gripped Nikolai's throat. "And yet I still could not even trust you to protect her."

"She is not…meant…for you." By now Nikolai was beginning to choke, the force of Tyrell's claws closing around his throat beginning to take its toll.

"Tyrell," Arianna said softly from behind him. "Stop. Please."

He paused, then in a blink of an eye, Tyrell swiftly picked up Arianna and was gone in an instant, leaving Nikolai in anger while he watched them leave.

Author's note: Happy Thanksgiving!