Chapter 31

Viktor stared at the dark ancient. "And why would Nikolai be here?" When Tyrell did not respond, something deep flared within his chest. "Anya," he growled. "He has been watching her." He actually bared his fangs. "She is under my protection."

"I do not know this Anya you speak of."

"She was one of the children Nikolai watched over. As she had no family bloodline, she was assigned to me as my ward. He was never comfortable with the decision and questioned my loyalty repeatedly."

The dark ancient raised an eyebrow. "While I do not deny the boy can be an annoyance from my own brief interactions with him, I do not understand your reaction."

Viktor narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean? I am simply protecting her as I should."

"You appear worried he will take her from you."

"I lost emotion long ago. My fierce protection is because my assignment to her is the last link I have to retaining my honor. I am on the edge of turning. She is all that is holding me from the darkness."

"I see," Tyrell simply replied. "But for whatever reason, the SongMaker knew Nikolai would be here."

The statement shook Viktor to the core. If Armando knew Nikolai would be here, it could only mean Anya must be the boy's future lifemate. Which explained why Nikolai felt an impulse to be near her. Even worse, Viktor knew he could not interfere.

Tyrell turned his attention to the trees. "He is powerful for one so young."

Viktor loathed to admit he did not even sense Nikolai. When he felt a presence, it was Tyrell. Even now, he could not detect any disturbance, and within feet of his own home. He all but hissed out into the forest. "Nikolai, show yourself."

The wind picked up and a swirl of mist dissolved into Nikolai's form. The young hunter was tall with broad shoulders while his eyes looked all too similar to the Prince himself. But Viktor was not about to forget Draven was the father. What if Nikolai inherited the same illness? What would happen to Anya?

"Why are you here?" snapped Viktor as the young hunter casually leaned against a tree.

"Why do you care so much?" His tone was smug.

Viktor wanted to throttle the boy. Nikolai probably knew about Anya. He worked closely with the SongMaker when she was growing up. The young hunter was always so protective of her and hated Viktor for being around. It took everything within him to get the words out but his honor demanded it. "I will not interfere when she comes of age."

Nikolai tilted his head. "Interfere? With Anya?"

"You heard me," he replied in a low voice.

Nikolai grew puzzled at the ancient's choice of words. What did he mean? That Anya would be given a choice to get away from Viktor when she came of age? Anya was Viktor's lifemate. The SongMaker admitted this only to Nikolai, Mikhail, and Gregori. But Viktor did not know…did he?

"You have always been protective of her," growled Viktor. "I give you my word I will not interfere when she chooses to leave."

"And go where? She will still need protection."

Viktor gave a low laugh, something extremely rare for a Carpathian with no sense of feeling. "I am sure you will figure it out, Nikolai." Tyrell, the dark ancient, was looking back and forth between them as he tried to comprehend what was going on. Hell, Nikolai wished he had the answer.

The door suddenly opened and the three of them turned their heads as Anya and Elana appeared. Time seemed to stand still for Nikolai as he looked at both of them. Anya was as beautiful as ever, but he still could not get over how much Elana had grown. Her hair was nothing but silky curls. The color was a golden blonde like the animated drawings out of the fairytale Goldilocks he used to read to the children.

"Nikolai?" asked Anya. She rushed forward and embraced him. "It's still so good to see you! I'm always worried now that you will leave again."

Nikolai lost his voice as he glanced at Elana. She was staring right at him with large blue eyes as Anya continued to squeeze him tightly in her embrace. Of course, Viktor was watching as well and Nikolai could see the ancient's hands were curled into fists.

Anya pulled away and looked over at the darker ancient standing nearby. Nikolai watched her grow cold and she took a step back. "Who is that?"

Nikolai stepped slightly closer to her for protection. "He is a vampire who claims to have a lifemate."

Elana stepped closer to Viktor. "What? That's not true, is it?"

"That is what your precious teacher the SongMaker claims. And my uncle believes him as well."

Tyrell shook his head. "I do not have time for this. I need to speak with you alone, Nikolai."

"And why is that, vampire?"

He sighed. "It is not a conversation for others to hear. And," he paused glancing at the females, "it is safer for them."

Nikolai looked over at Elana who was clearly frightened by the dark ancient. He wanted to drag her to him and show her just how much he'd grown in his power. She would be safe with him. He suddenly glared at Viktor. "Why is she not with Nicolas De Cruz and his lifemate?"

"Elana?" asked Viktor.

Anya touched Nikolai's arm. "She and I are close friends. I see her a lot."

"And Nicolas allows this?"

Elana was still watching Tyrell with frightened eyes. "I-I like it here."

"But Viktor is not your guardian."

"Nikolai," protested Anya, "Viktor never lets us anywhere out of his sight. We're fine."

"I assure you, both are well protected," said Viktor who was looking at him. "I always set safeguards, especially when Elana stays to sleep in the ground."

"Stays? Nikolas allows Elana to stay here for long periods of time?"

"He is quite busy with Lara and her aunts. There is much for them to uncover about the past and their origin. The caves they were held captive in hold many keys to-"

"What kind of guardian allows his ward to stay with an unattached male?" demanded Nikolai. He knew he was being completely irrational given Viktor was Anya's lifemate. But still.

"And so you continue to doubt my ability to uphold my honor. You are worried I cannot protect Anya as I might be distracted by Elana. I am tired of this Nikolai. Soon enough Anya will be of age and she can choose what she wants to do."

"I can?" asked Anya with surprise on her face.

"Although we are uncertain of your exact age, it is clear you are almost mature," Viktor replied. "Nikolai has never trusted me with watching over you. Perhaps if he stays long enough, you will choose to be with him instead."

Nikolai watched as Anya opened her mouth and then shut it. The girl was clearly shocked by Viktor's statement. Then again, so was Nikolai. What was the ancient playing out? Was this a test to see if Anya would be ready to be Viktor's lifemate? Or did Viktor truly not know?

Tyrell broke the silence with a low growl and the two women cringed, making both Viktor and Nikolai shifting in their stance for better positioning should they need to fight. The vampire's black eyes glared at both of them. "This is of no concern to me. Nikolai, I am leaving. You can either choose to follow me to a secure location or stay here and fight Viktor over the protection of these fledglings."

Anya raised her chin. "I'm not some silly girl, you know. I have my own powers. You don't frighten me."

A cruel smile played upon Tyrell's lips and he gave a soft laugh. "You remind me of my lifemate. Fearless, when she should be weary of not just me, but any unattached male."

She shook her head. "I think only strange, lost souls like yours are in danger."

"Indeed," replied Tyrell giving her a mocking bow. "My soul is black and cannot be saved."

"Not even by your so-called lifemate?" asked Anya.

He smiled even more, making sure to show his fangs. "Learn this lesson well, my dear. All males have a darkness within them." His eyes roamed down her body, making Anya squirm and making Nikolai clench his jaw. "And they will look for an unprotected female, lifemate or not."

"That's enough!" growled Nikolai. "Get going, vampire, before I change my mind and simply attack you now."

Tyrell dissolved into mist, streaming into the night sky. Anya clutched Nikolai's arm. "Please! Don't follow him! You know he is up to something. Let him go and stay with us!"

Nikolai looked over at Elana who was trembling. He hated the fact that she was behind Viktor. He suddenly shook his head as if trying to clear it. Why was he so overprotective of Anya and Elana? Maybe it was because at one time he was the only male figure that they knew who once raised and protected them. Maybe it was because it felt like Viktor replaced him.

Nikolai gently disengaged from Anya. "You need to be more sure of the power I have achieved over the last years. Have faith in me." He couldn't help grinning at Viktor. "You will have a challenging time getting rid of me now that I have returned." Viktor frowned but said nothing. Nikolai gently kissed Anya's hand and then stepped back.

Elana nervously came out from behind Viktor. "Be safe," she said quietly.

Nikolai felt his chest grow tight. "You should return to Nikolas. You would be safer. Do you understand?" When she nodded, he felt more at ease. In a blink of an eye, he turned to vapor and followed after Tyrell.

Grumbling to himself, Tyrell made his way deeper into the mountains. Although it was challenging, he could sense the young hunter following him. Once again, Tyrell was quite impressed by Mikhail's nephew. He appeared to be quite powerful in his youth, even knowing some dark magic. But Tyrell also knew his plan to include the young hunter was risky. Draven was known to betray others in his youth and the boy could end up being just like his father.

The SongMaker disagreed, firmly believing the boy was capable of honor. But Armando also warned him that unfortunately Nikolai was very young and in a vulnerable state. He could be lured by the power to simply prove himself and his ego may go as far as to think he was a better leader than the Prince himself.

Spotting a well hidden cave, Tyrell descended at a rapid pace and took shape on top of a large boulder. Nikolai's mist suddenly swirled and to Tyrell's surprise, it briefly turned into a twister made of fire. When his human form emerged, the young hunter's eyes were dark. He stood on a rock ledge, giving him a similar height to Tyrell.

"Impressed?" asked Nikolai.

"Impressed that your little fire trick almost gave our location away? No, I think not."

Nikolai snorted. "I have the ability to sense even the most skilled of ancients nearby. If anyone were to give away our location, it would be you."

"Tell me," said Tyrell in a quiet voice, "what do you really want?"

"Want? How about for starters my uncle not trusting the likes of you?"

"Ah, of course. So you are wanting to take his place."

"If things do not improve, that is always a possibility."

Tyrell raised an eyebrow. "A possibility to overthrow him?"

"I did not speak specifics. Most likely you as a vampire are the one who wants to overthrow him."

Tyrell shrugged. "In truth, I have no interest."

"Then what do you want?"

"Revenge." He turned his head upward to look into the night sky. "I have been destroying Morrison labs for the last five years and not once did I come upon Morrison himself."

"How interesting. A vampire that cares."

"Carpathian or vampire, Morrison has developed a number of methods to capture and control us. They are also abducting innocent women who have psychic powers such as the one who turned out to be my lifemate. The most dangerous control comes from the same minerals which held the SongMaker captive. The Albino has these minerals which allows him to control his army of vampires who hide in a number of unknown areas within the mountains."

Nikolai looked at him with suspicion. "And just why should I care what you say? For all I know, it could be nothing but lies."

"You want to prove yourself. I cannot take any mated male with me as it would be too hard for the albino or wizard to believe. They would suspect a trap."

"So why not one of the other unattached males?"

"The power of the minerals is strong, Nikolai. If the darkness is upon them, they would turn."

The young hunter grimaced. "And so, you admit my power can withstand such a thing?"

"I did not say that. But you have a better chance in withstanding such control. You are still young, but with a decent amount of power."

Nikolai laughed. "Decent? I would like to see you even try to take me down again. I am not killed so easily. For all I know, this is simply a trap to lure me into thinking I'm going to be able to take down the Albino and wizard, only to find myself held captive instead."

"Something tells me you were already going to search for the Albino. He is one of a long line of descendants which held you and the children. Revenge is a powerful motivator. But you must also be logical. With a wizard and an army of vampires, you need an ally."

"Perhaps I am stronger than you think and I need no one."

"I thought the same of myself until I faced off with ten vampires by myself. And think of the fact that they are controlled by the minerals, leaving them with no fear of death."

The young hunter was silent for a moment. "Maybe I can reach the Albino and wizard first before he gets the chance to control them."

"Do we have an agreement?"

Nikolai scowled. "If I do this and you betray me, the last thing you will remember will be the pain I will unleash upon you."

Tyrell smiled. "The same can be said for you, son of Draven."