Free Carpathian 04 - Dark Magic by authors_sort Page A

oncoming death but worried for her father, who would be pitted against this, the most cunning, the strongest of all Carpathians.
    She felt a faint stirring in her mind—not sentences but impressions. Gregori was fighting his way back Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    from madness to help her, his only thought now for her. He felt deep sorrow that he had waited too long and put her in such danger from him. Kill me , chérie. When this thing taking you is done, it will be weak, lazy, sated. Kill it then. I will do my best to aid you in this .
    Guilt washed over her. Gregori had sentenced himself to five years of hell to give her the freedom she had so desired. During that time he had walked very close to madness, yet he had held on—for her.
    Their minds were merged, and she could touch the suffering he had endured on her behalf. Now he was willing to die to save her. Savannah closed her eyes and willed her body to relax, to become soft and accepting.
    Gregori . He thought his soul was lost, that he had become a true vampire with no care for right or wrong. A wild beast with no creed, with enormous power, dangerous beyond belief. He had held out so long against the crushing black emptiness, yet now he was lost, trapped in a vortex of violence and passion, power and pleasure. She had brought him to this evil end. Her fears, her youth, were responsible for reducing his greatness to mindless savagery.
    Savannah's fingers found the nape of his neck, and she forced her own pain from her mind, trying not to feel the brutal treatment he was subjecting her to. Gregori . The Dark One. Wild. Lawless. Always alone. Never touched, completely isolated. Feared. No Carpathian was comfortable in his presence, yet he had healed many of their race, hunted their assassins, carried out justice when it was the harshest of duties, to keep their people safe.
    Who would care now for this wild beast? Who would feel gratitude for what he had sacrificed for them all? Who would ever attempt to get close enough to reach the man within? Compassion welled up in Savannah, and something else she dared not examine too closely. She could not allow such a fate to befall so great a Carpathian. She would not allow it. Her determination was beyond anything she had ever felt.
    Her hands stroked his wild mane of hair and cradled his head to her breast, giving herself up to him freely, her thoughts calm in the eye of the storm, offering him her life without reservation. Take freely, Gregori. My life for your life . It was the least she could do, no less than he had done for her, for all of their race. I am here for you, Gregori. I offer what you need freely . She meant it. She would not allow him to become the undead. She would not give him up to that soulless world.
    Savannah ! He seemed a little stronger, or perhaps she simply hoped the man was gaining on the beast.
    You must survive. Kill me . His voice was a fierce, pleading growl in her head.
    Her own mind responded. Feel me, my body joining with yours. I belong to you and you to me. Feel me with you. Reach for me. I will not let you go. Wherever you are, I am with you. Where you go, I follow. I offer my life freely for yours. You cannot take what is given to you. You have committed no wrong in taking .
    His hips continued to surge into her, but with more care, as if he was slowly returning to awareness.
    Encouraged, Savannah moved her body to meet his, matching his furious rhythm, his heart, his lungs, until they were in perfect synchronization. One body, one heart, one mind. She tried to slow them down, to coax his body to the slower, more gentle rhythm of hers.
    Savannah . Her name was a plea this time, still far away but more determined. The mouth working so ferociously at her breast gentled. Save yourself . Gregori was fighting for her as she was fighting for him.
    There is only us . She was calm now, her hands moving soothingly over the taut, rigid muscles of his