Free Dark Promises (Dark #29) by Christine Feehan Page A

wild card, but the others would stand with him. None of the ancients residing within the monastery had sworn allegiance to the prince. Not him. Not the others.
    Mikhail stepped closer but Gregori and Andre closed ranks instantly, preventing him from moving toward Aleksei. Mikhail held up his hand as Aleksei remained over Gary, holding the man down with his mind, his fist ready to remove the heart. He heard his lifemate make a single sound. Low. One of terror.
    â€œThey deserve death.” Aleksei made it a statement, but he knew he didn’t want to kill her. He wanted to keep her. He wanted the prince to perform a miracle for him. He thought Gabrielle was his miracle, but he was wrong and the bitterness in his mouth, in his mind, had turned an ugly, dark flavor.
    He planned every move in his mind. The speed he would need to kill Gary and then Gabrielle. His brethren would end him when he went into the thrall and he would still have his honor. Still. He waited. For a miracle.
    â€œI know what this appears to be,” Mikhail said. His voice was soft. Low. The sound alone carried power. Not the challenging power of a male hunter, but a magnetic, compelling sound that got into one’s mind and took away anger. Rage. The driving need to kill. “I assure you, my word as the prince of our people, this is not what it looks like.”
    â€œShe is mine.”
    â€œI am aware of that,” Mikhail said, in that same calming tone. “She does not understand, and the fault does not lie with her, or with Gary, but with us.” He indicated Gregori. “We are solely responsible for this mess.”
    Gabrielle cried out. Low. Afraid. He half turned so he could try to reassure her without putting himself at risk. She looked terrified. “Don’t,” she whispered. “Mikhail, don’t.”
    â€œYou are his true lifemate, Gabrielle. He won’t harm you. He will cherish you and protect you.”
    Gabrielle shook her head, tears running down her face. “No. I won’t accept him. I can’t. You can’t ask me to do that.”
    She really was frightened, and it was clear to Aleksei there was something he didn’t understand about the situation. She was breaking his heart standing there, one pleading hand out toward Mikhail, the blood streaking her soft wrist. Imploring him.
    Aleksei sought to reassure her. He spoke in the ancient language. Clearly she didn’t understand, continuing to stare at him with frightened eyes. How that could be, he didn’t know, but he switched to English and translated for her. “There is no reason to fear now. I am here, your true lifemate. This man will not touch you again.”
    She shook her head, tears spilling down her face. “No, you don’t understand. I refuse. I refuse to be your lifemate. I
love
him. I’m
his
.”
    Fury filled him. He’d spent centuries looking for his woman. Centuries of bleak loneliness. Hope faded, and all he had left was his honor. She would not take that from him because she was afraid. Carpathian women knew their duty. They understood what could happen when a lifemate was stripped of his other half.
    She dared to love another man? Choose another man? She was
his
. His reward. His anchor. His only hope. She had no right to refuse him. He felt the bloodlust rising in him, felt his teeth lengthen. He didn’t hesitate, not when a Daratrazanoff was trying to take his woman. Not when she was too frightened to do right by him. Not when dishonor was a breath away.
    â€œTe avio päläfertiilam. Éntölam kuulua, avio päläfertiilam. Ted kuuluak, kacad, kojed. Élidamet andam. Pesämet andam. Uskolfertiilamet andam.”
    â€œStop! Stop it!” Gabrielle screamed the words. Frantic. “Mikhail, please. Stop him. You have to make him stop.”
    He heard the tears in her voice and that tore at him, but he couldn’t stop. There was no way to stop. Not even to