Free Carpathian 17 - Dark Curse by authors_sort Page B

\"You are safe, Lara. I am your life mate and I will always protect you to my last breath.\"
    Her cloudy, almost opaque gaze shifted to his face.
    Page 31

    Christine Feehan: Dark Curse
    \"Yes. Look at me. Focus on me. Let me lead you back.\"
    In the ice cave of her memories, he didn\'t wait for the child to respond to him. With exquisite tenderness he lifted her, covering her eyes, burying her little face against his chest, soothing her with his voice as he turned his back on that horrific scene and walked out.
    Lara\'s long lashes fluttered. The wild, pale blue of her eyes darkened as she looked at him. She drew a breath.
    Nicolas eased back, pulling her into a sitting position. She looked around her, alarm creeping into her expression.
    \"Did I hurt anyone?\" She ducked her head, refusing to meet his eyes.
    \"No one was hurt.\" He kept his voice low and soft, reassuring even as he caught her chin with firm fingers and forced him to maintain eye contact. \"No one here would ever harm you.\"
    Her heart beat too fast. He laid his palm over her breast, sending warmth into the glacier cold of her body and slowing her heart to match the even, steady beat of his. She struggled to draw breath into her lungs and he bent his dark head so their breath mingled until hers slowed to a more relaxed, effortless flow of air. Her gaze remained locked with his and he had the impression of tears, but none formed in her eyes.
    \"I will block the smell for you.\"Gregori, do not look directly at her, there is something about your eyes triggering a childhood memory . \"You should have told me it was bothering you. As your life mate, it is my duty to protect you from such things.\"
    \"I\'m a big girl, all grown up.\"
    She had felt him then, in her memories, carrying the child that was her from the ice cave. She had felt his comfort and now, even with her lower lip trembling slightly from fear, she didn\'t move away from his touch.
    He leaned forward and very gently brushed her mouth with his. He held her gaze for another long moment, his mind moving in hers, making certain the nightmare world of her childhood had receded enough to allow her some peace.
    \"Are you all right, Lara?\" Mikhail asked.
    His voice was as gentle as Nicolas\'s, she decided. He must think she was on the verge of a breakdown. And maybe she was. But Nicolas had blocked the smell of decayed blood and flesh, replacing it with the fresh scent of the forest. She even could feel a slight breeze on her face. Aside from total humiliation, she was fine. She steadfastly tried to avoid looking at the healer, but she knew, like the proverbial moth, she would be unable to help herself.
    Lara took Nicolas\'s outstretched hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet. \"I\'m fine, thank you. I hope no one was hurt.\"
    \"If I were hurt, I\'d get a new second.\" Mikhail grinned at her. \"Don\'t let him intimidate you. He practices that look every evening down by the lake.\"
    Before she could stop herself, her gaze traveled to Gregori. His silver eyes made her queasy, but she forced herself to look at him. \"I\'m not intimidated, but I am sorry. I didn\'t mean to hurt anyone.\"
    \"No one was hurt, little sister,\" Gregori said, keeping his gaze on Terry. \"If we are going to help your friend, Page 32

    Christine Feehan: Dark Curse
    we have to hurry.\"
    Lara\'s heart leapt. She had all but forgotten Terry and Gerald, who were witnessing her bizarre behavior as well as her abilities to use energy. She shouldn\'t have worried. Neither seemed to be paying attention. One of the three Carpathian males had blocked their senses and gave them false memories of what had happened.
    She was very ashamed of her behavior in front of these men. She hadn\'t even taken care of her friends.
    Squaring her shoulders, she took a step toward the bed. The presence of the parasites had opened the floodgates of her childhood memories, none of which were pleasant.
    \"Guard the door,\" Nicolas ordered, once more putting