Tensel waited just outside the door to his home, Maxwell on one side of him, Mathias and Lojos on the other. That meant Tomas was somewhere near. Damonq would bet his life that Afanasiv Balan, one of the ancients who had briefly stayed in the monastery, was also close. Afanasiv had been a good friend of Tensel’s growing up and they had remained close, yet he was a member of the brotherhood.“Én jutta félet és ekämet,” Tesel greeted in their ancient language, stepping forward to clasp Damonq’s forearms in the way of warriors.Friend and brother. That greeting told Damonq everything he needed to know. Tensel would have chosen another salutation if he was opposed to having Elina in his compound.“Bur tule ekämet kuntamak.” Well met, brother-kin, was Damonq’s choice of greeting.“Thank you for saving the children,” Tensel said, stepping back. “They are confined for the moment until we decide what to do about the situation.” While he spoke, his sharp gaze moved over Damonq, assessing the da
Damonq sent his spirit to examine Elina’s brain first. There were no parasites, which gave him a measure of reassurance. Darkness wasn’t taking the chance of damaging her. Of course, once he knew for certain he was losing her, he would likely turn on her and do everything in his power to kill her. To help protect her from that possibility, Damonq built a heavy shield around her brain, one he was certain the parasites couldn’t penetrate. He did the same with her heart and lungs, then her ovaries and womb. Gary was doing the same for the baby, once he pushed the parasites from her little body, back into Elina’s.It is time, Gary said, when they had completed building their shields.Healer? Darkness made the name sound like a curse. Do you think you possibly can take on a devil and win?Gary made no reply. Damonq admired him even more for ignoring the master monster as if he were a mere nuisance, far beneath his notice. The two withdrew from Elina’s body and each returned to his own.“I’
It took every bit of discipline Damonq had to cross to the edge of the dirt. He flowed over the soil rather than expending physical energy on walking. He couldn’t let the parasites escape to get into the ground. This time, Maxwell was waiting to incinerate Darkness’s creatures and replenish Damonq’s lost blood.While Damonq forced the parasites from his body, pushing the infected blood through his pores, the gathered ancients continued singing the lullaby for the baby. They sang of peace and strength, of love for her, urging her to hold on, that they were there for her, waiting for her. He found the song soothing and hoped the baby did as well.It took a great deal longer to rid his body of the parasites, and he was cognizant of how much effort Andor had expended to shield his most vital organs. Maxwell incinerated the expelled parasites as they tried to rush for the soil. He was thorough, making certain not even one escaped. Damonq drank the powerful, ancient blood Maxwell offered, t
Sandu leapt out of the way of the whip of lightning. More crashed through the crack, swinging around in the air like sizzling snakes seeking a target. Gary threw his body over Elina’s, taking her to the ground, while the ancients scattered in every direction. Each took a corner, ducking as the lashes bit into the ground, slamming all around Damonq.In the midst of the chaos, the parasites had to be watched so that none slipped into the ground. They all knew that the microbes could infect the soil and cause miscarriages in the women. They couldn’t risk that taint spreading here.Elina’s cries nearly drove Damonq mad. Every instinct he had – ancient and lifemate – pressed him to get to her at any cost. To protect her, ease her transition into her new life and protect their child. As he turned toward her, lightning whips lashed all around him, striking the ground, shaking the entire house and healing grounds as they sought him.Elina needed his blood. He felt the first pain blossoming in
You know me now. Damonq said to the child. Please accept this offering of my blood to make you strong. I offer it with my protection and this promise – to cherish you, to love you, to always protect you. Be strong for us, for your mother and me. Once the conversion is complete, you will both, mother and daughter, be wholly in our world. You will always be my daughter, close to my heart. Be strong, little one. Stay very strong and know I am with you. The healer will be with you. Listen to the song our people sing to you. It is for you, all of them helping you to hold on. All of our people waiting to meet you when you come to us whole and healthy.In response, he felt a faint flutter in his mind, as if the baby had reached out for him, trying to connect back. At the same time, just as he could feel Elina’s pain, now he could feel the child’s. Healer. The baby.Gary immediately shed his body and entered Elina’s to help ease the baby’s transition into their world. Damonq had lost coun
Damonq gathered Elina to him, opening the earth in the richest spot he could find. He would place her in it the moment he could safely command her and Carisma to sleep the healing sleep of their people. Until then he needed to hold her – not for her, but for him. He nuzzled the top of her head, the shadow along his jaw catching in her thick hair. He loved those silken strands, every single one of them, and she had a lot of hair. It was the color that had caught his eye, all that midnight black.“You’re almost there, sívamet. We’re so close.”“What happened? All the lightning. It was terrifying. I couldn’t see much because Gary threw me to the ground and covered my body with his. Beneath me, I felt the ground sizzling, almost like it was fighting back, but I knew it was him – Darkness. I knew he was attacking you. He kept saying he was going to kill you and the baby.”The little catch in her voice, almost a sob, made his heart clench so hard it hurt. That catch was there for him. He c
Never inappropriate, Elina whispered into Damonq’s mind.He fell hard. Fast. So deep he was out of breath. Every beat of his heart was for her. She was – extraordinary. All those weeks she had suffered Darkness’s attacks, his parasites hurting her, over and over in an attempt to force her into compliance with the master devil’s wishes. She’d held out. She’d kept her baby alive even when Darkness turned his attacks to it. Now, when her insides were dying and being reborn, when she was suffering because of him…Silly man. Not because of you. This is my choice. Keeping the baby was my choice. Defying Darkness was my choice. You are my choice.Her body writhed, twisted, was lifted up, jerking, as he held her to him to keep her from slamming down. That didn’t matter to her. Her mind was peaceful. Serene. She’d chosen, and her choice was him. Damonq with his road map of scars on his face and the tattoos carved, rather than inked into his skin. His vow – to her.Tell me. I need to feel your
Damonq pushed back strands of damp hair from her face. She was sweating blood. There were dots of it on her forehead and smears on her body. He opened the earth right next to them, making it deep. Seeing the shimmer of rich minerals made his heart a little lighter.This is the scary part. Buried alive.Her voice tried to make light of it, but he felt the undertone of horror. You will sleep and the baby will sleep. When you wake, you will be out from under the soil. On your rising we will practice opening and closing the soil until I know you are always safe and feel confident in your abilities.He brushed a kiss across her mouth. He, as always throughout her ordeal, had swept away the dots of blood on her forehead and the smears on her body. All toxins were gone and the air was sweet-smelling and fresh. Still, she turned her head away.I am not clean.You are very clean. I will put you under before the next wave starts. I’ll sleep beside you this night. He waited for her consent. It