Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 118860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Tomas allowed himself to read her thoughts. She was relaxed, enjoying herself, eyes closed and hopeful he would massage her scalp. He did so, taking his time, tuning to her every reaction.
“I love this, Tomas, thank you.” She murmured it with her head back, eyes closed, and a feeling of peace stole into the room. “I try not to be afraid of us, but that fear creeps in. I tell myself I’ve made up my mind to be your lifemate, and then something happens, and I want to run. I don’t like that trait in myself, but I can’t seem to stop the behavior.”
His fingers were strong, massaging her scalp, producing the sensations his lifemate needed. “You have to be kinder to yourself, Sarika.” He liked that she felt comfortable enough to tell him how she was feeling. “You’re putting too high a demand on yourself. You expect to learn our ways and accept the way we exchange blood without having the time to process. I think you’re amazing.” He poured his genuine admiration into her mind.
“Do you intend to do another blood exchange with me?”
“I do.” He was truthful with her. She was his lifemate, and one never deceived one’s lifemate. “It takes three blood exchanges to bring you fully into our world. If you have two and we are attacked and you’re hurt, I would be able to save you by giving you the third exchange.”
She was silent while she contemplated what he said. “I think we are going to be attacked, Tomas. I know none of you feel the threat the way I do, and I don’t blame you for not believing me, but I know in my gut I’m right.”
“I’ve never said I don’t believe you. I am in your mind, sivamet. I can see this worry and feel the growing dread in you. I have searched your mind to find the source of your fears and cannot find it. Have you discovered who or what is going to attack us?”
She kept her eyes closed, enjoying the feel of the warm water as he rinsed her hair. “They will attack the women, not any of you. Or at least, that’s my first guess.”
Tomas’ gut tightened. He felt that the threat to his lifemate was very real. He not only believed her that they would be attacked, but after being in her mind, his warning radar had gone off with equal strength.
“How would that be possible if we are always with you?” Tomas wanted to hear her theory. He knew she had one. She had an intelligent mind. He’d read every letter she wrote to him, and even as a child she had grasped a problem and come up with not only one solution but several. She would have considered how the enemy might try to get to the women and children.
“I’ve given it quite a bit of thought,” she admitted. “If they are going to strike, they must realize they would have to kill all of us in one fast blow. If they missed, the Carpathian males would be on them, and they wouldn’t stand a chance.”
Tomas couldn’t conceive how the enemy would be able to get to the women and children. It just didn’t seem possible. “Dominic and Solange’s home is safeguarded,” he pointed out. “With the threat and all the women gathered in one place, all Carpathian ancients will add to the safeguards. There would be no possibility of getting through those protections.”
“I disagree, Tomas. You’re very used to being so powerful that no one ever really challenges you. It doesn’t always have to be a big thing that is the downfall of the strong. It can be so small one can’t see it.”
She was making sense when he didn’t want her to. He wanted to believe that with so many ancients close by, nothing could ever harm their women—in particular, his lifemate. A part of him wanted to catch her up in his arms and vanish from the forest until all threats had passed.
“You are very sure, Sarika. With each passing minute, you seem to get even more certain.” He made it a statement, not an accusation. She was coming back to herself, that courageous woman who had the self-confidence to face down a jaguar who was both angry and hurt.
“I think I was born at least once before, centuries ago, and it didn’t end well for me.”
“I agree,” he validated, hearing the note of doubt in her voice. She didn’t doubt she was right; she doubted he would believe her. “I looked at your memories and saw you. I recognized you. After witnessing Mitro’s reprehensible behavior, you have every reason to fear Carpathians.”
“If I can be reborn over and over, carrying your soul with me, wouldn’t it stand to reason that some of our greatest enemies could be as well?”