Dark Promises (Dark #29) by Christine Feehan Page B

me, Gary. I
know
it. If you lose your emotions, we’ll deal with that. But it should be
my
risk.
My
choice. I should have that right. I work with hot viruses; do you think I wouldn’t risk everything for you? I’m fighting for us, Gary. I need to know I’m just as important to you as you are to me. I need you to fight for me.”
    She laid it all out. Courageous. Right in front of Andre and Teagan. She bared her soul, leaving herself exposed and vulnerable to him. There was no resisting that. He felt the smile start somewhere deep inside of him. She was right. She was
so
right. Fifty years in a Carpathian’s life was nothing. For them, it would be everything they wanted.
    â€œI love you, Gabrielle,” he stated. “I love you with every breath in my body. And honey, never, for one moment, think you aren’t worth fighting for. I’d die for you. You aren’t second to anyone. You’re my number-one priority.”
    Her face lit up. Like sunshine. Like the stars over his head. Lighting his world. He might not be able to see in color, but he could see the light shining like a beacon—for him. His heart jerked in his chest.
    â€œI think Andre and Teagan can handle this assignment without me. I was here to observe, if the ancients even wanted to try Teagan’s experiment. We can leave now. Go to the States, live out our time there.”
    Gabrielle flung herself at him with a glad cry, her mouth turned up to his. He caught her in midair, wrapping his arms around her at the same timeshe wrapped her legs around him. His mouth found hers, tasting her. Tasting the wild in her. The wild she never let anyone see, but he always knew it was there, under the surface. His. She’d been his from the moment he laid eyes on her.
    He kissed her. Hard. Wet. A kiss that promised there was a lot more to come. Her mouth was a kind of paradise, her taste addicting. Sweet. Pure honey. Her body jerked hard, nearly pulling her from his arms. He lifted his head. Saw her eyes wide with shock and fear.
    â€œGary,” she whispered. Scared. Terrified.
    Her body jerked again. Hard. Hard enough to tear her from his arms. She screamed as she flew backward, slamming into the thick wooden gates of the monastery. Vines, like snakes, circled her wrists and drew her hands above her head. More vines wrapped around her waist, pinning her to the massive wall, holding her there, a prisoner.
    She screamed again, her eyes on him. “Help! What’s happening? What’s wrong? Help me!”

    A voice woke him. A soft musical murmur. Sound. Melodic. The notes pushed through the darkness of his mind. Silvery notes that left a small trail in their wake. He could almost see them, tiny, narrow streams of liquid silver penetrating the dense sheet of unrelenting darkness. The streaks left trails through his mind, much like a comet. The light spread. Sank deep.
    Aleksei waved his hand to remove the soil surrounding him. The musical notes went from silver to gold.
Gold.
Not gray. Not a dull, dingy white.
Gold.
Silver and gold. He could see the notes dancing through the sheet of darkness, bursting like stars, ripping the sheet to shreds. Each note tore more of the dark from his mind, letting in the light until the backs of his eyes burned.
    He blinked rapidly and looked around slowly, his eyes hooded, lashes fanning down to protect his vision. The carefully cultivated plants were in bloom and he could see the riot of colors. So bright. So vibrant. His eyes burned and the intensity of the colors caused a lurch in his belly. Disorienting. Still.
Colors.
    He took a deep breath and drew in the air she breathed. His lifemate.She was close. Right outside the gates. He heard her, that soft murmur. Plea. She was arguing with someone. He drew her into his lungs. Deep. Deeper. Holding her right there with the miracle of silver and gold notes burning through his shredded soul. Cauterizing. Attempting to repair the damage done