11
Silke met Benedek one hour after sunset on the outskirts of the forest, just as he had asked her to. She gave off such low energy, he wouldn’t have known how nervous she was if he hadn’t immediately merged with her the moment he awakened from his paralyzing sleep.
He didn’t trust anything different, and that included his strange emotions. The moment he became aware, his first thought was for Silke. His mind instantly tuned itself to hers. He had to know where she was. What she was doing. If she was alive and well. What state she was in. Had their negotiations really been successful or did she still want to run from him? The thoughts had flooded his mind instantly upon awakening.
It was normal to wake up needing blood. He had done so for centuries. It was not normal to be obsessed with a woman. Was she thinking of him? He had to know. She was extremely sensitive to the flow of energy around her. He was fortunate that he was as old and as experienced as he was. That experience enabled him to home in on her exact location and enter her mind without her knowledge.
He was concerned with his need to touch her. He didn’t trust thathe was so invested in her—and he was. He didn’t believe in lying to himself. That moment of realization when he woke that it was as necessary as breathing to reach out to her was alarming.
The fact that she was nervous around him helped. He couldn’t find a single deceptive pretense in her when he moved through her mind. She was apprehensive about their meeting; afraid he would insist on binding them together. He had planned to do just that, but now, feeling her fears, he decided to give her a few hours to get used to him and the idea of being permanently tied to him.
“Silke,” he greeted, and deliberately leaned into her to press a brief kiss to her forehead.
A thousand sparks leapt between them at the casual contact. He hadn’t expected such a physical reaction to touching her. She felt it, too. He knew because she froze and her gaze leapt to his. He gave her that faint smile, the one she saw only in her mind.
“That was unexpected.” Admitting he felt the connection between them seemed like the only reasonable thing to do. He didn’t want to play games. As far as he was concerned, if this was going to work between them, they needed absolute honesty. Being in her mind, he would catch any lie she told.
Her long lashes swept down, veiling her eyes. “I think it would be far more likely that you would be the one to lie to me. Or at least be deceptive.”
Catching his thoughts meant she was even more sensitive than he’d first considered. He had some barriers in place to shield her from his past. She didn’t need to look at the various battles and the aftermath of them throughout the centuries. But he would have to guard his mind a little more to protect her. If she knew, she wouldn’t think he was protecting her, she’d believe he was hiding important information from her.
“You believe I’m deceptive?” Everyone in the world was afraid of him just on sight. She was nervous and intelligent enough to know he was lethal, but she still stood up to him. He liked that in her. Herespected that she wasn’t a pushover. He needed a woman willing to stand up for herself and not ever let him take advantage.
“Don’t play innocent.” Amusement slipped over her expressive face. “You know very well you’re hiding important information from me.” Her eyes went speculative as they moved over his face, feature by feature. “You are, aren’t you?”
She knew enough to ask a direct question. That served her well. He would either have to admit the truth or lie to her.
“I believe it is necessary for us to have truth between us at all times, even if it’s difficult. The most important thing we can have between us is trust. So yes, I’m omitting several important pieces of information.”
He saw from her expression and the feeling of relief in her mind that he’d chosen the right path with her. Had he attempted to deceive she would have known, and any chance they had at a real relationship would have been gone. He had to handle his lifemate with care. He hoped he could do so. He had never cared enough to change the way he approached life. Head-on. Directly. People got out of his way because he didn’t have time or the inclination for finesse.
Benedek was intensely loyal to the few ancients he considered his brethren. Anyone else he avoided if at all possible. He would take his brethren’s backs every time, even if that meant going into situations where he was forced to be around people. He preferred the wilds of the mountains and forests. He felt at home there.
“Why would you feel it necessary to keep from me what you just have admitted is important information?”
He didn’t hear a reprimand. More curiosity than annoyance or anger. He was beginning to believe his woman had really been created for him. Or that he’d been created for her. That was nonsensical and ridiculous for him to even entertain such a romantic notion when he didn’t even have a decent heart to give her.
Benedek held out his hand to her. She hesitated the briefest of moments, but he felt that tiny falter in the region of his chest. His fingersclosed around hers. Just touching her was an experience. New. Strange. Exhilarating.
“Let’s get into the safety of the trees. I’ve never liked being out in the open. I’ll confess I have a need to protect you. I know you’re going to give me grief for even telling you that. I’m well aware you’re a slayer. I saw you in action and have the greatest respect for your abilities, but that doesn’t seem to stop my need to ensure your well-being.”
He found the small path leading into the forest. It was just wide enough for them to walk side by side, although he kept one step ahead of her to shield her quickly if needed. They weren’t alone in the forest. He recognized that immediately. She didn’t hesitate. If anything, her nerves quieted. Whatever was in the forest watching them, Silke not only was aware of but was friends with.
He took a careful look around, seeing with more than eyes. Every sense spread out to find the hidden watchers. There were several. He didn’t sense hostility so much as curiosity and a deep affection for Silke.
“We aren’t alone.”
She gave him a faint smile and shook her head. “No, we’re not.”
“Your allies. Some feel ancient to me. They participated in the Battle of Baduhenna, when the Romans were defeated.” He made it a statement.
The victory made sense. Tora had been there. She’d led an army of mystical creatures, all of them residing in that forest. It was no wonder she protected them with her astonishing safeguard weaves. Each of the brethren had taken a turn at trying to unravel the strands of protection. They were ancient. Their weaves weren’t based on the mage who had taught so many of the others. At times, the younger Carpathians had safeguards penetrated because they were still using the high mage Xavier’s base for their weaves. It wasn’t his place to tell them to start coming up with new ones. It could be done. The ancients didn’t have a mage to teach them skills. They had learned the hard way.
Silke burst out laughing. The sound was low and musical. Herealized her laughter and sense of humor were gifts. She clearly didn’t know she brought light and joy to those around her, but the moment she laughed, it was as if she triggered elation in him. The watchers stirred slightly, giving themselves away. Flowers lifted their faces upward, two downed tree trunks rolled slightly, stands of moss rustled in a little dance. The sound that was made as the tiny plants swayed sounded a little like a small child giggling.
“What is so funny?” He liked that she found him amusing. She would need that sense of humor. If he was lucky, she could teach him.
He tightened his fingers around her hand. To him, her hand was delicate, but it was the steady hand of a warrior. She could be counted on in a crisis. She wouldn’t be as concerned with her own safety as she would those around her. He had hoped for that trait in a woman, but now that she embodied that characteristic, he found himself wondering how true the old adage was about being careful what you wished for.
