That made her smile. The thing was, she liked him. She’d liked him from the very first time he had gone to the trouble of answering her silly letter when she’d written to him with her concerns and ideas. A man, a busy one, one well respected in his field, would rarely takethe time to give each line of her letter consideration and then follow through with answers.
Tomas had continued to correspond with her, although long gaps would occur between her letters and his answers. She would worry for his safety and wonder why he had disappeared for so long, but she came to believe he would always reach out to her when he had the chance—and he had. Somewhere along the line, she went from hero worship to thinking there was no one else like him on earth.
She hadn’t considered his age. His father was the leading conservationist for so long, a part of her believed his son was perhaps ten years older than she was. That age gap didn’t seem insurmountable to her, since they had such similar interests and ideas. She had no idea how she had turned her childhood hero worship into a full-blown fantasy that there could be more between them. It was just a little humiliating that he could find those girlish hopes. And maybe that was one of the reasons she had tried so hard to keep him out of her head.
If your enemies scanned my mind, they wouldn’t find any memory or knowledge of such a thing,she pointed out.That was protection right there. It might not be the protection afforded to your Carpathian women, but for someone like me, it was most likely for the best.
He remained silent, giving her response thought before he answered.I cannot argue with your logic. It goes against our customs, but you are not Carpathian yet, and no one, probably not even your uncle and aunt, was informed you held a Carpathian’s soul. I cannot imagine that they would know and not prepare you to be a lifemate to an ancient hunter.
Her mind shut down when he used the phrase “not Carpathian yet.” She didn’t want him to explain that to her. She had enough to process. The things he told her were true; she not only heard the honesty in his voice, but she could see it in the glimpses of his thoughts.
She poured out the water from her mug and added the tea. The aroma alone should have helped to soothe her, but the moment she smelled the tea, her stomach lurched. Her throat closed. All of a sudden,just the thought of drinking her beloved chamomile tea sickened her. She pushed the mug away from her and quickly left the kitchen.
What’s wrong,sivamet?
His concern was instant and genuine. She liked that she mattered to someone. Right at that moment, when she didn’t know her future and she was afraid of the species her lifemate was, she needed someone to care. To see her. To want to help her out of the mess she was in. She didn’t think Tomas was so willing to help her leave, but he wanted to help her sort the confusing things out.
It’s nothing,she reassured.No danger.
Tell me.
Tomas said it gently, stroking caresses in her mind, but there was a demand there, whether she wanted to acknowledge it or not. And what was her objection to his knowing the smell of her favorite tea made her sick? She wasn’t used to sharing herself with anyone, but it would be silly not to tell him.
I drink tea every morning. Sometimes in the evening. I use it to calm me down when I’m feeling anxious, which, believe me, when I discovered I couldn’t leave this place and that you had taken my blood regardless of my wishes, I felt that anxiety in abundance. So my favorite chamomile tea. Luiz had the brand I like and I made myself a cup. Just the smell of it made me sick. I’ve been traveling for days. Weeks before this. I lost my adoptive parents. Confronted male shifters for the first time and found you. It’s been an anxious time for me, but I’ll get through it. Feeling sick because I couldn’t drink my tea is nothing in the grand scheme of things.
She felt him hesitate, and instantly her stomach rolled. Her heart plummeted. If there was a reason he knew that she couldn’t handle her tea, she didn’t want to know about it. She was all Carpathianed out. Done.
Don’t say anything more. Not one single word.
He obliged her, and she was very thankful. She went out to the wraparound deck and sank into one of the gliders to wait for sunset.
Chapter
11
Tomas stood at the entrance of Dominic and Solange’s home. He had hoped bringing Sarika somewhere she might feel safe, somewhere there were other women, might help to relieve the trepidation she was feeling over his species. His brothers accompanied them, as did Luiz. That wasn’t in the least bit helpful. She had to think she was surrounded by an army when he wanted this to be a fun, upbeat visit for her.
Bringing Sarika into Dominic and Solange’s home felt as if he were taking his woman into a dark lair where power shifted to those who were living there. He hesitated at the entrance and glanced back at his brothers.
Don’t like the feel of this.
It is Dominic and Solange,Lojos pointed out even as he strode forward, moving in front of Tomas and Sarika.Dominic will do all in his power to protect Solange just as she does for him. You had to know, when the invitation was accepted, that he would safeguard his lair.
Tomas didn’t like his brother going in front of him. That made him all the more uneasy.
“What’s wrong?” Sarika asked.
He should have known she would feel the building tension in theair. “I wanted you to have a good time, be around other women, but I shouldn’t have pushed for this. You were reluctant, and I decided that I knew more than you.”
“I made the decision to come,” Sarika corrected. “I’m nervous, yes, but I spend a great deal of my time alone. My understanding is that Jasmine and Sandrine will be here. It would be nice to see them and know they don’t have any lasting effects from the encounter with Rud.” She tilted her head to look up at him. “What’s really wrong? I thought these people were your friends. Dominic came to Luiz’s home, and everyone seemed to think he was a good man.”
He could tell her the truth and hope she understood, or he could brush off her concerns. He gave her truth. “My brothers do not have lifemates. Luiz has a lifemate, but she is too young to anchor him. That means that all three could, if the circumstances were right, cross the line and become the very thing we hunt. Dominic and Solange will be acutely aware of it.”
Her lashes swept down and then back up. “If your brothers share your memories, can’t you anchor them? Keep them safe until they find their lifemates?”
“I try. I have been sharing color and emotion as best I can. It is you providing those things for me.”
“You’re saying I can give them those things, share with them enough to keep them safe? Can I do the same with my cousin?”
