Her hand slipped into his. “Stay close to me.”
Again, she showed him she was willing to put her trust in him when he hadn’t done much to earn it. He could become obsessed with her. He certainly understood Dominic’s need to guard Solange. He would do the same. In fact, he would never be a good lifemate to a woman like Solange, who insisted she go into battle. She was not only good in a fight, but she was every bit as skilled as the Carpathian hunters, thanks to her lifemate, who had made certain she knew everything he did.
Tomas wasn’t about to allow Sarika to go into a battle with the undead or any other monsters, not if he could help it. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t prepare her, but he saw no reason for her to risk her life.
“Solange, we’ve taken care of the task of ensuring you and your family are safe from everyone entering your home,” he announced.
Solange gave him a little salute. “In truth, Tomas, I wasn’tworried. I know Luiz very well, and he keeps to a strict code. You and your brothers have always had the respect of Dominic. That isn’t something he gives lightly, so again, although I appreciate that Sarika was courageous enough to give aid to your family, I had no doubts that we would all be fine.”
He didn’t point out that Dominic hadn’t been as sure because Dominic had been doing his job. Had he not been leery, Tomas would have lost respect for him. Solange was different. Hardened by her past. Skilled beyond imagination. Willing to put her life on the line over and over for the female jaguars she fought so hard to free. She might not be what everyone considered an ideal lifemate, but she was devoted to Dominic and he to her.
Solange led the way to the entrance to her home. Should anyone come across it, there appeared to be a crack in the boulders. Tomas felt the safeguards woven around the entire area. Lojos and Mataias followed closely behind Solange, staying in front of Tomas and Sarika as shields against any danger. Luiz was behind them, ensuring no enemy could creep up on them.
The overgrown bushes hiding the entrance were part illusion and part reality. The crack opened up to a very narrow opening. So narrow, Tomas’ shoulders brushed either side of the corridor. This gave those inside an advantage in that an enemy would have to advance one at a time. It was a clever trap that appeared to be naturally formed, but Tomas knew it wasn’t.
They traveled a few feet inside the cave, and the narrow opening suddenly widened to what appeared to be a spacious hallway. Sarika gasped and stopped walking for a moment, looking around her to take in the beauty. Sconces made of blown glass in soft shades of blue and purple were on the walls on either side, lighting up the floor beneath their feet. That floor was made up of stones in various shades of color. The same stones ran up the curved walls and were embedded in the ceiling. The floors and ceiling were works of art. The effect gave the feeling of entering a magnificent mansion.
The moment they entered the hallway, the feeling of the space changed to one of warm welcome. The hallway gave way to an extremely large chamber that had to be the great room, with high ceilings and gem-covered walls. Gold filigree held up the delicate blown-glass sconces that lit the gems in starburst patterns.
Diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires in various colors sparkled when the lights from above played over them. The effect was breathtaking. The floor was made of great flat stones in various shades of gray, highly polished until they gleamed. There was nothing cave-like about the space. The great room was rare and lovely and a work of art. Massive trees crawled up the walls; the branches curved artfully, reaching to the cathedral ceiling. Flowers hung in bunches off the twisting limbs.
Even the furniture was different, several pod-like chairs that were either for one person or two, designed to invite anyone visiting to sink down into them and get comfortable. Sarika looked around her in obvious wonder.
“This is lovely,” she said to Solange. “Incredibly beautiful.”
Caves deep beneath the earth often hold incredible secrets and a beauty unseen by those aboveground. Carpathians weren’t bothered by pressure or lack of air; they could go deep into the earth and often found treasure hidden below the surface. Sarika had never experienced the wonders of caves.
“Thank you,” Solange answered, looking pleased. She waved toward the chairs. “Please make yourselves comfortable. Jubal and Jasmine own a furniture company together. These are their designs. Trust me, they are extremely comfortable. Their designs are becoming very popular.”
Tomas walked his lifemate across the floor to one of the two-person chairs. The moment they sank down into it, the chair seemed to come to life, the back and sides adjusting to their height to make it very comfortable. Sarika cuddled into him, allowing his body to partially shield hers from those in the room. It wasn’t an overt move, butshould she become overwhelmed, he could easily protect her without seeming to. He really liked the chair for that reason alone.
“I can see why,” Tomas said. “Very comfortable.”
Dominic entered the room, just as if he’d been in another part of the house. He did it smoothly and silently. He went straight to Solange, who had positioned herself across the room so she could have a conversation facing her visitors.
“Sarika, it is good to see you again. I hope you’re feeling better after a long rest.” He stood behind his lifemate and casually wrapped one arm around her waist.
Tomas hadn’t been expecting that intimate gesture. Solange’s body language didn’t invite intimacy. She seemed aloof, alone, completely self-sufficient. Dominic was so casual about his claim on her it was clear that the way he stood with her was something done often. Whatever restrictions Solange put on other relationships didn’t include Dominic.
“I really needed to sleep. I’d lost my aunt and uncle within days of each other, and that was a horrible time. I needed to take care of the details of their estate and see to their cremation. There aren’t a lot of shifters where I was raised. In fact, I only met a couple in all the years I was there, so I couldn’t rely on anyone else to make certain our customs were followed.”
Luiz frowned. “You didn’t write to me immediately, Sarika. I would have gotten to you as quickly as possible. It isn’t like we don’t have planes available to us.”
Tomas sensed how uncomfortable she was with Luiz’s statement. Or rather, reprimand. Her cousin took his role as head of the family very seriously.
“I didn’t know about you,” she admitted, her voice filled with sorrow and guilt. “I wasn’t told about the shifters here in Peru until about a year before they passed. This was the one place my aunt and uncle asked me not to come, and I respected their wishes. I suspected there would be shifters here, just because I knew I was born here and theywere from here, but I would never have gone against their wishes while they lived.”
Through her bond with Luiz, Tomas felt the man’s smoldering reaction. Luiz’s expression didn’t change. He appeared calm, but there was anger on Sarika’s behalf. Her aunt and uncle had done her a disservice by keeping so much of her past from her. And they had nearly deprived Luiz of the last of his family.
She is struggling to maintain in this unfamiliar situation, Luiz,Tomas cautioned.Don’t force her to defend her aunt and uncle in front of strangers.
Sarika flicked her gaze up to his. She relaxed further against him and gave him a half smile before turning her attention back to Solange. “I understand there is to be a celebration of sorts. Luiz was telling me your friends and family were gathering together.”
Solange made a little face and glanced up at Dominic. Tomas was aware the two had a quick, intimate exchange before Solange turned back to face Sarika.
“I am not really good in the spotlight. My cousins are insisting on a party to celebrate the fact that I am pregnant.”
She didn’t exactly make a face, she was far too stoic, but she may as well have. Dominic laughed, the sound rich and vibrant. His other arm swept around Solange, engulfing her smaller frame as he bent to brush a kiss on top of her head.
