What do you think happened to Solange’s jaguar? Or do you know?
I communicated with her. She recognized me as one of the three royal bloodlines. Memories of female shifters appear to be very much like your ancient lineages. You share information. We, apparently, do as well.
Tomas wasn’t surprised at the revelation. The shifters were nearly as old as the Carpathians. They were nearly extinct now, but at one time, they thrived, particularly during the Inca period. They intermingled with the people, residing together in harmony.
Is the jaguar Carpathian? Was she converted when Solange was converted?
Dominic pulled out of Sarika’s mind abruptly and went straight to Solange. He had stayed for a prolonged period of time in Sarika and would need blood to keep him at full fighting peak. Tomas hadn’t considered he would need blood as well. His brothers and Luiz were outside, and apparently, Dominic had activated their safeguards.
What is it?
Sarika was becoming very sensitive to him. That was a good thing and yet not so much in that moment. She asked, and he was bound to answer honestly.
Staying a prolonged length of time outside my body takes energy. When I return to my body, I will be weak. Without blood to replenish me, I will be in a vulnerable position should I have to fight an enemy. Or fight to get us out of here.
Sarika did what she usually did: took her time, turning over his statement, trying to understand. It didn’t take her long.
It isn’t like it will be my first time giving you blood. I just did the same for your brothers and Luiz. Just do it fast, please, before I chicken out.
Knowing or not?He had to give her the option.
Not this time. Just do it fast.
That didn’t bode well for them. She was definitely at her limit, and the situation wasn’t resolved. Worse, Jasmine, Jubal and Sandrine were on their way. That hadn’t been a ruse to get his brothers and Luiz out of the house; it was a very real excuse.
Tomas did as she requested, taking her over so she was unaware. He used the far less intimate way of taking blood—her wrist. It didn’t seem to matter where he took her blood; the rush hit like a fireball. Her blood was definitely an aphrodisiac to him. His body reacted, and he had to put a strict control on that, something that in the long centuries had never been a necessity.
He sheltered her as best he could from the other two in the room before closing off her vein with a sweep of his tongue. At the same time, he brought her out from under the veil of separation so she could easily function again.
Thank you,sivamet. I know that is one of your least favorite things to do.
I am coming to terms with it.
She wasn’t, though. Tomas knew she didn’t think she was telling him a lie, but she was pulling away from him. It was subtle. He didn’t think she realized she was doing it, but he was so tuned to her, heknew. More than anything, he needed time alone with her. This plan of bringing her to Solange’s party planning had backfired in the worst kind of way. It was adding obstacles to his relationship with Sarika. That was the last thing he needed when he knew time was working against them.
“Sarika,” Dominic said. “Solange and I are unsure what is happening with her jaguar, but when I examined her, the cat was not Carpathian in the same sense of the word that she should be. She is able to go to ground, but in every other sense, she is a shifter. And not a happy one.”
Sarika nodded. “I’m aware. She feels she is protecting Solange, and she is uneasy with any changes in her. She believes Solange is a prisoner and forced to do your bidding as a woman.”
“Why can’t I connect with her?” Solange sounded forlorn. “Why would she talk to you, a stranger, but not me?”
“She fears for you. She doesn’t understand and is doing the best she can without the knowledge she needs.” Sarika hesitated and then put her head down, studying her hands where she had threaded her fingers together. “She recognized me. You must be aware female shifters can pass memories to one another. Some, anyway. Those from certain lineages. Yours, mine, one other.”
She didn’t look up, and that worried Tomas. He was beginning to feel a cross between desperate and alarm.
“Jubal’s,” Dominic said. “I find it interesting that fate has brought those lines together in one place. Over time, I have learned there is always a reason for the way fate shapes our destiny. The right people are in place at the right time. What they do with that is up to them, but opportunities present themselves.”
“Sarika.” Solange waited for Tomas’ lifemate to meet her eyes. “Tell us how we can fix this. You must have some idea.”
Tomas inhaled sharply. “I can take you home to rest, Sarika. We can address this problem another rising.”
“It will be too late,” she predicted, again without looking at him. “I fear the two of you will have to sift through my memories onceagain until you uncover my nightmare. I want to make absolutely certain that what is inside me is used purely for good. If it isn’t, I’m walking away, sad that I can’t help, but like your jaguar, I refuse to risk you, Solange, even for your child.”
Solange placed both hands over her stomach protectively. “She’s more important than anything.”
Not to me,Dominic said to Tomas and Sarika.I want my child to live. I will love her and protect her, but Solange must come first. I cannot survive intact without her. I would never want to live without her. Save our baby, if possible, but never make the choice between the two of them.
Tomas knew Dominic wasn’t being selfish. He wanted his child. He already loved her. But Solange was his world. Tomas hadn’t had Sarika long, not if you counted only from when he’d first heard the sound of her voice, but he would be just as adamant as Dominic. Not solely because she was his lifemate but because she had become his world.
