Both ancients could have told the women this would not kill Mitro, but it appeared they knew. They distracted him enough that they had the time to stop their own hearts and shut down brain function, essentially dying to keep the secrets the two women held.
Chapter
14
“I would say that answers the question of whether or not you have power and where it comes from,” Tomas said, as he once more bent to Sarika’s wrist.
Sarika looked up at him, not even wincing because he was taking her blood. Tomas should have taken that as a good sign, but he didn’t. Sarika was exhausted. And confused. She had just allowed two Carpathian males into her mind when she was anything but on board with that. He’d rather she argue or at least discuss what they’d found, so he opened the discussion.
“I killed my friends and myself. How is that coming from a good place?”
“You saved lives,sivamet. You and your friends saved many lives.”
“Perhaps.” She looked across the room to Solange. “Now you know I’m not so squeaky clean. You’ll have to make the decision whether you trust me to speak to your jaguar or even be acquainted with your family.”
It was evident she knew Dominic had shared everything he’d observed with his lifemate. Sarika sounded tired and defeated, not at all like the woman Tomas was used to. Twice he’d removed her headache, but it was back in force. After looking into her memories, he understood exactly why she had reservations about Carpathians. She knewMitro was evil, and she was fully aware he had a lifemate. The bond between lifemates didn’t stop him from the brutal cruelty he had exhibited when deliberately wiping out an entire population.
Tomas exchanged a long, telling look with Dominic, but as before, it was Solange who took the lead.
“I understand why you think the way you do, Sarika. You’ve been horribly traumatized and didn’t even realize it. You suppressed those memories for a good reason. But I have killed far more male shifters than you can imagine. I planned their deaths and carried them out without any remorse. If there is one person in the room who should be condemned for the things they’ve done, it would be me. You are a saint by comparison. So I ask you, please, will you see what you can do to persuade my jaguar that I am not being held hostage? That I am still that ruthless warrior but have added to my arsenal by becoming Carpathian.”
Solange spoke softly. Persuasively. Her gaze steady on Sarika. Sarika responded the way Tomas knew she would. It didn’t matter that she was tired. Or still a little afraid of the power she wielded. She was going to help Solange because fundamentally, that was who she was.
She twisted her fingers together, took a deep breath and let it out. One hand crept up to the amulet she wore around her neck. Tomas felt the heat of it burning against her skin. It wasn’t just warm; it was hot. The heat seemed to comfort his lifemate. He stayed very still in her mind, not wanting the jaguar to sense his presence and recoil. Tomas couldn’t allow her to face this alone. If she needed him, he would be there.
Sarika didn’t look for help. The moment she wrapped her fingers around the amulet, cradling the head of the jaguar in her palm, the state of exhaustion and fear left her. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, sending out a call, first to the baby.
Little one, you are very wanted. You’re both jaguar and Carpathian. But most of all, you have a mother and father who want you. It is difficult right now, but you’re strong. You will learn to overcome all obstacles. That iswhat your mother does. That is what your father does, and you will follow their lead and be a strong woman. No matter what happens in the next few minutes, know that they love and want you. It may not feel that way at first, but you know me. Your soul has always known my soul. Stay true to who you are and allow me to fight your battles for you at this time.
Tomas was astonished at the pure velvet magic of her voice. She spoke low, almost a whisper, as if the conversation were an intimate one between the child and Sarika. He felt the pull of that voice, the strong compulsion, but it wasn’t so much a demand as it was pure love. She came from a place of purity.
Just as Carpathians could shed their bodies and egos and become pure spirit to heal, she wrapped up the baby in the purity of her essence. She wasn’t asking for anything in return for herself. She wasn’t looking for recognition. She felt humble to him. The more power she wielded, the more unassuming she seemed to be.
This power wasn’t something she showed to the world. She kept it under wraps and used it for important situations. He realized she could use her gift to keep a male shifter focused on her rather than on what was happening around him. And she’d done just that. She’d manipulated Rud, Percy and even Bacus. She’d stalled them until help came in the form of Tomas and his brothers. She’d expected Luiz, but once the three Carpathian males were there, she still used the subtle power of her gift to aid them in holding off Percy and Bacus. That was a revelation.
This woman was his lifemate. He had been so worried that she was going to find out about the battles he and his brothers would face in the coming weeks as they tried to trace Justice and discover his plans, and she would realize they had little hope of defeating him. At the moment, it didn’t look good for any of them, but Sarika would be an asset to them. That was the good news. The bad news was she had retreated to a place he was going to have to retrieve her from. She was still looking to find a way out of their bond. He could see that working at the back of her mind. She might not even be aware of it, but he was.
What was he offering her after all? He’d thought about that beforehe met her. He’d wanted his brothers to enter into a real discussion with him so he could work it out in his mind, but not even Mataias was willing to look at what the three ancients had become—or were still becoming. Evolving into. What was he offering her? He needed to know for certain because he knew he wouldn’t give her up. He would follow her to the ends of the earth and try to make things right.
Sarika touched the jaguar, surrounded it with her beaming light. To him, the female jaguar felt feral. Dangerous. Extremely lethal and very hostile. The cat stared at Sarika with malevolent eyes. It even took a single stalking step toward her, but the light surrounding it acted like a powerful barrier.
You are angry.Sarika made it a statement.
You sit in the room withthem.The jaguar spat the accusation at her.You give them your blood to make them strong, knowing they hold Solange hostage.
Sarika didn’t bend under the accusation—or the veiled threat. Her energy felt serene. She faced the snarling cat with full compassion. From a place of love. Of peace. Tomas realized it would be difficult for any species to maintain anger and distrust for long in the light of her energy.
You had been Solange’s only companion for years. You protected her from the moment of her birth.There was admiration and respect in Sarika’s voice. In the warmth she showed the animal.She has always been yours to look after.
Her life was difficult from the time she was a child,the jaguar answered, somewhat mollified.
Sarika’s praise was sincere, and it would be impossible for the jaguar not to feel that.Not only was it difficult,Sarika said,but she was in danger from the moment of her birth. And you were the one to train her to fight. To give her the skills needed to carry out the important work she did, fighting her birth father and rescuing female shifters.
She made it a statement, again giving the jaguar her due credit. Tomas could feel the shift in the animal’s demeanor. Already she was far calmer and less accusing. The malevolence had faded from the eyesof the cat. She looked lost. Even forlorn. For the first time, Tomas felt empathy for the animal. It was clear she loved Solange and had done everything in her power to aid her human counterpart to survive.
There was such sorrow in her,the jaguar proclaimed.So much and I couldn’t do anything to change that. She lost everyone she loved.
She loved you,Sarika corrected gently.You’ve lost sight of that. She loved you and still does. She still needs you, especially now when she has a daughter coming. Think what that means. Who will teach her daughter’s jaguar to keep the child safe? Solange has always relied on you.
