There was a gentle stirring of air beside her. Then Gregori’s fingers curled around her arm and drew her to her feet. Up close he looked even more powerful, completely invincible. His arm curved around her shoulders and dragged her against the solid wall of his chest. His thumb touched the tears on her face; his chin brushed the top of her head.

“I am sorry I was too late to save your friend. By the time I was aware of the vampire’s presence, he had already struck.” He didn’t add that he had been too busy rediscovering emotions and getting them under control to sense Roberto immediately. It was his first slip in a thousand years, and he wasn’t ready to examine the reason too closely. Guilt, perhaps, for the manipulated chemistry he had with Savannah?

Savannah’s mind brushed his and found genuine regret for her sorrow. “How did you find me?”

“I always know where you are, every moment. Five years ago you said you needed time, and I gave it to you. But I’ve never left you. I never will.” There was a gentle finality to his words, an echo of the resolve in his mind.

Savannah’s heart lurched. “Don’t do this, Gregori. You know how I feel. I’ve created a new life for myself.”

His hand, gentle in her hair, sent butterflies rising in her stomach. “You cannot change what you are. You are my lifemate, and it is time for you to come to me.” His voice held velvet-soft compulsion when he whispered lifemate,reinforcing his tampering with nature. The more he said it, the more Savannah would believe it. True, he suddenly saw in color and felt emotion because he had found his lifemate. But Gregori also knew he had programmed their chemistry to be compatible before she was born; she had never had a chance.

Her teeth bit at her full lower lip in agitation. “You can’t take me against my will, Gregori. It’s against our laws.”

He bent his dark head, his warm breath sending a shiver of heat coiling in the pit of her stomach. “Savannah, you will accompany me now.”

She flung her head up, her blue-black hair cascading in all directions. “No. I’m the closest thing to family Peter had. I will see to the arrangements for him first Then we will discuss us.” She was wringing her hands, betraying her nervousness of him, unaware that she did so.

Gregori’s larger hand covered hers and stilled the desperate twisting of her fingers. “You are not thinking straight, ma petite.You cannot be found on the scene. You would have no rational way to explain what happened here. I have set things up so that when his body is found and identified, no suspicion can fall upon you or any of our people.”

She took a deep breath, hating that he was right. No attention could be drawn to her species. She didn’t have to like it. “I won’t go with you.”

White teeth gleamed at her, a predator’s smile. “You may attempt to defy me in this, Savannah, if you feel you must.”

She touched her mind to his. Male amusement implacable resolve, utter calm. Nothing ruffled Gregori. Not death and certainly not her defiance. “I’ll call for security,” she threatened desperately.

The immaculate white teeth flashed again. The silver eyes glittered. “Do you wish me to release them from the orders I gave them before you do so?”

She closed her eyes, still trembling in shock and fear. “No, no, don’t do that” she whispered in defeat Gregori studied the misery so transparent on her face.

Something tugged at his heart, something unrecognizable to him but nevertheless strong. “The dawn will be upon us in a couple of hours. We need to leave this place.”

“I won’t go with you,” she insisted stubbornly.

“If your pride dictates that you must fight me, you may try to do so.” His voice, with its Old World War cadence and formality, was almost tender.

Her eyes deepened to purple. “Stop giving me your permission! I am Mikhail and Raven’s daughter, a Carpathian like yourself and not without my own powers. I have the right to my own choices!”

“If it pleases you to think so.” His fingers curled easily around her slender wrist. His grip was gentle, but she could feel his enormous strength. Savannah pulled hard, testing his resolve. Gregori appeared not to notice her struggles.

“Do you wish me to make this easier on you? You fear needlessly.” His mesmerizing voice was incredibly tender.

“No!” Her heart slammed painfully in her chest. “Don’t control my mind. Don’t make me a puppet.” She knew he was powerful enough to do so, and it terrified her.

Two fingers caught her chin firmly and tipped it up so her gaze was captured by his silver one. “There is no danger of such an atrocity. I am no vampire. I am Carpathian, and you are my lifemate. I will protect you with my life. I will always see to your happiness.”

She took a deep breath for control, then let it escape slowly. “We are not lifemates. I did not choose.” She held on to that fact, her only hope.

“We can discuss this at a more opportune time.” She nodded warily. “I’ll meet you tomorrow then.”

His silent laughter filled her mind. Low. Amused. Frustratingly male. “You will come with me now.” His voice lowered an octave, became warm honey, compelling, hypnotic, so mesmerizing it was impossible to fight.

Savannah dropped her forehead against the muscles of his chest. Tears were burning in her eyes and throat. “I’m afraid of you, Gregori,” she admitted painfully. “I can’t live the life of a Carpathian. I’m like my mother. I’m too independent, and I need my own life.”

“I know of your fears, ma petite.I know your every thought. The bond between us is strong enough to cross oceans. We can deal with your fears together.”

“I can’t do this. I won’t!” Savannah ducked under his arm, blurred her image, and put on a burst of blinding speed.

But no matter which way she twisted or turned, no matter how fast she ran or dodged, Gregori was with her every step of the way. When she finally wore herself out and stopped, she was at the far end of the stadium, tears streaming unchecked down her face. Gregori was beside her, solid, warm, invincible, as if he truly knew her every thought, her every move before she made it.

His arm curved around her waist, lifting her completely from her feet and locking her to him. “By allowing you your freedom, I expose you to the danger of renegades like Roberto.” For a moment he dropped his head to bury his face in the thick mass of her silky hair. Then, with no warning, he launched himself into the air, a huge bird of prey with enormous strength, Savannah’s small body pressed tightly to him.

She closed her eyes and allowed grief for Peter to consume her, to drive out all awareness of the creature streaking across the sky with her, taking her to his lair. Her fists curled around the thick, steel-like muscles. The wind carried the sound of her sobs up to the stars. Her tears glittered like jewels in the night.

Gregori could feel her pain as if it was his own. Her tears moved him when nothing else could. His mind reached out to the chaos of hers, finding overwhelming grief and a terrible fear of him. Deliberately he surrounded her with warmth and comfort. It brushed her mind, soothing her nerves.

Savannah opened her eyes to find herself out of the city, up in the mountains. Gregori set her gently on the steps of a huge, rambling house. He reached past her to open the door, then stepped back courteously to allow her entry.

Savannah felt small and lost, knowing that if she set one foot in his lair, she would be placing her life in his hands. Her eyes flashed blue-white fire, as if they had caught a star and trapped it forever in their depths. Tilting her chin defiantly, she stepped backward until the porch railing brought her up short. “I refuse to enter your home.”

His laugh came then, low, amused, and maddenly male. “Your body and mine chose for us. There is no other man for you, Savannah. Not now, not ever. I can feel your emotions when men, human or Carpathian, touch you. You are repulsed; you cannot bear their touch.” His voice dropped lower still, a black-magic caress that seemed to send heat spreading through her like molten lava. “It is not so with my touch, ma petite.We both know that. Do not deny it, or I will be forced to prove my words.”