“Stop laughing at me, you brute. That’s not exactly normal.” A slow smile was beginning to curve her soft mouth. She couldn’t help but be happy for the innocent joy he found in each piece of information that came to him, each new memory of his gifts.

“It is normal for us, love. We can shape-shift whenever we like.”

She made a face. “You mean all those hideous stories are true? Rats and bats and slimy worm things?”

“Now, why would I want to be a slimy worm thing?” He was openly laughing. The sound startled him; he couldn’t remember laughing aloud.

“Very funny, Jacques. I’m so glad you find this amusing. Those people actually formed themselves out of fog, like something in a movie.” She gave a punch to his arm for emphasis. “Explain it.”

“Shape-shifting is easy once you are strong. When I said we run with the wolf, I meant it literally. We run with the pack. We can fly with the owl and become the air.” He pushed back the wet hair framing her face. “Why is it you are not cold?”

Shea sat up, astonished at the notion. She wasn’t cold, not really. She became cold when she thought about it, but she hadn’t been. “Why wasn’t I?”

“Carpathians regulate their body temperature naturally. Illusion is also an easy thing to master. Clothes do not have to be bought unless we wish it. Most of the time we are very careful to follow human ways.” He kissed the top of her head. “You can pretend to be cold if that will make you feel better.”

“I don’t like the idea of staying here, Jacques, staying so close to the others. I feel like I can’t breathe. But maybe it’s only because I don’t exactly see people turning into fog every day. Maybe we should stay a little longer and learn a few things from them.”

“I can teach you how to shape-shift.” He sounded annoyed.

Shea nipped his throat. “I definitely do not want to learn how to shape-shift. I’m still on square one, learning to share my life and my body with another person. But if I ever do want to be a rat or something like that, I promise only you will teach me. I’m talking about other things, like how the healer made you well so quickly.”

Jacques swallowed his protest quickly. She actually sounded excited, not scared. He didn’t like the idea of another man near her, another man spending time with her. But she was a healer, and Gregori could teach her much. He wanted her to be happy.

He reached for his memories. Gregori. The dark one.Ancient and powerful. Solitary. “He is always alone.” Carpathians whispered of his power, rarely used his name or spoke it aloud. “The healer always roams the earth seeking knowledge. He does not stay among our kind. There is none more dangerous, yet none more dedicated to preserving our race. Mikhail is his friend. They understand and respect one another.”

Shea burrowed closer to Jacques’ body, a protection from the storm. “I can’t believe you’re remembering all of this. It’s amazing, Jacques. Does your head ache?”

He rubbed his forehead even as he shook his head to deny it. The truth was, the pain was splintering and cracking the inside of his mind. For her, he could endure anything. “His one apprentice was only half a century younger than Gregori and Mikhail. He was different even in appearance. A loner like Gregori. He, too, searched for knowledge. He spoke most languages like a native and served as a soldier in many different armies. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with the same heavy muscles Gregori has. His hair was long and blond, very rare among our people. His eyes were gold, pure gold. Gregori allowed him to learn the art of healing from him. They were seen together on and off over a number of years all over the world.”

“Who is he? Is he still alive?” Shea was intrigued.

“He is named Aidan, and he has a twin. He often hunted with us.” His head was throbbing and threatening to explode if he continued.

“Hunted what?” Shea held her breath, afraid of what he might say.

“Beautiful women, little one, and I was the one who found you after all.” His white teeth gleamed at her, a definite leer.

“Don’t put me off like that.” She had already taken advantage, sliding easily into his mind and picking out the pictures of danger and revulsion. Fear even. Not so much of their adversary, but of themselves turning into the very thing they sought to destroy.

Jacques, unprepared for her entrance into his mind, had been confident he could keep the grimmer side of their existence watered down for her. Shea had always been reluctant to enter his mind; it hadn’t occurred to him that she would do so whenever she wanted.

His expression was so rueful that Shea burst out laughing. “Where I grew up, that’s called being caught with your pants down.”

He looked down at his body, glistening with the rain. His grin was self-mocking, his black eyes amused. “Literally.”

“So where is Aidan now? Was he killed?”

Jacques’ mind refused to relinquish the information at first. He had to go over and over the pieces to the puzzle, looking for an answer. Because it was hurting him, Shea rubbed lovingly at his arm. “Don’t try anymore.”

“The United States. The last I remember, he and his people went to the States to control the vampire problems there. Vampires no longer stay here in the mountains where they are easily hunted. If Aidan is still alive, or if he has not turned”—he frowned over the possibility—”then he must still remain there, far from our land.”

“What do you mean by his people? A lifemate? A child?”

“He had no lifemate the last that I knew of him. As he is almost as old as Gregori and Mikhail, the danger to him has increased. The older the Carpathian male, the more difficult he finds it to maintain civility.”

“Then Gregori is a risk also.” Shea found herself shivering at the idea.

“Gregori is the biggest danger of all, and Aidan is not far behind him. Yet Aidan has a family of sorts. Humans, generations that have served him faithfully. He has given them a fortune, yet they choose to stay with him. Mother to daughter. Father to son. He is the only Carpathian I know of that has such a family.”

Lightning flashed, and on its heels thunder crashed almost overhead. Shea stiffened, the smile fading from her lips and eyes. Her open palm went to Jacques’ chest, held him away from her. All at once the welcoming forest and wild storm were no longer a sensual playground but a dark and sinister world. Shea scrambled to her feet, swiveling around, inspecting the darkened woods. Jacques rose with fluid grace, circled her waist with his arm protectively.

“What is it?” Instantly he was scanning the area around them, seeking outside himself to reveal his enemies. He stepped in front of Shea to block any threat to her. He found nothing that alarmed him, but Shea’s mind held real fear.

Shea stepped away from him, eyes anxiously sweeping the forest around them. She caught up her shirt, held it protectively against her body.

“The others are far away,” Jacques said, but he moved again to place himself squarely in front of her in an effort to protect her from the unseen enemy.

“There is something out there, Jacques, something evil watching us.” She dragged her shirt over her head quickly. “I know. I always know. Let’s get out of here.”

Jacques waited for her to pull on her jeans before stepping into his own. His every sense was flaring out to the night, searching for anything to prove her right. He could detect nothing, yet her uneasiness was beginning to seep into his blood- I stream. He could feel himself bristle like a wolf ready for attack. “Describe what you feel to me. Let me into your mind fully.” It was an imperious order.

Shea obeyed without thought. Dark, malevolent, something not human, not Carpathian, crouched in the storm, watching with red, feral eyes, watching and hating. She had the impression of sharp, dripping fangs and unsheathed claws. Not animal.