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346f71c
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Where is your home?" "It isn't far. We can walk there easily," Alexander said, hope stirring. "What are you going to do with her?" Monique demanded suddenly. Mikhail's expression softened, became loving, even tender, as he looked down into Raven's face. "There is no need to fear for her. She is my life."
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Christine Feehan |
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1da9bc5
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Why do you fear me, Raven? You have seen me at my worst, as a killer, a dispenser of justice for our people." His thumbs stroked her nipples, a slow, erotic brush that sent liquid heat curling through her. "Do you believe I am evil? Touch my mind, little one. It is impossible for me to hide anything from you. I never concealed my true nature from you. You looked upon me once with the eyes of compassion and love. Of acceptance. Has that all ..
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Christine Feehan |
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922f1a9
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Why do you fear me, Raven? You have seen me at my worst, as a killer, a dispenser of justice for our people." His thumbs stroked her nipples, a slow, erotic brush that sent liquid heat curling through her. "Do you believe I am evil? Touch my mind, little one. It is impossible for me to hide anything from you. I never concealed my true nature from you. You looked upon me once with the eyes of compassion and love. Of acceptance. Has that all ..
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Christine Feehan |
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b58e2ef
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Kiss me, Raven. Merge your mind with mine. Share your body so that we are completely one being. You trusted me before. Do so now. Look at me with the eyes of love, in forgiveness for the things I have been forced to do, for the beast in my nature. Do not look at me through the eyes of one who would wish to destroy our people and us. Give yourself to me.
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Christine Feehan |
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6e82ca8
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Why have you become my life, Mikhail? I've always been alone and strong and sure of myself. You seem to have taken over my life." His palms slid up the curve of her body to frame her face. "You are my only life, Raven. I will admit I took you from all you knew, but you were never meant to live in isolation. I know what that does, how desolate life can be. The people you worked for were using you up. Eventually they would have destroyed you...
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Christine Feehan |
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2f48d31
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I am a Carpathian male, long in the world of darkness. It is true that I feel very little, that my nature revels in the hunt, in the kill. To overcome the wild beast we have to find our one mate, our other half, the light to our darkness. You are my light, Raven, my very life. That does not take away my obligations to my people. I must hunt those who prey on mortals, those who prey on our people. I cannot feel while I do so, or madness woul..
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Christine Feehan |
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4549cf4
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I am a Carpathian male, long in the world of darkness. It is true that I feel very little, that my nature revels in the hunt, in the kill. To overcome the wild beast we have to find our one mate, our other half, the light to our darkness. You are my light, Raven, my very life. That does not take away my obligations to my people. I must hunt those who prey on mortals, those who prey on our people. I cannot feel while I do so, or madness woul..
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Christine Feehan |
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ba4765f
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I cannot lie to you," he whispered. "You know my thoughts. You know the beast that dwells inside. I try to be gentle with you, to listen to you. Always that wildness breaks free, but you tame me. Raven, please, I need you. And you need me. Your body is weak, I can feel your hunger. Your mind is fragmented--allow me to heal you. Your body cries out for mine as mine does for yours. Kiss me, Raven. Do not give up on us."
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Christine Feehan |
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01b1ad1
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As he neared the house, a wind rose off the sea and carried sea spray and a lilting melody. "Sarah's back. Sarah's home."
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paranormal
romance
suspense
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Christine Feehan |
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b640c15
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Mikhail rubbed his face over hers and kissed her damp hair. She touched her tongue to a bead of sweat, smiling up at him tiredly. "I think I would always recognize you, Mikhail, no matter how damaged my mind." He rolled over, taking her with him so that his weight would not crush her smaller body. "That is how it should be, Raven. You suffered much these past days, and it will stay fresh in my mind for all eternity. Tomorrow night we must l..
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Christine Feehan |
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3fb6925
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Mikhail rubbed his face over hers and kissed her damp hair. She touched her tongue to a bead of sweat, smiling up at him tiredly. "I think I would always recognize you, Mikhail, no matter how damaged my mind." He rolled over, taking her with him so that his weight would not crush her smaller body. "That is how it should be, Raven. You suffered much these past days, and it will stay fresh in my mind for all eternity."
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Christine Feehan |
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f187224
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Tomorrow night we must leave this region. The vampire is dead, but he has left behind a trail that could destroy our people. We must move to a more isolated area, where perhaps our people can survive the coming persecution." He brought up her arm to examine the long, deep scratches left by Andre. "You're so certain it is coming?" A faint, bitter smile touched his mouth as he waved to snuff out the candles. "I have too often in my lifetime s..
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Christine Feehan |
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91d9781
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I love you, Mikhail, all of you, even the beast in you. I don't know why I became so confused. You aren't evil. I can see so clearly inside of you." Mikhail drew up the quilt, wrapped protective arms around her, and sent them both to sleep."
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Christine Feehan |
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3cb64ec
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I love you, Mikhail, all of you, even the beast in you.
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Christine Feehan |
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01b169c
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That brother of yours, worm that he is, male chauvinist unequaled in modern times, told you something he didn't tell me, didn't he?" Leaning back with studied casualness, Jacques tipped his chair to a precarious angle and raised an eyebrow. "Women have vivid imaginations. I think you have a suspicious nature due to your American upbringing." "Intellect, Jacques, not imagination," she corrected sweetly. "My American upbringing made me incred..
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Christine Feehan |
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073aea2
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I think I should have enjoyed meeting your mother. How a woman could manage to raise two domineering tyrants like you and Mikhail is beyond me." His dark eyes laughed at her. "But we are charismatic, sexy, handsome, and right." --
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Christine Feehan |
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ba5c752
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I think I should have enjoyed meeting your mother. How a woman could manage to raise two domineering tyrants like you and Mikhail is beyond me." His dark eyes laughed at her. "But we are charismatic, sexy, handsome, and right." Raven hooked her foot around his chair and sent him crashing to the floor. Hands on hips, she regarded him with a superior glint. "Carpathian men are vain, dear brother-in-law," she proclaimed, "but not too bright...
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Christine Feehan |
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5018c41
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Carpathian men are vain, dear brother-in-law," she proclaimed, "but not too bright." Jacques glared up at her with mock ferocity. "You have a mean streak in you, woman. Whatever happened to a soft, sweet, " "Try the Dark Ages. Your age is showing."
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Christine Feehan |
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65e1eb4
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Raven spit into her hands and stumbled forward toward Jacques's motionless body. "That vampire killed him," she screamed hysterically. As her hands touched the forest floor, she scooped up handfuls of dirt. "Oh, God, he's dead. You let that thing kill him!" Using her slender body as a shield so no one could see what she was doing, Raven packed the wounds in Jacques's throat with the soil and her healing saliva. Her wrist over his mouth, Ra..
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Christine Feehan |
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f0ea160
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A huge black wolf burst from the clearing to join him, loping easily beside him, pale silver eyes gleaming with menace. Together they raced through the narrow passages until they found a large, steaming chamber. The black wolf contorted, fur rippling along muscular arms as Gregori shape-shifted to his true form. Mikhail laid Jacques's body gently on the rich soil and lifted away the covering. He swore softly, unshed tears burning in his thr..
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Christine Feehan |
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991ec43
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Gregori's cool silver gaze slid over him as Mikhail relinquished the herbs. "It is a wonder you have been able to tie your shoes without me all of these centuries." Mikhail sank down beside his brother, one hand over his burning eyes. "It is more of a wonder you have stayed alive with your ostentatious displays. Remind me to remove my impressionable brother from your disrespectful presence before your winning ways rub off on him."
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Christine Feehan |
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4acc1d5
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Well, how long does something like this take? I thought he implied he'd be in and out of the hospital in two minutes, Jacques. What could have gone wrong? Mikhail was very upset." "Mikhail did not actually say anything went wrong, did he?" Jacques asked, blankly innocent. Raven's large blue-violet eyes settled on Jacques's face thoughtfully. Jacques squirmed under her suspicious, steady gaze. There was far too much intelligence in her enorm..
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Christine Feehan |
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0ed4283
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You need to go to ground now," Gregori pointed out. "I will fix the safeguards and ensure we are not disturbed." "With a big sign saying 'Gregori lies here, do not disturb'?" Mikhail asked softly, his voice a warning. Gregori lowered Jacques's body deep within the healing earth, in no way disturbed by Mikhail's sarcasm. "You may as well have written your name in the sky with your challenge, Gregori." "I want the vampire to be very clear abo..
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Christine Feehan |
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ca27f1e
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You need to go to ground now," Gregori pointed out. "I will fix the safeguards and ensure we are not disturbed." "With a big sign saying 'Gregori lies here, do not disturb'?" Mikhail asked softly, his voice a warning."
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Christine Feehan |
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adadacc
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You may as well have written your name in the sky with your challenge, Gregori." "I want the vampire to be very clear about who I am, whom he has chosen for his enemy."
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Christine Feehan |
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5263636
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There is purpose in saving your life, but for me, not much else." Mikhail pushed a hand through his thick mane of hair. "Our people cannot do without you, Gregori, and quite simply, neither can I." "You are so certain that I will not turn?" Gregori's smile was self-mocking. "Your faith in me exceeds my own."
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Christine Feehan |
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d478a61
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You are our greatest healer, the greatest asset to our people." "That is why they whisper my name in fear and dread." Beneath their feet the ground suddenly shook, heaved and bucked, rolling perilously. The center of the earthquake was obviously a great distance away, but there was no mistaking the howl of rage produced by a powerful vampire at the destruction of his lair. The undead had entered his lair confidently, until he found the body..
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Christine Feehan |
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6fcf087
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A true vampire making numerous kills was far more susceptible to the sun, and to the terrible lethargy that claimed Carpathian bodies in the day. Andre had little time to find a safe hole. As he burst from the collapsing mountain, the sun hit his body, and he screamed with the agony of it. Dust and rock spewed from his home, and the echo of Gregori's taunting laughter drifted down with the debris from the earthquake. "No, Gregori." There wa..
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Christine Feehan |
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a34966e
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Talk to me, Father. Distract me. Tell me what you can about the Carpathian race." She was very weak, but did not want to draw the priest's attention to it. "I'll keep my voice low just to be safe," Edgar said, close to her ear. "Mikhail will come, you know. He would never leave us here." He rubbed his hands up and down her arms to try to bring heat to her laboring body. "The males are aggressive in nature, territorial, yet protective to the..
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Christine Feehan |
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9b3b376
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Gregori surveyed the mountains, his pale eyes moving along the shadowed cliffs above the forest. He stepped off the edge of the cliff, his body shape-shifting as he plummeted toward earth. Wings beat strongly, lifting him into the sky, straight for the jutting rock surface rising above the treetops. The entrance to the cave was a mere slit in the rock wall. He found the vampire's safeguard to his lair basic. The vampire had grown lazy, thin..
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Christine Feehan |
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d582063
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Come on, Jacques"--Raven made the length of the room again, turned to face him--"don't you find this even a little bit nerve-racking?" He leaned lazily back in his chair, flashing a cocky grin. "Being caged up with a beautiful lunatic, you mean?" "Ha, ha, ha. Do all Carpathian males think they're stand-up comedians?"
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Christine Feehan |
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61a5a21
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What could have gone wrong? Mikhail was very upset." "Mikhail did not actually say anything went wrong, did he?" Jacques asked, blankly innocent. Raven's large blue-violet eyes settled on Jacques's face thoughtfully. Jacques squirmed under her suspicious, steady gaze. There was far too much intelligence in her enormous eyes to suit him. He held up a placating hand. "Now, Raven." "Don't you now-Raven me. That brother of yours, worm that he i..
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Christine Feehan |
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d439896
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Now, Raven." "Don't you now-Raven me. That brother of yours, worm that he is, male chauvinist unequaled in modern times, told you something he didn't tell me, didn't he?" Leaning back with studied casualness, Jacques tipped his chair to a precarious angle and raised an eyebrow. "Women have vivid imaginations. I think you have a suspicious nature due to your American upbringing."
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Christine Feehan |
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8f47bf6
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Now, Raven." "Don't you now-Raven me. That brother of yours, worm that he is, male chauvinist unequaled in modern times, told you something he didn't tell me, didn't he?" Leaning back with studied casualness, Jacques tipped his chair to a precarious angle and raised an eyebrow. "Women have vivid imaginations. I think you have a suspicious nature due to your American upbringing." "Intellect, Jacques, not imagination," she corrected sweetly. ..
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Christine Feehan |
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2fa409c
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My American upbringing made me incredibly intelligent, and believe me, I can spot one of your pathetic Carpathian plots to protect the helpless woman from information you consider would make her fragile little delicate self unnecessarily fearful." He grinned at her. "Carpathian males understand the fragile nature of women's nerves. Women--especially women--just cannot take the adversity that we men can." "I think I should have enjoyed mee..
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Christine Feehan |
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ff9ee9d
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You need to go to ground now," Gregori pointed out. "I will fix the safeguards and ensure we are not disturbed." "With a big sign saying 'Gregori lies here, do not disturb'?" Mikhail asked softly, his voice a warning. Gregori lowered Jacques's body deep within the healing earth, in no way disturbed by Mikhail's sarcasm. "You may as well have written your name in the sky with your challenge, Gregori." "I want the vampire to be very clear abo..
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Christine Feehan |
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6ca5221
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Our people cannot do without you, Gregori, and quite simply, neither can I." "You are so certain that I will not turn?" Gregori's smile was self-mocking. "Your faith in me exceeds my own. This vampire is ruthless, drunk on his own power. He craves the killing, the destruction. I walk the line of that madness every day. His power is nothing, a feather in the wind compared to mine. I have no heart, and my soul is dark. I do not want to wait u..
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Christine Feehan |
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f585c1f
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It would not be Mikhail, whose sense of justice and fair play would be his downfall, but the dark one. --the most feared of all Carpathians.
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Christine Feehan |
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b7cd88d
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Raven could feel Gregori drawing closer. The vampire dragged Raven with him to the door. "The others will come, but it will be too late. Do not think he will get out of this," he hissed in her ear. "Slovensky and the others will die for this deed, and with them all records of what occurred in this place. You will be mine, far away where they cannot find you." Raven kept her eyes and mind focused on Mikhail, broadcasting to Gregori everythin..
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Christine Feehan |
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1107f70
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The floor bucked and heaved under him, sending the gun skittering out of reach. A second wall swayed precariously, and rocks cascaded down, striking the man about the head and shoulders, driving him to the floor. He watched a curious, frightening pattern form. Not one rock touched the priest's body. Not one came close to Mikhail. The Carpathian simply watched him with those damn eyes and that faint mocking smile as the rocks buried Slovensk..
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Christine Feehan |
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0557e92
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There was an ominous crack, and Slovensky screamed under the heavy load on his spine. "Damn you to hell," Slovensky snarled. "My brother will track you down." Mikhail said nothing, simply watching the havoc Gregori created. Mikhail would have killed James Slovensky outright, without the drama Gregori had such a flair for, but he was tired, his body in a precarious state. He had no wish to drain his energy further."
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Christine Feehan |
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8d28fcf
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For the first time in centuries of living, Mikhail was forced to rely on another being. Gregori. The dark one. Mikhail stirred, pain shafting through him. More rocks fell on Slovensky in retaliation, covering him like a blanket, beginning to form a macabre grave. Gregori moved into the room with his familiar silent glide, grace and power clinging to him as he strode through the wreckage of the wall. "This is becoming a bad habit." "Oh, shu..
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Christine Feehan |
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bc0997a
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For the first time in centuries of living, Mikhail was forced to rely on another being. Gregori. The dark one.
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Christine Feehan |
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9a80748
|
For the first time in centuries of living, Mikhail was forced to rely on another being. Gregori. The dark one. Mikhail stirred, pain shafting through him. More rocks fell on Slovensky in retaliation, covering him like a blanket, beginning to form a macabre grave.
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Christine Feehan |