His arm swept around her, a tight circle of comfort. “You did nothing wrong, chérie,” he said fiercely. He was moving her steadily toward the protection of the house.

Rainbow prisms suddenly danced and sparkled through the trees. Gregori shook his head as the light began to shimmer into a substantial shape. “You always were a show-off, Aidan,” he greeted his visitor, his voice as expressionless as always. “Let us go inside.”

Savannah, touching his mind, felt his affection for the other man. She had heard of Aidan Savage, a hunter of the vampire, but he had left their homeland half a century before her birth to establish residency in the United States. He was one of the few of their kind built like Gregori—tall, like all Carpathian males, but much stockier, with defined, sinewy muscles. Instead of the dark hair of their race, however, he had a long, thick, tawny mane, and his eyes were a peculiar amber flashing with brilliant, glittering gold.

This man’s identical twin had guarded her these last five years. Aidan was an imposing figure, so his twin must be also, yet not once had Savannah seen him. Nor had she detected his presence. How had Julian kept himself hidden, with the confidence all males of their race exuded, the power and authority that came with centuries of the hunt, with the acquisition of knowledge?

Gregori’s arm moved from around her waist to circle her neck, a male gesture of ownership. Savannah laughed to herself. Carpathian men were not far from the trees.

I caught that,mon amour. Gregori’s soft voice brushed at her mind, a low caress that curled warmth in her stomach. He sounded close to teasing, but she noticed he didn’t drop his arm from around her neck.

“Aidan, we did not expect you this early. The sun has not yet gone from the sky, and it is uncomfortable to travel in the evening light,” he said aloud, once they were indoors.

“I must apologize for missing the service,” Aidan replied softly. “But I could not risk it. Still, I wanted you to know you were not entirely alone in this country,” he added to Savannah.

“Savannah, this is Aidan Savage. He is loyal to your father and a good friend to me,” Gregori introduced them. “Aidan, my lifemate, Savannah.”

“You look like your mother,” Aidan observed.

“Thank you. I take that as a great compliment,” she said, suddenly wishing her mother was there. She missed Raven and Mikhail. “You honor me, to come at this time of the evening to share my grief. I know it’s difficult for all of us, but I had to choose a time to accommodate Peter’s human friends.”

“There is danger for you nearby, Aidan,” Gregori warned. “I would have you and your family safe from these butchers. They are human, of the same secret society that hunted in our lands several years ago.”

A shadow crossed Aidan’s face. He had humans in his family to protect, as well as his lifemate. The amber eyes glowed a deep gold. “The reporter.” A soft growl of menace rumbled deep in his throat.

Gregori nodded. “I will find out what I can this night from Mr. Wade Carter. I intend to take Savannah and lead him and whoever his cohorts are far from this city, so that there is no danger to you or yours.” They were in the house, free from prying eyes, but Gregori could feel the reporter’s evil presence permeating his territory. “I sent a clear warning to you, Aidan.” There was a hint of censure in his words, although his voice was soft.

There was a hard edge to Aidan’s mouth. “I received your warning. But this is my city, Gregori, and my family. I take care of my own.”

Savannah rolled her eyes. “You could just beat on your chests, you know. It probably works just as well.”

You will show some respect,Gregori ordered.

Savannah burst out laughing, then reached up to caress his shadowed jaw. “Keep hoping, my love, and perhaps someday someone will obey you.”

Aidan’s mouth twitched, the golden eyes sliding over Gregori in amusement. “She inherited something besides her mother’s good looks, did she not?”

Gregori sighed heavily. “She is impossible.”

Aidan laughed, ignoring the warning flash from Gregori’s pale eyes. “I believe they all are.”

Savannah ducked out from under Gregori’s arm and found an overstuffed chair to curl up in. “Of course we’re impossible. It’s the only way to stay sane.”

“I would have brought Alexandria to meet you, but Gregori’s warning dictated prudence.” Aidan sounded smug, as if he had been able to lay down the law to his woman when Gregori was unable to do so.

Savannah flashed an impish grin up at the man. “What did you do, leave her sleeping while you ran off to play hero? I’ll just bet she has a thing or two to say to you when you wake her.”

Aidan had the grace to look sheepish. Then he turned to Gregori. “Your lifemate is a mean little thing, healer. I do not envy you.”

Savannah laughed, unrepentant. “He’s crazy about me. Don’t let him fool you.”

“I believe you,” Aidan agreed.

“Do not encourage her in her rebellion,” Gregori tried to sound severe, but she was turning him inside out. She was everything to him, even with her silliness. Where did she get her outrageous sense of humor? How could she ever be happy with someone who hadn’t laughed in centuries? She melted his insides. Melted him. He was careful to keep his face expressionless. It was bad enough that Savannah knew he was practically wrapped around her little finger. Aidan didn’t need to know it, too.

“Seriously, Gregori, there is no need for you to lead these butchers from my city. Together we can deal with them,” Aidan said. “Julian is somewhere close. I feel him, though he will not answer my call.”

“Julian is close to turning. You would not want his help. The more kills, the more the danger increases. You know that. Julian will work out his destiny, Aidan. And if it becomes necessary to hunt him, if he does not come to you before the change, you must call me. Julian has grown very powerful. Very dangerous. Do not take chances because you are his brother. One of Mikhail’s brothers turned, and when justice sought him, he tried, like any other vampire, to destroy everyone. He would not have spared even Mikhail.” Gregori did not add he had been the one to bring justice to Mikhail’s brother. It had been such a difficult deed, he became determined never to get close to another as he had to Mikhail and his family. Gregori glanced at Savannah, found her incredible blue eyes on him, and somehow the painful memory was eased. “Julian has always been a dangerous and knowledgeable man,” Gregori concluded.

“Like you, healer.” Aidan couldn’t help but make the accusation. He hated the talk of his twin turning vampire.

Gregori didn’t flinch. “Exactly like me. That is the point. You will call for my aid should there be the need.” He was staring directly into the other man’s golden gaze. His voice was low and compelling, beautiful and haunting.

Aidan looked away from those silver eyes. Eyes that could see into a man’s soul. “I will, Gregori. I know what you say is true, although I do not want to believe Julian could turn.”

“Anyone can turn, Aidan. Any one of us without a lifemate.” Gregori glided across the room because he could not stand the physical distance Savannah had put between them. Her eyes were once again shadowed and haunted, the memorial service filling her with sadness and guilt. He slipped behind her chair, his hands coming down on her shoulders to begin a gentle massage. He needed the contact as much as she did.

Aidan hid his shock. He had known Gregori for centuries, had learned healing arts from him, had learned to stalk and kill the vampire from him. Nothing ever touched Gregori. Nothing. No one. But those cold silver eyes, as they swept over Savannah, were molten mercury, the man’s posture clearly protective, possessive, and the touch on her shoulders was frankly tender. Are you all right,chérie? Perhaps you should lie down for a while.