Gregori caught both her arms and set her a few inches away from him. “Look at me, ma chérie.Really look at me. See me for what I am.” He gave her a slight shake. “Really look at me, Savannah.”

Her blue-violet eyes searched his pale ones. “What do you think I see, lifemate? You are not the monster I named you. Not the monster you named yourself. You are a great Carpathian, a great healer. You are my other half.” Her eyes flashed at him. “Don’t think you’re going to get away with this nonsense you pulled, leaving me trapped to wait alone within these walls. Never again. I mean it, Gregori. From now on, I go with you.”

His hand bunched her hair behind her head tightly. He dragged her closer. “Never into danger. Never.” He lowered his head to find her mouth, to claim what was his. His heart was bursting in his chest. Her eyes had been clear—shadowed with worry, perhaps—but free of fear. He held her head pinned perfectly still while his mouth moved over hers, while he devoured her sweetness and made his demands. Savannah held nothing back, accepting his domination, returning his kiss with the same hunger he was communicating to her. He gathered her into his arms, crushing her body to his. “Never, Savannah. Never will I allow you to be in danger.”

“How do you think I feel about you?” she demanded. “Look into my mind, see what I had to go through while you dealt with the poison.” She touched his wounds with gentle fingers. “When he was doing this to you.”

“The poison would have consumed you, Savannah, had you been injected with it. I relayed the elements of the toxin to Aidan. He will ensure that those in our homeland are aware of this new danger. We can develop an antidote with what we now know.” His hands were moving up and down her back, over her hips, cupping her firm bottom, pressing her close. His body was aching and full, and her caressing hands only inflamed him more.

“It could have been lethal for all you knew, Gregori,” she said. “You had no idea what was in that poison.” She pulled at his clothing, tearing his shirt open to get at his chest, inspecting every inch of him, tasting his skin, the offensive wounds Carter had left behind.

“I am a healer, Savannah. I can neutralize poison.” Her hands were inflaming him, pouring fire into his body.

She pushed at his trousers anxiously, her palm sliding around his heavy fullness. The beast in his nature, already so close to the surface, broke free and took her to the floor, ripping the clothes from her body as he did so.

He pinned her down, one knee shoving hard between her legs to give him access.

But it was Gregori’s silver eyes that captured and held her gaze. It was Gregori who caught her hips in gentle hands and Gregori who tested her readiness with his probing fingers. “You are mine, Savannah. Only mine,” he said softly as he surged forward, filling her. He wanted to tell her he loved her, but he couldn’t say the words, so he said them with his body. Again and again he buried himself deep within her. Hard and fast. Slow and tender. He took his time, wanting it to be forever, hiding his face so that she couldn’t see the unexpected moisture in his eyes.

Her body was made for his. Tight. Hot. Silken. Her skin was satin, her mouth hungry. He wanted her to take away the long, endless centuries, the emptiness. He wanted her to fill that emotionless void in his soul. That black empty spot, utterly bleak and hopeless. And she did. Somehow, with a miracle of total, unconditional acceptance, she did. She gave herself freely, without reservation, accepting his domination, his body taking hers.

He felt her ripple with pleasure again and again, with white heat, velvet gripping him tightly, finally taking him over the edge to soaring into space with her. She clutched him, her nails digging into his back, her mouth pressed against his shoulder, her small cry of satisfaction muffled against the heavy muscles of his chest.

Gregori held her tightly, nearly crushing her. He still did not believe she was actually with him. He couldn’t believe she could possibly accept him. He had killed so many times, broken their laws. Felt no remorse. Felt nothing at all. She was so compassionate. So young. So filled with beauty and life. He buried his face against her neck. “You must feed, bébé”he reminded her in a neutral voice.

Her stomach lurched. She had been with him, in his mind, when he had fed on the reporter. Blood was a necessity; she accepted that. She even accepted that Wade Carter had to die to preserve their race. But she didn’t want his blood. Her tongue touched her lower lip carefully, her heart pounding. Very cautiously, she moved, and immediately she felt the hardness of the marble-tiled floor. She hadn’t noticed it before; in fact, it had enhanced their lovemaking, allowing Gregori to drive deeply into her. Now she felt bruised and sore, her hips aching. “This is uncomfortable, Gregori,” she ventured.

He rose with one fluid movement and took her with him, cradling her in his arms. “I am sorry, ma petite.I should have taken more care with you.”

She touched his jaw with gentle fingers. “Promise me you will never leave me like that again. Next time let me go with you.”

Her eyes were eloquent, pleading, so much so that he had to look away. “Do not ask me for what I cannot give you. I would give you the moon if you asked, chérie,but I cannot allow you to place yourself in danger. Not for any reason. Not even to help me.”

Her slender arms wrapped around his neck. Her body pressed tightly against his. “I don’t know if I can survive that again,” she said softly into his throat. “I was so terrified for you.”

“Your hunger beats at me. I want you to feed.”

“I can’t,” she admitted reluctantly, fearful of his reaction. “That man...”

He was silent, carrying her down the hall to one of the bedrooms. “Yes, you can, and you will because I wish it.” He lowered her to the bed.

She stared up into his pale eyes, eyes that held her captive, commanded her, even as they roved possessively over her body. He cupped one breast, filling his palm with her softness, his thumb feathering across the rosy tip, bringing it to a hard peak. “Gregori.” Her voice was a soft plea.

“You will do as I wish, Savannah.” He was implacable. His dark features were set, almost cruel.

She tried to look away from him, but he caught her chin in his hand and held her still. “Now, Savannah. Feed now. You did not do so this morning, and we have the night ahead of us. You will feed.”

She swallowed hard, her stomach rebelling. “I can’t, Gregori. He’s dead. I just can’t.”

“You mean I killed him.” He said the words softly.

“No, I know he was a threat to our people. I know he tried to kill you. I know there was no choice. But I can’t.” She tried to wiggle away from him. She suddenly wanted her clothes on, self-conscious of her nakedness.

“You will feed,” he said again. This time his voice was a whisper of sound, so compelling, so hypnotic, she found herself leaning close to him. She could feel the heat from his body, feel the warmth of his breath. Feed, Savannah. Come to me now.He dragged her closer to him and pressed her against his chest. “I am your lifemate. I can do no other than to see to your needs.”

Savannah could taste him, the salt from his skin. His hunger, her hunger—she couldn’t tell where one left off and the other began. He was whispering in her mind, words impossible to understand, the music of them echoing through her body. His grip was impossible to break, the hand on her nape pressing her to him. There was no escaping his iron will. She didn’t even want to, her mouth already moving over his skin.

Gregori closed his eyes as her teeth pierced deeply. The pleasure-pain was sensuous, her bare body irresistible, but he clamped down on his insatiable hunger. He had already been selfish, taking her on the tile floor, impatient and needing her in the midst of his own uncertainty. Now he cradled her head to him, feeding her until her pale skin was once more glowing and healthy. Then slowly, reluctantly, he allowed her to escape the compulsion.