Miguel and his brother left to make their way home along with the last remaining porters. As far as they remembered, their missing men had died in the volcano, just as the professor and Todd Dillon believed Marty Shepherd had died in the ensuing mudslides. Capa and Annabel had been lost to the volcano as well.
Weston left with an additional gift from Dax. He couldn't watch the man his entire life, but he could plant the suggestion that every time he went to say something inappropriate to a woman or about a woman, he would croak instead. Dax found the solution rather fitting.
"Thanks for staying behind," he said to Jubal.
"There wasn't really room for us," Jubal said with a small shrug.
"There was room if you really wanted to go," Dax said. "I appreciate you watching over Riley when I'm unable to do so." He wanted to convert her, so he wouldn't have to worry that she slept aboveground and he was below. He needed her with him for his own peace of mind.
The sound of Riley's laughter drew his attention. Dax turned his head to see her standing beside Gary, laughing at something he said. His heart clenched hard. He had never thought to have her. In all the centuries that had passed, he never really believed she would exist for him. His life was one of duty and honor, not pleasure and joy.
She turned her head slowly, the first rays of the morning sun catching the gleaming lights in her hair. Her eyes met his and he had the sensation of falling into those deep, mysterious pools of cool, dark earth. Strangely, he actually felt his stomach tighten. Her smile was for him alone, her mouth curving, white teeth flashing. He knew every sweep of her cheek, the line of her jaw, the little indentation in her chin. He felt like he was soaring high, just as he felt when he'd been in the body of the fire dragon, strong and true, flying free over his world.
She had a way about her, something he couldn't define, but when he was with her, he felt totally alive, on fire with passion, as if he could do anything. Dax held out his hand to her. She didn't hesitate, but came to him, never once looking away from his gaze. She put her hand in his, and he drew her into the shelter of his body. "Are you two all right with setting up camp?" he asked Jubal. "I'll bring her back soon." He glanced at the sky even as he tucked her hand over his heart, holding her palm tight there with his.
The rain had washed some of the ash from the canopy, and the first streaks of dawn looked as if rays of light from stars bursting overhead shone through the heavy foliage surrounding the clearing. He loved the night, but the few early morning dawns he managed to catch held their own beauty.
Riley didn't ask questions, but she went with him, walking beneath his shoulder, fitting perfectly as if she was born for him-and he believed she was. She was ethereal, royalty, her body moving fluidly with hardly a sound. Already her skin had taken on the look of that of Carpathian women. She was more than halfway in his world, and he needed to let her know what was to come. He'd noticed she wasn't eating, particularly meat, which no self-respecting Carpathian would ever touch.
He caught her up in his arms and took to the sky. She loved flying as much as he did, and he took her up, feeling her delight in soaring so high.
This is how you make me feel whenever I look at you, he confessed.
She snuggled tight against him, her face turned toward the wind and the soft drops of rain still falling. I'm glad then, because I absolutely love flying. I can't wait until I can do it by myself, although-she rubbed her head against his chest-there are certain perks to flying with you.
He laughed, unable to contain the joy he felt when he was alone with her.
I can already feel the effects of your blood, she added. My hearing and vision are much more acute. It's becoming harder to be away from you. Is that normal?
He tightened his arms around her, feeling slightly guilty. He'd read things in Gary's mind he wished he hadn't. Like the present prince of his people who had been the one to inadvertently discover psychic human women could be converted without the danger of insanity; he wished he could be without the knowledge of what the woman went through before he'd started the process. The facts and images in Gary's mind were very disturbing.
I asked to come into your world, Riley assured him. It's been my choice from the first time I laid eyes on you. I felt your soul and the Old One's soul. I felt as if I'd come home. You're my home, Dax. I want to be with you in your world. You never said it would be easy.
He dropped his chin on top of her head, her silky hair weaving strands into his shadowy jaw as if tying them together. He was in her mind enough to know she took responsibility for her decisions. She had made a choice, and it was important to her that he saw it as her decision.
You're a courageous woman, Riley. I'm proud that you're mine. I'll live my life making certain you never regret giving yourself to me, or making the resolution to join me in my world.
Riley sent him the impression of a warm smile. Her hands tightened on his forearms and she turned her head a little to try to catch raindrops on her tongue. Laughing when she managed it, she bent her head to brush a kiss along his arm.
I know I can be of some use to you now. I was worried I might be a burden. I get afraid, but I know I can help you. Not fighting. Well, I can shoot a gun, but I don't want to get close to anything like those people we saw from the village. But I can be an asset to you in other ways.
Dax spotted the small entrance he'd been looking for. He'd seen the cave earlier and thought it had potential.
I have to take you back to Jubal and Gary in about an hour, but we've got this time. I want to tell you what to expect with the conversion and allow you to decide the when and where.
She took a deep breath. Now? Why don't we just get it over with?
He nuzzled the top of her head again and dropped down to the entrance of the cave, scanning automatically for traps and any living creature that might be occupying it.
"Not here, not now. Somewhere much safer." He sighed. "So it isn't entirely up to you, the when and where, but I'll get it as close as possible, I promise."
Very carefully, he set her down in the thick vegetation in front of the cave, waving his hand to the interior, preparing it for their entrance.
"I have no worries that I won't be safe with you," Riley said.
The ring of honesty in her voice humbled him. "You will need to rest and heal for several days, palafertiilam. We have a vampire to catch."
Riley smiled up at him. "I like when you refer to me as your lifemate in your language. And beloved as well. I feel beloved, when I never thought love would come my way."
He took her hand, ducked to gain entrance through the narrow opening and led the way. The ground curved down and around, dropping several feet as they walked until the hallway began to widen.