"Zev left in a hurry. I wonder if he was asking himself the same questions," Gregori mused. "He wasn't happy."
"I'm sure he wasn't. If members of his pack took someone prisoner and didn't even report back to him-that's mutiny in the pack. That's challenging leadership. Those two would have to fight Zev for the position of leader," Fen explained. "The best hunter is always the scout and therefore the dominant alpha."
"You heard us?" Tatijana exclaimed, still stuck back on the original point. "You heard our conversation?"
"You called to me and you sounded distressed," Fen said. "I came, of course."
"Fen, I've called you to me for the last seven risings."
He frowned. "Really? I'm so sorry, Tatijana. I had no idea of time passing. When your spirit wanders there's no concept of time. I went looking for my brother."
"You knew Dimitri was missing?" Tatijana asked, her eyes wide and a little accusing. She couldn't stop herself from raining kisses on his face. "You scared me to death."
"I'm sorry. I couldn't be in two places at one time, I was too weak. My body needed to heal. I thought I was gone a short time only." He covered her hand with his. "I would never wish to cause you distress."
He tried to sit up, and Gregori put a hand on his chest. "Not yet. I'd like to make certain everything is healing properly."
Fen looked around him. "You brought me to the cave of healing. I must have been pretty torn up this time."
"You've been out for seven risings," Tatijana reiterated.
"I was looking for Dimitri," Fen explained again, his voice growing stronger. "When I was there in the lodge with Abel, I felt Dimitri's pain, just for a moment, and I knew it was his pain. I've felt the agonizing burn of silver many times and this was all encompassing. I knew immediately they wrapped him in it, which could only mean one thing-they had taken him prisoner."
"You could have let me know," Tatijana said. "I'm your lifemate, Fen."
"It wasn't easy on her," Gregori added. "Your spirit was far away and appeared at times to fade completely."
"I'm sorry." Ignoring Gregori's warning, Fen pulled himself gingerly into a sitting position. His belly protested, but he managed. He took Tatijana's hand and brought it to his mouth to kiss her fingers. "I didn't mean for you to worry. I thought once my body had healed, my spirit would have found him and we could go get him."
Tatijana managed a smile. Now that he was alive and talking to her, all the tense nights and heavy sorrow pressing down on her lifted. "You're alive, Fen. That's all that really matters to me. That and getting Dimitri back."
"I have to go after him, Tatijana," Fen said.
"How will you track him if you couldn't find his spirit?" Gregori asked. "We sent Tomas, Andre, Mataias and Lojos after them. We couldn't find a trace of them. Do you have any idea where they would take him?"
Fen sighed and shook his head. "No, and the council is very secretive. If they are taking him before the council, finding them would be extremely difficult."
"The council is coming here," Gregori assured. "We don't think they would allow anything to happen to Dimitri before or during the summit, so we have time. Zev is carrying the message to them for us. And it's a rather stern one. Mikhail didn't pull any punches."
The healer stood up and stretched. It was one of the few times Tatijana had ever seen him look tired. "I'll leave you two alone, but Tatijana, don't let him stay up long. I've given him blood, but he needs to let his body do its work. You heal remarkably fast," he added.
"Thank you," Tatijana said, standing as well, giving Gregori a hug even though his body felt rather like she might be hugging an oak tree. "You saved him."
"It was a group effort," Gregori said, "but it was probably one of the most difficult battles I've ever fought."
He gave her an awkward pat on her shoulder. Clearly he was used to being around his lifemate and daughters but few other women. Still, she was grateful. He had come to the cave of healing every day and sat with her waiting. Bronnie spent time with her as well, and when she wasn't physically present, she soothed and comforted Tatijana telepathically.
When they were alone, Tatijana put her hand on Fen's shoulder, urging him to lie back. As soon as he was comfortable she eased down beside him, taking care that she didn't put pressure on any of the places he'd been so horribly wounded. She put her hand over his heart, needing to feel that steady beat.
"Next time, if there is one, although I'm not letting you out of my sight for some time, promise me before you go wandering around in the dark, you'll let me know you'll be coming back to me," Tatijana said, closing her eyes.
She wanted to savor the feel of him beside her, alive and awake. He felt solid to her. She allowed her heart to find the rhythm of his and follow that steady beat, just to reassure herself.
"I really am sorry, sivamet," he reiterated sincerely. He turned his head to stare into her eyes. "I would never knowingly cause you any grief. There was no sense of time for me. I could have been gone months or a few minutes. I did come when I heard you call."
She felt the jolt of those glacier-blue eyes, his love intense, real, so raw, right there for her to see. He never tried to hide his emotions from her. His love was something she had grown to count on without even realizing it.
"I didn't know I'd feel this way, Fen," she admitted. "When I first saw you and felt the pull toward you, I didn't want to take any chances. When we met and I said I didn't want to be claimed, it never in a million years ever occurred to me I would feel this way about you."
He leaned close to brush a kiss along her temple. "Wolf men can be very persuasive."
"We'll get Dimitri back, you know." She made it a declaration.
He nodded his head. "I know we will. You're Dragonseeker. I'm a Guardian. We'll find him together."
She threaded her fingers through his and held on tightly. She believed him. She believed in him. Dimitri would be found because Fen would never give up, and no matter where the hunt took them, she intended to be right by his side.
"Go back to sleep, Fen," she said, her voice soft with love for him. "The faster you heal, the faster we can get started. I'll be right here watching over you."
Fen gave her a faint smile, but he didn't protest. She watched his lashes come down and within moments, his heart seemed to have stopped beating and his breath no longer ebbed and flowed from his lungs.