Dark Madness

Chapter One

A strange feeling awoke Julian Savage from his slumber earlier than intended, and sensing something was wrong, he burst through the rich soil covering him. The first thing he did upon rising was to check on his lifemate Desari. Once he was certain she was fine, he scanned the area outside their home, and detected a faint heartbeat. He lifted his head and sniffed the air. Ancient Carpathian blood. The powerful scent of ancient blood wafted through the smallest of crevices and filled his nostrils.

What is it, Julian? Desari asked from deep beneath the soil. I sense your distress. Are we under attack?

I do not believe so, he responded although he couldn't deny someone outside their home was gravely injured. Stay where you are until I am certain it is safe.

Dissolving into a silvery mist, he rose up through the crevices in the floorboards. He followed the scent of blood into the woods behind their home, and scanned the area again for a trap. Even though he could not detect any trap or vampire close by, the feeling of unease grew within him. Whoever the injured Carpathian was, he was trying to shield himself, but was too weak to properly safeguard himself. And if he was close to turning vampire, Julian didn't like the idea of him being so close to his lifemate.

He traveled back and forth over the area where the feel of the Carpathian's shield felt the strongest, honing in on the man's whereabouts. His mind worked at unraveling the loose web of silvery threads of the man's shield until they finally gave way. Huddled amidst the tall grass, hidden only by the cover of the low branches of a small tree, lay a man with his hand clutched tightly over his throat. Blood spilled from beneath his fingers, soaking into his dark torn shirt. His long black hair clung to the sweat dripping from his forehead. His eyelids were closed, but Julian knew he was awake. Julian moved closer, and as he realized who the man was he drew in a sharp breath. Quickly transforming into his human form, he dropped down beside his cousin Rafe Raidan.

"What happened, Rafe?" His eyes darted around, searching for Rafe's lifemate Genevieve and their two daughters. "Where are Genevieve and the girls?"

Rafe shook his head, and opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. Were you attacked, he said, switching to speak to his cousin through their shared mental pathway, and was met with silence. Rafe's mouth moved again, blood spilling down his chin as a gurgling noise rose from his throat. Can you hear me? Rafe nodded. Are you unable to speak to me through our shared mental pathway? Again he nodded. Is it safe for me to talk to you like this? Once more he gave a weak nod.

Julian glanced around again, searching for the creature that had hurt his cousin, but sensed no immediate danger. Aidan, he called out to his brother, Rafe has been attacked. I need you to check on Genevieve and the girls while I try to heal his injuries.

After a few moments Aidan responded. I am on my way there as we speak. Are you or Desari in danger?

No, I sense no vampires nearby. As he packed the deep wound in Rafe's throat with soil mingled with his saliva, he added, I am not certain a vampire attacked him. He has lost the ability to speak to me through our shared mental pathway. Blood soaked through the packing, covering Julian's hands as he worked to stop the bleeding. And his wounds are not healing.

Can you heal him on your own?

I am not certain.

Then call Gregori. Once I am certain it is safe, I will bring Genevieve and the twins to you.

After Julian called upon their healer to aid him, he lifted Rafe in his arms to carry back to his house. Rafe, Aidan is going to bring Gen – he paused as Rafe shook his head empathically. You do not wish for him to bring your lifemate to you?

Rafe tried once again to speak, but only managed to make a choked gurgling sound. When the words failed to make it past his lips, he shook his head.

"Are they in danger?"

Rafe shook his head.

Julian, Aidan called out to him, something is not right. Rafe just stepped outside of his home with Genevieve and the girls.

Are you certain? Julian glance down at the injured man his arms, and narrowing his golden eyes he tried to discern if the face he saw was an illusion meant to trick him. The image held true. The man in his arms was Rafe.

I am certain. Do you wish for me to go and speak with him?

It took a moment for the puzzle pieces to fall into place. If Rafe was safe at home with his lifemate and children, the man in his arms could only be one other person. Riordyn?

Riordyn nodded.

I thought you greeted the dawn over five years ago?

Riordyn lowered his head and closed his eyes.

No, Aidan. It is not Rafe who is injured, it is Riordyn. And I do not believe he wishes for his brother to know he is still alive.

Riordyn? That is not possible.

I assure you it is, Julian said as he carried Riordyn through the front door and up the stairs to one of the unused bedrooms. The question is why he would allow his brother to think him dead?

Do you believe him to be a danger to you or your lifemate?

I do not believe him to be a threat. Julian set Riordyn on the bed then rolled up his sleeve and sliced into his wrist. "Take what I offer freely, cousin," he said, putting his bloody wrist to Riordyn's mouth.

Riordyn hesitated for several moments before he sunk his sharp incisors into Julian's wrist. Instead of helping to heal the wounds in his throat, more blood leaked through the soil packed into the deep gashes.

"What attacked you, Riordyn?" Julian asked, and at a loss for how else to communicate with his cousin, he created a pad of paper and pencil. "Can you write it down?"

Riordyn took the paper and pencil, and concentrated on what he wanted to say before he wrote, L-F-E-A-T. When he was finished he lifted the pad of paper to show Julian. Julian scratched at the back of his head as studied the letters his cousin wrote for a few moments. Unable to figure out what Riordyn was trying to write, he let out a heavy sigh.

"Well, that certainly did not help much."

Aidan, whatever happened to him, it is affecting any form of communication he tries to use.

I will be there shortly. Is Gregori on his way?

He should be here soon.

Gregori and Aidan arrived at nearly the same time, and Julian repeated everything he had already told Aidan to the healer of their people.

"We will need to heal his wounds from the inside," Gregori concluded, "and hopefully then his voice will return."

Gregori sent a sharp mental command for Riordyn to sleep, and then he and Julian left their bodies and became a white healing light. As Julian worked to seal the torn flesh of Riordyn's throat, and heal his vocal cords, Gregori searched out the damage to his mind. Once Julian had finished, he returned to his body as Gregori continued to work. Weary from the effort it took to repair the damage, Julian accepted the blood his brother offered him, and took a seat beside the bed.

"Will he be able to speak?" Aidan asked as he paced back and forth in front of the four poster bed.

"I was able to repair the damage, but it still doesn't explain why he could not communicate in any other fashion." He scratched at his head as he studied Riordyn. "I sensed no darkness within him – no sign whatsoever that he might turn vampire."

"That is a good thing." Aidan paused in his steps, and lifted a golden brow as he looked at Julian. "What is it, brother?"

"There is no darkness in him."

"Are you saying he has found his lifemate?"

"I am saying something is definitely wrong with him." Julian pushed to his feet, and went to look out the window. He scanned the area again, searching for something he might have missed. When he looked back to his brother, he gave a shake of his head. "This makes no sense but it is as if something reached inside of him and tore out the darkness."

"Are you certain?" Aidan glanced back and forth between Julian and Riordyn.

"At the moment I am certain of nothing where he is concerned."

Gregori finally reemerged and returned to his own body. His pale silver eyes reflected the same sense of confusion Julian felt, and it took him several long moments before he finally spoke. "Are you the only two who know he is alive?"

They both nodded, and Julian said, "He did not wish for Rafe to know the truth."

"I believe it would be for the best if no one knew he was alive." The Dark One looked slightly rattled, something Julian thought he would never witness. "Not even Mikhail." When he mentioned their prince's name and spoke of keeping Riordyn's sudden reappearance from him, both Julian and Aidan drew in a sharp breath. As second in command of their people, Gregori never withheld information from Mikhail.

"What is wrong with him?" Aidan asked.

"I cannot be certain without speaking with him, but I am of the belief that Riordyn died."

"Then how is he alive?" Julian asked, sinking into the cushioned chair beside the bed.

"The question you should be asking yourself is what brought him back," Gregori said, raking a hand though his long midnight black hair. "And why."