“Shadow and dust shall be reclaimed, earth sealing the tomb from which you came. Dust to dust, ashes to ashes, warrior return, breathe your last. Air, earth, fire, water, hear my voice, obey my order, thrice around your grave do bound, evil sink into the ground. I now invoke the law of three, this is my will, so mote it be.”

“I claim you as my life mate. I belong to you. I offer my life for you. I give to you my protection, my allegiance, my heart, my soul, and my body. I take into my keeping the same that is yours. Your life, happiness, and welfare will be cherished and placed above my own for all time. You are my life mate, bound to me for all eternity and always in my care.”

“You are my world,ma petite, my very existence. You are what makes living bearable.You are my light,the very air I breathe." His mouth brushed her pulse,her earlobe. "You are not meant to walk in death.You never were."She swung around,her blue eyes darkening to deep violet. "If you walk in death,Gregori,then that is where you will find me. Right beside you.I belong where you are.I am your lifemate. There is no other. I am your lifemate.”

“Don't worry, now that I know about your little ego problem, I'll do my best to look all gushy when you pound your chest.”

“I am not certain I liked you referring to my brother as a monster.” There was a trace of humor in Mikhail’s voice.“You should hear what I call you behind your back,” Gregori said, even as his arms spread to accommodate the wings forming.”

“You are the lifemate of a senstive, modern male. Julian's lazy amusement warmed her further, confirming what she already suspected, that he often stayed a shadow in her mind.How fortunate for me. Desari smiled at herself in the mirror. Her dark hair cascaded in waves down her back. There was a sparkle in her eyes. She knew Julian had made her feel more alive than she had ever been. Sensitive, modern men are so to my liking.Men? I am certain I did not hear my lifemate use the word men.The plural.No man is allowed to be to your liking other than myself. He sounded stern, the fierce Carpathian male at his most menacing.Desari laughed aloud. I suppose I can see your point, Julian, but really, it is so difficult to keep from noticing all of those handsome hunks in the audience.Handsome hunks? His voice dropped low with the affront. They are more like lovesick fops. If they could feel the vibrations in the air, they would show sense and run for their lives. It is bad enough to read their fantasies and hear them talk their trash, cara,but it is altogether worse to hear that my woman is looking back. One smile at the wrong man, lifemate, and trouble will find the man quickly.You sound jealous,she accused him, amusement curving her soft mouth.The first rule for all women to know and never forget is that Carpathian makes do not share their lifemates. Your brother has much to answer for that this was not drilled into you since birth.It was his job to prepare you for my coming. It was said somewhere between jest and complaint.Desari drew in her breath sharply, finding herself wavering between laughter and exasperation. My brother had no idea of your existence, you arrogant male. Besides, how could he possibly prepare me for your total ignorance of women? More likely, had he known you were coming to speak your ritual words, he would have been waiting to ambush you.I myself would have burrowed deep within the ground until you passed beyond my surroundings.You would have burst from the ground staight into my arms,cara mia, and you know this to be true.Now he was laughing, that smug, taunting, male amusement that should have set her teeth on edge but instead made her laugh. I think you are trying to find something to dictate to me about just so you do not lose your ability. Go away and practice this male art form on someone else.You will be singing to me tonight, piccola,and to no other man.You are a spoiled little boy,not a grown man.Should I come show you what a grown man I am? His voice was suddenly low and warm, so sexy she felt a rush of answering heat. She could feel the brush of his fingers against her throat, trailing down the valley between her suddenly aching breasts.Go away,Julian, she laughed in answer. I cannot have you getting me hot and bothered just now.As long as I know you re hot and bothered for me, I will do as you request and go back to work.I can only hope.”

“Other people's houses are right on top of this one," he said. "I think they could take one step and be in our living room.""You haven't seen the courtyard yet, Gregori. The house opens up to a courtyard in the back, and it's immense and in quite good shape." Savannah began heading up the stairs, ignoring his grousing."I hate to think what you would call bad shape," he muttered as he followed her upstairs."I wonder why everything is so dusty," Savannah said. "I had the real estate people come in and clean and get things ready for our arrival.""Do not touch anything," Gregori hissed softly, and very gently caught her shoulders to put her behind him."What is it?" Instinctively she lowered her voice and looked around, trying to see if there was some danger she had been unable to sense."If people came and made up the bed and prepared the house for your arrival, then they would have removed the dust too.""Maybe they're incredibly incompetent," she suggested hopefully.Gregori glanced at her and found the hard edge of his mouth softening. She was making him want to smile all the time, even in the most serious of situations. "I am certain any company would work overtime trying to make you happy, ma petite. I know I do."She blushed at the memory of how he did so. "So why all the dust?" she asked, deliberately distracting him."I think Julian left us a message. You have remained with humans so long, you see only with your eyes."Savannah rolled her eyes at the reprimand. "And you've lived in the hills so long,you've forgotten how to have fun."The pale eyes slid over her, wrapping her in heat. "I have my own ideas of fun, cherie. I would be willing to show you if you like," he offered wickedly.Her chin lifted, blue eyes challenging. "If you think you're scaring me with your big-bad-wolf routine,you're not," she said.He could hear her heart beat. Smell her scent calling to him. "Perhaps I will think of something to change that," he cautioned her.”