Disclaimer: If I owned these characters, I would be writing their books, not these fan fictions while waiting for Dimitri (who is one of the ultimate Carpathian Sex Objects) and Skyler’s book, now would I?

“Gabriel, Lucian? Would you mind if I asked you a question?” asked a young voice from the doorway.

“Yes, Skyler?” returned Gabriel, both turning their immediate attention towards her. Lucian nodded and she walked forward into the room.

She sat down in her favorite armchair and leaned forward, facing her father and his twin. It was the day after the big Christmas celebration and the brothers were discussing many things: the safety of their women, children, prince and most of all their little brother in tights, pulling off the enchanting stunt that he had with his lifemate.r

“I talked to Francesca a little bit about it, and I was wondering…about my lifemate and all…if, well…” Lucian and Gabriel looked at each other with the same eyebrow-arched look.

“If?” Gabriel pressed, not reading her mind purposely. They tried not to pry into her mind unless they had to, preferring to give her the privacy a human girl desired. But what truly disturbed him was that she had discussed this with Francesca and his lifemate had not told him.

She asked me not to tell, my love. She wanted to tell you and seek your approval and opinion as her father and as a male who knows what its like to face darkness; to be alone for all those years. Whispered Francesca’s voice in his mind, a voice that often kept him in control of all he surrounded, including himself.

He looked at his daughter as she fumbled for words and ran her hands through her dirty-blonde and red shot hair. “I want to talk to Dimitri.” She stated. She kept her face looking at the polished wood floors, not wanting to see either of their surprised looking faces. Gabriel cleared his throat. “I thought that you didn’t want a lifemate, Skyler. Was my hearing incorrect?”

She shook her head back and forth. “No, you’re right, I don’t want a lifemate. But I do want to help him, and help me, too. I can feel him and his despair every moment that I’m awake. He tries to stop it, but he can’t. He can’t stop his emotions from getting to me. I want to stop it. I don’t want a over-commanding Carpathian male to suddenly take over my life. But, maybe, I could talk to him. Make him feel better about me. He’s taken my blood; I know our mind-connection thingy is there. Maybe getting to know him…he’ll stop being so lonely and feeling so guilty, and I’ll stop being so scared.”

Lucian sighed. His niece looked so small, so fragile, with that little frown on her face and that worried pleading note in her voice. She was scared of men, of what they had done to her. She was far too old for her own good, and what she needed was a childhood. Since there was no going back to that, the only other thing would be to let Dimitri give her back her life. But would it make him worse, was the question. If he heard her voice, but couldn’t have her, would it be a welcoming for murder or a small comfort to a man so close to darkness? He knew his twin graced his mind, scanning his worries, which mirrored his own.

“It’s a good idea Skyler. But our concern is for both of you. If he hears your voice, what will he do to get you? Would that put him further on the edge or save him? We don’t know we can’t know. It could put you in danger again! If a vampire reads his mind and finds you…” Gabriel was trying to fight it, but he knew it was to no avail. He could deny his daughter nothing; he loved her far too much. This was a good idea anyway, so there really was no use in fighting.

Skyler took an intake of breath and looked her father in the eye. “Don’t you break off connection to Francesca when you’re fighting a vampire? Dimitri would never put me in danger. I know he wouldn’t. I want to know him better. I know I can’t be everything he deserves after waiting so long for a real woman who can heal him, but I can try!” She practically yelled. She was ready to cry she was so frustrated. At him, at her real father, at her very real heritage, even at Dimitri, her anger practically flowed off of her, which brought Jaxon and Francesca into the room.

“Why can’t she just try? Breaking off your connection to your lifemate is very hard; you of all people know that. They can’t be together for a few more years yet, so where’s the harm. Let her talk to him, let both of them learn.” demanded Jaxon standing in front of the twin brothers with her hands on her hips and a pout on her face. Francesca stood next to her daughter.

You shouldn’t stand like that, my love. You look very appetizing and I would hate to have to eat you in front of my brother and his lifemate.

Than agree with me, Lucian and I won’t have to stand like this. Jaxon was teasing him. Even without her blackmailing him, he knew the idea was a good one. He turned to Gabriel and nodded his consent.

Gabriel sighed. “I guess I am outnumbered. My only concerns are that we do not torment Dimitri and you come to no harm, Skyler. I am not sure if this idea would be a blessing or a curse.” Skyler called for him quietly, not wanting to disturb him from whatever he was doing.

You are more important than any thing I can be doing right now. What is it, lyubof maya? My father and uncle wish to speak to you about an idea I’ve had. I think it is good, but we aren’t sure if it would be fair to you. She could almost physically feel him nodding, absentmindedly petting his head wolf. She suddenly wished he was petting her hair and just as suddenly pushed it away. But not before he had heard it; and smiled. She could not ignore her needs as a lifemate for very long. I will be there in a few minutes. Is that all right?

Of course it is. Thank you, Dimitri.

She spoke formally, almost reserved. She was so scared of him and she didn’t know why. She didn’t want him to yell at her, like so many had, but she knew somehow he never would. She felt his needs, felt his emotions, knew that his every want was to protect her, but was protecting her going to hurt her? She was so confused, so terribly lost. She only wanted to understand and no matter how hard anybody tried she wasn’t learning anything, but to ignore what instincts she had learned about men as a child.

“You will understand, my little Skyler.” Dimitri’s voice announced behind her. He put his hand gently on her shoulder and she flinched. He could only hope that she could learn to love him, and he could teach her how to trust him.

“Do you need me to remove my hand?” He asked, his mouth dangerously lingering near her ear. Her heart skipped a few beats, even though she sternly told it not to. He took her silence for a yes and started to remove it. He had just wanted to touch her again. That soft satiny skin, with its beautiful color and lightly colored nails; his little miracle. She gave him color, light, and promise…if only she would accept him. Well, maybe she was accepting him. He turned his eyes to look at those staring at him. Only in Jaxon’s eyes did he find acceptance. In Francesca’s eyes he found apprehension. In Gabriel and Lucian’s he found clearly read warning. He didn’t want to see Skyler’s. He didn’t want to read the rejection he knew was somewhere inside of them.

“What did you want to speak to me about, Skyler?” Dimitri’s voice said from behind her, making her turn to face him. He was talking to her like she was the only one in the room. “Can I talk to you?” She blurted out very fast. He immediately sensed her nervousness, and wondered how he hadn’t noticed it before. He raised a slight eyebrow and tried to ease her into conversation. “Aren’t you already talking to me?”

She laughed slightly, but felt more than a little pressure. She looked over her shoulder at Francesca sitting next to Gabriel. Instant calm washed over her and she welcomed it. “I want to get to know you better. I want to speak to you even after we leave here. Maybe being a lifemate isn’t as bad as it seems; I want to help you. I don’t want you to feel like this anymore. And it’s only been a day.”

She looked him right in the eye as she said it. Those beautiful blue eyes. Much as she didn’t want him, hated the idea of him controlling her, she couldn’t help it. She noticed him and he made her feel helplessly feminine. He wasn’t trying to, he just did.

“What about what we discussed before? I thought you did not want me.” He made it a statement. All he wanted to do was claim her and fix her broken spirit and hope that she would fix his soul in return. She looked down, dirty blonde and red hair fell over her face, shadowing it so he could only see the angular outlines.

“Maybe, I was wrong. I was thinking about it last night, and I realized that while my thoughts were about helping you, I was the one hurting you. And I couldn’t live with that. I can’t live like you want me to either, but we could learn. But Gabriel doesn’t know if talking to me and not being able to control me would be a problem.” She grabbed the Wolf pendent as a talisman, much to his pleasure, which he still couldn’t believe he felt. That was the first wolf ornament he had ever made, and to have her treasure it made his heart turn over.

“Hearing your beautiful voice in my thoughts would be much preferred over not talking to you until you are ready for my claim, not my control, young one. We may be controlling and dominant as males should be, but it is a claim, not a sign of pure control. You are not my puppet, nor will you be. I understand much more than everyone here seems to think I do. I understand the need to give you time and space. I understand that you are young and your spirit was shattered. I also understand that you need help in picking up those fallen pieces, and maybe, even though I know your father is practically growling at me, I could be the one to help you pick it back up. I also agree with your father in that I do not deserve you. My soul is a piece of extra-punctuated Swiss cheese with more darkness in it than the night we belong to, but maybe you can save me.” He finished quietly and calmly. He was spilling out his soul for everyone to see, and he didn’t care. His body was tight with unfulfilled need; the need to kiss her, protect her forever. He resisted the beast as it roared to take her, make her his forever.

She lifted her face up to look into his eyes. She loved doing it. It made her feel brave, confident. Something she didn’t feel often, even though she acted like it. Something in those icy cold eyes warmed her every part of her like nothing else could. He stared right back. He leaned down and kissed her, daring all for one moment in time. Skyler melted against him, knowing it was wrong, but not having enough of a will to stop it.

All to quickly it was over and Gabriel was on his feet and growling. Dimitri raised Skyler’s hand to his lips and bowed. He disappeared into mist and Skyler heard Thank you, lyubof maya. We’ll save each other yet. Call me when you wish to speak to me. Upon hearing his words and looking at those she considered her familiy, she realized they had firmly set a wall between her and Dimitri’s emotions. They had realized she couldn’t think clearly while his needs, which scared her so much, were imposing on her mind. Now, she could feel a little less guilty, and maybe a little more whole.

A/N: Thanks for reading the first chapter! Please R&R I love hearing form people who have read my fanfic, whether you liked it or not, critisim is always welcomed. I know I went a little O.C with the characters, but…I try. Thanks for reading, hope to update soon

Lil’Lady