Читаем Dark Song полностью

“Emeline, have you been around Genevieve? Do you feel that she might be infected as well?” Elisabeta kept her voice as soothing as the gentle breeze moving through the room. Already the baby had responded to the peaceful atmosphere and the faint blend of lavender, lime, orange and bergamot. The fragrance was so subtle it was barely there, but helped lift anxiety as she sent a wave of healing energy toward Emeline.

“Genevieve is one of the most calm, steady women I’ve ever met in my life,” Emeline said. “I’ve never seen her angry. If she is infected, she certainly has an abundance of control to keep it in check, and I would find it hard to believe that she could do so better than Dragomir.”

Julija nodded. “I have to agree with that statement. The ancients have checked their emotions for centuries. It doesn’t make sense that they are having trouble not losing their tempers, especially someone like Sandu, who can’t even feel his emotions.”

Elisabeta frowned. “Ancient hunters without lifemates may not feel emotion, but they have feelings the same as everyone else. I can feel them when I’m near them. Sometimes even when I am not close but they are broadcasting because they are grief-stricken. Whatever this infection is bypasses the block that prevents them from feeling and goes straight to the core of where emotion and judgment are.”

“Humans get illnesses, like the flu,” Lorraine said. “I know Carpathians don’t, but is it possible, with the composition of the soil changed so much, that the answer is that simple? It’s a new illness sweeping through the compound?”

“That’s an interesting theory,” Emeline said. “One I wouldn’t have considered and I doubt if the others have, although perhaps the healer has. He seems to give thought to everything. What do you think, Elisabeta? You’ve seen the results of it up close.”

Elisabeta wasn’t used to anyone asking her opinion. She went back and forth on enjoying the discussion with the women and then panicking a little at the completely unfamiliar need to actually give her own response.

It is okay to tell them what you are thinking, sívamet. They are simply speculating, as you would be. I have no answer. Gary and I are throwing out ideas in the hopes that we hit on something. I repeated Lorraine’s theory of a flu of some sort to Gary, but he does not think it could be that.

She took a deep breath, taking the scents that helped with anxiety deep into her lungs. She’d sent the fragrances around the room to aid Emeline and now hoped they helped her. Not only did she have to talk— something she found difficult—and give an opinion—which was even worse—but even in the small space, without the bars between her eyes and the rest of the world, she found it difficult to look around her without feeling disoriented.

“I do not know what is causing this infection, but the burns can be very deep in some and not in others. It does not appear to be a sickness to me.” Her heart beat so hard in her chest she pressed her fist there to help mask the sound. She thought she might faint. She bit down very hard on her lower lip and once again pressed her nails into her forearm. Her distress level was rising the longer she was there alone and the more that was required of her.

They wish only to be your friend, Elisabeta. Nothing is required of you. Lean on Julija. She will get you through any difficulty.

Merged as she was with Ferro, something alerted her to his state of mind when directing her to lean on her friend. It wasn’t an inflection in his voice, or any hint of emotion, but still, her connection with him was extremely strong. She knew there was a cost to him when he gave her that advice. He wanted to be the one she leaned on, and yet he generously pushed her toward the three women, certain it would be good for her to have female friends.

You will get me through all difficulties, kont o sívanak. Deliberately she called him “strong heart.” He was that to her. I like them, but it is you I have placed my trust in. It is you I have given my allegiance to. I will learn, over time, to trust in my friendships with them, but it is you I have need of, Ferro, unless I am too much trouble. She may have been reading him wrong. It was possible he was trying to pass her off to someone else because he was tired of her clingy ways.