The shadow warrior spun around, sword flashing, cutting straight at Vikirnoff’s throat.  He ducked and parried, sparks raining down as the metal edges collided with enormous force.
           
“Having a good time there, honey?” Natalya called out.  “You’re looking a little slow.  You’ve got a trio coming up on your right.”  She folded her arms and tapped her foot as three more warriors rushed into the fray.
           
Vikirnoff went vertical, leaping into the air, kicking at one.
           
“Way cool, babycakes, I’m so impressed with that move.  Very Jackie Chan!”  She fanned herself.  “My little heart is all aflutter.”
           
“Okay I’ve got the point, get in here and help me.”  Virkinoff threw a dark scowl over his shoulder, ducked another sword coming at him, spinning to take him through the ranks of smoky warriors, his movements drawing them away from his lifemate.
           
Natalya clutched her side and batted her eyelashes.  “I think I’m ovulating and this is the optimum time.  Can we call a time out so you can do the dastardly deed and get me with child?”
           
One of the shadow warriors drove hard at Vikirnoff.  The Carpathian raced up the side of the ice wall, flipped over, driving the blade of his sword across the warrior’s neck.  It should have beheaded his opponent, but as the shadow warrior was already dead, his blade cut through air.
           
Natalya clapped her hands. “Hey! If you were shorter and green, we could call you Yoda.  Didn’t he teach that move to Luke Skywalker?”
           
“Natalya,” Vikirnoff bit out through clenched teeth.  “You aren’t funny.  I’ve got five of these warriors coming at me and you’re just standing around.”
           
“But I’m looking pretty.  You have to admit I look good standing here.  And I’m cheering for you, babe.”  Pom poms appeared in her hands and she was suddenly wearing a short skirt.  She did a little demonstration for him.  “Go Vik, go, destroy those bad boys.”
           
She stopped moving when one of the shadow warriors turned his head toward her.  Movement always attracted them.
           
Vikirnoff fought through the ranks until he had placed his body between his lifemate and the warriors.  His sword flashed in and out as he spun gracefully, dropped low, went high and kept a whirling movement impossible to anticipate. “Stop kidding around!”
           
“Are you going to go before the warrior’s counsel and tell them you think women should be allowed to fight?  Cuz it looks like you could use a little help.  But I could just stand here braiding my hair if you’d rather I sit this one out.”
           
O jelä peje terád – Sun scorch you, Natalya!”
           
She raised an eyebrow.  “Did you just curse at me?  I’m only following my man’s wishes.”  She glared at him.  “Like Donna Reed.”
           
“Sun scorch the warrior’s counsel.  And sun scorch Donna Reed as well.”
           
“That’s so not nice when Donna Reed is your dream girl.”
           
“Warrior princess is my dream girl and she’d better get her spectacular ass in gear.”  Vikirnoff parried two swords coming at him, spun and took the flat of a blade across his shoulder.
           
It rocked him, but he kept moving fast, getting out of the way by ducking low and sliding through the warrior’s ranks.
           
Natalya flinched, taking two steps toward Vikirnoff and then forcing herself to stop.  “That looked like it hurt big time.  I’d help out, but you know I might mess up the polish on my fingernails.  It’s so pretty and pink.”
           
“I’m going to beat you when I get out of this.”
           
“I’m not sure you’re going to get out of this without some help, but unfortunately for you, I think I’m ovulating right now.  We women have to stay home and be impregnated.”
           
“What’s it going to take?”
           
“Changing your position on women fighting, oh mighty dictator.”  But she was already lifting her arms into the air, ready to take command of the shadow warriors.  Because she wasn’t about to let them kill her man, even if he was an idiot. 
           
Hear me now, dark ones, great warriors torn from your resting places, while I call on earth, wind, fire, water and spirit.
           
She expected the semitransparent warriors to halt and lower their swords, but they continued to battle Vikirnoff.
           
“Holy smoke, batman, they aren’t listening to me.”  Natalya drew her sword and leapt into the fray, back to back with Vikirnoff.  “I no longer have mage blood.  We’re in a little trouble here.”
           
Vikirnoff glared at her over his shoulder.  “You think?”