I won’t, Jacques. Shea shook her head adamantly. I want to go right now. You promised me we could go.
This must be done, Shea. He is right. You grow weaker every day.
We don’t need them to help us. She held out a hand to stop Gregori’s advance. “I know you’re trying to help us, but I’m not ready for this yet. I need to figure things out for myself and get used to what I have to do to survive. Surely that’s not such an unreasonable thing.” Deliberately her fingers tangled with Jacques’, linking them together. She needed him on her side, to understand she needed time.
“To give you time to slowly die from lack of care? Your health has been neglected for some time. You are a doctor—you know that is so. You made up your mind your life span would be very short. That cannot be,” Gregori said softly. His voice was mesmerizing, hypnotic. “Our women are our only hope. We cannot lose you.”
Shea could feel Jacques’ swift denial of the possibility of such a thing. Violence swirled close to the surface, but he man aged to control it. His black eyes centered on her green .ones. I know what he says is true. Shea. I have felt your acceptance of your death on more than one occasion. You were willing to trade your life for mine.
That’s different, and you know it, she said desperately. His hands were on her, trapping her to him. Don’t do this, Jacques. Let me do this in my own time.
Shea. He ached with wanting to do as she asked him. She could feel it in his mind, the need to give her whatever would make her happy, yet at the same time the idea that she could be slipping away from him terrified him. His every instinct insisted he do as the healer suggested and ensure that she was brought to full strength. He fought to stay in control, to not allow his animal instincts to make the decision. Please, little red hair, just do this so we can both be strong. Once it is done, we will be able to be on our own together and make our own decisions.
I’m not ready, Jacques. Try to understand. I need time to comprehend what’s happening to me. I need to feel in control. I’m not going to die. I’ve accepted that whatever you are, whatever my father is, I have become wholly. I know that you somehow were able to bind us together. And I’m trying to deal with all that in my own time and way.
I am attempting to do what is right for you.
How can you know what’s right for me? You decided for me. You took over my life without my knowledge or consent. You had no right to do that, Jacques.
No, I did not, he admitted. I would like to think that if I was not what I have become, I would have courted you as I should, that I could have earned your love and loyalty. I would hope I was not the type of man to force my will on you.
This is no different, Jacques. Can’t you see that?
“She is so weak, Jacques, and so much has happened so quickly.” Gregori’s velvet voice was seductive. “She cannot make a rational decision. How will you aid her? If you try to supply her with blood, you will be unable to adequately protect her. She needs to be healed. You are her lifemate, Jacques. Reach inside yourself, deep within you. These things were imprinted on you before your birth. The male can do no other than to see to his lifemate’s health.”
Mikhail, Raven objected. She’s being pushed too far. Don’t allow this.
She is too important to all of us. We need her at full strength, so she can control Jacques while we wait for his mind to fully heal. None of us can do so. We do not wish to be forced to destroy him. In the end she would choose to follow him, and we would lose her also. You can see her first thought is for Jacques and not for herself. She would follow him for certain. We have to do this, Raven. I am sorry it distresses you.