Gabriel’s eyes met hers with sudden understanding. He caught her to him, nearly crushing her slender body in his arms. Yet at the same time, he held her so tenderly he made her want to cry. “It is impossible. Our family produced only one daughter in eight hundred years. Before that, it was nearly a thousand years and she did not survive. We cannot be so blessed as to have a girl.”
Francesca leaned into him, savoring the heat of his skin, his masculine frame, so different from her own. “I examined her earlier while you went out to feed. The child is female and she clings to life stubbornly. I do not want to face this test alone, Gabriel. Find a way to live for us. You are right about Skyler. Without my aid, without her belief in me, she would slip back into her mind. We would surely lose another of our males to the undead. More than that, we would be without a brilliant, rare treasure. I cannot do it without you, Gabriel. Live for us.”
He buried his face in the silken curtain of her hair. “I can do no other than as you command, my love. It is my duty to see to your happiness. I will find a way.”
He meant it. She could hear the resolve in his voice. The weariness was gone, as was the acceptance of his own destruction. Lucian had held him for two thousand years. Francesca would not give him up so easily to his dark twin. She would fight with every cell in her body, every weapon she possessed to keep him with her. Lucian would not win. It didn’t matter that he was Gabriel’s twin and had been a great man once; he was now the biggest threat to her family. She would find a way to combat him. There was a way. Somehow. There was a way.
They clung to each other for a few minutes longer, each aware of the other’s thoughts, each determined to find a way to defeat the ultimate vampire. “You must go,” Francesca finally whispered reluctantly. “I have so much to do this rising, and I must attend to Skyler. I have neglected so many of my responsibilities.”
Gabriel’s smile was slow and sexy, heart-stopping. “I am very pleased that I was able to provide such a distraction for you.”
For no reason at all, Francesca found herself blushing. At once she ducked her head so her hair fell around her face, protecting her. He laughed softly. “My beautiful woman, I cannot believe you are blushing after all that we have done together.”
“At least you didn’t mention my age,” she said.
“I am not that unbalanced, although I will admit I do not have much practice with women.” He bowed, that curiously courtly bow that always made her breath stop.
Francesca glared at him. “Go away, Gabriel, you have that look in your eyes and I have much to do.”
His hand moved possessively over the long curtain of her black hair. “Nothing is more important than satisfying the needs of your lifemate.” His face was innocent and very serious.
Francesca blinked once, then gave him a good hard shove. “Go tell it to the last century, ancient one. I am a modern woman with many commitments.”
“You are a woman much sought after by these human males and I am beginning to find it tedious.”
Her eyebrow shot up. “Tedious?” she echoed. “Do I hear a veiled threat in there somewhere?”
He bent his head to kiss her. “It was not all that veiled.” His grin was boyish and seductive at the same time. “I cannot very well admit I am bothered by those who seek your attention when I am your lifemate. As an ancient I am above such trivial things.”
Francesca found herself laughing. “You’re above something all right, but I’m not entirely certain what it is.”
“Watch yourself tonight, Francesca,” Gabriel cautioned as he glided through the room toward the door. “You must always remember you are a target now, and so is Skyler.”
“I’ll send word to Aidan’s family, asking them not to delay. That way if Skyler is home, she can be protected while we sleep.” Her dark gaze was suddenly anxious. “Gabriel, don’t let Lucian undermine your confidence in yourself. I really need you and so does our child. Our children.”