“I thought a human couldn’t be converted unless he or she has a lifemate.” Corinne felt numb, trapped, suddenly panicked by the repercussions of her decision. It was one thing to make such a decision for herself, to choose Dayan’s world, but something altogether different for her child. Where was Dayan? Her lifeline, her sanity. ‘Where are you?’ She reached across time and space to him. Her fingers clutched the quilt, a strange thing to find so comforting.
‘I am here, my love, always with you, a shadow in your mind. I hunt the evil one to make our world safe, but I am never far from you or our child. I will return unharmed to you as soon as we accomplish what is necessary. We will face what is frightening to you together, as it is meant to be. Uniting our two worlds is not so difficult when we feel as we do. Our love for our daughter will aid us in our choices.’ His voice was a blend of heat and light, music and melody, so beautiful it took her breath away. He felt strong and real and a part of her.
“Your daughter has a strong psychic talent, perhaps even stronger than yours,” Desari said. “She can be converted without danger to her sanity, but there are other complications. It is not something we do lightly, Corinne.”
Corinne could feel unexpected tears welling up out of nowhere. “I feel like I’m being given little pieces of a jigsaw puzzle one or two at a time, and the picture is so overwhelming I can’t comprehend it. What other complications?”
“Our species has problems having babies, particularly females. Few of us conceive females, and those that do rarely carry them to full term. Even after they are born, our babies often do not survive the first year of life. It is a terrible tragedy and has contributed to the decline of our race. Because you must be given blood to save your life, the baby will be given the same blood – ”
“No!” Corinne was adamant. “Her life is more important than mine. She has to come first in every decision. I know Dayan doesn’t want that, but it is my decision to make, not his. I don’t want to give her life only to have her lose it because I selfishly wanted to live myself. It would be better to chance giving birth to her now and allowing the doctors to do their best. They are performing miracles with premature babies. You said yourself she was strong.”
Desari shook her head. “She would not have survived had you given birth the night Dayan removed you from the hospital. It took all of Gregori’s strength and power to keep her alive. It is too late to turn back now. She has Dayan’s blood in her system. She needs us now to help her survive. A human doctor could never save her life.”
Corinne twisted her fingers into the quilt in agitation. “I feel helpless,” she confessed to the women. “I’ve always been the one to handle the problems in our lives, and now I can’t help my own child when she needs it the most.”
Desari shook her head. “You are so wrong, Corinne. Now more than ever it is you who will have to have the strength of will to carry her. You are already monitoring your own heart and attempting to regulate it.”
“I feel Dayan with me when I have trouble. He’s the one regulating my heartbeat and pushing the air through my lungs,” Corinne corrected. “I know he’s there.”
“Of course – he is your lifemate,” Desari said complacently. “But he cannot save you if you are not willing to be saved. You are using your will, and it is considerable.” She patted the quilt. “I see you like this quilt. Francesca, lifemate to Gabriel, made it for you. She is a great healer who lives in Paris. When she received word that you were carrying a baby and you needed aid, she made this specifically for you. It is a healing quilt. Along with the healing symbols, she used other symbols to aid in your protection should there be enemies that – find you.”