‘Then l can do no other than thank him.’ Dayan’s arm encompassed Corinne. There were tiny white lines near her mouth, marks he found alarming. Dayan conveyed the worrisome detail to Darius as he freed himself from his body. He became light and energy, a healing spirit wanting only to perform a selfless act, giving himself up completely in that moment to be anything Corinne should need.
Dayan felt Darius with him. Familiar. Strong. Enduring. Darius had a way of providing complete confidence. It had always been so, as long as Dayan could remember. Darius had been mother and father to him, elder brother, best friend, leader. Dayan was grateful he was there now. Darius didn’t seem to question that they would save Corinne. Her salvation was necessary, so it was already a fact. Dayan took hope from Darius’s pragmatism.
The strength pouring in from the combined Carpathians was vast. Dayan felt the power as they merged with him. He felt the dark one moving through him, seeing what he saw, the enormity of their task.
‘The heart is deteriorating rapidly. It is necessary to slow it down until we can reach your side.’ The calm voice reminded Dayan of Darius. It exuded the same confidence. ‘I am going to do what repairs I can. She must be brought fully into our world soon. The child is in surprisingly good health. Most of the oxygen and nutrients are going to her little body. She is, indeed, a strong psychic. We must not lose either of them.’
Dayan felt the heat and power as the healer began working, moving carefully around the heart. Working to get blood to flow more strongly, carrying precious oxygen throughout the body.
“That is as much as I can do for her from this distance. Send her to sleep. Even while you travel, try to keep her asleep, but be careful not to overtax her heart with any compulsion she may fight. She has strong barriers. I will meet you soon, Dayan, and we will see to it that your lifemate survives, if there is any way to do so.’
‘I thank you.’ Dayan replied formally as he returned to his own body and felt the withdrawal of the others. Using such energy over a long distance was not easy. He knew his family and the healer would seek the rejuvenating soil, as he must too. Beside him, Corrine stirred, drawing his attention.
“Why am I feeling so different?” Corinne asked, looking up at Dayan. Her eyes were clear, and she was breathing much more easily. The tiny white lines of strain around her mouth had disappeared.
The relief Dayan felt was overwhelming. He lay beside her trembling with hope, with joy. “The healer is near. He linked with Darius and the others to provide you with more strength. He was the one who worked on your heart.”
Corinne was silent a moment, surprised at how much she believed in him. In the strange ways of his family. She did feel better each time Dayan used his telepathic abilities to aid her. She couldn’t deny that whatever he was doing worked.
“I want you to sleep now, Corinne,” Dayan said. “The dawn is here and you need rest. I will sleep soon too. Rest will allow your body to heal even more.”
“I am tired,” she agreed, then smiled sleepily at him. “Although I suspect you are using your gift to give me a push in that direction.”
“If I am doing so,” Dayan said noncommittally, “it is a small one.” He pulled her more tightly into the strength of his arms. “I love holding you, Corinne, and lying beside you. The baby is peaceful now – have you noticed? She was kicking before, but she has drifted off now, safe in her little world.”
“I love your voice when you talk about her.” Corinne’s voice was soft, drowsy, as her consciousness faded into sleep.
“You love my voice all the time,” Dayan replied smugly, brushing a kiss onto her temple. “Sleep now, my love. Wake when I call to you.”
* * *
Chapter 9
“Corinne – ” The voice penetrated deep layers of sleep, dragging her back from a shadowy world of dreams. Someone was shaking her shoulder and demanding she wake immediately. It took a few moments before the desperation in the voice penetrated the shadows. Alarm spread, and she forced her eyelashes to lift. “Cullen, what is it? What’s wrong?” Her heart was pounding and there was a hard pressure in her chest. “Is it Lisa?”