“Then do it.”
“Sorry to have to inform you of this, but you’ll probably be around for a long time now that you’re Lamai. That is, as long as Raven stays alive,” Tobias threatened. “Perhaps that’s punishment enough.”
The ER attendants wheeled Raven into a private room and hooked her up immediately to heart monitors, as well as a pulse oximeter, sphygmomanometer and IVs. It was a whirlwind of activity. Bo never left her side.
Her heartbeat remained regular-for a Lamai, anyway.
Tracy entered the room with tears flowing down her face.
“What the hell happened?” she cried.
“Laroque,” Bo said with a sigh as he clutched Raven’s hand.
“Dr. Odin will be here in a minute. He wants a full blood work-up done on Raven.” Tracy checked her pulse. Bianca and Gary Davis soon joined them. “Get her some O negative.”
“I can’t believe this is happening. She’s still alive, though, so that’s good news,” Bianca said, full of hope.
Davis ’s face was pasty white. “Yeah, I thought… W-well…I’d heard that if she was t-turned-sh-she’d…”
Bo was lost in thoughts of Raven. He caressed Raven’s arm and brushed his fingertips across the porcelain planes of her face. The color had drained from her cheeks, and she appeared as Bo had always known her.
Raven moaned and fidgeted in the bed where she lay. Ian Odin came storming through the doors with Maureen, the on-duty nurse, at his side. He was a white cloud of fury as he snarled out orders.
“I want the works. A full blood panel-full-soup to nuts,” the white-haired doctor demanded.
Maureen had already begun to draw the first vial of blood from Raven before Ian finished speaking.
His voice softened. “How are you, Bo?” Ian asked as he put his hand on Bo’s shoulder.
Bo had tears in his eyes, which he tried to wipe away. “I’m scared for her.”
“Bo, something else has to be going on. I’m not exactly sure, but if Raven was supposed to die,” he paused. “She’d be dead. Hekate doesn’t mess around. If she told Raven she would die if anyone tried to turn her, then that’s what would happen. Be thankful she’s made it this far.”
“Should I set up for transfusions, Dr. Odin?” Maureen asked.
“No, continue with the O negative. I want to get a clearer picture first. Let’s get all the results back, and then I’ll decide the next course of action.”
Bianca kissed Raven’s cheek while Davis stood by speechless.
“Jade wants to come in. I’ll go wait outside,” Bianca offered, but Bo wasn’t listening. He was waiting for Dr. Odin to tell him Raven would be all right.
Then he would exhale.
Tobias took one long last look at Philippe Laroque. His eyes flashed red. His posture resembled Queen Rhia’s. “I promise you, if anything unfortunate happens to Raven, I will hunt you down. You will die a slow and agonizing death.”
Laroque sat at his desk with his head in his hands, undoubtedly thinking of Nicki and Jade. He didn’t seem to know what to say. Perhaps there was nothing to say. He couldn’t even have the pleasure of torturing Frank Dubois.
“I hope you got some gratification from killing Frank,” Laroque finally said.
Tobias stared at him. “Almost as much as I would derive from killing you.”
“Then just do it,” Laroque begged.
Instead, Tobias reared his fist back and smashed Laroque’s face. Every bone shattered. For a while, at least.
“To answer your question, all I felt was Nicolette’s pain,” he admitted.
With that, Tobias shimmered back to Mirabelle.
Tobias appeared in the corner of Raven’s room at the precise moment Ian Odin walked in grinning from ear to ear. Solaris followed right behind him with Tracy at her heels. Solaris went straight to Bo and hugged him tightly.
“You can breathe now,” she said.
“What is it?”
Ian stood there for another moment, brimming with joy as he noticed Tobias in the room.
“Good, you’re all here.”
“What is it, Ian?” Tobias asked.
Ian smacked Bo on the back. “Bo, you’re going to be a father,” he said, almost too matter-of-factly.
Bo looked wide eyed at the doctor, shaking his head.
“I-what? I-I-don’t…”
“Raven is pregnant with your baby. I assume it’s yours,” Ian began to explain.
“Of course it’s his,” Raven muttered. Her eyes fluttered opened. She looked over to her father, then to Bo. “What’s going on? Where am I? Am I dead?”
Bo gathered her in his arms and embraced her tightly. “No, my love, you are very much alive.”
Not missing a beat, Ian continued. “That’s what saved her when she was turned. The baby’s mystical DNA from you saved her life. I would guess she’s about four to five weeks along. I need to keep her here for a while, so don’t start threatening to take her home,” Ian ordered, but Bo didn’t hear him.
Everyone began congratulating the happy couple, Tobias and even Jade.
Solaris cried for joy. “Auntie Jade,” she said with a sigh as she hugged the young woman. She turned to Bo and smothered him with kisses.
Bo teased Tobias, “How does it feel to be a grandpa?” he said, still in shock himself.
“Magickal.”
Both men stood on either side of Raven, each holding a hand.
Tobias waited a moment for her to gain her bearings.
“Father,” she whispered.
Tobias smiled as he leaned over to kiss his daughter’s forehead. “Dulciuri inimă.”
“I thought I was supposed to die if I was turned. I remember drinking his blood-didn’t I?”
Bo looked deeply into her smoke-colored eyes. “Yes, you did drink it, but our son or daughter saved you,” he said with a glowing smile.
She pulled back. “I’m pregnant? I thought I was dreaming.”
“No. You’re not dreaming, love.”
“Yes, you are pregnant. We’ll figure out exactly how far along soon,” Ian answered.
Solaris made her way over to Raven and hugged her dear friend. “Your mother is standing next to your father and she is absolutely beaming with love.” She turned to Tobias. “Soon you will be reunited and she says she can’t wait. She sends her undying love.”
Tobias wiped a rarely shed tear from his eye. “Tell her…”
“She knows,” Solaris said. “And she sends her love to you girls-I mean women.”
Raven smiled and motioned to Jade. “Come here, Auntie Jade,” she whispered.
The two women embraced. “I’m so sorry things happened the way they did. I’m sorry I turned you. That wasn’t my intention.” Raven was weak from the abrupt changes her body had gone through in the last few weeks.
Jade smiled. “Rest. And don’t be sorry. I found love with Mick who, as you know, is Lamai. So now I really feel like I’m part of the family.”
“He’s a good man,” Raven said.
“I know. He was under my father’s control when he was working at Blood Pool. That was the white powder you saw, Sol. The coup de poudre caused him to act out of character.”
Solaris nodded as she gazed at her friend. “So, will I be an honorary aunt?”
“Of course! I can’t believe this. I’m still in shock.” Raven began to cry as she put one hand on her belly while the other caressed Bo’s face.
The room slowly cleared out, giving the two lovers privacy.
“I love you. You are my life,” he whispered as he kissed her neck.
“Oh, Bo, I was so upset over what happened-that I changed. I was going to let you go. I didn’t want you to be saddled with a mortal woman. You deserve so much more than I would’ve been able to give you.”
Bo hugged her. “Don’t ever say or even think that, tehila. Without you, I am nothing. It doesn’t matter now, though, because we’re going to have a family of our own.”