Tempest exchanged a long look with Desari. “Have you tried to get pregnant?” Tempest asked. “Darius and I only just found each other. I haven’t thought of children yet.”
Savannah laughed. “In truth, Gregori and I have only been together a few weeks. I would love to give him twins. Total trouble for him to frantically chase around and guard instead of me. As soon as we are finished here, we intend to return to the Carpathian Mountains, where we will make our home. Once settled, I’m certain we’ll try to have a child. Jacques and Shea will travel home with us. All of us intend to fly to Paris first to visit with Gregori’s older brothers, Gabriel and Lucian. Lucian was just married, but unfortunately, Gregori and I missed the wedding due to unforeseen circumstances.”
“Is it dangerous for Shea to travel?” Corinne didn’t want to think another woman had put her child in jeopardy for her sake.
“Jacques would never allow Shea to do anything dangerous,” Savannah pointed out. “He’s Mister Protective where she’s concerned.”
Tempest and Desari burst out laughing. “And Gregori isn’t with you?”
Corinne frowned. “Where are Lisa and Cullen? Are they okay? Lisa must be so frightened.”
The smile faded from Desari’s face. She was silent for a moment before answering, obviously conferring with someone else. “Lisa and Cullen are relatively safe where they are. Barack and Syndil are with them. Julian, my lifemate, has gone to their aid and has removed all immediate threats to them. They are under his protection. He has something of a reputation in matters of security.” Desari phrased it as delicately as possible so as not to disturb Corinne’s careful balance.
Corinne paled even more. “I thought those people were trying to kill me. Is Lisa still in danger?”
“The society targets anyone with paranormal abilities, but its members do not seem to be able to distinguish those traits very well. Because Lisa is a member of your family, she was also put on their list. Cullen was already on it and had been for some time. After Dayan brought you here, another attempt was made on Cullen’s life at the hospital. Of course, Barack and Syndil were there, so Lisa and Cullen were unharmed. We removed them to a more easily guarded place.”
“Why didn’t you bring them here? Lisa is easily frightened. This must be terrible for her. I need to go to her,” Corinne said immediately, catching hold of the quilt as if to throw it off.
Desari laid a gentle hand over Corinne’s. “You’re not thinking clearly. Your first duty is to your daughter and your own health. You may be feeling better, but the improvement is definitely temporary. You cannot be moving around and making your heart work any harder than necessary. It would not do Lisa, Cullen or anyone else any good if you were to die.” She leaned close so that her dark eyes could look directly into Corinne’s. “You do know that, don’t you, Corinne?”
Corinne blinked away the illusion that she was freefalling into space. “I know I love Lisa and she must be very frightened. Is Cullen going to live?”
Desari nodded. Corinne had extremely strong mind protection for a human. Dayan had told them it took more than usual strength to shield her mind or to persuade her. Desari didn’t want to put any pressure on her that might alarm her. “Cullen sustained tremendous injuries, and the truth is, Barack donated blood to him, which is something we do not do lightly. Cullen cannot be fully brought over. He and Barack will be connected to one another for the rest of Cullen’s lifetime. We have great affection for Cullen, and Darius would not allow him to die when it was in our power to save him. Lisa is with him and is helping to care for him. I believe it will be good for her to take responsibility for Cullen’s health.”
Corinne was watching Desari’s face. “Because you think I’m going to die.”
Desari shook her head decisively. “Because Dayan has no choice but to bring you fully into our world, and Lisa cannot follow you here. You will remain good friends, but you can no longer be the one to manage her life for her.” Desari spoke as gently as possible, but her seriousness showed in her dark, expressive eyes.
Corinne bunched the quilt in her hand, her fingers rubbing nervously over the strange symbol sewn into the edge of the comforter. “Fully into your world.” She repeated the phrase softly, under her breath.
“Dayan’s world,” Desari reminded her gently. “Just keep that uppermost in your mind. You will be in his world.”
“What about my baby?” Corinne finally voiced the question she had been unable even to consider. She was terrified for her baby.
Desari smiled encouragingly at her. “Are you strong enough for the truth, Corinne? Because you have to know you want the truth when you ask for it.”
Corinne found that tracing the strange symbol over and over on the quilt was soothing. It helped to keep her mind from shutting down with fear. “Is my baby going to live and be healthy?”
“We are doing everything in our power to make that happen. Dayan’s blood, which we believe will save your life and will convert you, will also convert the baby if you are given the blood while you are pregnant. That presents us with a few problems and new territory we have never dealt with before.” Desari’s voice was hauntingly beautiful and tranquil. “I am being completely honest with you. We do not have the answers you seek. This has never happened before, at least not that I know of. Certainly, it has not happened to Gregori, and he is the acknowledged healer of our people.”
Corinne’s fingers found the next symbol in the quilt and traced the character. “I’m trying to understand what you’re telling me. If Dayan doesn’t give me his blood, I will die for certain. You’re saying that’s a fact.”
Desari nodded solemnly. “We are only delaying the inevitable. He would have completed the conversion already if you were not carrying this child.”
Corinne heard her heart racing and took a moment to slow it. “How does he do it? How does he complete the conversion?”
Desari’s gaze held hers captive, almost as if she were sharing her courage. “There must be three blood exchanges. Each blood exchange will bring you a step further into our world. And of course, because you are his lifemate, Dayan will complete the ritual and make you wholly his.”
“And you think this will save my life?” Corinne asked doubtfully, watching Desari’s face carefully. Dayan believed it because he had to believe it — he had no other choice or he would go crazy — but Desari had no ties to her. “Do you really believe it, Desari?”
Desari sighed softly. “I believe the odds are in your favor if everything goes right and we time it all perfectly. You know as well as I do that your heart is in bad shape. Even with Dayan’s strong blood reshaping your internal organs, you will have to have the necessary strength to go through the actual conversion. Gregori thinks we can get you through it, and I have heard he is capable of great miracles.”
“He is capable of miracles, Corinne,” Savannah affirmed.
Corinne smiled sadly. “Still, for the baby’s sake, I must be near Lisa. If something happens to me, she is the one who must raise her. She’ll be the baby’s only living relative.”
Desari was shaking her head. “When Dayan gives you his blood, the blood will pass through the placenta to the baby. The child will have his blood, his genetic code, not your former husband’s. The child will eventually be one of us.”
Corinne was silent, listening to the sounds of the house, the wind outside the window, the branches swaying and dancing. She could hear her own breathing and the heartbeat of the child growing within her. “He gave me his blood already. What did it do to the baby?” She was struggling desperately to understand.