Eleanor rubbed her forehead. “I know he will, and I know he is needed. It is just that our children have suffered so much already. So many die. Such a simple thing, feeding and caring for a child, yet we, of the earth, cannot do this simple service for our children. We cannot afford to take anything more away from them. If they need a full fifty years to mature enough to allow them on their own, so be it. What is that to give to a child?”
“You are right, of course, Eleanor. I have every belief that Shea and Gregori will find an answer that will allow our women to once again carry our children without the loss of so many. And with that, you will be able to feed them with your own bodies as you were meant to do.”
She took his hand. “You remember that Celeste and Eric had a son when we had Benjamin, and he did not survive? They have tried again, and the child was lost to them. She is very distressed, and Eric has taken her away to try to help her get over the loss. I know what it is like to watch a child die, to have a hole in my heart that will never go away. It is painful to see my friends suffering so. Vlad’s sister Diedre spends more and more time in the ground. I fear we will lose them if she becomes pregnant and does not succeed again. Tienn has refused to try again, afraid, as I am, that she would choose to meet the dawn.” She put her hand on his face, needing the contact with him. “I am so grateful that you have found your lifemate. Cherish her. Live for her. And hopefully she will live for you, and that will be enough.”
“There is hope, Eleanor,” he said softly.
“Is there? I wish that were true. Perhaps if we had the wisdom of the wizards or their power, we would find a way, but the war between our peoples destroyed all ties. If any remain, their hatred runs deep, and they would wish the destruction of our race.”
The wind rushed through the trees so they swayed and danced. The bushes in the maze shivered with awareness. Eleanor waved a dismissing hand. “I did not mean to be melancholy. I am filled with joy for you. It is good that we are together as a family again, you with your new lifemate. Josef will love to meet her. Give him a chance, Byron, and you will see what a wonderful boy he really is.”
Byron sighed. “I’m doing my best to make a good impression on Antonietta. The last thing I want to do is have her see Josef dressed in his whirling black cape and baggy pants, singing rap.”
“He was a child, that was a long time ago. All children try things. She will find him endearing and charming.”
“Charming?” Byron made a face at her. “As I recall, he went from lying in cemeteries to slamming into other people in a pit during concerts where singers tried biting the heads off living creatures. Really, Eleanor, the boy needs discipline. I do not intend to be the one to deal with his problems. Certainly not now. I would cuff the boy a few times on his ears in the hopes he would behave like a rational being.”
Eleanor sighed heavily. “Byron, he is no longer such a handful, and you are still thinking in human terms. You have been away so long.”
“Am I? What about the makeup? He was definitely wearing makeup and dyeing his hair all sorts of colors. I do not see how that was keeping a low profile and blending in with society.”
“Who told you that? I cannot believe someone told you. The old gossips. That was his androgynous period. And he was blending in with his own age group. All children have to find themselves, Byron.” Eleanor was outraged on her son’s behalf.
Byron’s long-suffering brother-in-law Vlad had told him in great frustration, but Byron believed discretion was the better part of valor. He didn’t want Eleanor angry with her lifemate. Byron forced a cajoling smile. “The point is, at this time, I am trying to court my lifemate, and I have no time to monitor a fledgling.”
“We must meet her,” Eleanor leapt on that. “I cannot wait to see her.”
Byron took both of his sister’s hands in his and drew her to her feet. “You know I want to introduce you and Vlad to Antonietta, but the thought of Josef going anywhere near her or her family is frightening.”
“You face vampires, Byron. You can face your nephew.”
Byron sighed. There was no way to win, and he knew it. It didn’t matter that he was a vampire hunter or a Carpathian male in full power. Eleanor was his sister, and like most Carpathian women, she was going to get her way. He might as well save himself the argument. “I will be happy to introduce all of you to Antonietta, but you must give me a period of time to adjust to having Josef around. He is not to do anything foolish.”
“Of course he will not.” Eleanor broke into another large smile. “Have you fed this night?”
“Yes, I am going to her. I will tell her that my family has arrived, and she will certainly invite you to her home. There is much going on. Someone is trying to kill both her and her grandfather.”
Eleanor hissed, a long, slow sound of disapproval, her dark eyes flashing dangerously. “Take her and leave this place immediately, Byron. What are you thinking?”
He burst out laughing. “You are such a contradiction, Eleanor. Savannah’s rights were stepped on, and you are up in arms, but my lifemate has no say in what she does or where she goes.”
“If anything happens to her, it happens to you,” Eleanor pointed out.
“Is that not the same with Gregori and Savannah?”
She bared her teeth at him. “Gregori is not my little brother. Go to your lifemate before I box your ears for your impertinence.”
“Save your ear-boxing for that nephew of mine.” He leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. “Do you have a place you are staying?”
“We rented a villa. Josef wanted to experience the ‘flavor of life,’ as he puts it. Vlad found one we could use and still be safe. You are more than welcome to stay with us. Josef would be thrilled. He already has his paints set up on the balcony, and he looks stylish in his beret. What of you? Where are you staying?”
“Below the earth.”
“You must seem a respectably human, Byron. I will see to it that we find you a place of your own. Do not worry, I will find something very suitable so you will be able to take your lifemate to a safe residence.”
“
Grazie
, I did not think of that. Let me know the location when you find one. I will send word to you after I have talked with Antonietta. I have seen no evidence of vampires in the area, but that does not mean they are not among us. Be careful, Eleanor.”
“You, too. It is so good to see you.” Reluctantly, she allowed his hand to slip from hers. “Do not delay too long in taking your lifemate to our world, Byron. You belong in our homeland, you know. You always have. You were the one who imposed a sentence on yourself, leaving our people, fighting the vampires when you are a true, gifted artisan.”
“I long to feel the gold and silver in my hands, to find the perfect gemstones in the sacred caverns.” Byron smiled at her, shadows in his eyes. “There are times I find myself fashioning jewels in my mind when I should be doing much more important things. Now that I have found Antonietta, I long to make her something beautiful.”
“Every craftsman is highly prized by our people, Byron,” Eleanor reminded. “Especially a master at finding the gem-stones.”
“It is a world like no other. No one can understand such a thing unless they are born to the craft. Emotions bring back needs I wish I did not have.”