Corinne blinked rapidly as tears ran down her face. 'She's suffering because of me, what you're doing for me!' The cry was torn from her heart. 'It hurts her. I can feel that it hurts her!'
At once her heartbeat was irregular, sounding loud and uneven in the cave. Desari reached around Dayan to squeeze Corinne's hand. "Corinne." Desari spoke aloud so the sound of her voice would be an anchor of calm. "Dayan's blood is the only thing keeping both you and the baby alive. Conversion is difficult on the body, and it is painful. Darius is doing what he can to minimize the baby's pain, and we are adding our strength to his, but we cannot take all of it away. Her body is tiny, and a small amount of blood will cause major changes in her. You have need of conversion. The repairs to your heart are not going to hold more than a day or two, perhaps only hours. The child will be born, and we must be ready for that. We are giving her time you can ill afford. With this blood, with her body changing, we hope her heart and lungs will be mature enough to withstand the outside world. It is a trade-off none of us are happy making, but it is deemed necessary."
Dayan leaned down, his dark eyes moving lovingly over Corinne's face. "You cannot panic now, my love. We have chosen a path and have already embarked upon it. We are on the journey together. She will grow strong – trust Darius. He is family. Our family, her family. And put your faith in Gregori. He is a great healer and will do everything possible to protect our unborn child. Neither Darius nor his brother lose the battles in which they choose to engage."
Corinne reminded herself to breathe oxygen for the baby, or perhaps it was one of the others reminding her. She was aware of the minds sharing together, a path slightly different from the one she used exclusively with Dayan. Theirs was private, seemed intimate, sensual. This was different, yet still felt comfortable and caring. Cradled as she was in Dayan's arms, she felt sheltered and cherished by his family and friends.
She was exhausted, and she didn't want to feel that way. They were all trying so hard, and Gregori and Darius were expending tremendous energy on her behalf. She wanted to be better for them all, but her heart was stuttering, and throughout her body a strange lethargy was spreading. It left her weak and unable to do more than lie in Dayan's arms, breathing in and out as slowly and steadily as she was able.
Desari glanced apprehensively at Darius's face. He was drawn and pale from the fight for the child's life. Gregori shook his head. "One rising, perhaps two at the most. The child will benefit from every hour we can win for her." He put his hand over Corinne's. "She is a fighter like you. She accepts what is happening to her, taking her example from you. I know this has been difficult – it is all new and completely foreign to you – but you are doing very well. We will not lose your daughter. She is willing to fight with us, and that is more than half the battle."
"Thank you." Corinne forced her voice to speak aloud, a thin, reedy whisper of sound, but Gregori heard her clearly. She gave up after that, closing her eyes and snuggling closer into the warmth and strength of Dayan's body.
"She can no longer regulate her body heat," Dayan said anxiously to Gregori. "Why is she not responding to the blood and your healing?"
"She did respond, Dayan," Gregori replied quietly. "Her heart is still beating despite the fact that it is disintegrating at a rapid rate. She is using all her energy just to live. When she can no longer continue with her strength of will, with the strength we are lending her, then you must convert her immediately. We must be prepared. It will happen fast. Pray it happens during our strongest hour, not when the sun is at its peak."
Dayan paled visibly. "That cannot happen."
"The child is aware of the danger," Darius said softly, his voice a perfect blend of power and velvet. "She will endeavor to hold on during our weakest hours. She understands and will fight to hold on."
"I am not completely powerless at that time and will help should the birth start early, but I can do nothing if Corinne's heart should fail her," Gregori said.
"Then I will convert her now," Dayan said, his black eyes flickering with the flames reflecting off the crystals. A cold wind seemed to sweep through the huge chamber so that the flickering lights of the candles grew and danced in a mad frenzy.
Corinne's small hand fluttered, found Dayan's mouth, her fingertips moving gently over his perfectly chiseled features in a gesture of tender recrimination. 'You promised me, Dayan. I hold you to your word.'
At once he pressed a kiss into the center of her palm, held her hand to him tightly as if he could chain her to earth with him. ‘I can do no other than honor it.'
"Corinne." Savannah's voice was very soft. "Shea is a great healer. Before she became one of us, she was a surgeon, human, much like yourself. Remember? We spoke of her. I have called her; she is making her way swiftly to us. She will be of great help to us with your baby. Do you understand me?"
Corinne nodded. "I understand what you're trying to tell me. I'll hang on until she arrives. If it gives my baby a better chance, I'll do anything."
"Shea is an exceptional woman," Gregori added. "She has long researched this particular problem and is hopeful she has found ways to aid our children as they grow."
"Corinne is very tired," Dayan said softly. "Thank you all for your help."
Corinne was aware of movement in the chamber, another flurry of activity as a bed was prepared for her. There was no thought of returning her to the surface, to the house they had originally taken her to. She would remain with Dayan deep within the crystal world until her heart ceased to provide her with life.
Dayan held her close to him as he murmured his thanks to the vague, shadowy figures moving out of the chamber. Corinne was content to lie in his arms, feeling his solid frame, grateful for the strength in him. The chamber was filled with a fragrance that seemed to envelop her in tranquillity, serenity. She felt at peace, free to enjoy what she could of this strange underground world.
Darius leaned down to rest his hand on the top of her silky hair. "Welcome to our family, little sister. We are grateful you have been found." His hand slipped away and he moved silently, taking the sense of his enormous power with him.
Tempest bent to kiss her cheek. "Be strong, Corinne, and welcome." She took Darius's outstretched hand and followed him out.
Desari and Julian brushed a welcoming kiss of encouragement on her forehead, exchanged a soft word with Dayan and glided out.
Gregori and his lifemate Savannah were the last to slip away. They reassured Dayan they would be close by should there be need.
"At last," Dayan whispered softly, "we are alone." He settled Corinne comfortably in the bed. The sound of the waterfall should have been loud, but already Corinne had learned to mute her hearing so it was one less thing Dayan needed to do for her. He tucked the quilt around her. "After the baby is born, you will be fully healed, and I am going to spend endless nights making love to you. Has my hair turned color yet? I expect to rise with white hair after all these scares."
She smiled, her hand tangling in his long black hair. "I love your hair just the way it is. Don't get white hair on my account. Which one of us was the nutcase going out to fight the unholy dragon?" 'What was that, anyway?' It was too much trouble to use her voice, so she slipped into the intimacy of mind merge. 'You thought you needed an adventure? White knight charging the burning fires with a bucketful of water?'
He laughed softly as he stretched out beside her and once more gathered her close to him. "You're mixing up your stories." His fingertips slid over her beloved face, tracing each delicate bone, every classical curve.
"It's so beautiful here." Corinne's eyes were closed and her voice was drowsily contented. "I knew it would be like this. I used to dream about exploring new worlds. I wanted to swim in the ocean and see the coral reefs." Her fingers rubbed at his hair. 'You've given me so much in so short a time, Dayan. Thank you. I've flown through the sky like a bird. I was able to go beneath the ground and see crystals and gems.' A smile tugged intriguingly at the corners of her mouth. "I
met some very famous musicians – my life's dream, you know."
Dayan closed his eyes tightly, felt a hand squeezing his heart like a vise. His chest burned with terror. She was slipping out of their mind merge and using her voice, entirely unaware of it. "I love you, Corinne," he whispered aloud.
‘I love you too.' She was drifting in his arms. 'Show me what it's like to be you, Dayan, to run and fly and have such wonderful freedom.' She felt his terrible sorrow and instinctively wanted to ease his burden. Her fingers tugged gently at his hair, willing him to take her with him on an incredible journey through time and space.
"I can't take you traveling," he said softly, aching to give her anything she wanted, wishing he could cradle her in his arms and fly across the night sky with her. "The weather is turning cold and a storm is approaching. It wouldn't be safe."
"Where is your imagination tonight, Dayan? Where is my poet? Sing for me and let me see your memories. I want the wild ones, of running and jumping, things I could never dare to imagine for myself. Share that with me." She didn't open her eyes to look at him, yet he felt her inside him, deep where it mattered.
Dayan leaned closer, put his hand over her daughter, their daughter, John's daughter, to include her, to show her his world of the night. He felt the baby move in answer and he found himself smiling. Corinne slipped her hand over Dayan's, threading her fingers through his larger ones. He blocked out his fear, his terror of losing both of them to death, and he merged his mind fully with Corinne's.
She allowed his memories to sweep through her, to carry her off so she could feel the power coursing through her body as he shifted shape. Fur rippled across his skin, and his muscles became sinewy ropes stretching over his body. They merged together deep within the leopard's body. The cat padded slowly, confidently through the jungle, moving through dense vegetation almost lazily. It was amazing – she could feel the wind ruffling the leopard's fur, smell the scents in the air; she knew what was happening all around her from the tips of its whiskers.
'It's like radar!'
Dayan was happy he was delighting her. The leopard leapt casually from the forest floor to a tree branch six feet above its head. It was effortless, an easy movement of sleek muscles, similar to a casual shrug. All around was the dense jungle, the huge leaves and swordlike fronds reaching toward the sky. The overhead canopy was swaying with the breeze allowing banded rays of light to cast dancing shadows over the ground below. Corinne was amazed at the leopard's piercing intelligence. At first she thought it was because Dayan was occupying the large cat's body, but then she realized his mind remained hidden deep while the animal moved and hunted.
'You and the leopard coexist in its body.'
'This is a memory from my childhood. I needed to learn skills. Leopards are truly amazing creatures. They are quick and cunning, wary and always difficult to detect. They adapt well to various environments, from the jungle to the desert. We explored the various habitats in order to gain more knowledge. Animals provide tremendous knowledge of our world.'
Corinne found the subject fascinating, and was greatly impressed by his deep appreciation and respect for animals. 'Show me more.'
This time the terrain was completely different. The leopard even appeared different. It had a longer coat and larger spots. Corinne examined it carefully. 'It looks like a snow leopard, but not exactly.'
"This species is called the Amur leopard, named for the river border between Russia and China. We found them in a narrow mountain chain along the borders of Russia, North Korea and China. They are very beautiful, but game is scarce and they are hard pressed by the threat of extinction, much like our species."
At once he felt a rush of sadness, that seemed linked to his own. They were merged so deeply, he couldn't tell where she left off and he started. It was an intimacy he was unfamiliar with, yet it felt right. He had a home now, and her name was Corinne. She was his world, the very air he breathed into his lungs. He couldn't bear for her to be sad, even over such an important issue as a dying species.
Dayan called on his memories, conveying the stalk of the leopard as it moved relentlessly, with single-minded purpose toward its prey. The eyes were focused, intent, merciless. She could feel the wildness sweep over her, through Dayan.
Dayan felt Corinne draw a deep, excited breath. The baby jumped beneath his palm. At once Corinne reached out to the infant soothingly. Immediately Dayan added his own comfort. Her mother's happiness coupled with Dayan's reassurance allowed the baby to accept the new impressions more easily.
He changed the memory again, drawing on something less frightening, the simple mechanics of a cat's everyday life. The leopard stretched out on the limb of a tree and stood for a long moment, testing the wind for the wealth of information it would impart. It stretched lazily and leapt to the ground. Padding on silent paws, it moved through the jungle back toward the small stream where it could drink. All around were traces of smaller creatures, scurrying out of harm's way as the cat traveled quickly through the dense cover. It began to run, a sprint of speed and power, moving quickly for the sheer pleasure of it. It was Dayan's memory, his boyhood enjoyment of occupying the body of the leopard, and Corinne was grateful for the sharing.
He took her from that long-ago jungle to a modern-day concert, a large room crowded with people talking and laughing. The lights went low and there was a sudden hush of anticipation. The moment stretched out. Corinne waited with every bit as much excitement as the crowd for the appearance of the band. The Dark Troubadours, renowned for their music, for the beauty of their lyrics and phenomenal talent with instruments. Suddenly the band came running onto the stage and the crowd roared, rising, stomping and clapping wildly.
'You're incredibly handsome.' There was pride in her thoughts, a pleased, rather possessive pleasure that made him incredibly happy.
Dayan's fingertip traced the curve of her mouth. "My little groupie," he teased and bent his head to claim her lips. He couldn't help himself. He craved the taste and feel of her silken mouth. He was exquisitely tender, yet fiercely possessive, raw with aching need. Corinne responded with the same heated tenderness, her only way to express her growing love for this wild, lonely man. She slipped her arms around his neck to cradle his head to her, a tremendous effort when her body was so tired and worn.
At once Dayan felt her weariness and slowly, reluctantly broke the contact to kiss the corner of her mouth, her chin, the line of her soft, vulnerable throat. He ached with love for her, felt that same ache in her. It humbled him like nothing else ever could have. He could read her every thought, easily see into her memories. He had been alone for centuries, surrounded by people he only had memories of loving. She had changed his world, brought so much to him.
Corinne accepted him for what he was. She was gaining access to his memories and his thoughts through their continual mind merge, and now the binding ritual and his blood tie, but her acceptance ran deeper than all of that. He felt it, saw acceptance not because they were lifemates, but based on a deep love and commitment to him. Corinne had faith in herself and her judgment. She sensed good in him and embraced it. She loved the poet in him, the way he expressed himself in his music and lyrics. She accepted the darker side of him, knew it was his nature, part of who he was. She believed in him and who he was. What he was.
"I want you to sleep, my love," he whispered softly, his mouth traveling along her delicate collarbone. "I can feel that you are tired. Just let go and sleep. It will give your body a chance to rest. I will remain here beside you."
Her slender arms slipped reluctantly from around his neck to fall limply onto the quilt. His wandering mouth was robbing her of the ability to think properly. If she closed her eyes, burning tears sprang to life, tangled in her lashes. She ached for him, for his terrible sorrow. He didn't want to go to sleep. He was terrified that when he rose she would be lost to him. His normal calm was totally destroyed. Corinne recognized, with her new awareness, that she was becoming more and more like Dayan,
gifted with enhanced abilities.
'Are you safe here with me?' She was soothing him, trying to reassure him.
Dayan captured her hand, brought it to his mouth. His strong teeth nibbled with extraordinary gentleness at her fingertips. She was turning him inside out. "We are deep beneath the earth. I do not always have to sleep beneath a blanket of nurturing soil. I would rather remain beside you. If you should wake before sunset, do not be frightened. My body will give the appearance of mortal death. But it is merely rejuvenating. It is a natural state for Carpathians, Corinne. I would not want you to become alarmed in any way."
She smiled at his assurances. Everything about Dayan was extraordinary. Magical. She could believe anything of him, even rising from what might seem a dead state. She had discovered images in his mind. Carpathians rested in a state much like suspended animation. She felt the welcoming of the healing soil as he felt it, as a natural state, in which he could be truly one with the earth and the sky.
"I won't be afraid, Dayan, if I wake. I'll be expecting you to appear like Sleeping Beauty." Her voice was so faint it was barely discernible to the human ear, but Dayan could hear her without trouble. There was a smile in her voice. "If I kiss you, will that wake you?"
"If you have need of me, Corinne" – he knew she was teasing him, but he answered solemnly – "I will hear you." Deliberately he laced his fingers through hers, holding her body close to his. "I will always hear your call to me."
‘I know you will. I'm not afraid anymore, Dayan. I'm not. Whatever will happen, will happen. We've done the best that we can to prepare for this. Either I live through it and we get the happily-ever-after ending, or I don't. I want to enjoy my time with you, every minute, every second. Please don't feel so afraid for me.'
He could feel his heart pounding out a rhythm of fear in his chest. He took a breath, deep, dragging her scent into his lungs. Dragging in serenity, a tranquil state of mind. He allowed it to flow over him, through him, knowing that what she said was true. "I do not fear traveling to another world. If you are there, that is where both of us will be. I hope to stay in this time and place to share the beauty of this world with you. I want to be able to once again feel love for my family and raise our children here with them before traveling onward. But if it is not meant to be, then so be it."
Dark 12 - DARK MELODY Page 28