Dark Melody

Chapter 10

Corinne heard the whisper of a voice. Faint. Far off. She loved that voice, the way it caressed her name, turned it into something sinfully intimate. Dayan was calling her. She was dreaming, though, and it was a beautiful dream. She struggled to open her eyes. Voices surrounded her, seeped into her heart and soul. Strains of music. The sound of water. She became aware she was lying comfortably on something other than a bed. It seemed a great stone slab, but it didn’t feel hard. She lifted her lashes and stared up at the ceiling of a cave. She was in a crystal cave!

Corinne looked around herself in sheer amazement. Everything was beautiful, a world of crystal and steam with the flickering light of a thousand candles. The air was scented with an aroma she had never smelled before, but she inhaled in an attempt to take it deep into her lungs. It was soothing, tranquil in this place, surreal even. She knew she was dreaming again, but if such a place could never actually exist, Corinne was grateful she could visit it in her dreams.

She watched the dancing shadows flickering on the walls of the cave. The steam rose and swirled lazily, forming interesting shapes. It was difficult to focus on any one thing, and Corinne allowed her gaze to drift around the large chamber. She seemed to be in a subterranean city of some kind. There were many entrances and large open areas that she could see, almost as if the cave had a network of tunnels and chambers that ran deeper and also rose above where she was resting. The chamber she was in seemed very large, and a pool of steaming water was to her left. When she looked closer, she could see she was in a series of underground caves, with large cathedral ceilings and a stream that moved through a maze of tunnels. Stalactites formed huge sculptural works of arts, hanging from the ceiling. They were dazzling to look at. It seemed a sparkling world of gems and colors.

It took a few moments to realize she wasn’t alone. There were several people in the large chamber with her. They were all around her and chanting in a foreign language. It was like a beautiful melody, dark and mysterious, a sacred ritual of some kind. The men were very handsome, their faces sober and intent, the women beautiful beyond description. The chanting filled the underground chamber with the haunting rhythm of the earth itself so that Corinne began to feel it in her veins. It was running through her like a river, ebbing and flowing with the cycle of life.

The ritual didn’t alarm her; in fact, she felt very secure lying there watching them all. She studied each of them for some sign that they were familiar to her. The men were exotically handsome. They wore their hair long, their bodies were trim. All of them were intimidating to look at, yet, strangely, she wasn’t frightened. They resembled Dayan, as if they could be closely related. All of them were chanting, and their voices were beautiful.

Corinne turned her attention to the women. Three of the women had long dark hair flowing nearly to their waists, while the fourth had rich red hair. All of them were graceful in their movements. Corinne found herself watching them singing, admiring the way they moved, their gestures and voices, their uncommon grace. The pattern of their hands and the swaying of their bodies were mesmerizing to watch.

After a time she became aware of the hand holding hers firmly. Carefully, because it was almost too much trouble, she turned her head toward that side of her body. To her astonishment, Dayan was standing beside her, his fingers woven tightly with hers. He was chanting the same foreign words as the others in the cave. As dreams went, it was strange and yet utterly beautiful. Had she died? She felt she was deep within the ground, maybe near the center of the earth. It was warm, with steam rising from several of the pools of water, yet the frothy falls cascading out of the walls were icy cold.

Corinne was certain she hadn’t died, because her head was throbbing terribly from where it had struck the rocks. Her body felt bruised and battered, and she was terribly tired. It hurt just to breathe. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She was definitely alive, she decided.

Dayan leaned down to brush a kiss across her forehead, his warm breath a healing balm to the scrapes and bruises there. “This is my family, my people. I do not want you to be afraid, Corinne. Strange things may happen here, but one of our greatest healers will attempt to strengthen you and save your baby. I will be with you every step of the way.”

Her eyes moved over his face. “You look so worried, Dayan.” Her voice was soft and very loving in this unguarded moment.

Tears burned in his eyes, in his throat. He was breathing for her, regulating her heart, keeping her alive as effectively as the human machines had done. He bent closer so he could look directly into her eyes. “I want you to live, Corinne. Do you understand me? I

need

you to live for me.”

She nodded, sudden tears swimming in her eyes. She wanted to be his world, the air he breathed. She wanted to listen to the sound of his beautiful voice for the rest of her life, watch his eyes go from bleak emptiness to sudden desire for her. Her body was slowly fading, and she knew that his faith in his healers would come to nothing. It was too late for her.

The chanting continued around her, and Corinne settled back into her dreamlike state. It didn’t matter to her if any of it was real, she concentrated on the beauty of her surroundings and the symphony of voices to keep the fear of dying at bay. Most of all, she didn’t want to think about her child. She had failed to give her daughter the necessary time to grow.

“Honey.” Dayan’s voice intruded again, catching her attention.

Corinne watched as a tall, slender woman with long black hair approached her. The woman smiled reassuringly. “Corinne, sister kin.” She touched Corinne’s hand with gentle fingers. “I am Desari, lifemate to Julian and sister to Dayan, now to you.” Her voice was musical, soothing, a healing in itself. “We have with us one of our greatest healers.” She turned to gesture toward a man with slashing silver eyes.

Corinne watched as the man glided to her side. He was more muscular than the other men, with long blue-black hair. Power emanated from him. He smiled down at her, softening the cruel edge of his mouth. He took her hand. “We are awaiting Shea, one well versed in the care of our infants. Please allow my brother Darius and me to do our best to delay the child’s arrival until Shea’s journey is complete.”

For a moment Corinne could only stare at him, dazzled by his raw power. She was reluctant for the healer to touch her, to learn the truth. Like Dayan, Gregori seemed to believe he could somehow do what all the doctors had failed to do.

Desari gestured again and a second man came forward. He looked very much like Gregori, only with black eyes that seemed to suit his dark good looks. “My brother Darius, now your brother. He will assist Gregori in this attempt.”

Darius bowed, a courtly gesture, then raised Corinne’s limp fingers to his mouth. “Welcome to our family, little sister. We wish your permission to attempt to heal you.”

Dayan brought Corinne’s small hand to his mouth. “Please, honey. I know this is strange to you, but for me, please try whatever they ask of you. Shea and Jacques have not yet arrived, and we must delay the birth until we have Shea here. Without her, the chances of saving the baby are much less.”

Corinne looked up at Dayan and was instantly lost in the black abyss of his eyes. He looked so vulnerable; his feelings for her were stark and unprotected, written in every line of his face. Dayan leaned closer. “I need you to do this, Corinne. Please trust me, baby; this one time, do this for me.” His words were whispered intimately to her, his need so great it brought tears to her eyes.

Corinne nodded and allowed Gregori to take her left hand. How could she ever refuse Dayan anything when he looked at her like that? Her right hand remained firmly in Dayan’s. She didn’t want to be alone with her failing body and strangers with slashing eyes and far too much power.

Gregori closed his eyes and sent himself seeking outside his own body and into the mortal lying so frail before him. Her human heart was nearly useless. It was Dayan who supplied the power to keep Corinne going. Gregori moved on to examine the baby. The child was female. Aware. Too small to be born yet. Gregori reassured Corinne and moved quickly out again.

There is little time. Without Dayan aiding her she would have died, and the child with her. Darius, the child is female and a strong psychic. We cannot afford to lose either of them.

Gregori spoke to his brother, but he used the common mental path every Carpathian used so all those present would understand the dire need.

I will work on the woman, as it is imperative she live for both of them. You take care of the child. I have only done such a thing with Desari when she was an infant, never a babe in the womb.

Darius moved up beside Gregori and glanced once at Dayan.

I will do what needs to be done. She will need your blood, Dayan, and she must not fight the transfer. She does not have any strength to waste so make sure she accepts it willingly. Darius will monitor the baby to determine whether her body can accept your blood. You cannot convert your lifemate while the child resides in her. The child would not live through such a difficult transformation. At this time, neither would Corinne.

Gregori was in complete command, his voice confident as he gave instructions.

Dayan half lifted Corinne so he could sit on the slab, cradling her on his lap. He bent his head toward hers, enclosing them in a private world. “What I offer you is life, Corinne. For both of us.” His breath stirred the thick mass of hair tumbling over her shoulders. She felt his lips traveling over her bare skin, his teeth scraping gently back and forth over her irregular pulse. He murmured something soft in his strange language.

Corinne felt herself slipping further and further into her dream world. With Dayan’s arms around her and his body so close to hers, she felt safe and protected. And then white lightning streaked through her, something between pleasure and pain. She lay passively in the crystal world of dreams and music. The flickering flames cast reflections on the wall from the pools of water, reflections that danced and mesmerized, tiny flames of orange and gold.

She felt the presence of the healer once again. Corinne felt a peculiar warmth as if another’s spirit shared her body, just as when Dayan had attempted to heal her. It was strangely comforting. With the other presence, her heart seemed to labor less. She was tired, though — very tired. It was too difficult to keep her eyes open even though she wanted to observe the beauty of the chamber and the people in it.

Dayan closed the tiny pinpricks after taking enough blood for a ritual exchange. He shifted Corinne in his arms while he opened his shirt with one hand. “You will do this for us, my love,” he commanded softly, gently, using a tone that banished her free will, that ensured she would do as he ordered. One fingernail lengthened into a sharp talon. Dayan opened his chest with a swift slash and pressed Corinne to him. “Drink, Corinne. I offer my life for your life. I offer my life for the life of our child.”

Corinne was rather horrified that her beautiful dream had taken such a twisted turn. She couldn’t quite force her eyelashes to lift, so she couldn’t really look around, she could only lie in Dayan’s arm, swallowing the warm liquid. In her dream she could be analytical about it. None of it was real anyway. She was cradled in Dayan’s arms, belonging to him; he had taken her blood first, then given her his as if he could make her strong and physically fit. It all made some kind of weird sense, what with vampire stalkers thinking she was a vampire anyway. What was particularly strange to her was the fact that she didn’t seem to mind taking his blood.

Gregori moved toward the struggling heart, seeking to find ways to control the damage. Without the baby, Dayan could give Corinne the necessary blood to survive, but that choice wasn’t available to them until the baby was born. Gregori watched the healing blood pour into Corinne’s frail body. At once her starving organs soaked it up like a healing balm. As Darius’s spirit stayed close, monitoring the baby, Gregori went to work on the stuttering heart, meticulously repairing the damaged valve, utilizing the blood flowing freely into his patient. It wasn’t the same as treating an injury. This damage was caused by a disease that had been slowly, insidiously wearing away at her heart. In her favor was Dayan’s powerful blood flowing into her, along with his iron will, his heart and soul, his total, unconditional love.

Darius hovered close to the baby, soothing her, offering her reassurance and encouragement. As the blood of an ancient flowed into her little body, the transformation began. Her hearing would be superior, her looks enhanced, her body stronger. Corinne could only benefit from the blood, but the baby wasn’t wholly formed yet. Reshaping her organs was going to be dangerous to the child. When the baby became frightened, bewildered by the strange sensations, Darius flooded her with warmth and reached out to make a telepathic bond with her. He told her stories of their world, of the Carpathians in need, of how precious she was to their people, how important it was that she hang on and stay with her mother who loved her so very much.

The small amount of blood Corinne had drunk was now cycling through the child’s body. Darius was merged with the baby and felt the rush like a fireball.

Stop!

he ordered sharply.

Dayan immediately inserted his hand to gently stop Corinne from feeding. He whispered the order to her, watching her face anxiously. Corinne was astonished when a tall, blond stranger with golden eyes leaned over and casually closed the deep wound on Dayan’s chest with his tongue. He kept one hand on Dayan’s shoulder, a gesture that spoke volumes to Corinne.

“Are you Julian, Desari’s lifemate?” she startled them all by asking.

The man bowed slightly from the waist, his golden eyes on her face. “I am indeed Julian, lifemate to Desari and brother kin to Dayan. I am pleased to meet you, Corinne. We had hoped and prayed that Dayan would find you.”

“Are you real? Is all of this real?” She was looking at him because he looked much more approachable than the other males.

He smiled at her, his teeth very white, very straight. “Do you want it to be?”

Corinne tightened her hold on Dayan. He was her reality. In her body, the baby was moving almost violently. She pressed one hand over her stomach protectively. “She doesn’t like this, Dayan. I think I’d better be dreaming.”

Gregori and Dayan both glanced apprehensively at Darius. He was still merged wholly with the baby. His concentration seemed total. Dayan leaned close to Corinne. “I know Darius. His strength of will. There is no way he will allow our baby to slip away from us.” He bit gently, insistently at her knuckles to keep her attention focused on him. “Tell me how you are feeling, honey. Your color is slightly better.” He was still merged with her, helping to regulate her heart and lungs, terrified of allowing her to try it on her own. “How do you feel?”

Mostly she was afraid for her baby. She took a moment to breathe evenly and stop her panic before it became full-blown. She did feel better; it wasn’t such a terrible struggle just to breathe. She still felt weak and tired and wanted to sleep. “Dayan — “ She said his name very softly, looking around once more. She was still in an underground chamber and there were still people around her. “Am I awake? I can’t seem to tell the difference anymore, and it’s alarming.”

“Right at this moment you are very much awake, Corinne. Some of my family are here with us,” Dayan said with gentle reassurance.

She examined his chest. His shirt was immaculate, unbuttoned, but his chest muscles were smooth, without a single blemish. There was no wound where she had fed. No sign of blood. For some reason, that provided the solace she needed for peace of mind. She was clearly mixing up her bizarre dreams with reality. “Tell me where Lisa is.”

“At the hospital with Cullen. Do you remember what happened?”

“There was a man in the rocks above Lisa. He had a gun. I tackled her and fought with him...” She trailed off, looking around at the strangers. She lowered her voice. “You know, in my rather weird way. Everything is jumbled after that. I remember falling and trying to protect the baby.” She rubbed carefully at the bump and scrapes on her forehead.

Dayan winced. Already dark bruises were beginning to show against her pale skin. Gregori had been far too busy to heal Corinne’s superficial wounds, but it bothered Dayan that she was the least bit uncomfortable. He could feel her headache, pounding and throbbing, although she didn’t complain. Questions were going around and around in her mind. Dayan provided answers. “Cullen was shot, honey. He’s alive, and Barack and Syndil are on their way to the hospital to aid him. They will see to it that he does not die. Syndil is well versed in healing and has special gifts. Cullen knows Barack and Syndil, and Lisa will not be afraid, because she knows they are members of our band. She will allow them into his room.” He didn’t add that Lisa’s permission was of little consequence as they could walk unseen past any guard at any time. Barack and Syndil were Carpathians at full strength, able to control the minds of the humans around them if necessary.

“Was it bad?” There was a tremor in Corinne’s voice, and Dayan gathered her closer to him protectively.

“Honey, there is no need to worry about Cullen. If he was in trouble I would know. I am telepathic, remember? Barack and Syndil can easily communicate with me. They would report instantly if they could not handle the situation, and they would request that either Darius or Gregori come to the hospital at once.” Dayan indicated the man with the slashing silver eyes and the small, dark-haired woman. “Gregori and Savannah have traveled from New Orleans to be with us. We owe them much.”

Corinne rubbed her forehead again. She was grateful for everyone’s concern, but she wished they’d all go home. She was tired, and there were too many of them. She wanted to sleep, not entertain, and her baby was still kicking violently. None of the others seemed to notice that the one they called Darius seemed to be in a trance of sorts.

She closed her eyes and rested her head against Dayan’s shoulder. “Thank you all,” she murmured, as politely as a child, her voice drowsy and weak.

Dayan glanced apprehensively at Gregori, who nodded at him in reassurance.

It is good if she sleeps, Dayan. I can take more time healing her, and Darius can work with the baby. She needs rest more than anything else. The repairs will not hold forever. This is temporary. I cannot give her a new heart. Help her to sleep.

In the hospital Lisa sat with her head resting beside Cullen. She had cried until she was certain there were no more tears left. The doctors had told her Corinne was going to die. It was only a matter of time. They said they would leave the baby in her struggling body for as long as possible, but there was little hope the baby would survive once born. Then they told her they had no idea if Cullen would live or die. It was a waiting game. He was in bad shape, and the bullet had torn through lung and tissue, destroying everything in its path. They didn’t know how he was still hanging on. As if that weren’t enough, there had been a terrible commotion coming from Corinne’s room as hospital staff, security guards and finally the police milled about. Fifteen long minutes later, when Lisa expected to hear that Corinne had died, they told her Corinne was gone. Vanished into thin air.

There was no way Corinne could have walked out of the hospital, everyone agreed on that, and no one had been seen near her room. When the monitors had signaled heart failure, the nurse had rushed in, only to discover the patient was gone. Lisa was terrified the men who had tried to murder them had somehow taken Corinne.

It was her fault. She had gone to the photo shoot even though they’d all told her she was in danger. Corinne had flown across the park, tackling her, protecting her without a thought for her own weak heart and the consequences to her and the baby.

They had tried to kill me!

Lisa tried to digest that information. Someone really wanted her dead. They had guns, and they would have shot her if Corinne and Cullen hadn’t shown up to save her.

Lisa lifted her head to look at Cullen. He seemed so pale, and there were bandages everywhere. Lisa had lied and said she was his fiancйe so she could stay with him. Once Corinne’s disappearance had been confirmed, the hospital staff left Lisa strictly alone, posting guards at the door to Cullen’s room. Obviously, no one knew what to say to her. Lisa didn’t know what to do. John and Corinne had always handled the details of their lives.

She stuffed her hand into her mouth, biting hard to keep from screaming. She was responsible for this disaster. If she had listened, Corinne and the baby would still be safe. Cullen wouldn’t be near death.

“But he will not die,” a soft feminine voice said from behind her. “Do not be alarmed — I am Syndil and this is Barack.”

Startled, Lisa spun around, nearly falling off the chair. She hadn’t heard a thing, and the security guard hadn’t escorted anyone into the room, yet two people were standing just inside the door. Her heart pounding in alarm, Lisa debated whether to scream for help. It took a moment before she recognized the names. Barack and Syndil from the Troubadour band. Dayan’s friends.

“How did you get in here?” Lisa whispered. She didn’t understand anything that was going on.

“Cullen has been our friend for a long time. He risked his life to warn us when we were in danger. We would never allow him to die,” Barack told her. He smiled gently, looking directly into her eyes. “You must be Lisa, Corinne’s sister. Dayan has told us much about you.”

Lisa burst into a storm of fresh tears. “They’ve taken Corinne.”

Syndil circled Lisa’s shoulders comfortingly. “Corinne is fine, Lisa. She was dying here. Dayan could not allow such a thing. Gregori, one of our greatest healers, has come from New Orleans to help her. We are determined that Corinne and the baby will live.” She squeezed Lisa’s shoulders gently in reassurance and then glided the short distance to Cullen’s side. At once her expression changed. “Barack, he is so pale. There is much damage.” She touched Cullen’s shoulder with gentle fingers. “It is difficult to see him this way.”

“He will not be so for long,” Barack answered confidently.

Lisa drew herself up to her full height. “Tell me about Corinne. Where is she? Dayan had no right to remove my sister from the hospital when she was so deathly ill. He had no right.” For the first time in her life, Lisa was not going to hide from the truth, no matter how painful it might be.

Barack glanced back at her. “Lisa” — his voice was soft but compelling — “you know Dayan. You know that he loves Corinne and wants her to live. He needs her to live. He took her to the only people who have a chance of saving her. You wanted him to save her, remember?”

Lisa blinked rapidly. She found herself nodding, wondering why she was so upset. Of course Dayan would take care of Corinne. Anyone could tell he was crazy about her. She moved to stand beside the bed, reaching for Cullen’s hand.

“Sit here near him and stay close while we work,” Syndil invited softly. “No one will come in to disturb us.”

“Corinne is really going to be all right? She’s with Dayan?” Lisa sat in the chair because the relief was so tremendous that her rubbery legs threatened to give out.

“Gregori is reputed to be the best in the world.” Syndil’s voice was melodic, easy to listen to. “And yes, Lisa,” she continued, “Dayan is with Corinne and will not leave her side.”

“Where? I need to see her.”

Barack reached down and caught her chin, tilting her head so she was forced to look up at him. “You will see her soon, Lisa. Right now, your place is with Cullen. He needs you here. You know Corinne is in the best of hands, but Cullen is alone. He needs care. As soon as he is able to travel, he must be taken to a safe house which Syndil and I will secure. You will care for him there until he can go with you to where Corinne and Dayan are. It is what you want, and you will rest easy over Corinne’s health, trusting in Dayan to inform you of her progress. Dayan must stay with Corinne; it is where he belongs.” Barack’s voice was mesmerizing, hypnotic. Lisa felt as if she were falling forward into his dark eyes.

Barack made perfect sense to her. She

had

to stay with Cullen. She was responsible for his terrible wound, and there was no one else to take care of him. Dayan’s place was definitely with Corinne.

“I am going to teach you a healing chant, Lisa,” Syndil said softly. “It will help us to aid Cullen. The words are in an ancient language, and they are very beautiful. Listen to the pattern of our words and repeat them with Barack. You will hear my voice rising with yours, but I will concentrate on healing Cullen. I have some small talent in this area — certainly not like Gregori’s, but I believe I can do some good. Please lend your voice to us.” Syndil sounded very gentle, her tone so pure and pleasing to the ear that Lisa could have listened to her forever.

Barack took several candles from his backpack and lit them, filling the room with a soothing scent. Lisa leaned close to Cullen. it was peculiar, but she could hear Syndil’s voice chanting softly in her head. She was certain Syndil wasn’t speaking aloud, yet she heard the words clearly and began to follow along with them, at first to herself, then joining Barack when he began to chant aloud. Lisa followed his example, repeating the beautiful-sounding words over and over. It was difficult to get the accent just right, but Lisa was determined to try. She had a strange feeling that Syndil really could help Cullen.

Syndil closed her eyes, focusing totally on the human male lying so still on the bed. At first images arose. Cullen smiling at her. Walking in the forest with him, talking and laughing. Cullen guarding her and Desari when someone had kidnapped Darius’s lifemate. Cullen. He was held in high regard by the entire band. He was under their protection. Syndil took a deep breath, let it out slowly and sent herself outside her own body and into the one lying so still and wounded.

The wound was terrible. The bullet had ricocheted through Cullen’s body, causing tremendous damage. Syndil began the delicate work of repairing from the inside out. The doctors had done a miraculous job, but Cullen was in trouble. She took her time, wanting to be meticulous. Barack would direct the hospital staff away from the room while she worked. If any of the society made an attempt to enter the hospital to kill Cullen, Barack would know. She kept her entire attention focused on repairing Cullen’s organs. It was painstakingly slow work.

Exhausted and swaying with weariness, she made her way out of Cullen’s body and back into her own. Barack immediately caught her around the waist to support her. “I’m so proud of you, Syndil. You really came through for him.”

He needs blood, Barack. Despite all the aid I have given him, he is still in danger. Our blood will ensure his recovery.

Syndil was drooping with weariness.

You need blood too.

Barack’s words were a whispered invitation.

Lisa jumped up and all but pushed Syndil into the chair. “Is he going to live?” she asked, almost ready to believe in a miracle. Barack and Syndil inspired confidence when she needed to hold on to hope desperately.

Syndil reached out and took her hand. “We will not give Cullen up to the other world just yet, Lisa. He deserves happiness, and it has been long since he has known such a thing. You care very much for him.” She made it a statement.

Lisa nodded even as she hedged. “I just met him. But he’s different. I really enjoy his company. And he was hurt trying to save me,” she confessed in a little rush.

“He is not safe here, Lisa,” Barack told her carefully. “You must realize that. The men who wanted to kill you and your sister want Cullen even more. The security guard placed at his door is very inexperienced. If Cullen remains here, the society will attempt to kill him. The security guard and Cullen and perhaps you will all die. Cullen has no other family. Our band is his family. We would like you to come with us to a place we know is safe. We must take Cullen there to safeguard him. We cannot be with him at all times, and he will need someone to help him while he heals.”

Lisa’s fingers curled into a fist. She didn’t know what to do, whom to trust. Dayan had said much the same thing about Corinne, and he had been right. “This all started when we went into that bar,” she accused recklessly.

Syndil looked directly at her. Her voice was gentle but very firm. “You know that is not true. Your brother was murdered by these same men. Just because you do not want something to be true, reality does not change. You must live in the real world, Lisa, not one of illusion. You are in danger, just as Cullen is. I will not force you to accompany us, but we are going to protect Cullen. I am asking you to trust us of your own free will.”

I will take her blood and insist on obedience.

Barack was annoyed with the woman. She was ridiculously stubborn.

She is the one Cullen has chosen. Out of respect for him and for Dayan ‘s lifemate, we cannot do such a thing.

Barack snorted his opinion of that. “It was your refusal to accept reality that initiated this crisis. We could have lost both Cullen and Corinne. Did you want him shot? If so, you managed to accomplish it.”

Barack!

Syndil hissed a reprimand.

What are you doing? I think we should take Cullen to safety and wipe his mind clean of this childish woman. She looks good, but what is that without substance?

Cullen’s hand moved, his fingers creeping toward Lisa’s. “As I recall, Barack,” he whispered, “not so long ago you wanted to shoot me yourself. I seem to inspire that reaction in people. What happened to me?”

Syndil leaned close to him, her hand gentle as she stroked back the hair from Cullen’s forehead. Lisa was weeping quietly again. “You were shot protecting Corinne and Lisa. As always, you played the hero,” Syndil answered him.

“Still trying to show me up in front of beautiful women,” Barack said, grinning affectionately down at Cullen.

Cullen’s gaze sought Lisa’s, but she avoided his eyes by hanging her head even as she clung to his hand. “You never seem to appreciate a woman until I point out her good qualities, Barack.”

“Do not seek to get me in trouble with this reminder of my former behavior, Cullen,” Barack said, keeping his tone light despite his worry. Cullen was almost gray. Barack looked anxiously at Syndil.

His lifemate smiled reassuringly at Barack. “It is true, Cullen,” Syndil said. “I have a long memory, and you are the one who made me feel I could live again. You must rest and do as we say.”

“I want Lisa taken care of.” Cullen was looking at Lisa with love in his eyes. Barack cleared his throat but subsided quickly when Syndil glared at him. “Lisa, don’t cry,” Cullen said softly. “You’re breaking my heart.”

“He’s right, though — it was my fault. I went to the photo shoot because I didn’t want to believe there was a problem. And now you’re hurt and so is Corinne.”

“Corinne?” Cullen turned his head to look at Barack. “Where is Corinne?”

“She is with Dayan,” Barack said soothingly, bending down to look into Cullen’s pain-filled eyes. “You are to rest and heal, Cullen. Dayan will care for Corinne, and we will see to it that Lisa is safe. You have my word on that.”

“Lisa is under your protection,” Cullen insisted.

Barack sighed softly. “Of course, Cullen, she is under our protection. I give you my word. Now go back to sleep and stop ordering me around in front of Syndil. She likes it too much.”

Cullen closed his eyes obediently in response to the hypnotic suggestion in Barack’s voice, immediately Syndil leaned close to Lisa, looking directly into her eyes.

You must have the security guard escort you to the cafeteria while the nurse keeps an eye on the room. It is urgent that you get something to drink immediately.

Syndil was feeling weak from the exhausting work of repairing the terrible injuries to Cullen. She needed sustenance, and Cullen needed Barack’s ancient blood to complete the healing process. They could not give it to him and then allow the hospital to take a blood sample. Cullen needed to be moved where they could watch over his health properly and protect him.

Lisa leaned over Cullen to brush his forehead with a kiss before she turned in obedience to the hypnotic compulsion Syndil had used on her.