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.
Chapter 11
Corinne heard the music first. Soft. Sweet. Perfect. It was so wonderful, it brought tears to her eyes. The voice singing the lyrics conveyed a husky blend of male sensuality and outpouring love. She knew who it was and found herself smiling. “Dayan.” She whispered his name softly.
The music continued, but she felt the slight shifting of the bed where she was lying. “Corinne. I thought you might sleep forever. I want you to know you took several hundred years off my life. I cannot afford another scare like that. The next time I send you to sleep, I expect to find you where I left you.”
Her soft mouth curved into a smile, but she didn’t open her eyes. “Listen to you. You sound almost as if you’re
attempting
to order me around.” She sounded amused, drowsy, incredibly sexy.
Instantly his blood turned to molten lava, a slow burn that consumed his body and wrapped his heart in flames. She was so beautiful to him, lying quietly beneath the blankets, her hair spread out around her face, a dark silky mass he couldn’t stop himself from touching. Dayan placed his guitar carefully beside the bed and leaned over to kiss her irresistibly lush mouth. “I command and you obey. That is the way it is supposed to be.” His voice was a tool of seduction.
“Really?” Her smile widened to reveal her intriguing dimple. “I hadn’t heard that. I’ve always thought it was the other way around.”
“You have been talking to the wrong people.”
Corinne’s long lashes fluttered, and with a small effort she managed to open them. She lifted her hand to his mouth and touched the lines of strain with a gentle fingertip. “You really were afraid for me. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
His hand captured hers and he brought it to his mouth, kissing the center of her palm before he placed it over his heart. “You did more than worry me, honey. Do you remember what happened?”
“It’s vague, like a dream. I’m not certain what I remember, what you told me, or what I dreamed. Are Lisa and Cullen all right?”
“I believe they’re safe.” He hoped it was true. Syndil and Barack had not touched his mind with news, good or bad.
She stared into his eyes, trying to read his thoughts. “I need to know Lisa is alive and well and that Cullen wasn’t hurt too badly.”
“As soon as I know the details of his condition, I will pass the report on to you. Lisa is being guarded, and nothing will happen to her. I can promise you that.”
Corinne nodded her acceptance of his word. “My baby’s alive.” She said it softly, lovingly, her tone turning his heart over. “I can feel her moving.”
Dayan smiled at her, but the expression in his eyes was grave. “She is going to stay right where she belongs until she is strong enough to survive on her own.”
“Has anyone ever told you how good-looking you are?” she asked. “Because you are, you know. Incredibly good-looking. But more than that, you’re very sweet.”
Dayan groaned loudly. “Do not say that, Corinne. That is the worst thing you can say to a man. Sexy. Masculine. Brooding. Manly. I can think of a million adjectives I would like, but ‘sweet’ is not one of them.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being sweet, Dayan,” Corinne told him. Her voice sounded far away to her, yet other sounds seemed too loud. Crickets. Night insects. The wind outside rattling the tree branches. “Tell me what happened.”