“You knew it would. I have looked closely at your memories. You have been to many doctors. There is little hope,” he answered cautiously.
“Then you know I cannot possibly survive, Dayan,” she said quietly. “I don’t want you to think I’m
choosing
to leave you. I don’t have a choice.”
“You have a choice,” he replied softly. But he knew he wasn’t telling her the truth and he looked away from her, unable to tell the lie and look into her eyes. She didn’t have a choice because he wouldn’t allow her to die.
“You aren’t looking at me, Dayan,” she said softly. “You can’t have it both ways. If you’re not going to tell me the truth, don’t expect me to trust you implicitly. You don’t have to hide anything from me. If the healers told you my heart was failing, that isn’t exactly news to me.”
Dayan touched her mind with warmth and reassurance. “Your heart is failing. But I intend for you to live at any cost.” He said it starkly, without embellishment.
Her palm framed his face, studying his expression carefully. “I see what’s in your mind. I don’t know how, but I can read your thought right now. You think that somehow, miraculously, you’ll save me, even if the baby isn’t ready to be born when my heart fails. I don’t know how you think you can perform such a miracle, but, Dayan, if there is a chance for the baby, that’s what I have to concentrate on. She has to be saved.”
“The healer is doing his best for her, Corinne, but do not ask me to choose the child’s life over yours, because I will not.” This time he did look her directly in the eye, wanting her to know he was serious.
“Dayan,” she reprimanded softly, “the baby comes first. If there is a choice to be made between my daughter’s life or mine, you will instruct the healers to save her. If you can’t make that promise to me then you’ll have to take me back to the hospital and Lisa, where they’ll follow my instructions.”
Dayan shook his head. “They cannot do anything for you at the hospital. Gregori believes there is a good chance to save both of you. We are awaiting Shea, as she is our expert with infants. I will not take you back to the hospital. It would be a death sentence.”
“Then you will promise to put the baby’s life before mine.” She spoke sternly, her eyes wide and steady on his.
His fingers tightened around hers.
“You
are my life, Corinne, my world. I intend for both of you to live. You and the baby.”
“So tell me what the healers did.” She was struggling slightly, having every intention of sitting up.
“What are you doing?” Dayan touched her mind gently, learning that she wanted to see if she could sit up on her own before attempting to walk to the bathroom.
“I’m sitting up,” she said, trying to sound casual when she was really breaking out in a sweat with the effort and feeling shaky with fear for the baby. “Don’t change the subject. What did the healers do? It’s important to me, Dayan, for a lot of reasons. I have to feel in control. I want to know what’s happening in my life so I can plan things out. I’m a planner. Very organized.”
His eyebrow shot up. “A planner? Organized? I did not realize that about you. That changes everything, of course.” He reached out and casually lifted her into a sitting position, holding her close to him while she clung to his broad shoulders. He grinned down at her, his wild scent enveloping her. “I take your breath away, admit it.”
Corinne tried to calm her beating heart. Strangely, when she consciously thought about it, it seemed as if her heart actually followed her directions. She became aware of everything then, the sound of their combined heartbeats, the ebb and flow of their blood in their bodies. The baby’s heartbeat.
She was hearing the baby’s heartbeat!
Wide-eyed, she stared up at him, accusation in her gaze. “You can’t count this time as legitimate breath robbing. Something strange is going on. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about it, would you?”
Dayan looked completely innocent. He bent his head to brush a kiss on the top of her silky head because he couldn’t resist. “What are you accusing me of now, honey?”
She gave him her haughtiest expression. “I’m getting up.” She made it an announcement.
He stared down at her, observing rather pointedly that she was securely trapped in his enormously strong arms.
Enormously strong. Enormously. Are you getting that?
Corinne burst out laughing. “Of course I’m getting that. Lucky for you I don’t perceive it as a threat. Enormously strong. You sound like a teenage boy.” She tried to ignore the way he could turn her heart over with one melting look from his black eyes. “And why am I wanting to speak back to you in my mind? Am I becoming telepathic? Has that ability mysteriously rubbed off on me?”
“Everything about me is rubbing off on you. You are crazy about me.”
“You’re attempting to brainwash me,” she accused, trying not to laugh. He got away with far too much because she found him far too attractive. “I really am getting up, Dayan. You have to let go of me.”
“You do not have the strength to walk to the bathroom.” Dayan could read the determination in her mind. He rose with a fluid motion, taking her with him, and crossed the room to the bathroom.
Corinne wrapped her arm around his neck. “Where exactly am I?” She was looking around herself carefully. It was no cave. The bedroom was very spacious with high ceilings and beautiful walls. The furniture was expensive and ornate. She stared at the room in awe. “Where am I, Dayan?” she asked again.
“In my lair. I am a big bad wolf and I have captured you.” Very gently he set her feet on the tiles of the bathroom floor, his arms around her, holding her carefully. “You are shaking, honey. Is it because I am all male and you cannot help yourself, or because you are too weak to stand?”
“Good exit line,” she observed. She pointed to the door. “Out!”
Dayan hesitated. He had been teasing her, but he knew her body was weak. “You had better call me
immediately
if you need help. You do not have to call aloud to me — thinking is enough.”
“Get out!” Corinne said emphatically. “And stay out of my mind. I want
privacy,
Dayan. It’s humiliating enough having to be carried to the bathroom like a baby. I’m an independent woman, totally self-reliant at all times.”
Grumbling, Dayan gave in to her demands, leaving her alone in the room and going so far as to close the door behind him. Outside he began pacing back and forth with restless energy.
The healer said you needed complete bed rest. Dayan!
She half wailed his name, half laughed.
You’re not getting it.’ ‘I am keeping vigil. Standing guard.
Corinne refused to laugh and she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of replying. She stared at her pale face in the mirror, mildly shocked by her reflection. She looked different. She felt different.
Doing my duty. Watching out for my lifemate.
Dayan managed to sound put upon and abused.
Corinne shook her head, laughter bubbling up despite her resolve to ignore him. There was every amenity in the immaculate bathroom, and she took full advantage. She took her time brushing her teeth, mainly because it was difficult to stand and she needed to lean against the sink. She was surprised at how weak she was. Her legs felt rubbery, but her breathing was much easier.
Okay, Corinne, that is as patient as I can be under the circumstances. I feel your weakness, and you are still being stubborn. I am coming in. I want to brush my hair.
As soon as Corinne sent the message back to him, she realized she had communicated with him telepathically. Easily. Naturally.