Dark Melody

Desari, lead singer for the Dark Troubadours, tapped out an edgy rhythm with her fingernail on the tabletop as she looked at her brother. "Dayan's lifemate is not going to last much longer, Darius. I don't like this situation at all. Dayan cannot claim his lifemate, nor help her while she is with child. What did Gregori say, Darius?"

Julian circled Desari's waist with his arm, bending to brush his lifemate's temple with a brief, reassuring kiss. "Gregori and Shea are really very good, Desari. They'll figure out how to help Dayan. Gregori is impressive when he works, and he is your brother, of your lineage. You know how powerful that makes him. It's too bad Gregori and Savannah didn't make Lucian's wedding. Running into the vampire delayed them, and now this news will cut their reunion with Lucian short."

"I'm not certain they will reach Dayan in time. Barack and Syndil are returning from the Carpathian Mountains. That's a long way, Julian." Desari, clearly worried, bit at her lower lip.

Julian leaned down to brush a reassuring kiss along Desari's temple. "They bring with them Shea and her lifemate, Jacques, brother to the Prince and a very powerful Carpathian. You are used to relying on your family in these matters, but in truth, there are many others - brethren, kin - who are moving to help us."

Darius shrugged his broad shoulders as he looked at his sister, his black gaze steady and calm. "We can do no other than to aid Dayan until they arrive. Gregori and his lifemate will be here soon enough, and we will travel together to reach Dayan and the one who would join our family. Dayan has no choice but to keep her alive, and he will do so."

Julian nodded. "Both Gregori and Shea feel it is too risky for Dayan to do a blood exchange with her while there's a baby in her womb. Dayan said the infant is female and a strong psychic. That will help, but until the healers arrive to aid the baby, we dare not risk interference."

Desari frowned. "If Dayan's lifemate's heart should give out, we will lose them both."

Julian's arm tightened around her. "Dayan will not allow such a thing. His lifemate's heart is very weak, but we should be able to keep her going with our linked energy until the healers are in position to aid her and the infant." He met Darius's eyes over the top of his lifemate's head. The situation was grave. Barack and Syndil were rushing back, bringing with them Shea Dubrinsky, lifemate to Jacques. Shea was an extraordinary Carpathian. A doctor, a researcher, a healer of great talent. With them traveled a human male. A friend to the Carpathian race, Gary Jansen was aiding Shea in her research to find a way to keep Carpathian children alive during the crucial first year of life. Gregori had sent information about him ahead, asking for the protection of the human from all Carpathians. The band members didn't know Gary, but Gregori's word would be obeyed unquestioningly within the Carpathian world.

"It is near dawn," Darius mused aloud, "but if necessary we could continue a couple more hours under cover of a storm."

"We said we would meet them here," Tempest protested. "And this campsite is secluded. It is a good place to go to ground."

Darius rubbed the bridge of his nose thoughtfully as he smiled down at his lifemate. Tempest stood with her hands on her hips, giving him that little frown that always made him want to take her somewhere secluded and kiss it right off her expressive face. "Barack and Syndil are on their way back, honey. They'll catch up with us at the house in the Cascades. We have to travel fast if we're going to get to Dayan quickly."

Tempest tilted her head, her flame-red hair glinting in the moonlight. "We didn't say we were meeting Barack and Syndil, Darius, and you darn well know it! We're meeting Gregori and Savannah here. You want to leave because your other big brother is coming and you're nervous about meeting him. Julian told you so many tales of the dark one, you probably have nightmares about him." Maybe Darius didn't, but Tempest did. And she couldn't help teasing her husband every chance she got. They had only been together a few short weeks, and he still could take her breath away with one sensual look from his beautiful eyes. She had the feeling he always would.

Tempest sounded far too smug for his liking. Darius glared at her in warning, one eyebrow shooting high. "Nervous? I have no experience with such a thing. I have heard the tales of the dark one, a bogeyman the elders made up to frighten small children. The stories are impressive, but the man is no doubt a mere man."

Julian's eyebrow shot up. "Mere man?" A definite smirk settled over his face. "I've heard Gregori described as many things, but a mere man is not one of them."

Desari reached out to her brother. "Darius, do you find it strange to think we have three elder brothers after all this time? First we met Lucian and Gabriel, the dark twins in the legends, tales you told us when we were children. And now Gregori, the dark healer. It is amazing to me that they live and breathe. Lucian and Gabriel were wonderful. I'm excited to meet Gregori."

"We never knew them," Darius pointed out. "Lucian and Gabriel were long gone, their existence no more than a myth. And Gregori was all-powerful with many responsibilities. You were a babe and I but six years old when we were lost. He was already a full-fledged male, grown in stature and strength. I doubt if he thought about us overmuch." Again he shrugged carelessly. He had certainly thought about his brother in those days, so long ago. He had hero-worshiped him, listening to each impressive story and filing it away to take out when he was alone.

Tempest slipped her hand into his larger one, a silent gesture of love. She touched the mind of her lifemate and found he was simply stating the facts as he saw them. He was making no judgment. Darius had long been without emotion until she had come into his life, and he possessed a will of iron and tremendous discipline. She leaned into him and reached up to find his mouth with hers. His apparent lack of emotion still intimidated her at times. She was feeling her way into Carpathian life, still struggling to be part of a family when she had always been so solitary.

Darius responded the way he always did, his kiss hot and possessive. Tempest melted into him, instantly pliant, her arms stealing around his neck. "I think of you too much," she pointed out.

"I fear for Dayan, Tempest. This problem is a difficult one. I honestly do not know if we can save his lifemate." With Tempest, this once, he would allow doubt to intrude. With her, he could be vulnerable and show his tremendous love for his family. "If it were you..." He trailed off, his gut lurching in protest.

"It isn't me," Tempest pointed out. "I'm healthy and strong. And you won't fail Dayan. You have been there for him over the centuries, and you will be the rock he leans on now."

Corinne turned over, snuggled closer to warmth. She knew who lay beside her and she didn't bother to open her eyes. "Dayan, you aren't sleeping. I can tell by the way you're breathing. Tell me what's wrong."

Dayan tensed. Her voice was drowsy, sexy, arousing his body when he had been utterly relaxed. "You are supposed to be asleep until the next rising." He meant it literally. He had given her a command.

Corinne rubbed her face along his chest and laughed softly. "You have to admit you phrased the order rather oddly. I was to sleep safely until you rose. What exactly does that mean?" She yawned sleepily, covering her mouth politely. "If you don't ever go to sleep and just lie there all night staring at the ceiling, does that mean I don't have to obey? Or does it mean I have to stay asleep until you actually rise from the bed?"

Dayan found himself grinning at the ceiling. He had been lying there beside her, simply enjoying being in the same room with her, wondering at the beauty of the night. Outside the room he could hear the night creatures stirring. The wind was rushing through the trees, and he felt vitally alive. "For your information, I was not staring at the ceiling. I was staring at you." He leaned over and kissed the corner of her mouth, laughing softly. "You little witch. How did you manage to wake up when you're supposed to be asleep?"

"It was a fairly wimpy command, Dayan," she pointed out, lifting her lashes so her green eyes could laugh at him there in the dark. "I mean, I heard you giving it to me, and felt the push, and I allowed myself to sort of go with it but all the time I was thinking that I wouldn't necessarily obey it."

"Wimpy? It was not wimpy. I was careful of your... er...condition.

I was being sensitive. I object strenuously to your using the word wimpy. I was firm but gentle."

She rolled over to pillow her head on his shoulder "You underestimated me. Admit it. You're so darned used to making people do what you want, it didn't occur to you I could resist."

His eyebrow shot up. "You did it on purpose."

"Well, of course. You can't just go around trying to force people to do what you want them to do." She turned so she was nearly nose to nose with him. Glaring. "Like Lisa. You have to stop influencing her, Dayan. And don't deny it, I know you do."

"I was not going to deny it. I told you, it is important that she accepts me in your life." Dayan linked his fingers behind his head. "Lisa has an unusually high resistance to my persuasion."

"Because Lisa is not like the rest of us. In her own way, she is different too," Corinne explained. "She is inherently good, and I think she is gifted with a protection of sorts. Lisa has to be allowed to work out her relationship with you on her own." She traced his lips with the pad of her finger. "You're rather ruthless at times, aren't you?"

His tongue flicked out, swept along her finger, "I stand on the stage night after night, performing, surrounded by people who do not know me. I have a need for space. Is it so wrong, after giving the best I have to give, to ask for that space? I do not harm them, merely ask for consideration."

Corinne smiled down at him. "I'm asking for consideration for Lisa. Give her time. She'll come to accept you. She wants me to be happy. If I'm happy, she'll be happy with my choice."

"Am I your choice, Corinne?" Dayan nibbled at her finger, his teeth teasing her, sending tiny flames dancing over her skin.

"And you're arrogant as well as ruthless," she pointed out.

"You may as well add that I am a thief to the long list of my sins, since you are taking an inventory of them." He slid his hand inside his shirt and pulled out a small notebook. "I could not possibly leave C. J. Wentworth songs behind. You left this treasure sitting in the middle of your bed."

Corinne had to look away from his mesmerizing gaze. He was a miracle, a genius with music, yet he was complimenting her work. She knew she was glowing. How could she not? Praising her music was one of the highest compliments Dayan could give her.

"Silly - " His voice was tender. He lifted his head to kiss her soft mouth gently. "You must know I am hoping you will join our band. What an asset you would be. You are capable of playing several instruments, and your songwriting is wonderful."

"I'm nowhere near being a legend as you are," she said, "but thank you for such high praise."

"I have been lying here beside you reading your beautiful lyrics. I watched you sleeping, Corinne, and wondered what I had ever done in my life to deserve you."

Warmth spread deep inside her at his softly spoken words. "I write what's in my heart, about all the things that matter in life. All the things we encounter. There's such beauty all around us, Dayan. Everyone has to cope with everyday problems. Finances, sickness, even death, loving someone who doesn't love us back." She twisted the ring on her finger. "But we can still live life, see the beauty everywhere around us. It's there for the taking. That's what I try to write about in my music. Hope in the midst of heartache. Joy in the midst of pain. Experience life - don't watch it passing by."

Dayan reached out and gently took her hand, brought it to his mouth in a tribute. "I have never met anyone who lives life with the fullness you do, Corinne. And already, you have shown me such wonders. I look at something small, like the leaves on the trees, and find they are more beautiful than I had ever imagined."

"Leaves shine silver in the moonlight," she said. "I often sit in my backyard and watch the way the breeze makes them glitter at night when the moon is out." She lay back shivering, cuddling closer to him as if the talk of being outdoors chilled her. "It's cold in here." She beckoned with her hand toward the cupboard.

The double doors flew open and a thick quilt tumbled out. It rippled like a magic carpet as it floated across the room and spread itself over them.

It wasn't cold, but her body was not regulating its temperature properly. Dayan suppressed the apprehension shimmering in his mind. He forced a smile. "You are showing off, Corinne. You are supposed to be sleeping and gaining strength, but instead, you are waving your hands about and making blankets dance in the air."

Her breath fanned his neck. Warm. Intriguing. Tempting. She laughed very softly, the sound joyful in the

stillness of the room. Suddenly his smile was real. "At

night when I was very young, I used to imagine myself flying on a magic carpet. I didn't dare set the blankets floating; I was afraid I would get caught."

"So what did you do instead?" he asked.

"I read, of course. Everything I could get my hands on. Books could take me to all the places I never could go on my own." She traced the indentation in his chin. "I've read so many books - fiction, nonfiction, encyclopedias, anything I could get my hands on. And I had the music."

"How did you manage to learn to play, especially when you were living on the streets a good part of your life?" He shifted her, wrapping his arms securely around her, curving his body protectively behind hers so they fit like spoons.

Corinne's laughter was soft, like the rain on the roof. "There was a small club, a bar, where live bands played all the time. Locks meant nothing to us, and we often slept in the back room there. Instruments were left behind all the time. I'd watch the band play, and then I'd practice until I could play the forgotten instrument with the same sound as the person on the stage. I'm lucky enough to have a good ear, and I can remember music easily. The piano was easiest for me because I could watch the performer's fingers and see how a particular piece was played."

"Do you realize how truly rare such a thing is, Corinne?" She smiled. "I had many hours to practice."

Dayan slid his hand down her ribcage to her stomach. "She is moving. The two of you need sleep. I am keeping you up."

Corinne felt her insides turn to mush when he laid his hand over the baby in a protective gesture. Instinctively she knew that was what he was doing. She felt close to him, connected with him, content to lie beside him and listen to the sound of his voice and feel the heat of his body. It was one of the things she counted as beautiful in the world. One of the things she was thankful she had experienced.

"So - " Gregori's silver eyes burned over his brother. "You are Darius. I have heard much of your exploits. The miracle of keeping so many children alive, including two of our females." He clasped Darius's arms just above the elbows in the formal greeting of one warrior to another.

Gregori emanated power from every pore. He had long black hair like Darius, and a stockier, more muscular build than most Carpathian males. His eyes were a piercing silver, and as they rested on the brother he hadn't seen in centuries, an affectionate gleam glimmered in the depths.

Looking at him, Darius was at a loss for words. He had memories of this man locked away, placed carefully where they would never be tarnished. He had always been proud of being Gregori's sibling. In the earlier days, when life was hard and Darius struggled to safeguard the other children, he had drawn heavily on those memories of his legendary brother. He had honed his will of iron by comparing himself to his brother, by pretending Gregori was watching him, judging his actions. As a child, lost in the wilderness with infants to care for, Darius had tried hard to live up to the legendary image of his brothers. The twins were a myth, the greatest vampire hunters known to their people. Gregori had been so much more real to him.

Gregori stared into the steady gaze of his brother. "No one could be prouder of the things you accomplished than I. It was indeed miraculous that you saved both girls and saw Barack and Dayan through the long centuries of darkness. I thank you for giving me back my sister." He turned his head to look at her. Desari. She was tall and straight, with a voice like an angel. "A true gift to the world."

Desari went into his arms, tears swimming in her dark eyes. "I am honored to meet you at last."

"The honor is mine." Gregori hugged her long and hard before handing her back to the tall, golden warrior waiting to greet him. Gregori reached for his lifemate, bringing her in front of him, his arms securely around her. "May I present my lifemate, Savannah. My sister Desari and my brother Darius." There was pride in his voice.

"And you must know Julian." Desari clasped hands with her handsome lifemate. "He knows much of you."

Savannah laughed at Gregori's expression. "I can see I will have to insist we talk together, Julian." She kissed Desari's cheek and laughed again when Gregori firmly removed her from Julian's reach.

"You can stay away from him." Gregori pinned his brother with a steely eye. "How did you come to allow our sister to associate with this barbarian?"

Darius's eyebrow shot up. "Yes, I was meaning to take you to task over your lack of judgment. Whatever possessed you to send him to us? Your lack of foresight amazes me. He took advantage of the situation, as you can well see. I hold you responsible."

Julian smirked at the brothers. "It was fortunate I was around to guard the women of our race while the two of you were off chasing vampires, trying to hone your skills. In the end, I had no choice but to stay and guard what our race holds dear. I might point out that my relationship with Desari has officially made me your brother." He grinned complacently at them.

"I had hoped you might whip him into shape," Gregori confided with a deep sigh. "But I see it is impossible. He never obeyed a single law."

"You sent him to me to be rid of him." Darius feigned a scowl. He had come to respect Julian for his independent ways and welcomed him into his family.

Gregori reached out to clasp Julian's arms in a warrior's greeting of respect. "I thank you for all you have done for my family. I am indeed grateful that it is you looking after my sister."

Julian grinned at him. "I am most grateful for the job."

"I trust your brother Aidan is well and knows why you have chosen to be apart from him." There was a subtle edge to Gregori's voice. "Had you spoken with Mikhail or me, we would have aided you in your battle with the vampire. You were a child, Julian, with a child's perception of guilt and responsibility. Mikhail and I are proud of the choices you have made to safeguard your people and your brother. You did talk with Aidan." It was more of a statement than a question.

Julian grinned sheepishly. "I took Desari to meet Aidan and his lifemate Alexandria. He had much to say about my protection of him. He obviously spent more time with you than I had first realized. He is well, as is his lifemate."

"This is Tempest," Darius said, drawing his redheaded lifemate to him. "She has not been long in our world."

Desari immediately shifted to stand close to the shorter woman. Julian glided closer as if protecting her, the family closing ranks to ease the newest member's fears. "Tempest has great courage. Without her, we would not have Darius. Our family owes much to her."

"Welcome to our family, little sister," Gregori said. "I thank you for my brother's life. It would not do to lose one so valuable."

Tempest smiled shyly, grateful for the support of Desari and Julian. She leaned into Darius as she tried not to be intimidated by the sheer power emanating from Gregori or his peculiar, soul-seeing eyes. "It's a pleasure to meet the rest of Darius's family. We've spoken of you often and looked forward to your visit with us."

Savannah leaned over to kiss her cheek. "I know all this must be new to you and perhaps a little frightening, but I can see you are well loved."

"Desari and Syndil have welcomed me as a sister, and Dayan, Barack and Julian are protective elder brothers." Tempest smiled lovingly at Darius. "And Darius makes it all worthwhile. I'm not afraid, just a little overwhelmed. And I do want children someday, so I'm putting my faith in you, Gregori, to solve the tremendous problems we all face."

"I promise to do my best." Gregori inclined his head. "With so many working, we hope to find answers much more quickly. Gary Jansen has been doing research into the different lineages, trying to ascertain how often a child was usually born to Carpathian couples. It appears, with the exception of a few lines, most children were born fifty to one hundred years apart. Savannah's line is an exception through her grandmother's side of the family. Sarantha, Mikhail's mother, had four children quite close, three males and one female. And my mother also had the two of you, Desari and Darius, close together. Yet Desari is the only female child who survives in our lineage." Gregori smiled at his brother. "Thanks to you, Darius. We owe you much."

"There are so few of us," Desari said sadly.

"But our ranks are growing as we discover that ancients are scattered throughout the world," Gregori replied gently. "Gabriel and Lucian still live. They live and have found their lifemates. Gabriel's lifemate, Francesca, has sent one of her healing quilts for Corinne. We would have liked to visit longer with them before returning to the Carpathian Mountains."

Desari reached out to link her hand with her lifemate.

"Julian told me the sad story of such heroes. It was a privilege to meet them at the wedding."

"They are true ancients. Mikhail is hoping they will be able to aid Shea and Gary in their research into the high mortality rate of our infants," Gregori said. "I have long sought the answer to this problem, but have not yet succeeded in defeating our worst enemy."

"The fact that we do not have female children," Savannah sighed. "And the difficulty of keeping our children alive the first year. You will solve the mystery. You are no longer alone, Gregori. You have Shea and Gary and now Francesca. You will find the answer, and we will have the children you wish for."

"Twins," Julian supplied. "Two little girls to run wild, with their father chasing after them." He looked well pleased with the idea.

Gregori bared white teeth at Julian across the table. "I see you are having much fun at my expense, Julian, but remember, I have known you many, many years. Desari, my young sister, there is much we have to speak of."

Julian laughed. "I wish you would speak to her, Gregori. She has surprising gifts, as Darius and I have found out." He kissed his wife. "I do not suppose you would want to sing your brother into a tree trunk for me."

Gregori's eyebrow shot up, a habit he shared with Darius despite the long separation between them. "Desari can use her voice in such a manner?"

Desari laughed, blushing a soft rose color. "Of course not. He is exaggerating. I use my voice to soothe and heal others, to bring them joy."

"Or reprimand elder brothers and lifemates when they do things she does not agree with," Darius offered helpfully.

When Gregori's silver gaze rested on her thoughtfully, Desari sighed. "All right, it is true I once used a net to entrap them." She smiled conspiratorially at the other women. "As you age, your gifts will come to you, and they will be useful in ways you did not imagine."

Gregori hauled Savannah closer. "I am taking you back to our country, where you will never hear this kind of feminine nonsense."

She rose on her toes to kiss him firmly on the hard edge of his mouth. "My mother lives there, and as I recall, you said my father allowed her to run amok, creating chaos and havoc in her wake."

"I would like to meet your mother," Desari said. She caught her brother's arm. "Let's plan a tour of Europe. We can go home to the mountains. It would be such fun. Barack and Syndil wanted so much to stay there and visit, and I'm certain Dayan would want to bring his Corinne to meet everyone."

"First we must see to it that Dayan will be coming with us," Darius reminded her. "The situation sounds grave," Gregori commented.

Darius nodded. "Dayan is worried, with good reason. I had never thought to come up against such a problem. He cannot convert his lifemate with the baby unborn. But Corinne's heart is enlarged and overworked. I doubt if it will last until the baby is old enough to be born, and I am certain it will fail during labor."

"How long do you think her heart will hold out?" Gregori frowned, his dark brows settling into lines of worry. "You have examined her through your link with him. Do you feel we have enough time?"

"I do not honestly know," Darius admitted. Feeling emotion had some drawbacks, he was discovering. He loved Dayan as a brother. He could feel Dayan's pain, his perpetual heartache, and Darius was raw with the need to ease his brother's suffering.

Gregori allowed his breath to leave his lungs in a long sigh. He had thought Darius and Desari lost to him for all time. The joy of discovery, the affection swamping him, was overwhelming enough, but to feel as if he might fail them when they needed him most was truly daunting.

Reading his mind, Savannah reached up to soothe Gregori, rubbing the pad of her finger back and forth over his frown lines. "You will save her. I know you will, Gregori." She could feel the sheer magnitude of his emotions swamping him as he looked upon kin he thought lost to him forever.

Gregori's arm circled her waist at once, locking her beneath his broad shoulder. "I cannot imagine what this man is feeling with his lifemate so threatened." His silver gaze slid over Savannah. "There are few threats that would shake me, but such danger to you would leave me decidedly rattled."

A slow grin curved her soft mouth, and her eyes sparkled like gems. She was willing to provide the laughter for him, the teasing to ease the overpowering emotions. She was his lifemate, and he was in her care, however much he thought it was the other way around.

"Decidedly rattled? I do love the way you put things. That is such an understatement. If I stub my toe, you lose your mind."

Darius's eyebrows shot up and Julian snorted, a blatant smirk on his face. "I would like to see that, Savannah. The dark one losing his mind is an image I will savor for some time." Julian exchanged a grin with Darius. "I seem to recall, Darius, he often lectured Mikhail on how a lifemate should obey her master."

Savannah swung around to pin Gregori with a glare worthy of her heritage. "Master? Obey her master?"

The silver eyes slid over Julian, deadly, gleaming with a promise of retaliation. "I am certain I never used the word 'master.' "

"I believe, Savannah, Gregori was rather severe with your father at times for the amount of freedom he allowed Raven," Julian informed her. "And actually, I am certain the word 'master' was used more than once. I know 'obey' was." He tilted his head to one side. "You might speak with your sister - she has not yet grasped the concept of obedience."

Desari made a face. "Do not allow him to fool you, Savannah. Julian and I have a true partnership. He likes to grumble, but it works out quite well."

Savannah smiled up at Gregori. "That does give me hope, then. I just have to grow into my powers a bit."

"And what then?" Gregori caught her by the shoulders and gave her a little shake. "The very idea of you with any more power than you already have terrifies me. I cannot imagine what you are thinking of doing."

"Why, helping you, of course." Savannah patted his muscular shoulder.

"We have much to talk about," Darius said, "and little time to visit. I feel Dayan's anxiety even now, across the distance. I had thought we might continue our journey through the dawn to draw closer to them, although this is a safe area to spend the day deep in the ground."

"Link with Dayan, Darius, and I will link with you. I wish to examine her myself and see what we are up against," Gregori decided. "With all of us holding, we should be strong enough to permit an examination."

Darius nodded and reached at once across time and space.

Dayan. The dark one has arrived. He is strong and capable and wishes to "see" what he is up against. I feel your anxiety. Has something more happened to cause your fear?

Dayan glanced down at Corinne. She was half awake, half asleep, floating somewhere in a dreamlike state in between.

She is restless tonight, even after our healing session, Darius. And her body is unable to regulate her temperature properly. I feel that she is moving away from this world and approaching the next. Link with her and allow him to see what is happening.

Darius kept his voice calm and sure. More than anything, Dayan had to believe they could keep Corinne alive.

There was a slight hesitation.

You trust this man? He is my brother, lifemate to Savannah, daughter of the Prince.

Darius sent reassurance.

' I stand with you, Dayan. Gregori has traveled far to aid us.

Deliberately Darius used the plural, reminding Dayan they were a family, together in all things. Dayan had all the instincts of a Carpathian male protecting his lifemate. Gregori was a stranger to him and therefore suspect.

Then l can do no other than thank him.

Dayan's arm encompassed Corinne. There were tiny white lines near her mouth, marks he found alarming. Dayan conveyed the worrisome detail to Darius as he freed himself from his body. He became light and energy, a healing spirit wanting only to perform a selfless act, giving himself up completely in that moment to be anything Corinne should need.

Dayan felt Darius with him. Familiar. Strong. Enduring. Darius had a way of providing complete confidence. It had always been so, as long as Dayan could remember. Darius had been mother and father to him, elder brother, best friend, leader. Dayan was grateful he was there now. Darius didn't seem to question that they would save Corinne. Her salvation was necessary, so it was already a fact. Dayan took hope from Darius's pragmatism.

The strength pouring in from the combined Carpathians was vast. Dayan felt the power as they merged with him. He felt the dark one moving through him, seeing what he saw, the enormity of their task.

The heart is deteriorating rapidly. It is necessary to slow it down until we can reach your side.

The calm voice reminded Dayan of Darius. It exuded the same confidence.

I am going to do what repairs I can. She must be brought fully into our world soon. The child is in surprisingly good health. Most of the oxygen and nutrients are going to her little body. She is, indeed, a strong psychic. We must not lose either of them.

Dayan felt the heat and power as the healer began working, moving carefully around the heart. Working to get blood to flow more strongly, carrying precious oxygen throughout the body.

That is as much as I can do for her from this distance. Send her to sleep. Even while you travel, try to keep her asleep, but be careful not to overtax her heart with any compulsion she may fight. She has strong barriers. I will meet you soon, Dayan, and we will see to it that your lifemate survives, if there is any way to do so. I thank you.

Dayan replied formally as he returned to his own body and felt the withdrawal of the others. Using such energy over a long distance was not easy. He knew his family and the healer would seek the rejuvenating soil, as he must too. Beside him, Corrine stirred, drawing his attention.

"Why am I feeling so different?" Corinne asked, looking up at Dayan. Her eyes were clear, and she was breathing much more easily. The tiny white lines of strain around her mouth had disappeared.

The relief Dayan felt was overwhelming. He lay beside her trembling with hope, with joy. "The healer is near. He linked with Darius and the others to provide you with more strength. He was the one who worked on your heart."

Corinne was silent a moment, surprised at how much she believed in him. In the strange ways of his family. She did feel better each time Dayan used his telepathic abilities to aid her. She couldn't deny that whatever he was doing worked.

"I want you to sleep now, Corinne," Dayan said. "The dawn is here and you need rest. I will sleep soon too. Rest will allow your body to heal even more."

"I am tired," she agreed, then smiled sleepily at him. "Although I suspect you are using your gift to give me a push in that direction."

"If I am doing so," Dayan said noncommittally, "it is a small one." He pulled her more tightly into the strength of his arms. "I love holding you, Corinne, and lying beside you. The baby is peaceful now - have you noticed? She was kicking before, but she has drifted off now, safe in her little world."

"I love your voice when you talk about her." Corinne's voice was soft, drowsy, as her consciousness faded into sleep.

"You love my voice all the time," Dayan replied smugly, brushing a kiss onto her temple. "Sleep now, my love. Wake when I call to you."