“So has Shea and Jacques’s little boy. Tamara survived. Corrine and Dayan’s little Jennifer is doing well and she had a very scary start,” Francesca said. “None of them even knew about the fertility ceremony.”
“Did you know about it?” Skyler asked.
“I’d heard of the ceremony, but of course I’d never witnessed it,” Francesca admitted. “Why are you so worried about having a child, Skyler? You and Dimitri are just starting your lives. You’ll know eventually because, truly, you have all the time in the world. There is no ticking biological clock for you. You’re Carpathian.”
Skyler plucked at the hem of her jacket. “Maybe that’s true, but what if the clock is ticking? What if I can’t have children because I’ll be a mixed blood? Josef had to convert me,” she confessed in a little rush.
“Because Dimitri had to hold you to earth.”
Skyler shook her head. “Not just that. He was afraid to convert me. No woman has gone through the conversion as a mixed blood.”
“MaryAnn . . .”
“Was already Lycan,” Skyler finished. “Her body refused the total conversion. She retained her wolf. The two bloodlines coexist in her, just as it does in Fen and Dimitri.” She bit her lip and looked at her mother. “I knew everything, every concern Dimitri had when I asked him to convert me. And I accept it, if we can’t have children, I really do. Dimitri is my everything, but I did always picture us having children.”
Francesca stroked caresses over Skyler’s hair. “Don’t give up on the idea. And you need to talk to Dimitri about your fears.”
“I don’t want to make him feel bad, it’s not like he can do anything about it. This mixed blood thing isn’t anyone’s fault. It started centuries ago when he would fight vampires, need blood and there you go. He is what he is, and I’ll be the same.” She shook her head. “I guess I had all these fantasies in my head about my little house and my children and you and Gabriel coming to see us. It’s silly.”
“It isn’t silly. You have a house you and Dimitri will fix up into a beautiful home,” Francesca pointed out. “Whether you have children or not, we’ll come to see you. Skyler, it’s okay to be worried or upset, even when you have a lifemate. It’s a natural part of life. Dimitri is there for you to talk to. If children are important to you, he’ll find a way to make it happen.”
Skyler nodded. “I know he will. I just needed my mom for a minute to tell me everything is going to be okay.”
“It will be,” Francesca assured. She looked around the meadow. “Look how beautiful the night is, honey. Who would have thought that only two days ago men were killing one another?”
“Does anyone know why yet?”
Francesca shook her head. “I’m sure they all thought they had good reason. The Lycan council is staying to try to work the alliance out with Mikhail. They’ve sent for their own packs, ones they believe they can trust.” She hugged Skyler again. “You saved Zev’s life, Sky. It was an impossible wound to heal, but you saved his life.”
Skyler shook her head. “I had a lot of help. Tatijana and I played tag team. When one got too drained the other went in. The Carpathian people came through for us in spite of the battle going on, and Branislava”—she shook her head—“I don’t even know what she did.”
“She’s with him now, in the ground,” Francesca asked.
Skyler nodded. “I think everyone fears if Zev wakes he’ll think we buried him alive. He’s Lycan more than Carpathian, at least in his mind. I know what it feels like to think you’re buried beneath the earth and can’t get out.” She shuddered and wrapped her arms around herself.
“Maybe your father and I did you a disservice by allowing you to remain human.”
Skyler sent her mother a smile. “No, I think you raised me exactly right. Dimitri’s teaching me everything I need to know, and Ivory’s been helping me as well. She and Razvan have offered us wolf pups. We’re both very excited to be able to have them and become a pack with them.”
Francesca’s eyes widened. “How amazing. Ivory and Razvan are very . . . elusive. I’m glad he’s reaching out to you and sharing your life a little more.”
“It was me more than him that kept a distance,” Skyler admitted. “The idea of having mage blood was repugnant to me, until I needed it. Suddenly I was more than grateful to have it. I realized the blood and lineage had nothing to do with whether or not I chose to use my gifts for good or evil. That is my choice and my responsibility.”
Francesca smiled at her. “I’m so very proud of you. The things you’ve accomplished already are far beyond your years. Dimitri is lucky to have you.”
“I’m lucky to have him. He’s so good to me and patient. He never once pushed me for anything. He just was this constant in my life. A rock. Always there, expecting nothing from me. How could I not fall in love with him?”
Francesca took her hand. “I think the flower ceremony would be good for you, Skyler. Are you able to be with him intimately without panicking?”
Skyler nodded. She had become used to the open way of Carpathian communication and even with her mother, or maybe because she’d always talked things over with Francesca, talking about making love to Dimitri didn’t embarrass her. “So far, so good. He’s very gentle with me and patient. I love him all the more for that.”
Francesca nodded. “I’m grateful he’s your lifemate. He is a good man and a fierce warrior. He’ll protect you always. It’s nice to know he’s so capable. Gabriel was telling me that just last rising.” She suddenly lifted her head. “Oh, dear. I do believe your friends have tracked you down, Skyler. I love them dearly, but tonight their exuberance will be just a little too much for me.”
Skyler gripped her hand, suddenly comprehending. Francesca was very pale, and she hadn’t come to help save Zev, although she was a tremendous healer. “You’re pregnant, aren’t you? You didn’t want to tell me because of this silly worry of mine.”
Francesca leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. “Yes, I’m pregnant. With all this going on, the fighting, the scare with you, I’ve been a little exhausted. Gabriel wants us to go home so I can rest, but he’s needed here and I don’t want to leave until I know you’re safe.”
“Mom, you should have told me right away, instead of letting me go on and on about whether or not I could have a baby. You have to know I’m so excited and happy for you and Gabriel—for us all. I love babies. Tamara is the cutest, best sister in the world. Have you told her yet?”
Francesca shook her head. “We thought it best to see if I carry. You know it’s always so scary during the pregnancy.”
Skyler frowned. “Have you had trouble?”
“Just a little bit, while I was traveling. I’ve been spending most of my time with Sara. She’s on bed rest so we’ve kept things as quiet as possible with everything going on. She’s very near term while I’m just starting out.”
Skyler let her breath out. She could hear Josef and Paul running across the field toward them, Paul whooping enthusiastically and Josef playing leapfrog over him.
“Francesca, let Gabriel take you home. Have him call in Darius and Julian.” Darius was Gabriel’s younger brother. “They’ll come. You know they will. They can take his place. I’ll be fine. I’ve got tons of protection. I can’t turn around without stumbling over Carpathian men, watching that no assassin creeps out of the woodwork to do me in.”
Francesca sighed, her fingers once more stroking lovingly through Skyler’s hair. “If we go, you know Lucian and Jaxon will go with us. Lucian still watches over Gabriel like a hawk. Gabriel thinks it’s funny.”
“Go, Mom,” Skyler encouraged. “Mikhail would tell them all to take you home.” She leaned over and kissed her mother.
“You’re on some kind of a hit list.”
“Go. Really. I’d be on that list whether you were here or not. I’d rather know that you and the baby are out of harm’s way and that you have a good chance to carry this little life to term. If it comes to me never being able to have a baby, I’ll have my sisters and brothers.” She hugged Francesca hard. “Go home for me, Mom.”
Pounding footsteps announced the arrival of Paul and Josef.
Francesca smiled at Skyler. “That’s my cue. I’ll talk to Gabriel. I know Ivory and Razvan are staying close to watch over you.”
“Aww, Mrs. D.!” Josef skidded to a halt and bowed low, sweeping a jaunty black fedora from his head. “Have no worries about young Skyler Rose. I’m here to save the day.”
“Thank you, Josef. Now that I know she’s safe, I’ll go find my lifemate. Hi, Paul. It’s so good to see you again. The two of you take good care of my girl.”
Paul threw his arm around Skyler’s neck and pretended to strangle her. “She’s safe with us,” he growled in a threatening manner, winking at Francesca.
Skyler ducked her shoulder and threw him in a smooth, rolling move. Paul somersaulted and landed on his feet.
“I see that you boys have this under control,” Francesca said. She blew a kiss to her daughter and was gone, shifting into vapor and streaming away.
“Nice move, hotshot,” Paul said admiringly. “I let you show off for your mother.”
Skyler laughed. “You’re the one who taught me that move so don’t pout.” She flung her arms around him and kissed his cheek. “How are you feeling? You’re the only one of us who couldn’t go into the ground to heal properly.”
Josef snorted. “Don’t go giving him any sympathy. He’s been basking in it ever since he arrived here. He’s got that sister of his and four aunts to fuss over him as well as his uncles, who don’t dare give him the lecture he so richly deserves because they’ll face the wrath of their lifemates. He’s milking it.”
Paul’s grin turned a little sheepish. “There could be some truth in that. Better to have them all fuss over me than Zacarias and Rafael boxing my ears or something equally as nasty.”
“Now
he
has a point,” Skyler said. “I’d take the sympathy over those two, or any of the De La Cruz brothers for that matter, lecturing me.”
“And you didn’t fare so bad either, my man.” Paul poked Josef in the ribs. “Don’t think I didn’t notice you basking a little yourself.”
Josef smirked. “My mom and my aunt did a little fussing, I’ll admit. And Byron and Vlad aren’t nearly as intense as Zacarias and Rafael. It was kind of nice being spoiled after I thought I might get flayed alive over our little adventure.”
“We did the right thing,” Skyler said, sobering. “Thank you both. Without you, Dimitri would have died. There’s no question about that. I couldn’t have gone after Dimitri alone, and you both came through for me when I needed you most. I’ll never forget it.”
“We made a pact a long time ago to stick together,” Josef said. “That’s forever for me.”
Paul nodded. “I’m in. I might not have forever like the two of you, but . . .”
“I’ll convert you myself,” Josef said. “Of course you have to be converted. Why wouldn’t you? You have enough Carpathian blood in you to be Carpathian.”
Paul shrugged. “I’m not certain my psychic gifts are strong enough to allow me to survive the conversion. Ginny’s might be, but we don’t know. I would never take chances with her, and neither would Colby, so we’re just waiting to see what happens in the future.”
“You’re psychic enough,” Josef declared.
“What’s it like, Skyler? Going through the conversion? It looked horrible. I was terrified for you.”
“She was dead,” Josef said. “She probably doesn’t remember it.”
Knots formed in Skyler’s stomach. She remembered every convulsion, that endless wave of pain that tore through her body, destroying everything human and reshaping to give birth to Carpathian. “I remember,” she admitted in a low voice.
She shivered, her body cold, reacting to the memory. She couldn’t imagine how anyone would go through it without help. Dimitri had taken the brunt of the conversion by taking over her body and riding it out, shielding her as much as he could from the pain wracking her physical body.
Do you have need of me?
Dimitri. The moment he poured into her mind, filling her with warmth and love, she felt different. Unafraid.
Paul asked me about the conversion. I remember the pain. And you. You shielding me. What you did was extraordinary.
What I did was possess your body. It is forbidden.
I gave you permission and that makes it different. I don’t think I ever thanked you. What you did was save my life and take away pain. I love you more than anything, Dimitri.
In that moment, she wanted to reach out and touch him, to stroke her fingers down his beloved face and trace every line and scar.
I will leave this meeting with the prince and the others if you wish me to come to you.
Skyler found herself smiling. He would, too. He would just walk out of an important meeting with the prince to see to her every need or desire. She wrapped her arms around herself and hugged hard. Sometimes she couldn’t believe she was so lucky.
I can visit with Josef and Paul while you work. I know that meeting is important.
We have to devise a plan to protect the council members during the day while we’re underground. At this point, no one is certain which Lycans can be trusted. Two council members and a good third of the remaining Lycans have the same little tattoo that was on the assassins.
Did Arno’s guard say anything yet?
she asked hopefully. Dimitri had made certain he would remain alive so they could question him.
There was a small silence. Skyler’s heart jumped.
Just tell me.
He’s been murdered. At first we believed he’d committed suicide, but we discovered a small needle mark in his neck. Someone poisoned him.
Skyler closed her eyes briefly.
Then you know for certain at least one more of the elite guards is dangerous to us all.
Or a council member. We can’t rule them out. Arno was pretty outspoken against anyone with mixed blood. In fact, he was passionate about his beliefs.
He worked hard to help save Zev’s life.
He doesn’t know Zev is mixed blood.
Dimitri flooded her with warmth again.
Have fun with Paul and Josef. I’ll meet you at home shortly.
The low sensual tone moved through her body like thick molasses. The man could make her want him just by looking at her let alone talking in that smooth, sexy voice.