She paused in the hallway briefly, considering what she should do. Should she wait? Should she go? The officer had said she was free to leave now that her statement was signed. Rachel was debating her next move when it suddenly occurred to her that there might not be anyone to wait for. Etienne may have already finished with his paperwork. He might have already left. After all, there was really no need for them to hover over her now. She had learned to feed herself and to control her teeth, and working in a hospital, it wasn't as if she would have trouble getting her hands on blood. It wouldn't be easy, but she could manage it, and they probably realized that. Perhaps they were relieved to be free of the responsibility for her.
That thought was distressing. Rachel was almost gasping under the impact it had on her. It was surprisingly hurtful.
"Rachel?"
She turned abruptly at the sound of her name. Relief coursed through her when she recognized Lissianna hurrying up the hall toward her, Gregory Hewitt on her heels.
"Are you all right?" Lissianna asked with concern. The message Mother left on my answering machine was rather garbled. All I understood was that you had been kidnapped."
"I'm fine." Rachel forced a smile.
"Oh, good." Lissianna smiled, but the worry didn't completely leave her eyes. "Where is everyone? Is Etienne all right too?"
"Yes. He's fine. I'm not sure where they are though."
Rachel admitted. "For all I know, they may have finished with their paperwork and left all ready."
Lissianna frowned at this news, then glanced around. "I'll go ask someone."
She was gone as quickly as that, hurrying up the hall in search of someone who could answer her questions.
"I'm sure Etienne wouldn't leave without you," Gregory said in a solemn voice.
Rachel turned and forced a smile for his benefit. "Well, there isn't any real reason for him not to. I've gained control of my teeth and can feed myself now. He doesn't need to baby-sit me anymore."
Gregory frowned at her words, his handsome face troubled. "Rachel, has anyone told you about the life mate rule?"
Rachel blinked in confusion at the question. It seemed to her to be completely unrelated to anything going on at the moment. "I--No. I'm sorry. No one has mentioned this rule."
He nodded slowly. "I didn't think so. But I feel it's important you understand. It will help you to comprehend where you stand with Etienne."
Rachel's eyebrows rose. It would be a relief to have some idea of where she stood. She was starting to realize that her feelings for Etienne went deep and could be potentially painful.
"Because our people feed on the general population," he began, "it's important--of course--that our numbers be kept small, so as not to outgrow the potential of our food source."
Rachel nodded. That made perfect sense to her.
"So there are certain rules. For instance, each couple can only have one child every hundred years."
"Marguerite mentioned that," Rachel said with a nod.
"I'm not surprised. But what she might not have mentioned is that each vampire is allowed to turn only one human."
Rachel shook her head. "Excuse me? They're allowed only one mate?"
"Oh, no. Divorces do happen. We are speaking of hundreds of years of life here, so of course divorce happens, although I understand it's much less frequent than in the general population," he informed her. "I mean they are literally allowed to turn only one person. This person is usually a life mate, though it can be something else altogether, and then that vampire can't turn anyone else. They can't turn a life mate if they should find one."
"But Etienne turned me," Rachel said.
"Yes." Greg nodded solemnly.
"Rachel!"
This time Rachel was slower to turn toward the voice calling her name in strident tones. Her head was spinning, and it took several moments for her to recognize the older woman rushing toward her. It was the sight of the gray-haired man hurrying along behind her who made her realize that these were her parents hurrying up the hall. Then her mother's arms closed around her, and Rachel found herself enveloped in Poison, the perfume her mother favored.
"Thank God, baby. I was so worried. I couldn't believe it when Officer Janscom called to say that you had been found and were safe. Oh, honey, we were so scared we'd never see you again. Thank God." She paused to clasp Rachel's face in her hands and kiss her on each cheek. Then she studied her and frowned. "You look different. And terribly pale. You need a nice home-cooked meal and a nap."
"Yes, we'll take you home," her father said gruffly, putting his arm around her in a half hug as he turned her back the way they'd come.