Paul paused. Seriously tempted. He could have Livy and Jeanne Louise. He could have it all, everything he could have wanted, a beautiful vibrant wife and a healthy happy daughter. A future that seemed as rosy as could be. In fact, he would have had it all. Instead he’d lost it all.
“You still have Livy.”
Paul glanced up with a frown. “Yes of course,” he muttered. Frowning at his own thoughts. Of course, he hadn’t lost it all. He still had Livy. A month ago that would have been enough. Why didn’t it seem like enough now? Why did his life seem so meaningless without Jeanne Louise in it?
“You could always forfeit your one turn to your daughter,” Lucian said calmly.
Paul peered sharply at him. “What?”
“Livy is forfeiting her turn to turn you. Once turned, you have one turn of your own. You can forfeit it here in front of witnesses, giving it to your daughter. It means should Jeanne Louise die and you find a life mate who is mortal . . .” He shrugged. “You’re out of luck. But Livy will still have her one turn for her own life mate. Understood?”
“Yes,” Paul breathed, his hope rising again. Dear God, he might have Jeanne Louise after all.
“So do you want to be turned?” Lucian asked firmly.
“Of course. I—” Paul’s words were cut off when Lucian’s wrist suddenly slapped across his open mouth. The immortal’s other hand clasped the back of Paul’s head to keep him from trying to back away from it. The actions were so fast it took Paul a moment to realize what was happening and then he became aware that blood was gushing into his mouth.
“Swallow,” Lucian said dryly. “I am not biting myself again for you.”
Paul stared at the man blankly. He hadn’t even seen Lucian bite himself this first time. Damn these bastards moved fast, he thought with amazement even as he automatically did as ordered and swallowed. He breathed quickly through his nose to keep from gagging as he swallowed the thick, tinny liquid, and then swallowed again, and again. It seemed to go on forever before Lucian suddenly took his arm away and released his head.
“The turn has started. You will be immortal. Now . . .” Lucian raised his eyebrows. “Will you give up your one turn to Livy to use as she wishes?”
Paul nodded without hesitation.
“Say it.”
“I give up my turn to my daughter to use as she wishes,” Paul said dutifully his voice husky.
“Good.” Lucian glanced to the other two men. “Nicholas, help Bricker strap your new brother-in-law down. Your father is bringing Marguerite, Eshe, Julius, and Jo out with IVs and drugs and whatnot. They should be here soon. Leigh and I are taking Livy to Wonderland so she doesn’t have to hear her father scream.”
Lucian turned and left the room then and Bricker glanced to Nicholas, one eyebrow arched. “Wonderland?”
“Lucian’s always loved amusement parks,” Nicholas said wryly, moving to collect a small pile of chain Paul hadn’t noticed curled in the corner. “Unfortunately, Leigh likes them too.”
“Why is that unfortunate?” Bricker asked with surprise.
“She’s due next month. You don’t think he’s going to let her anywhere near the rides do you?” Nicholas asked with a bark of laughter, beginning to unravel the chain with Bricker’s help.
“Oh right,” Bricker said with a grimace. “Hell, she’ll be lucky if he lets her walk through the park and doesn’t insist on a wheelchair or carrying her.” He glanced to Paul and then patted the dining room table. “Hop on, Paul. Let’s get you buckled in for the ride.”
“On the table?” he asked blankly.
“Lucian suggested it when we first entered the house,” he said with a shrug, and then patted the table, pointing out, “Sturdy wrought iron base, thick hardwood surface. Less likely to break than your bed, and easy to clean up the mess afterward.”
“We’ll move you to your bed after the worst of it’s over and you’re done thrashing and molting,” Nicholas assured him soothingly.
“Molting?” Paul asked, his voice rising.
“Well, just one of the terms we use for it,” he said apologetically. “During the turn your body pushes out impurities and stuff the nanos decide you don’t need. It can get pretty messy. Much easier to clean surfaces like this though. So . . .” He nodded to the table. “Up you get.”
Paul hesitated, but then gave in and climbed onto a chair and then sat on the table and swung his legs up. As he lay down, he glanced to Nicholas and murmured, “I know you’re Jeanne Louise’s brother. But we aren’t married yet. Why did he call me your brother-in-law?”
Nicholas smiled faintly as he bent to offer one end of chain to Bricker under the table. As the two men straightened and began to shackle each end to his wrists, he said, “You’re as good as married according to our customs. I’m sure Jeanne Louise will insist on a ceremony soon enough, but basically you’re her life mate and you’ve been turned. It’s a done deal as far as we’re concerned.” He glanced to him and smiled. “Welcome to the family, brother.”
“Thanks . . . I think,” Paul murmured weakly.
“It’s not exactly a done deal,” Bricker pointed out as the two men moved down to the foot of the table. “There’s still the agony and shrieking to go through.” He paused to bend and accept the chain Nicholas passed to him under the table, and then straightened and continued, “But it’s never killed anyone . . . well, not anyone I’ve seen turned anyway.” Pursing his lips he eyed him solemnly, and then asked, “You don’t have a heart condition or something we should know about, do you?”