he'd wanted her because she'd reminded him of his previous wife, who had died ages before he'd met Marguerite. Only Marguerite wasn't a proper life mate for Jean Claude. He could read and control her and had become a bitter, cruel tyrant over the centuries.
In comparison, those immortals Jackie had met who had found their true life mates seemed more at peace, softer somehow and eminently happier.
"I'm not? Jackie began to protest, but Marguerite cut her off.
"He cannot read you, Jackie," Marguerite said firmly. "And I can read his thoughts and feelings for you. You are his true life mate."
She shook her head slowly, unable or unwilling to accept this news. Jackie was attracted to Vincent... okay, his kiss had sent her up in flames. She also liked and respected the man, but to be a true life mate... One fated to be with an immortal... It was difficult to accept that.
On the other hand, it was also difficult for her to accept that she was one of them now. She would live hundreds of years, never age, never grow ill, never?/p>
"Hey!" Jackie tilted her head, a frown on her face as she scowled at Marguerite. "Why am I not thin now?"
Marguerite blinked at the change in topic. "What?"
"I thought the nanos made us our perfect, peak condition and all that," she pointed out, then gestured to herself. "I'm still the same size I was before. Shouldn't I be thinner?"
Marguerite bit back a smile, then shook her head. "The nanos do see you are at your peak condition. So, if you haven't lost any weight, this size is your peak. It's the healthiest weight for you." She tilted her head. "And you look a perfect weight to me, dear. I'm afraid your belief in what is attractive has been colored by Hollywood's Twiggy-type figures. That isn't a natural weight for most women... Including you."
"You're thinner than me," Jackie pointed out.
"Actually, I'm not," Marguerite countered, and shrugged. "I'm afraid you just see yourself as larger than you are."
When Jackie began to shake her head at that possibility, Marguerite moved to sit at the table saying, "According to my daughter Lissianna, most women see themselves as bigger than they are. In one of the psychology courses she took at university, they did a study where they had people, both men and women, look at a chart of bodies in varying sizes and shapes. They were to circle the one they thought best represented themselves. According to the findings, women tended to circle a figure a size or two larger than they truly are, while men tend to circle a figure a size or two smaller than themselves. I'm afraid women have a very poor self image overall. I guess that includes you."
Jackie felt herself relax a bit as what Marguerite had said sank in. If the nanos insured you were at your peak condition and she was the same size she'd been before being turned, then she supposed that did mean that this was her peak condition. That explained why she could never lose those fifteen pounds despite her best efforts.
Sighing, Jackie shook her head. Here she was, suddenly an immortal, with Marguerite claiming Vincent was her true life mate, and what was she fretting over? Her weight. Gad. What was the matter with her?
"Marguerite," Jackie said quietly. "I'm not sure of much right at this moment, but?
"I know," the older woman interrupted quietly. "And I don't expect you to go rushing out and vow your undying love for Vincent right this minute. You need time to adjust. I realize that. But after watching my four children and their mates flounder around, I've come to the conclusion that perhaps it's better just to put the matter right out there for you to see. This way you can at least think about it while you come to accept what has happened to you."
Jackie breathed out slowly. "All right. I'll keep it in mind."
Marguerite nodded, apparently satisfied. "The good news is that you know more about us than any of my new daughter-in-laws or son-in-law knew when they were turned, so we won't need to explain that we aren't soulless demons or such."
"No. That isn't necessary," Jackie agreed wryly. She took a deep breath and asked, "What did they do with the saboteur?"
Marguerite was silent so long, Jackie knew the news wasn't good. Still, it came as something of a shock when she sighed and admitted, "He got away."
"Damn," Jackie breathed with disappointment