Manhattan, New York City
Pain rumbled across her belly, like the mother of all cramps.
FBI Special Agent Diana Reyes gripped her vampire husband's hand and drew in a long, controlled breath as Ryder urged, “Easy, darlin'. It'll pass soon.”
If this was what labor would be like, she was definitely not looking forward to it. They were at the hospital to obtain an umbilical cord blood sample, which was causing the contractions.
She grimaced and glanced across at Dr. Melissa Danvers, Ryder's former keeper and her new sister-in-law, who offered something totally worthwhile to distract her.
Melissa circled an area on the ultrasound monitor with her finger. “See the baby's heart here? It’s got a strong and steady beat.”
Diana craned her head and focused on the image of her baby—her and Ryder's miracle baby—as another cramp tore through her midsection.
“Almost there,” the other assisting doctor said, and moved the huge needle closer to the baby's umbilical cord so she could obtain a sample of the baby's blood.
“It's a girl, isn't it?” Diana said, searching the image greedily to make sure everything was right with her unborn child. For months she had known in her gut they would have a daughter.
“Do you really want to know?” Melissa asked, and shot a glance at Ryder.
His gaze locked with Diana's, a small smile lurking at the corners of his generous lips. “I think I'd rather be surprised.”
Diana danced her fingertips across his cheek and offered him a grin, fighting the jumble of emotions filling her heart at that moment. Such a normal moment. But nothing could ever be normal with them. He was a vampire, and...well, whatever she was, it sure wasn't human anymore.
“I think you're afraid of being outnumbered in the family. Me, Melissa, and Mariel. Add another female to the mix, and you and Sebastian are toast,” she teased.
Ryder's grin broadened at the mention of their little niece, Mariel. “Always astute, darlin'. With any luck, your brother and I can maintain a united front in the face of all that femininity.”
The second doctor smiled at Ryder's comment and handed Melissa a small test tube with the baby's blood. “Diana, just hold steady a little bit longer while I retract the needle.”
It seemed like forever before she was done and rose from her position beside the bed. “Dr. Danvers will provide you with the results of the blood test shortly. In the meantime, we're going to keep you for another couple of days to make sure there are no complications. After that, you'll need to rest for at least a week and avoid any strenuous activities for the rest of your pregnancy.”
“Thank you,” Diana and Ryder said at the same time.
“I appreciate you doing this on such short notice for my sister-in-law,” Melissa said, and shook the other doctor's hand before she left the room.
Melissa faced them, the tube firmly in hand. “It won't take long for me to determine if the baby has been contaminated with the vampire cells inside you, Diana. It may take a little longer to gauge how established the contamination is if it's there.”
Three years ago during a raid gone terribly wrong, Diana had been accidentally infected with Ryder's aggressive vampire blood cells, and they had been running rampant and wreaking havoc on her body ever since. The pregnancy had helped for a while, but now she was getting worse again. She was praying with all her might that the baby hadn't inherited any of the contamination, as was Ryder. It wasn't his fault, he'd been saving her life, but she knew that didn't make the guilt any easier for him to bear.
“How long?” he asked, all traces of his earlier playfulness gone.
“A couple of hours. I don't want to rush it and be wrong,” his former keeper said.
With a slow nod, he said, “Thank you. We appreciate all that you're doing for us.”
Melissa gave them both a hug. “You're family,” she said. “Trust me, I'll do everything in my power to make sure Diana and the baby are fine.”
“Thank you, Melissa,” Diana replied as her sister-in-law embraced her.
“I'll be back,” Melissa said, a hint of tears in her voice as she dashed from the room.
They all had the same fear. If the vampire cells slowly draining Diana of life were in the baby, there was only one way to possibly save her and the baby—have Ryder turn them.
Into vampires.
But that presented its own series of complications.
Despite making the decision months earlier to have Ryder make her immortal, she still worried about the demon that would emerge within her, and whether she could retain her humanity. But she had faith that with Ryder’s love she would be able to find her way. And she and the baby would be fine.
But the trauma of being turned could kill the baby. Even if it didn't, she would likely be born a dhampir—half-human and half-vampire. Belonging to neither world, shunned by the vampire world that should be helping her cope. That was an immense burden to place on their child, but she couldn't just let her baby die because of that.
“I can feel your worry, darlin'.” Ryder cupped her chin and applied gentle pressure to urge her to face him.
“And I can feel yours,” she said, sensing the churning of his emotions from the blood connection they shared. The ability to sense each other's feelings and hear each other's thoughts had grown stronger with each keeper's kiss he had given her—a pretty euphemism for drinking her blood, which actually sustained her life when the vampire cells in her body got out of control.
“Together, remember? We will handle whatever happens together.”
She nodded and took her hand in his. “We will, but...I'm just over six months along. There’s still so much time before the baby has a good chance at...”
“I understand,” Ryder said, and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. They both wanted to wait until their child stood a greater likelihood of survival before delivering it.
“Once we have Melissa's report, we can decide what to do,” he said. Diana skimmed the back of her hand across his cheek. “Are you ready for all this? Will you be able to help me during the turning?”
She knew Ryder didn't like the idea of ending her human life. As much as he feared losing her, he also worried that the demon who emerged from within her darkest place would test the strength of their love. But as she did, he had faith that her inner spirit and courage would prevail and guide her demon to using its power and immortality responsibly. And he would be at her side to help her with that.
“I'm ready for the turning. I want you at my side forever,” he confirmed. He lifted her hand and dropped a kiss on the wedding band he had placed there only months earlier.
A smile tilted the corners of her lips. “I like the sound of that. Forever.”
“Forever,” he echoed.
“What about the baby? If she survives, and she's a dhampir?” Diana asked.
Which brought to mind a woman who might have answers for them. They'd worked with Michaela Ramirez in the past, and she was a dhampir as well as her boss's girlfriend.
Ryder nodded, reading her mind. “Michaela could help us understand what it's like to be a dhampir. Help us plan for our daughter's future.”
That drew a broader smile from Diana. “I like that idea. Beats worrying about the present.”
“Definitely,” he said, and brushed a kiss across her mouth. She opened to him, inviting him in, their lips pliant and enticing as desire rose between them.
After a moment she pulled away with a reluctant sigh. “I wish I was home already,” she whispered and swiped her thumb across his lips in a final caress.
“I can't wait, either. Just another few days, darlin'.”
“You could stay a bit. Lie here with me.”
Ryder winked. “I thought you'd never ask.”
She scooted over and Ryder didn't hesitate. She had been in the hospital for two weeks now, having been injured while working on her last assignment—a serial killer who also happened to be a werewolf. Two lonely weeks of being without him. As he stretched out beside her, he wrapped his arm around her swollen waist and urged her close.Diana tucked herself against him, relishing the feel of his leanly muscled body and the comforting weight of his arm. Beneath it, the baby did a slow roll. Ryder’s chuckle vibrated through her and he moved his hand to splay it across her belly, where the baby did a slow roll back.
They both laughed, happiness ruling the moment.
“I think she likes you,” Diana said, covering his hand with hers and stroking back and forth across his skin. He felt chilly until he released a bit of his demon and its heat.
The warmth called to her, chasing away the cold at her core, and she snuggled deeper into his side. “That feels good.”
“Glad I could help.” They lay there silently for a long time, enjoying the solace of being together. But tension slowly crept into her body as time clicked away.
Ryder knew her too well not to notice. She could feel he was about to say something when a knock came at the door. Melissa was back.
“Are you ready?” he asked and glanced at Diana.
“I'm ready,” she said.
He shifted off the bed, and called, “Come in.”
Melissa entered. No words were necessary. Her face said it all.
Diana grabbed his hand and gripped it hard.
Melissa hesitated uneasily by the side of the bed. Finally she said, “I'm sorry. The contamination's spread to the baby.”