Janie pushed, her gaze remaining on her baby.
Emma stood. “Oh God, Oh God, Oh God.”
Zane tried to focus on her, but his head lolled on his shoulders. “What?”
“An X chromosome. A baby girl vampire with an X chromosome. The cure.” Emma turned to grab a syringe, drawing blood from the cord. Her eyes intent, she turned toward Zane. “This may pinch.”
He frowned to ask a question, but the world gave out on him before the needle reached his arm.
His head fell forward, touching both Janie and his daughter. A perfect place to die.
Chapter 32
Seven hours. Seven long, impossible, fear-filled hours had passed since Emma had injected Zane with stem cells from the baby’s umbilical cord. Janie perched on a folding chair and cradled her baby, watching the man she loved.
Her silent, too still, in-a-coma mate. Zane lay on the one table, his long legs extending over the end. Blood and dirt still matted his hair, but the gray shone through. His chest barely rose with shallow breaths.
Completely out—but not dead. A coma he could awaken from . . . or not.
She patted the sleeping baby’s back. “That’s your daddy,” she whispered to her beautiful daughter, glancing down at the full dark head of hair. Just like Zane’s. Janie kissed the soft head. “I think you have my chin, though.” How was it possible to feel such contentment and such incredible fear in the same moment?
“Wake up, Zane,” she said softly. “Please.”
The warrior didn’t stir.
The virus had stolen the deep color of his hair, the muscles in his body, the youth of his eternal skin. But even after the virus had weakened him, he’d drawn enough strength to teleport and save her from Suri. With bullet holes spitting blood from his chest. A man who could dig deep enough for such strength deserved to survive.
Emma strode wearily into the room, shoving black hair from her face. “Any change?” she whispered, her gaze on Zane.
“No.” Janie shifted her weight on the hard chair.
Emma glanced at her. “We should get you into a bed.”
“I’m not leaving him.” Janie snuggled her nose into her daughter’s soft hair, keeping her gaze on her aunt. “How is everybody else?”
Emma sighed and reached for Zane’s wrist. “The same. Dage and Conn are basically in comas. Talen, Jase, and Max are unconscious but breathing better than the other two. The other vampires in the facility are in similar states. We haven’t lost anybody.” She released Zane’s wrist. “Yet.”
Janie’s stomach swirled, and her entire body ached. “Do you think we have a chance?”
“Yes.” Emma smoothed gray hair off Zane’s broad forehead. “If the antibodies are associated with the X chromosome, then we just injected avampire’sblood, including the X chromosome, into our mates. It has to work.”
Janie said a silent prayer for the cure to work. “Where’s Dr. Morose?”
“After he declared you and the baby perfectly healthy, I put him to work in the lab synthesizing the cure. The baby’s blood is . . . unique.” Emma smiled. “Of course, she is the youngest prophet ever claimed.”
“She’ll be her own person, prophesy or not.” Janie tucked the baby closer.
“Totally agree. You choose a name?” Emma asked.
“Not until Zane wakes up. God, I hope he wakes up soon.”
Emma’s eyes softened. “Me too.”
Janie drew in a deep breath. “All right. Most of the vampires here are out cold. How vulnerable are we?” If she had to take up arms to protect her child and Zane until he awoke, she was going to need a painkiller.
“Nobody knows we’re here,” Emma said. “Even so, the healthy vampires have suited up and are ready to fight. You should see your brother—quite the leader Garrett has turned out to be.”
Pride lifted Janie’s chest. “I have full faith in Garrett.”
