Annabelle knew she had no choice. If the babies were in danger, she would do anything, but right now she didn't want any part of her mates. “Then we do it now. I don't want to risk the babies. Can you do it or maybe someone from the party? Because I'll be damned if they're going to touch me!” She glanced up at Marcus. Marcus glared right back. “We will do it and there will not be another word about it. I'm sorry we hurt you, Annabelle. We were wrong, but you're our mate, damn it!” Marcus sat down on the bed next to her. Her leg throbbed and so did her head. She sighed. “Fine, do it. How much pain are we talking about anyway?” she whispered. He kissed her head. “I believe there will be little pain with our family line. We are one of the oldest lines around, but I can't say for sure. None of our family has converted a human before.” “If you're going to convert her now, I don't need to do any more. Her body will heal itself.” Eden got up and patted her leg. “We'll see you in the morning, daughter. Welcome to the family.” Nicholas came around the bed and kissed her forehead. “I'm very proud to have you as part of our family, little one, but we're going to have to do something about your not listening to us.” He smiled and escorted his wife to the door.
“Sandy, come on, you can join us downstairs. You can see her in the morning.” Nicholas held out his hand to Sandy . Tears dripped down her face. “I'm so sorry, Annabelle.” She hugged her and went to Eden and Nicholas, who hugged her.
“She'll be fine,” they whispered to her as they shut the door. Marcus unzipped Annabelle's dress and Lance pulled it off her body, careful of her leg. “We're stripping you because you'll be sick, Annabelle. You're going to be very hot, then very cold. I wish we could spare you this.” He kissed her neck and palmed her breast. “We won't leave you. We'll be right here by your side.” Lance pulled her thong off and ripped her stockings away, always careful of her leg, and kissed the inside of her leg. He stood and stripped out of his clothes. He climbed up the bed and pulled her into his arms while Marcus stripped out of his clothes, throwing them to the floor as Lance had done. “Relax,” Lance whispered in her neck, scraping his fangs against it as the lights dimmed and a fire started in the fireplace. “Look at the flames, baby. Let them calm you.” His fangs sank into her neck. Marcus crawled on her other side. “Lance is drinking your blood. Then I will drink from you. When we have drained most of the blood from you, we will feed you our blood, starting the conversion.” He stroked her body. Annabelle closed her eyes and relaxed in Lance's arms. Everything was spinning, even with her eyes closed. She started to shiver as Marcus sank his teeth into the other side of her neck. She couldn't get warm enough even though both of them covered her body. She didn't know what was happening. Her eyes refused to open and she couldn't move. She was so tired. The only thing she heard was Lance whispering to her to drink, but it wasn't a cup they pushed at her. Something warm and wet slid down her throat. It tasted like wild berry juice and it was delicious.
* * * *
Marcus stared down at their beauty as she drank from his chest. Her skin was clammy and she started to tremble. He looked up at Lance, who nodded. “She is starting the change.” He got up and grabbed the washcloth from the bucket by the bed. Her eyes snapped open and she grabbed her stomach. “Oh God, please tell me I'm not losing the babies,” she screamed as she curled up into a ball. “No, Annabelle. The conversion has started.” The cut in his skin healed and he watched in horror as her body seized up, lifting her half off the bed. Marcus grabbed onto her at the same time Lance did. Never had he seen anyone go through the conversion as violently. It took both of them to hold her down as her body spasmed. “Marcus, you lied!” she