Carpathian 10 - Dark Symphony

form."
    "The Scarlettis are your family, Byron," Jacques said, his voice, as always, low but impressive. "Mikhail has accepted them under our protection for that reason, and all of us here have done so because of the strength of your feelings for them. I have found them to be just as loyal to you in return. Franco wants to help us with this. He cannot possibly escape the control of three fully mature male and three female Carpathians."
    "If I can witness the differences during a shifting," Shea said, "I should be able to figure out how to better help Antonietta with her vision problems. The Jaguar genes are very strong in this family. This might be our only chance to really find out the information we need to help our people with so many things, Byron."
    "I'll have to speak with Franco again about this. I would want him to understand the risks before he does it," Byron said.
    "Of course," Jacques agreed. "And do not forget, he has shifted more than once, and he did not make a kill."
    "He does not remember," Byron pointed out, "that is not the same thing as knowledge.
    He obviously did not have control of the beast; it controlled him."
    Shea paced across the room, halted beside the stained glass window to touch the intricate artwork. "I know you're worried about Franco, Byron, but I'm really not as clinical as I sound. I appreciate that these people not only are loved by your life mate but are family to you. I also appreciate that they accept us and our differences. I would never put one of your family members in jeopardy for research, no matter how important it is to our race. I just wouldn't do that."
    Jacques went to her immediately and drew her into his arms. "No one thinks you would, Shea."
    Byron shook his head. "I just have a difficult time understanding genetics. My expertise
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    Dark Symphony
    Page 184 of 188
    is elsewhere, and I can never figure out how something like watching Franco shift into a jaguar as opposed to watching Jacques shift could be of use."
    "It is rather fascinating," Vlad said. "I watch poor little Josef working at shifting, and one time half his body will be a bird and the other half something else. He doesn't remember to hold one image."
    "It's such a matter of focus," Shea said. "For me, because we have such a tremendous problem having children, genetics is a primary concern."
    "I am grateful, loo," Eleanor said. "Our women have just about given up all hope of successfully carrying children or keeping them alive beyond the first year."
    "And yet we have had a success or two," Shea pointed out. "The Carpathian who fascinates me most, though, is Gregori's brother, Darius. He accomplished things as a boy that no one else ever has. I'd love to study him under a microscope." She laughed when Jacques nudged her. "I know, there I go again. I'll stop now."
    "Actually, Vlad and I were discussing Darius just the other day. Josef is still straggling to learn these skills, yet Darius was able to hold images for not only himself but other children as well. We don't have the luxury of time for our children to learn the necessary skills," Eleanor said, "and the old ways don't work in this era."
    "I am grateful I am a gem-caller rather than a healer," Byron said. "It is far too complicated to figure out."
    "Speaking of which," Jacques said, "Mikhail is looking forward to your return. He wants to give Raven a special gift and was hoping you would put your gem-calling skills to use. He would have come himself, but Raven recently miscarried."
    There was a short, shocked silence. "Please give my sym- pathies to your brother, Jacques," Byron said.
    Vlad took Eleanor's hand. "As well as ours," he added.
    They regarded each other with shared, heartfelt sorrow. It wasn't just the fact that the child belonged to the prince of their people, it was the fact that every child lost brought their race closer to extinction.
    "Is Raven all right?" Eleanor asked.
    "She was depressed, of course, but physically, she is fine. They'd been trying for another child for a long while, and they feel the loss tremendously," Shea said with a small sigh of regret. She pressed both hands over her womb protectively. "Whatever has affected our people's reproductive abilities must be in our blood or in the soil itself. I have my theories