“I'm mortal. You really don't want me falling down stairs and breaking my neck.""I'd catch you," he assured her solemnly. "I'll always be there to catch you, Inez.”

“Have you talked to her?""What would you have had me say Bastien? Oh, I'm sorry Inez. I didn't mean to bite you, my fangs slipped.”

“Have you tried to talk to her?""What would you like me to say Bastian? OH, I'M SORRY, INEZ. I DIDN'T MEAN TO BITE YOU, MY FANGS SLIPPED.”

“She nodded, but Tiny was still holding her arm, and he asked uncertainly, "Are you sure you want to do this, Beau? It sounds painful.""Not as painful as the turn," she said solemnly."And I'd go through this and a lot more to keep you as my life mate.”

“Inez? I'm sorry I bit you," he said with sincere regret, and then inspiration made him add, "Bastien made me do it.”

“You're important," Nicholas interrupted quietly catching her face and turning her to peer at him. "You're the most important thing in the world to me Jo. I love you. Let me have this moment.”

“There was another pause and then Bastien clucked and snapped, "Dammit, Thomas! Inez is one of my best employees."He pulled the phone away from his ear to peer at it with disbelief, and then slapped it back to his head. "What the hell has that got to do with anything?""Well, if you had to find your lifemate, couldn't it have been someone else's employee. I'm going to lose her now. She'll want to be with you and come to Canada and--”