"I would have chosen death, if you had allowed me to go with you." He pushed the hair from her face with gentle, caressing fingers. "The only way I could save you was to make you one of us. You chose life." She hadn't known, had she? Had some small part of her already been putting the pieces of the puzzle together? She honestly didn't know. "If you had known, would you have chosen death for me?" Her blue eyes, so bewildered and confused, so haunted, searched his face. Mikhail covered her body with a thin sheet. "Your wounds are severe, and you need blood, healing, and sleep. Do not move around." Her eyes chastised him. Mikhail touched her chin with gentle fingers. He released her, his eyes watchful. "Answer me, little one. Knowing what we are, would you have sent me to eternal darkness?" She made a supreme effort to get herself under control. A part of her still could not believe this was happening. A part of her struggled to understand and be fair. "I told you I could accept you, even love you as you are, Mikhail. And I meant that then. The same is true now." She was so weak, she could hardly speak. "I know you're a good man, there is no evil in you. Father Hummer said I couldn't judge you by our standards, and I won't. No, I would have chosen life for you. I love you." There was too much sorrow in her eyes for him to feel relief. "But?" he prompted softly. "I can accept it in you, Mikhail, but not for me. I could never drink blood. The thought of it sickens me." her tongue touched her dry lips. "Can you change me back? A transfusion, perhaps?" He shook his head regretfully. "Then let me die. Just me. If you love me, let me go."