"I have hope that a human woman can give birth to a female child. I have long suspected that it is so. I believe something has happened to our women to prevent this, and with a human woman, the chances will be far greater that she can carry to full term and deliver a healthy female." "The male determines the sex," Mikhail pointed out. "We have tried to produce females but have failed." "But we have tried with Carpathian women," Gregori pointed out. "If you believe this to be true, why have you waited to test your theory?" Mikhail asked suspiciously. Why would Gregori even be thinking along those lines when they all knew the few human women they'd attempted to turn had become mad and could not be saved? The continuation of their species was of the utmost importance--yes--but not at the cost of experimenting on a human being. "Because I also believe a true ritual mating with an ordinary human woman would drive her insane. I do not believe it can be done and had despaired of ever seeing it happen until you successfully converted Raven. I had to ask myself why it worked with her and not with any others. She is your true lifemate, that much is evident, but what else is different about her that allowed it to be so? She is psychic, Mikhail. She possesses extraordinary psychic ability. It is my belief that she carries the genetic makeup to allow us to convert her. In all the world there is perhaps a handful of these women." "Do you base your belief on Raven alone?" Mikhail asked softly. The terrible nagging in his gut wouldn't quite leave. Experimenting on a woman was certainly an unforgiveable crime, and one he could never tolerate. Gregori's silver eyes narrowed, glittered. For a moment there was arctic cold, even icy death, reflected there, as if he were all too aware of Mikhail's concerns. The black emptiness was growing in Gregori, a dark stain spreading over his soul. He made no effort to hide it from Mikhail. It was as if he wanted to show Mikhail just how desperate the situation was becoming. Keeping his gaze steady on his prince's, Gregori answered the charge. "I have done many dark, ugly, unforgivable things, but I would never use a female for experimental purposes." He shrugged his wide shoulders. "Although we both know others have tried and failed, I have not yet managed to sink that low." "Nor would you," Mikhail said with more confidence than he felt."