In the Dark Series by Christine Feehan, Lifemate is the term used to describe spouses of the Carpathians (race). However, the bond between lifemates is much stronger and different than that of humans. A male loses his ability to feel emotions after reaching the age of 200. Those emotions can only be returned to him when he finds his lifemate, the other half of his soul. Lifemates must touch minds and share their bodies frequently. If they do not do so, one will begin to believe that the other is dead and might attempt suicide. When a male loses his lifemate, if he doesn’t “greet the dawn” (i.e. commit suicide), he will turn vampire by killing a human while feeding to get the ultimate high.
The term "lifemate" should not be solely defined by Christine Feehan's use of it in her novels, because the term has been used in writing for centuries. It generally means "soulmate" and is used in many paranormal tales.
Is also used, for example, by the award winning Canadian author Lynsay Sands in her Argeneau series.
Many vampire novelists often get their basis for their vampire "species" from vampire lore that is thousands of years old and readers should be informed that much that is written in vampire novels is not neccessarily the author's creation.
To complete the mating, a Carpathian male must say the ritual words to his lifemate.
You are my lifemate.
I claim you as my lifemate.
I belong to you.
I offer my life for you.
I give you my protection.
I give you my allegiance.
I give you my heart.
I give you my soul.
I give you my body.
I take into my keeping the same that is yours.
Your life will be cherished by me for all my time.
Your life will be placed above my own for all time.
You are my lifemate.
You are bound to me for all eternity.
You are always in my care.
An alternate version (and the one most commonly used in the books) which is less formal is:
"I claim you as my lifemate. I belong to you. I offer my life for you. I give you my protection, my allegiance, my heart, my soul, and my body. I take into my keeping the same that is yours. Your life, happiness and welfare will be cherished and placed above my own for all time. You are my lifemate, bound to me for eternity and always in my care."