Be Still My Vampire (11 page)

Roman sighed. “I knew when I married Shanna that I could lose her. But Angus, she has brought me great joy. Should I turn my back on all that happiness for fear of what could happen down the road?”

“Ye’re a braver man than I.” Angus continued to pace. “Shanna is a loving soul, understanding of our condition. Yet still, she doesna want to become one of us.”

“I’m glad she chose to remain mortal. We couldn’t be having a child now, if she were undead. And once the baby is born, she can be there for him during the day. As much as I would love to have Shanna with me for all eternity, I must put the needs of my child first.”

Angus frowned. “I heard about our DNA mutation, that we’re no longer quite human.”

“And you’re concerned about the baby? We all are, but there’s nothing to be done now. It’s in God’s hands.”

A half-vampire baby? Angus resumed his pacing. “Shanna is no’ upset over this?”

Roman smiled. “She’s the least upset of any of us. She’s very happy and excited.”

“Ye’re a fortunate man. No’ many women would be as understanding as she.” Angus raised a hand to look at a book, then spotted the red welts on his wrist. The injury would heal during his daily death-sleep, but the worry in his heart would remain. “Most women wouldna be able to love a vampire.”

There was a long pause when he could feel Roman watching him.Bugger. He’d probably said too much.

Roman cleared his throat. “You’re convinced a relationship between a mortal and a vampire cannot work?”

Angus nodded, avoiding Roman’s eyes.

“Why do I get the feeling you’re not referring to Shanna and me?”

The devil take it.Angus turned his back to Roman and pretended to be studying book titles. Footsteps approached.

Roman leaned a shoulder against the bookshelf. “The slayer?”

Angus took a deep breath and nodded. “The relationship is a wee… volatile.”

Roman smiled. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”

“I dinna expect to feel this way.” Angus paced away. “What is wrong with me that I keep falling for the enemy?”

Roman folded his arms across his chest. “If you’re referring to Katya, she purposely seduced you.”

“Nay, I pursued her.”

“She let you think that, Angus. You wanted to reform her, but all along, she’s was trying to change you, trying to make you one of her evil cohorts.”

“I failed her.”

“No. She never intended to change, Angus. She used you.”

Was that true? Angus resumed his pacing about the room. If Roman was right, then he’d been a fool to ever involve himself with Katya. And now was he being a fool again? “The devil take it. I keep repeating the same mistake, falling for the woman most likely to destroy me.”

“Not necessarily. Katya has an evil heart. I don’t know the slayer, but I doubt she’s evil.”

“Nay, Emma’s brave and good. She’s been risking her life to protect the innocent.”

“How does she feel about you?”

Angus swallowed hard. “She hates vampires with a passion, but she—I think she could like me.”

“I’m sure she can if she spends more time with you.”

“I kissed her.”

Roman’s eyes widened. “She didn’t object?”

“That’s what has me confused.” Angus strode to the window and sat. “She kissed me back like she was enjoying it, but now she wants to stay away from me and act like it dinna happen.”

Roman frowned. “She’s conflicted.”

“So am I.” Angus rested his head in his hands. “I should leave her alone. But I don’t dare leave her unprotected. If the Malcontents catch her, they’ll kill her for certain. I swear that would kill me.”

“Then you must continue to protect her,” Roman concluded.

Angus nodded. “Iwill protect her. But I’ll keep my distance. No more kissing. I willna risk a situation that could break my heart. Or break hers.”

Roman frowned. “Very well.”

“Ye doona approve?”

Roman shrugged. “It’s not my decision. I just hope you’re not throwing away something wonderful.”

Angus shook his head. “Even if she could care for me, how could it possibly work?”

“Some things you have to risk on faith.” Roman gave him a pointed look. “Believe me, old friend, some things are worth the risk.”

In her office inBrooklyn , Katya read the lengthy e-mail from Galina one more time. Galina had teleported toParis on Saturday night, then to theUkraine on Sunday. She’d traveled with two vampire lovers, Burien and Miroslav, and the three of them had taken control of the minds of the nearby villagers they were feeding on. The village men were put to work, repairing Galina’s manor house and preparing the prison cell for the vampire slayers and Angus MacKay.

Katya clenched her fists. It was about time Angus MacKay had been made to suffer.

A knock sounded on the door. Alek strode inside, carrying a brown bag. “Phineas came through for us.” He set the bag on Katya’s desk. “He found the drugs you needed.”

Katya peeked inside the bag. Excellent. She’d be able to make two dozen new doses of nightshade. “Thank you, Alek. How is the hunt for the slayers coming?”

Alek winced. “There was no sign of them tonight. I don’t know how we can catch them if they’ve stopped hunting for us.”

“Then make them start hunting again. Make them so angry, they have to come after you.”

Alek gave her a blank look.

“It’s simple, my dear.” Katya patted his cheek. “All you have to do is kill some mortals.”

Emma dragged herself to work Monday evening. After herdate with Angus, she’d been unable to sleep well. Each time she dozed off, her mind and body betrayed her and replayed that glorious kiss. Then she’d wake up and refuse to think about it.

Instead, she considered the new idea of good Vamps versus the Malcontents. She’d heardAustin say that Shanna Whelan insisted there were two different kinds of vampires, but Emma had dismissed that as brainwashing. Any woman married to a vampire would want to think he was good.

Emma also knew thatAustin had befriended one of the female vampires during the taping of the reality show. He must have gone through the same learning process she was going through now. And there was no wayAustin had been brainwashed. He had the strongest psychic power ever registered at the CIA.

She wasn’t sure what exactly had happened toAustin . She only knew that he and Sean had argued, thenAustin quit and Sean blacklisted him from any government job. Ever since then, Sean was suspicious of all of them and more paranoid than ever.

When Emma strode into the conference room for the usual seven P.M. meeting, her two fellow team members were already there.

Alyssa frowned at her. “Are you all right?”

With a sigh, she realized she’d done a poor job of covering the dark circles under her eyes. She sat in a chair next to Alyssa. “I haven’t been sleeping well.”

“Too much partying, huh?” Garrett slurped coffee from a cup that boastedToo Hot to Handle.

While pretty-boy Garrett launched into another chapter of his romantic conquests, Emma tuned him out. She didn’t believe half of it, and besides, the last thing she wanted to think about was romance.

Who in their right mind would kiss a vampire? She was lucky she didn’t end up with a pierced tongue. And even crazier than that—she’d enjoyed it! Good heavens, what a kiss. Her face burned, just thinking about it.

“Emma,” Alyssa whispered. “Are you sure you’re not ill? You look awfully flushed.”

“I’m… super.” She sat up straighter when her boss strode into the room and slammed the door behind him.

Sean Whelan, their team leader, looked even angrier than usual. He marched to the head of the table and set down his laptop. “It’s been ten months since my daughter was kidnapped by those vicious demons. Ten months! They’ve probably drained her dry by now and turned her into one of them.”

Not if they drank synthetic blood from bottles like Angus. Emma had been told just the night before that Shanna was happy, but she knew Sean would never believe it. Her friendship with Angus was going to put her in an awkward position at work. This must have been what had happened toAustin . She’d try e-mailing him to see what else he had learned.

“Garrett, I want you to continue watching the Russians,” Sean ordered. He turned to Alyssa. “How is your research going on Romatech?”

“Very well,” Alyssa answered. “I’ve learned the names of the vampire employees by running their license plates. I’m unable to go inside, of course, due to their security measures, but last week I successfully hacked into their mainframe.”

“Excellent!” Sean leaned forward. “Did you learn anything about Shanna? I need to know where she’s living.”

Alyssa winced. “There was nothing personal in the files about Draganesti or your daughter. But I did find a list of cities and towns where they’re shipping the Vampire Fusion Cuisine. Obviously, those must be locations where vampires exist. I’d like to go investigate.”

Emma frowned. Those vampires were all drinking their meals from bottles. They belonged to the good camp, and yet they were the ones ending up on Sean Whelan’s database of vampires to be eliminated.

Sean sighed. “All right. But I still want someone watching Romatech. My daughter’s been seen there several times. I’m hoping someone can manage to follow her to her new home.” Sean glanced at Emma. “Can you take over while Alyssa’s out of town?”

“Yes.” Although Emma was no longer sure she wanted to find Shanna. What if the woman was truly happy? But how could a marriage work out between a mortal and a vampire?

“Damned bloodsuckers,” Sean muttered as he searched through a file on his laptop.

As she had many times before, Emma wondered if her boss had been bitten. She’d suspected several times that he must have been the victim of a vampire attack. His hatred was so intense.

She’d considered telling him a few times about her slaying activities. In theory, she knew he would understand. But she also knew how obsessed he was with finding his daughter. He’d be furious that she hadn’t interrogated the vampires before killing them. But how could she? The only way she managed to kill them was to take them by surprise.

With a sigh, she realized the point was now moot. It looked like she was going to have to retire from slaying for a while. If what Angus said was true, and the Malcontents were going to hunt in groups, then she needed to take a break.

“Here it is.” Sean turned his laptop screen to face them. “I was watching Draganesti’s house Friday night and spotted someone new. Anyone recognize this guy?”

The blood drained from Emma’s face as she watched the surveillance video. There on the sidewalk, approaching Roman Draganesti’s house, was Angus MacKay. That was the first night she’d met him, when she’d thought he was a gorgeous and mysterious human. If only he were.

“Another Scotsman in a kilt,” Alyssa murmured. “Aren’t there several living in Draganesti’s house?”

“I wouldn’t call itliving , but yes.” Sean pointed at the claymore on Angus’s back. “This one is different. He’s heavily armed, as you can see.”

“He looks like one of the Scottish guys we saw inCentral Park ,” Garrett said. “You know, that night when the Russians vampires were there. I saw a bunch of guys in kilts, but they all look the same to me.”

Emma shook her head. How could anyone ever forget meeting Angus MacKay? She watched him on the computer screen as he climbed the steps to Draganesti’s townhouse. He paused at the top, looked around, then vanished.

“Whoa,” Garrett whispered. “He’s definitely a vampire.”

Emma sighed. Yes, he was, and if she was smart, she’d stay far away from him. He was much too tempting.

“Well, Wallace? What do you say?”

Emma jumped when she realized Sean was watching her. “Pardon?”

“You watch the vampireNightly News every night,” Sean said. “Ever seen this Scotsman before?”

She carefully kept her face blank. “I’ve never seen him on the news.” That much was true.

Sean crossed his arms. “You’ve never seen him at all?”

“No.” Heat crept into her cheeks. What was she doing? Lying to protect Angus? No, she calmed herself. She was simply protecting herself and her own secret slaying activities. She couldn’t talk about Angus without explaining her own business in the park.

Sean closed his laptop. “I’m out of patience with these stake-outs. We need to actuallydo something.” He headed to the door. “Go to your assignments for now. I’ll let you know what I decide.”

Within ten minutes the men were gone. Alyssa was busy at her computer, hacking into Romatech’s files. Emma settled at her desk and turned on the television that was rigged to receive the Digital Vampire Network.

At eight, theNightly News began with Stone Cauffyn droning on in his monotonous voice. Emma watched it each night while she scanned police reports, looking for possible vampire criminal activity.

She tried focusing on the police reports, but the words blurred before her weary eyes. What was Angus doing tonight? She’d checked her e-mail numerous times, but there’d been no message from him. Was he having second thoughts? Maybe he’d come to his senses and realized, like her, that a relationship between them was doomed. And that hurt.

She turned up the volume on the telly. A commercial was on, selling some sort of exercise DVD, starring the famous Parisian fashion model Simone. It sounded silly to Emma, but one part caught her attention—a warning that the superior lifestyle of the nonbiting Vamp could lead to gum weakness or even fang loss, therefore making exercise a necessity.

The nonbiting Vamp?Here it was—more evidence that Angus was telling the truth, and so-called Vamps no longer fed off humans. Why would DVN lie about it when they believed their audience was made up entirely of the Undead? As far as Emma knew, she was the only human watching DVN, and the vampires didn’t know it. So whatever she saw on DVN was probably true.

Two factions—the Vamps and the Malcontents. Why would Angus object to her killing Malcontents, other than his concern for her safety? He had said something about leaving vampire justice to him. Did that mean he killed Malcontents? If he did, why not let her help him? They could be a team.

What was she thinking? She was already on a team. She closed her aching eyes. This was all too confusing. Her loyalties were getting all screwed up.

She refocused on the police reports. There on page two was the news she dreaded the most. A body had been found this morning inCentral Park . A woman’s body with her throat slashed.

“Shit!” Emma sprung to her feet.

“What’s wrong?” Alyssa asked.

“Nothing. I spilled coffee.” Emma strode into the kitchen area where she could fume in private. Damn! Another vampire murder. She couldn’t just ignore this. Either Angus MacKay was going to help her, or she was going solo. She was not going to let more innocent people die.

She hurried to her laptop to write him an e-mail, but something on the telly caught her attention. Corky Courrant had started her gossip show calledLive with the Undead. Half of the screen was taken up with a picture of Roman Draganesti.

Emma turned up the volume.

“Remember, you heard it here first!” Corky screeched in her strident voice. “It’s the most miraculous news ever! Roman Draganesti is about to become the first vampire in history to be a father!”

Emma gasped.

“What?” Alyssa came running over.

“Yes!” Corky laughed. “Hard to believe, isn’t it? But just look at this exclusive video we obtained last night. Roman and his mortal wife have started going to Mass on Sunday night, and my cameraman caught them as they were arriving.”

Emma punched the record button on the television’s VCR. If there was news about Shanna, her boss would want to see it.

A video flashed onto the screen, fuzzy at first, then sharpening on a building in the distance. Emma recognized it as Romatech Industries. The cameraman was obviously far away, but he managed to zoom in on the front door as a black car pulled up to the entrance. A youthful-looking, kilted Scotsman climbed out of the driver’s seat and opened the car’s back door. Roman Draganesti stepped out, and next to him was Shanna Whelan. A huge, very pregnant Shanna Whelan.

Emma’s heart leaped. Good heavens! How could such a thing happen? Surely a vampire couldn’t father a baby?

“Oh my God,” Alyssa whispered.

The video stopped, and Corky reappeared on the screen, grinning. “I know what you’re thinking! You’re thinking Draganesti couldn’t be the father. But he’s a scientific genius, the inventor of synthetic blood and Vampire Fusion Cuisine. So, I for one am thoroughly convinced.” She waved the camera closer, then whispered, “Heis the father.”

Emma pressed a hand to her chest. Good God, what was Shanna thinking? Was she having a half-human, half-vampire baby?

With shaky fingers, Emma stopped the recording.

“Oh my God,” Alyssa repeated. “Sean is going to go ballistic.”

“We have to tell him,” Emma said.

Alyssa scoffed. “Don’t look at me. He said I could go out of town, and I am out of here.” She rushed to her desk and gathered papers. “He’s going to go berserk.”

Emma had to agree. How on earth would she break the news?

Never trust anyone or anything. Sean Whelan had learned that the hard way. And when you added vampires with their mind-controlling capabilities into the mix, then anyone could be turned against you. Anyone.

After his daughter’s betrayal, Sean had hoped to recapture her by staking out Roman Draganesti’s townhouse on the Upper East Side. He’d left a surveillance van parked across the street for the first few weeks, but the damned vampires had caught on. His tires had been slashed, and his surveillance equipment stolen. He’d tried a variety of cars and SUVs, but parking was such a bitch, he couldn’t always find a place close enough.

So, eight months ago, he’d rented a small room catty-corner across the street. It was damned expensive, but Homeland Security had gladly footed the bill when he’d explained he was observing a terrorist cell.

He strode into the tiny room and with a swipe of his arm, he cleared a space on the small table for his laptop. Empty take-out containers tumbled onto the floor, and he reminded himself for the jillionth time to take out the trash. Later.

For now, he was anxious to see what the video camera had recorded the night before in his absence. The camera squatted on top of a tripod by the window, its lens carefully positioned to peek between two slats of the blinds. Sean peered out the window. Draganesti’s house was usually quiet this early in the evening, and tonight appeared no different.

He removed the camera’s memory card and quickly downloaded Sunday night’s recording. Then he inserted a fresh memory card into the camera and pushed record. Back at the table, he settled into a rickety chair and started watching the video from Sunday night. Boring. He pushed fast forward and poured himself a cup of coffee from his thermos. This was so damned boring, and it was getting him nowhere. Shanna could be dead by now.

His cell phone rang, and he flipped it open. “Whelan, here.”

“This is Garrett. There’s a… problem here in Brooklyn, sir.”

With a sigh, Sean rose to his feet and looked out the window. Still no activity outside Draganesti’s house. “What kind of problem?”

“Our bugs inside the Russian coven were destroyed.”

“Dammit.” Sean paced across the room. “Is the van all right, and our surveillance equipment?”

“I’m in the van now. Everything’s fine, but all I get is static from the Russian house.”

Sean muttered another curse. “You need to get back in. Plant some more bugs.”