"I do care for her, but...do ye no' understand how I feel? Have ye never felt the fierceness of... longing?"

A sad look came over Connor's face. "Aye, it is fierce. It rages like a wildfire, but leaves you with naught but ashes." He left the room.

What had happened to Connor to make him such a pessimist? Ian knew that a relationship between a mortal and Vamp rarely worked. Eventually they broke up or the mortal agreed to change over. Shanna had agreed to become a Vamp sometime in the future. Did he really want to involve Toni in a relationship where he'd have to suck her dry till she was dead, so he could change her?

Connor was right. If he really cared for her, which he did, he'd leave her be. He'd let her find love with her own kind. And he would keep looking for love among the Vamps.

"What's wrong?" Shanna asked.

Toni sighed. She knew she looked like a mess. How on earth had Ian found her attractive? She filled a plate with cheese cubes, carrot sticks, and broccoli, and what the heck, a few chocolate chip cookies. "I'm doing my Rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer impersonation."

Shanna handed her a cup of punch. "Are you unhappy with your job here?"

"No." She bit into a cookie.

The fellowship hall was filling up fast with churchgoers. Toni hated for everyone to see her swollen, red eyes, but she didn't want to run off just yet. She still needed to talk to Ian. "I have a close friend who's in the hospital. I just came from visiting her, and I was all smiles while I was there, but now..."

"Now the stress has caught up with you," Shanna observed. "I'm so sorry. If you need some time off, I'm sure we can arrange it."

"You're very kind." Unfortunately, she might have lots of time off very soon. Connor was probably going to fire her. Fired for kissing a vampire. Who would have known her life could be so risqué? But she'd known it was against the rules.

Would she do it again? In a heartbeat.

It had been the most phenomenal kiss of her life. Not one of those fumbling ones like she'd had in the past where she'd spent the entire kiss wondering if she was doing it properly, or wishing like hell that the guy knew how to do it properly. There'd been no wondering or wishing at all. She'd simply been swept away into a glorious daze of pure sensation. It was the kind of kiss she'd always dreamed of.

Стр. 130 из 235

And Ian was the romantic hero she'd always dreamed of. Strong, but sweetly vulnerable. An endearing mixture of pride and uncertainty. Bold enough to kiss her and damn the consequences. Exciting, noble, clever, sexy--perfect in every way. Except one. He was a vampire.

"Shanna, can I ask you a personal question?" "Sure." "I was wondering how you...well, is it difficult being in a relationship with a vampire?" "Ah." Shanna sipped some punch. "I suppose it depends on the vampire. I lucked out with

Roman." She looked around the room, and Toni could tell the instant she spotted her husband. Her

eyes softened. Roman must have felt her gaze or heard her say his name, for he turned away from his conversation with Father Andrew and smiled at her.

"He's the love of my life," Shanna whispered. "And Constantine, too. I'm totally amazed by them."

"But how do you handle the different hours?" "Tino and I keep late hours. We stay up to one or so in the morning, so we can spend time with Roman. Then we sleep late in the morning. I take dental appointments from three in the afternoon till about nine at night, so I can see both mortals and Vamps. It's a bit of a challenge, fitting in family and a career, but it's that way for all women, so I don't think my situation is all that strange."

"I see what you mean." Toni popped a piece of ranch-dipped broccoli in her mouth. "So which hunky Vamp guy are you interested in?" She nearly choked. Her eyes watered, and she gulped down some punch. "I didn't say I was." Shanna grinned. "Never mind. I think I know who." "It was a hypothetical question," Toni insisted. "I was just wondering how a Vamp and mortal

could make it work, and obviously, you and Roman are doing it well, so I asked. That's all."

"Uh-huh." Shanna gave her a knowing look. "Well, hypothetically speaking, I think he's a great guy, and you'd be crazy to pass him by." Toni wondered if she was referring to Ian, but didn't dare ask. "I don't mean to be a downer, but I

just don't see how it can last, not when the mortal continues to age, and the Vamp doesn't." Shanna nodded. "It was a tough decision, and not one I took lightly." She rubbed a hand over the

bump where her second child was growing. "I've decided to change over eventually, but I wanted to wait till the children are a bit older." Toni gaped. "You're going to become one of them?" Shanna's eyes twinkled in merriment. "Ooh, scary! They're not monsters, you know. I realize it

might take a while for you to see that. It took me a while. Well, only about a week." She laughed. "I fell for Roman so fast."

Стр. 131 из 235

Toni could relate to that. There was something so special about Ian. He'd intrigued her from the start. And she could recognize herself in him. If he had to come up with four morning affirmations, she figured his would be identical to hers.

"I feel so fortunate to be a part of their world," Shanna continued. "I have the best husband and

most wonderful little boy--" "He's gone!" A shout came from the hallway, along with the sound of running. Radinka halted at the doorway, gasping for air. "Tino! He's gone!"

Roman strode toward her. "He's not in the nursery?"

"Oh my God." Shanna spilled punch as she set down her cup. She rushed toward Radinka. "What happened?" "I don't know. I only turned my back on him for a second. I don't--" "Dougal, Phineas, go check--" Roman started to give an order, but the two guards had already

zoomed out the door. "I'll take the east wing. Ye take the west," Dougal shouted at Phineas. "Tell Connor!" Roman yelled after them. "And Howard!" All the other Vamps and Father Andrew rushed from the room to help with the search. "Oh my God." Shanna clutched Roman's arm. "What if he was kidnapped? What if the

Malcontents--"

He squeezed her shoulder. "We won't panic yet. He might have just levitated and climbed over the door." "I've told him a million times not to do that," Shanna said. "From now on, I'm stationing a guard at the nursery," Roman said quietly. "I'll check the parking

lot." Shanna paled. "Don't go alone. This could be a trap." Roman zoomed down the hall, shouting for Connor. Shanna and Radinka strode down the hall,

calling out Constantine's name. A wave of panic froze Toni. Would the Malcontents kidnap a child? If they teleported away with Tino, how would Roman ever find him? She wished she could do something to help, but she

didn't know what. For the first time, she actually wished she was a Vamp so she could move faster and fight better. She stepped forward and trod on something. It was the napkin she'd dropped before kissing Ian.

She leaned over to pick it up and spotted something odd. The tablecloth had moved. As the shouts for Constantine grew dimmer in the distance, Toni heard a small, whimpering

sound. She circled to the back of the table and dropped to her knees. She lifted the bottom edge of the tablecloth. Constantine gasped. He was hugging his knees to his chest, and his pink cheeks were wet with

tears.

Стр. 132 из 235

"Tino," she whispered. "How did you get here?" "I don't know," he wailed and covered his face. "Mommy's going to be mad at me." "Honey, no." Toni pulled him out from under the table and held him in her arms. "They're just

scared. We need to tell them you're all right."

"No!" Tino clutched her shoulders. "Mommy told me not to leave the nursery. She'll be mad at me." "She only sounds upset 'cause she's so scared. Believe me, she'll be thrilled to know you're all

right." He sniffled. "They won't be mad?" "No, honey. They love you so much." Toni stood, still holding the little boy, then strode into the

hallway. "He's here! Tino's fine!"

The Vamps must have heard her first, for Dougal and Phineas zoomed toward her. Connor, Ian, and Roman zipped toward them a few seconds later. "Daddy!" Tino reached for Roman, who grabbed him and held him tight. The other Vamps returned with Howard Barr and Father Andrew trailing behind. There were

shouts of delight and slaps on the back. "You found him?" Roman asked Toni. "I can't thank you enough." "Way to go, Toni!" Phineas gave her a high five. "Well done." Connor nodded at her. She felt her face heat up. Was he going to fire her now? She glanced at Ian. Passion flared in his

eyes, then he turned away. "Constantine!" Shanna ran toward them, followed by a gasping Radinka. Roman zoomed to them quickly, and Shanna flung herself at her husband, sandwiching their little

boy between them. "Thank God." Shanna hugged him tight. "I was so scared." Radinka's eyes filled with tears. "I could never forgive myself if anything

happened to you." She touched the boy's cheek. They all walked back to where the crowd was gathered. "Who found him?" Shanna asked. "Where was he?" "Toni," several Vamps answered at once as they smiled at her. Her heart expanded with a warm feeling. For the first time in her life, she felt like she belonged to

a whole family. "Oh, thank you." Shanna hugged her.

Стр. 133 из 235

"He was afraid you'd be mad at him," Toni whispered. "I found him hiding under the table." She

motioned with her head toward the fellowship hall. "Oh my goodness." Shanna turned toward her son. "How did you get in there without anyone seeing you?"

"I don't know. Can I have a cookie?" "Tino," Roman spoke quietly. "You've been told not to leave the nursery alone." "I didn't mean to." Constantine wiped his nose. "I was just thinking about you and Mommy and

how much I wanted to be with you. Then it was so dark, and I couldn't see anything. Then I was there behind the table, and I fell down 'cause I was dizzy. And then I heard everybody shouting, and I thought you were mad at me."

"Oh my God." Shanna pressed a hand to her mouth.

"Everything went black?" Roman asked his son. "You were in the nursery, then suddenly you were here?" When Constantine nodded, everyone exchanged shocked looks. "Tino, you teleported." Roman looked at everyone and grinned. "My son can teleport!" The Vamps cheered. Toni's mouth fell open. Shanna gasped for air, her face very pale. "Oh God, this is terrible." "Are you mad at me, Mommy?" Constantine asked. "No, no." She hugged him, then gave her husband a pointed look. "Can you teach him to control

this?" "Yes," Roman assured her. "It'll be all right." "Come." Radinka escorted Shanna into the fellowship hall. "I think you'd better sit down." Shanna winced. "A toddler who can vanish at will?" Everyone filed into the fellowship hall, and Roman set his son next to Shanna. He returned a few

seconds later with plates of food for both of them. Constantine happily munched on cookies. Radinka looked around. "Where's Gregori?" "I haven't seen him," Toni replied. Radinka huffed. "That rascal. He told me he would come to church." She marched to the mortal

table to fill a plate with food. Toni edged toward Ian. "Am I still employed?" He glanced toward Connor, who was busy congratulating Roman. "Aye, for now. The final

decision will be made in a week." Toni exhaled with relief. A week would be enough time for them to rescue Sabrina. Then it would be okay if she lost her job. But she still dreaded having her memory wiped. Carlos could fill her in

Стр. 134 из 235

on the facts, but he couldn't tell her how she had felt while she'd lived with the Vamps. She would forget how wonderful it had felt to be a part of their family. And she would forget all about Ian. "If I lose this job, I can live with that. But I don't want to lose my memory."

Ian frowned at his shoes. "I'll do what I can for you. But it would be better for us not to be alone." Toni swallowed hard. He was backing off. Was he doing it to save her job? Or had the kiss not meant that much to him? She could have sworn there'd been a ton of passion. "I still need to talk to you."

He glanced at Connor. "This is not a good time. I--I promised Vanda I would go to the club tonight."

She gritted her teeth. "Still looking for the perfect lady Vamp to share eternity with?" He swore under his breath. "I have never lied to you, Toni. I said from the beginning that I wanted a Vamp."

"Right. 'Cause they're so superior." "Better suited," he corrected her. "Fine. But I still need your help with something really important. When you find some time in

your busy dating schedule, let me know." She marched from the room before she succumbed to an urge to slap his handsome face.

Chapter Sixteen

Jedrek Janow hid behind a large maple tree, on the grounds at Romatech. He'd instructed Yuri to park a mile away from the entrance gate. Then they'd teleported onto the grounds and zipped through the woods to the main building.

"The parking lot looks completely covered with surveillance cameras," Yuri whispered. He crouched next to Nadia behind a snow-capped bush. "And the guards sweep through these woods every fifteen minutes. We can't stay long."