All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire las-5

by Kerrelyn Sparks

"Oh." Not a problem. She slid her arms around his neck.

  "Closer." His arm tightened around her waist.

  She pressed against his solid chest. "Like this?"

  He closed his eyes briefly. "Aye."

  Her breath caught when his eyes opened. "What's the deal with your eyes? They keep turning red."

  "It's a normal reaction for a vampire."

  "I don't think so." She studied the red, glowing irises. "None of the other Vamps do that."

  "Good. I wouldna want to fight any of my friends."

  "What are you talking about?"

  He gave her a wry smile. "Toni, when my eyes turn red, it's because I'm wanting you verra badly."

  She swallowed hard. "But it's been happening for days."

  "Aye, since I first met you. But doona let it worry you. I know ye hate our kind."

  "I don't hate you, Ian. I don't hate any of the good Vamps. Maybe I did at first, but now…"

  He watched her carefully. "How do ye feel now?"

  A flood of emotions brought tears to her eyes. "I–I have a lot on my mind. Not just you, but my friend Sabrina. I'm so very worried…and confused." She shouldn't feel so damned attracted to a vampire.

  "Tell me what's going on. I might be able to help you."

  She studied his handsome face and saw genuine concern and compassion. She wanted to trust him. Dear God, she wanted to stay in his arms forever. "I'll think about it."

  "Good. Hang on, sweetheart." He pulled her tight, and everything went black.

  As soon as Ian was assured that Toni was safely ensconced in the silver room at Romatech, he teleported back to the townhouse with Dougal and Phineas.

  When they materialized on the back porch, they heard the high-pitched buzz of the alarm inside the townhouse. They instantly drew their swords. There were only two explanations for the alarm—either a mortal had broken into the townhouse and didn't hear the alarm, or a vampire had teleported inside and didn't know the proper combination required to turn the alarm off.

  Dougal quietly unlocked the back door and let it swing open. They waited, swords ready, for someone to poke his head out the door and look. If it was a Malcontent, his head wouldn't stay attached for long.

  No one fell for the bait. Ian moved to enter, but Phineas pulled him back.

  "It's you they want, bro. Stay between us." Phineas entered first.

  The kitchen was a mess. Cabinets and drawers hung open, and the contents were scattered on the countertops.

  "They must be looking for the drug." Dougal started to punch in the combination to turn off the alarm.

  "Nay." Ian stopped him. "If we turn it off, we'll be announcing our arrival."

  Dougal grimaced. "Ye're right, but the noise is bloody annoying."

  "Yeah, sounds like a cat on crack," Phineas muttered. He positioned himself by the swinging door. "Ready?"

  Ian nodded, and the three Vamps zoomed into the foyer. A quick glance assured them that the intruders were not on the first floor. Books were tumbled onto the floor in the library, and the parlor had been ransacked.

  They zipped downstairs to the cellar. Phineas's bed had been slashed, and the coffins ripped apart.

  "Shit." Phineas studied the broken picture frame of his family. "We're too late."

  "We should check Roman's office," Ian suggested. "I'm sure they've realized that he invented the drug."

  "We go together," Dougal said. "Aim for the fifth-floor landing."

  The trio teleported to the landing outside Roman's office and bedroom. The two doors were open, and inside, voices were speaking in Russian.

  Ian eased toward the office door and spied Jedrek Janow at Roman's desk, fiddling with the computer. The Malcontent cursed and pounded a fist on the keyboard. Then he started rifling through the desk drawers.

  Dougal peeked into Roman's bedroom, then raised two fingers to indicate two men. Ian lifted one finger. It was three against three. He gave Dougal and Phineas a questioning look, and they both nodded.

  Ian charged into the office, headed straight for Jedrek. The assassin glanced up and reached for the sword he'd left on the desk. Ian was already swinging his sword down for a killing blow when Jedrek teleported away.

  Ian's sword ripped through an empty office chair. "Bloody hell." He spun to see if Jedrek had materialized behind him.

  He hadn't. The Russian coven master reappeared in the bedroom next to his two followers.

  Ian moved toward them while Dougal and Phineas flanked him.

  "Just the man I was looking for," Jedrek sneered. "Stasio, Yuri, take the man in the middle."

  The two Malcontents lunged toward Ian, but Dougal and Phineas jumped in front, and each engaged in battle. Ian cursed inwardly at being treated like a helpless pup. He headed for Jedrek, but the coward vanished once again.

  Ian whirled just as Jedrek's hand gripped his arm from behind. A dizzying sensation stole over him, and he realized Jedrek was attempting to teleport away with him. He slashed his sword down onto Jedrek's arm, and the man yelped in pain just before disappearing completely.

  "You coward!" Ian shouted at the now empty space.

  A cry of pain drew Ian's attention back to the sword fights. Phineas had sliced his opponent's torso. The Russian stumbled back, and Phineas stabbed him in the chest. The Russian turned gray, then crumbled into a pile of dust on the floor.

  The second Russian shouted in anger, then teleported away, leaving Dougal cursing in his wake.

  "I did it!" Phineas lifted his sword in the air. "Did you see that? I was a killing machine!"

  Dougal slapped him on the back. "Yer first kill. Congratulations."

  Phineas raised his hand to give them both a high five. "Oh yeah, Dr. Phang strikes again!"

  Ian smiled wearily. After a few centuries of killing Malcontents, he no longer felt the thrill. He strode back to the desk and turned off the alarm. "Jedrek was injured. I doona think he'll try anything else tonight. Let's go back to Romatech."

  Roman and his family would be safe for the time being. And so would Toni.

  As soon as Jedrek Janow materialized in his Brooklyn office, he felt the pain of his slashed arm. He dropped his sword on the floor and clasped a hand over the wound. Blood seeped through his fingers and dripped onto the expensive Turkish rug. "Damn."

  "Sir, you're bleeding," the guard at his door said.

  "Brilliant observation, moron," Jedrek growled. "Get Nadia in here now."

  "Yes, Master." The guard zoomed away.

  Jedrek pulled his ripped and bloody sweater off and tossed it in the litter bin.

  The guard returned with Nadia in tow. She hovered by the doorway, refusing to look at him.

  He knew she was angry. She hadn't enjoyed killing the blonde. "Bring bandages. You will bind my wound."

  She lifted her chin defiantly. "Your wound will heal during your death-sleep."

  "That's five hours from now, bitch. Bring the bandages now."

  She trudged off. Still too much spirit, but he would break her soon.

  "You." He glared at the guard. The guy's name was Stanislav, but Jedrek didn't like to call people by their names. It made them think that somehow you liked them. "Give me your shirt."

  "Yes, Master." Stanislav unbuttoned his white shirt.

  Meanwhile, a form wavered, then solidified by the desk. It was Yuri. He sheathed his sword and avoided looking at Jedrek.

  "Where's Stasio?" Jedrek demanded.

  "He—he's dead," Yuri whispered.

  "Then he should have fought better." Jedrek grabbed the shirt Stanislav offered and wrapped it around the cut on his forearm. The white cotton turned red with blood. "Who killed him? Was it one of those damned Scotsmen?"

  "No," Yuri replied. "It was the black vampire."

  "Black?" Stanislav asked. "I wonder…"

  "Out with it," Jedrek growled.

  "There was a black guy in our coven for a while," Stanislav explained. "Phineas McKinney. Alek transformed him because he was a drug de
aler, and Katya needed his help to make Nightshade."

  Unfortunately, the now-deceased Katya had used up all the Nightshade in her failed attempt to deliver Angus MacKay to Casimir. Jedrek had hoped to find some of the drug here in the office, but no such luck. "Where is this Phineas? If I'd had some Nightshade tonight, I could have paralyzed Ian MacPhie and brought him back."

  "I haven't seen Phineas in over a year." Stanislav tilted his head, concentrating. "Last time I saw him, he was here in the office. Said he was looking for Katya, but she and Galina had already gone to the Ukraine."

  Jedrek narrowed his eyes. He'd debugged this office when Katya was master, then again when he'd become coven master. Someone in the coven had been playing both sides. "Look through the photos on my desk. There's a picture of a black Vamp who works for MacKay."

  Stanislav shuffled through the photos, then stopped. "This is him. Phineas McKinney."

  Jedrek gritted his teeth. "And when Phineas was here in the office, did you tell him where Katya was?"

  Stanislav opened his mouth to answer, then snapped it shut when realization struck. He gulped audibly.

  "What did I say about incompetence?" Jedrek growled.

  Yuri drew his sword and awaited the order.

  Stanislav stepped back, his face pale. "I thought he was on our side. He helped us make the Nightshade."

  Jedrek inhaled deeply. Fear radiated from Stanislav like the sweetest of perfumes. "You will have one chance to redeem yourself. You will kill Phineas McKinney."

  "Of course." Stanislav nodded enthusiastically. "It'll be my pleasure."

  Yuri sheathed his sword with a disappointed look.

  "First you will find me a snack," Jedrek told Stanislav. "This wound has left me famished."

  "Yes, Master. Right away." Stanislav left just as Nadia arrived, her hands filled with bandages and tape. She approached him with a wary look.

  "You took too long." Jedrek perched on the edge of his desk and lifted his wounded arm. "Wrap it up tight."

  "Yes, Master." She began rolling the gauze around his forearm.

  He noted the bruises on her arms where he'd dug his fingers into her earlier. "I enjoy hurting you."

  Her hands shook as she bandaged his arm. Good, she was showing the proper amount of fear. He loved instilling fear in others. It gave him power over them. People bowed in fear before gods.

  "What about the drug?" Yuri asked. "And Ian MacPhie?"

  "I need to heal first." Jedrek flexed his hand. "Tomorrow we will strike again. We'll get our answers. And Vamps will die."

  CHAPTER 14

  A dinging sound nudged Toni from her sleep. Where was she? Oh right, the silver room at Romatech Industries.

  A flash of light drew her attention, and she stiffened when she realized she wasn't alone in the dark room. Then she recognized the red and green plaid kilt. The broad shoulders and black ponytail that curled on the end.

  The red exit light above the door cast a dim, red glow across the room. Ian removed a bottle of blood from the microwave. That must have been the source of the dinging sound. She glanced at the bedside clock. Time to get up for work. She sat up, and the rustle of sheets caused Ian to turn toward her.

  "Och, I dinna mean to wake you."

  "It's okay. It's time for me to get up."

  "Ye can sleep late if ye like."

  She immediately collapsed onto the bed. "Oh God, yes."

  He chuckled. "Everyone is staying here for their death-sleep. There are a few bedrooms here in the cellar, all with surveillance cameras. Howard's in the MacKay office, watching over us."

  Toni glanced up at the camera in the corner. The red light indicated it was turned on.

  "There's a second office for day security," Ian continued. "They watch over the mortal employees and guard the building. I hear it's verra busy upstairs during the day. Lots of mortals making synthetic blood, bottling it, and shipping it to hospitals and blood banks."

  "You're not worried one of the mortal employees will stumble onto a Vamp in his death-sleep?"

  "The mortals are no' allowed in the basement. Ye need a special key card to make the elevator come here or access the stairway. I left one on the table for you here."

  "Did I miss anything while I was sleeping?"

  He shrugged on shoulder. "The townhouse was invaded."

  "What?" She sat up. "The Malcontents were there?"

  "Aye. Phineas killed one. He was verra proud of himself. Jedrek tried to teleport away with me, but I slashed his arm to get free."

  "Good grief," Toni whispered. This was awful. "Are you okay?"

  "Aye." Ian finished his bottle and rinsed it out in the kitchen sink. "We expect they'll try something tonight, so ye should get more rest while ye can."

  "Okay. I'll just go to the bathroom first." She padded to the bathroom. Once she was done, she shut the door behind her and let her eyes adjust to the red-tinted darkness. Ian was no longer in the kitchen.

  She moved toward the bed and halted. There he was, on the far side, lying on top of the covers, wearing his kilt, a white T-shirt, and his knee socks.

  "What are you doing?" She glanced around the room. There was only one bed. Maybe if she pushed the easy chairs together, she could manage—

  "I willna molest you, lass. Verra soon, I'll no' be able to move." He clasped his hands together over his stomach and studied the ceiling. "Though I hope ye willna have yer way with me while I'm unable to defend myself."

  She snorted. "Right. Because there's something so irresistible about a corpse."

  His mouth curled into a half smile as he looked at her. "If it bothers you to sleep next to me, I can lie on the floor. Once I'm dead, I'll hardly know the difference."

  "I've dated a few guys with the same level of sensitivity," she muttered while she debated whether to climb back into bed.

  He yawned and closed his eyes. "I'll be gone soon."

  She sat on the edge of the bed. "Does it hurt?"

  "To know there's a beautiful woman lying next to me, and I'll no' be able to touch her?" His eyes opened and glimmered with humor. "It's a living torture. But no' for long."

  She scoffed. "I meant does it hurt every morning when you die?"

  He lay there, his gaze roaming over her slowly, lingering here and there as if he were memorizing every tiny detail. Her skin tingled, responding to his gaze. Just when she thought he wouldn't answer, he spoke softly.

  "It's like slipping into a black hole, so black and deep there is no light, no feelings, no thoughts." He blinked slowly, the twinkle in his eyes fading. "I wish I could dream."

  "What would a vampire dream about? Big vats of blood? A shiny, new coffin with leather upholstery?"

  "Nay. I would have a lovely dream." A hint of a smile played on his lips as his eyes drifted shut. "About you." His face went lax.

  Me? Toni's heart raced. He would dream of her? She leaned close to study him. "Are you dead yet?"

  He didn't answer. He just lay there, the most gorgeous man she'd ever known. Her gaze settled on the dimple in his chin. She'd wanted to touch it the other day. She'd reached for it, but had lost her nerve.

  She would have the nerve now. But not the opportunity. She glanced up at the surveillance camera. It wouldn't do for Howard to see her touching Ian's face.

  She slipped under the covers and lay on her back beside him. God help her, she wanted to snuggle up to a dead body. This was wrong on so many levels.

  She rolled over, putting her back to him. So wrong. And yet, it was starting to feel so right.

  Thank God there was a different receptionist working at Shady Oaks Sunday evening. Toni had worried about Doris being there and recognizing her from her sex addict routine. She tried to look a little different by wearing her glasses instead of contacts and pulling a knit cap down low to cover her blonde hair.

  Carlos had picked her up at Romatech. The sun had still been up, and all the Vamps still dead. Howard had assured her everything was under control, so she wa
s free to go. Still, she felt that uneasy sensation of being pulled in two different directions. Ian had thought the Malcontents would attack again. She hated not being there to help.

  "We're here to see Sabrina Vanderwerth," she told the receptionist.

  "You'll need to sign in and fill out this form."

  While Carlos signed them in, Toni quickly filled out the form, including Sabrina's name and ID number.

  The receptionist checked the form against her records, the same records Toni had snuck a peek at the night before. "I'll need your IDs." She examined their driver's licenses, then filled out name tags for them.

  "I'll hold your licenses here until you return and sign out." She handed them the clip-on name tags. "Wear these at all times. You cannot bring any personal items or food or drinks into the wards. Do you understand?"

  "Yes." Toni was directed toward the guard, who went through her handbag, then patted her and Carlos down.

  He unlocked the door. "Follow the sidewalk across the courtyard, then turn right to Ward Three."

  As they crossed the courtyard, Toni looked around. Inside each building, another guard was posted. She shivered. The place was like a prison.

  Carlos opened the door to Ward Three and followed her into a small foyer. The guard checked their name tags and took their request form, which he placed in a sliding metal box. It slid into a nurses' station, all enclosed in glass.

  "Put your coats and personal items in these bins." The guard motioned to some plastic bins on a table.

  While they filled the bins, a brawny male nurse entered the nursing station and examined their request form. "Come to the door," he spoke through an intercom.

  There was a buzzing sound, then the metal door opened.

  The male nurse motioned for them to enter. Toni noted his name tag said Bradley. And the hall smelled of disinfectant and despair.

  "Are there visitors for me?" a young man asked as he shuffled toward them in corduroy house shoes. His Spider-Man pajamas were crumpled, and the red color had faded to pink.

  "They're not here for you, Teddy," Bradley growled. "Go back to the men's room."

  "Okay." Teddy ran a hand through his dark hair that had a streak dyed white down the middle, making him resemble a skunk. He shuffled back down the hall.