Be Still My Vampire (3 page)

“It’s nothing.” She reached for the stake, but he stepped back.

His eyes widened. “It saysMum .”

Emma winced. He did have good night vision. And now his eyes were focused on her, studying her. She grabbed the stake. His grip tightened. She yanked, but he wouldn’t let go.

“Why would ye write yer mother’s name on a stake?” he whispered.

“None of your business.” She jerked the stake from his hand and dropped it back into her bag.

“Ah, lass.” His voice was soft and full of compassion.

Anger flared inside her. How dare he open that wound? No one was allowed to crack her armor. “You have no right—”

“Ye have no right to endanger yerself,” he interrupted with a scowl. “Roaming about this park with nothing but a few sticks for protection? ’Tis foolhardy. Surely there are people who love ye dearly. They wouldna approve of ye risking yer life.”

“Don’t!” She pointed a finger at him. “Don’t you dare lecture me. You know nothing about me.”

“I’d like to know.”

“No! No one is going to stop me.” She spun on her heel and strode south down the brick pathway. Damn him. Yes, there had been people who loved her dearly, but they were all dead.

“Emma,” he called after her. “If ye’re here tomorrow, I’ll find you.”

“Don’t count on it,” she yelled without looking back. Anger surged through her with each step she took. Damn him! She had every right to avenge her parents.

She should have shown him just how tough she was. She should have disarmed him and bound his wrists with his own freaking duct tape. She slowed her steps, tempted to go back and teach him a lesson.

She glanced over her shoulder. The path was empty. Where had he gone? He didn’t seem like the type to slink away in defeat. She swiveled slowly in a circle. No one in sight. No movement among the trees. A cool breeze blew a lock of hair across her face. She shoved it back and listened. Not just with her ears, but with her mind. She stretched psychic feelers out, searching for the thoughts of a nearby brain.

A sudden chill made her shiver. She zipped up her short jacket and flipped the collar up over her ears. An eerie feeling settled in her gut. She hadn’t heard any thoughts, but she’d definitely felt a presence. Someone was watching her.

She reached in her bag for a stake. At least she’d only felt one presence out there. Was it Angus? Who was he exactly? As soon as she returned home, she’d check him out.

The park entrance wasn’t that far away. She crossed the stone bridge and strode alongside the Pond. The Scotsman was downright confusing. Gorgeous and sexy, without a doubt. She’d enjoyed talking to him until he’d started scolding her like a two-year-old. What had come over him? The minute he’d taken her stake in his hands, he’d become rude and overbearing. Why would a man with a huge sword be so uptight over a wooden stake?

She halted with a jerk.God, no.

Her heart pounded. No, not him. He couldn’t be a vampire. Could he? She spun in a circle, searching the surroundings. She even looked at the Pond, as if he were going to rise out of it and fly toward her.

Get a grip!The man wasnot a vampire. She would have known. She would have felt it. And he would have attacked her. Instead he’d lectured her on safety. She’d smelled the whisky on his breath. What vampire would drink anything but blood? And he was drinking from a silver flask. She’d read in reports that silver burned their skin.

Oh, shit. Months ago, when she’d first arrived, she’d read a report about last summer, when the Stake-Out team had spotted a bunch of vampires in Central Park with the boss’s daughter. Many of the vampires accompanying Shanna Whelan had been wearing kilts. Scottish vampires. All armed with swords. And just because Angus’s flask was silver in color, that didn’t mean it was actually silver. It could be stainless steel or pewter.

Oh God. He might actually be a vampire.

Shit! She should have taken him down while she had the chance. Emma strode toward the corner entrance to the park, then ran up the stairs toFifth Avenue . Good heavens, Angus had seen her stakes. He had to know she was the slayer. He’d probably report her to all the other vampires.

She froze, her arm lifted to hail a cab. Cars zoomed by. Horns blared in the distance. Theclip-clop of horse hooves approached slowly from an open carriage. All the sounds of the city blurred as the full truth unfolded in her mind.

Angus knew who she was. Her nights of secretly slaying vampires and remaining anonymous were over. The vampires would want revenge. They’d want to kill her. Her quest to avenge her parents had just escalated to a new level.

She was at war.

The devil take it. He’d screwed up royally.

Angus watched Emma cross the stone bridge, her stride quick and determined. Instead of convincing her to retire, he’d made her even more determined to use her bloody stakes.

Roman and Jean-Luc were right. He was too hot-headed. But damn it all, it pissed him off that such a lovely young lass would place herself in so much danger. He suspected she was avenging more than the innocent mortals killed recently inCentral Park . She was avenging her mother. That would explain her passion and determination, but even so, her behavior was suicidal. It was an idiotic, reckless thing to do, and yet there was nothing stupid or careless about Emma Wallace.

She was clever and quick. She possessed enough psychic power to detect his presence, though he’d managed to shield his thoughts and location from her. He’d never had to do that with a mortal before, which only gave further proof of how special she was. He had hoped reasoning with her would be enough, but she was so determined, it was going to be difficult to persuade her. He might have to pin her down just to get her to listen.

The thought of her lying beneath him caused him to swell. Bugger. He glanced down at his sporran, which was now hanging askew. He couldn’t go to Roman’s townhouse with an erection. They’d tease him about it for the next century.

He watched her jogging up the steps toFifth Avenue . He moved quietly to the street, far enough away that he could still see her with his superior vision. She was hailing a cab, a worried look marring her pretty face. Good. It was about time she realized she was playing with fire.

He had to do something. If the Malcontents caught her in the act, they would kill her without a second of remorse. They considered mortals nothing more than a food source, a herd of cattle. Vampires were naturally faster and stronger than any mortal could be. The lass was doomed if he didn’t stop her.

He watched her slip into the backseat of a taxi with a graceful, controlled movement. So lovely. And amazing. Three kills last summer and one more this spring. She had to be one fierce little fighter. If only he could direct that passion elsewhere…

His swollen groin throbbed. Bugger. Over five hundred years old, and here he was, reacting like a randy youth. He didn’t know whether to be annoyed or relieved. It had been so long since he’d felt arousal, he’d suspected he was more dead than alive—a theory that had made sense given his circumstance.

With a sigh, he headed toward Roman’s townhouse on theUpper East Side . Teleporting would be faster than walking, but he wanted time to think. And time for the bulge under his kilt to settle down.

Why didn’t he react this way among his own kind? There were plenty of available Vamp women, including those in his own harem. They were pretty enough, but they were also demanding and vain in a whiny, helpless way. Emma was totally different. Clever, independent, and bold. She had all the qualities he admired most in men. She was even a warrior.

With a small jab of surprise, Angus realized she was just like him. Well, no. She was a great deal younger. And a great deal more alive. And she also had a very lovely female body.

But her pull was more than a physical attraction. She was a warrior like him, battling evil in the wee hours of the night. She shared his need to protect the innocent. Beneath their obvious differences, they were kindred spirits. If he could make her see that, she could be an ally instead of an enemy.

He turned onto Roman’s street and approached the townhouse. The windows were dark now that Roman’s harem was gone and he was living inWhite Plains with his mortal wife. Now the only inhabitants were Connor and two Vamp security guards. Ian would be guarding the townhouse, while Dougal watched over Romatech.

Angus always stayed at Roman’s townhouse when he was inNew York . The bedrooms were equipped with aluminum shutters to keep the occupants safe during the day. And the daytime guards were completely trustworthy. They worked for MacKay Security and Investigation.

No doubt, Emma Wallace would run a check on his company as soon as she read his business card. She’d probably figure out he was undead. That was all right. He didn’t want any secrets between them. He wanted her to learn to trust him.

He planned to investigate her, too. If he knew all about Emma Wallace, he could figure out the best way to win her over. Psychological warfare. Not as straightforward as his usual methods, but the target in this case was unusual. He couldn’t simply bash her on the head with a claymore. He’d have to be more subtle. More… seductive.

He smiled to himself. Let the battle begin.

He glanced around as he climbed the steps to the townhouse. The street was empty and quiet. This was the perfect opportunity to test the alarm system he’d installed a few months ago. Ever since Roman had teleported straight into the lair of the Russian coven, Angus had worried that the Russians would attempt a similar maneuver.

He checked once more that the street was empty, then teleported into the dark foyer. As soon as his body materialized, an alarm went off—an alarm pitched at a high frequency so only dogs and vampires could detect it.

Immediately the kitchen door swung open, and a figure zoomed toward him with vampire speed. The blur stopped, revealing Ian, his kilt swirling about his knees and his dagger pointed at Angus’s throat.

“Och, ’tis you.” Ian slid his dagger back into the sheath beneath his hose. “I nearly skewered you.”

Angus patted the youthful-looking vampire on the back. “Ye’re as quick as ever, lad. ’Tis good to see ye again.” He strolled over to the control panel by the door to turn the alarm off. “If ye’d been here by the monitor, ye’d have seen me come up the steps, and ye wouldna have been caught by surprise.”

Ian hung his head, looking properly embarrassed for not being at his post. “I was in the kitchen. We have company.”

“Who?” Angus strode past the grand staircase to the kitchen, where a sliver of light could be seen beneath the door. He gave the swinging door a push and caught a glimpse of Gregori, sitting at the kitchen table, drinking his bottle of Blissky.

Angus marched into the kitchen. “Why are ye here, interfering with Ian’s duties? Ye should still be at Romatech.”

Gregori made a face. “Aren’t you the friendly one? Roman’s expecting me to give him a report on the slayer, but you and Connor never came back. Besides I’m doing you a favor, returning your bottle to you.”

Angus grabbed the bottle and held it up to the light. “The bloody thing’s half empty.”

Gregori grinned. “I get it. The Blissky is bloody. Right. You’re trying to be funny.” His grin faded as Angus continued to glower at him. “Okay, so I drank a little. But I prefer to think of it as halffull .”

Angus set the bottle down as Ian strode into the room.

Gregori motioned to him. “He had some, too.”

Angus arched an eyebrow at Ian.

“Just a wee drop,” Ian insisted. “I know I’m on duty.”

“Ye’re damned right.” Angus bit his lip to keep from smiling. Roman’s new Fusion drink was going to be very popular. “Can ye call Connor and let him know I’m here?” He motioned with his head for Ian to leave the room.

“Sure.” Ian grabbed a cell phone off the kitchen counter and went back into the foyer.

“So, big guy, are you ready to report?” Gregori slouched back in his chair. “Did you find the slayer? Was it one of the hot babes?” He waggled his brows.

Angus glared at the young Vamp. “I might be willing to forgive ye for drinking my Blissky, if ye’ll tell me what’s wrong with the bairn.”

“Thewhat? Sprechen sie English, dude.”

“The bairn, the wee babe. I want to know what’s wrong.”

“Oh.” Gregori’s face turned serious as he leaned forward onto his elbows. “Well, that’s kinda personal.”

“So are yer balls, laddie, but if ye’re wanting to keep them close and personal, ye’ll tell me what’s going on.”

“Sheesh!” Gregori gave him an incredulous look. “Lay off the steroids, man.”

“I doona need drugs. I’m naturally a mean bastard.”

“Yeah, I noticed.” Gregori narrowed his eyes. “You didn’t hurt the hot babe, did you?”

Angus smiled. He was beginning to see why Roman liked this young Vamp. “I’ll tell ye what. Ye tell me about the bairn, and I’ll tell you about the hot babe.”

Gregori nodded slowly. “Deal.” He motioned to the chair across from him.

Angus laid his claymore across the center of the table, then sat. “Is the bairn in danger?”

“We don’t know. The Vamp doctors say he’s healthy.”

“’Tis a boy?”

Gregori smiled. “You should have seen Roman’s face when he told me. He was so proud.”

“Then what is the problem? And doona lie, lad. I can always tell, and you wouldna want to see me angry.”

Gregori rolled his eyes. “Oh, I’m so scared.”

Angus stifled a grin. He folded his arms across his chest and narrowed his eyes.

Gregori sighed. “Okay. Shanna mentioned a few months ago that the baby seemed to be sleeping all day and turning somersaults all night. Really freaked Roman out.”

Angus rested his elbows on the table in front of his sword. “Roman fears the bairn is a night creature? That’s why they’re seeing a Vamp doctor? But dinna Roman use live human sperm?”

“Yep. But he erased the donor’s DNA and inserted his own.”

“So he would be the father. I doona see the problem.” Angus glanced to the side when the kitchen door swung open. Connor strode inside, followed by Ian.

“I hope ye had better luck than I.” Connor retrieved a bottle of synthetic blood from the fridge and popped it into the microwave. “I scoured the northern half ofCentral Park all night and never saw anything but a few couples making love.”

“Damn!” Gregori thumped the table with his fist. “I knew I should have gone with you.”

The room grew quiet except for the whir of the microwave. The three Scotsmen regarded Gregori silently until he blushed.

He shifted uneasily in his chair. “I guess I need a girlfriend.”

“Don’t we all,” Ian muttered.

The microwave beeped, and Connor removed his bottle of blood. “Before we start moaning over loves lost, I want to know about the slayer. Did ye find her, Angus?”

“Her?” Ian repeated.

“Aye, I found her.” Angus motioned toward Gregori. “But first, this one is telling me about Roman’s bairn.”

Gregori gave Connor a sheepish look. “He wouldn’t talk about the slayer until I spilled the beans.”

Connor grimaced, then took a long swig from his bottle. “Roman wanted to keep it quiet.”

Angus gritted his teeth. “And ye doona think I can keep a secret? I ken more secrets than ye can imagine, Connor. And do I need to remind ye that ye work for me?”

“Aye, that I do, but my job is to provide Roman with security, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

“Tell me the problem,” Angus insisted.

With a sigh, Connor leaned against the kitchen counter. “After the bairn was conceived, Roman was conducting some tests to see if he could transform himself back into a mortal.”

Angus nodded. “The procedure he did on Darcy Newhart. What of it?”

“Roman learned the procedure only works if he has a sample of the Vamp’s original mortal DNA,” Connor continued. “While studying our DNA, Roman discovered something… odd. By then, Shanna was already pregnant from the sperm with Roman’s DNA.”

“What are ye saying?” Angus demanded.

Connor took another long drink. “Our DNA has changed. A verra slight mutation, but still, ’tis no’ the same as when we were mortal.”

Angus swallowed hard. “Then Roman’s baby… ”

“Could be like us,” Connor finished. “And we’re no longer quite human.”

A chill skittered down Angus’s spine. No longer human? No wonder Roman was nervous. What would the bairn be like?No longer human . Bugger.

“Are ye all right?” Connor asked softly.

“Aye.” Except that Gregori was drumming his fingers on the table, and Angus found the noise very annoying.No longer human. How could he ever convince Emma he was good when he wasn’t even human? He balled his fists with a sudden urge to clobber someone. Gregori would do nicely. “Does Shanna know?”

“Aye,” Connor replied. “But she insists she doesna care, that she loves Roman and will love the bairn, no matter what.”

“She’s a rare woman.” Angus scowled at Gregori to get him to stop making noise.

It worked. Gregori leaned forward. “Can you believe it? We’re all a bunch ofmutants ! Just like the Ninja Turtles.”

Angus blinked. “We—we’re like…turtles ?”

Gregori burst into laughter.

Ian shook his head, grinning.

Connor snorted. “Nay. We have vampire DNA. No turtles.”

“Snap!” Gregori rocked back in his chair, laughing. “I had you worried, huh?”

Angus narrowed his eyes. “Connor, if ye doona kill this fledgling, I will. The lad is begging for it.”

Ian covered his mouth to hide a grin. Connor simply crossed his arms and looked bored.

Gregori wiped his eyes. “You can’t kill me. I’m the vice president of marketing at Romatech.”

Angus lifted a brow. “Ye claim to serve a purpose?”

“Damn straight. I sell Roman’s Fusion Cuisine. You know those commercials on the Digital Vampire Network?” Gregori smiled proudly. “I make those.”

Angus slipped hissgian dubh from its sheath beneath his hose and studied the sharp, lethal knife. “I doona watch the telly much. I’m too busy killing.”

Gregori’s smile withered. “Sheesh, bro. Get a hobby. Buy yourself a new skirt. Find some joy in life.”

Angus smiled grimly. “I find joy in my work, and the bloodier the better.” He glanced at Connor. “Do ye want the pleasure, or shall I?”

Connor’s mouth twitched.

Gregori jumped to his feet. “You can’t hurt me. Roman needs me to sell his stuff.”

“And if ye stopped making yer commercials, would Vamps stop drinking Roman’s stuff and turn to the competitor?” Angus asked.

With a frown, Gregori loosened his tie. “There is no competition. Roman is the sole producer of synthetic blood.”

“Ah.” Angus slid a finger down the single-edged blade of hissgian dubh . “Ye see, I’ve watched enough telly to know what the proper term is for the likes of you. Ye’re what we call an expendable crew member.”