All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire(101)

Ian swallowed hard as bile rose in his throat. He had to save Toni, but God help him, he didn't know how. The second he attacked, Jedrek would slice her throat.

 

"You know what I want, MacPhie. Bring me the drug."

 

Should he play along to buy some time? Despair roiled in Ian's gut, threatening to smother his ability to think. He couldn't bear to lose her. He couldn't bear to fail her. He dropped his sword, and it clattered on the cement floor.

 

Jedrek smiled. "You have five minutes."

 

A loud crash sounded overhead. Everyone looked up as splintered pieces of wood rained down. And through the cracked opening of the wooden shutters, a giant black panther leaped into the air. It roared, and the sound echoed in the stunned silence of the nightclub.

 

With Jedrek distracted, Ian retrieved his sword and moved toward him. Unfortunately, Jedrek realized the panther was headed straight for him. He pivoted, dragging Toni with him so she'd take the full force of the animal's attack. He extended his sword, obviously hoping to skewer the panther as it landed.

 

With Jedrek's back turned to him, Ian zoomed forward and stabbed the Malcontent's right shoulder. Jedrek cried out and dropped his sword. His hold on Toni loosened enough that she was able to duck just as the panther slammed into them. Its massive paws caught Jedrek on the shoulders and knocked him and Toni off the bar. Ian jumped to the right as the panther flew past him, hit the ground, and rolled onto its feet. Toni had landed on top of Jedrek. She dove to the left just as the panther pounced. Jedrek shrieked as razor-sharp claws ripped through his shirt and scored his chest with bloody stripes.

 

Toni screamed and scooted away on her rump. The panther looked at her, then turned toward the bar, its amber eyes narrowing on the three Malcontents. They teleported away. Jedrek, too. The cat, realizing its prey had escaped, roared in anger.

 

Dougal and Phineas approached slowly, their swords pointed at the beast.

 

"Shall we kill it?" Dougal asked.

 

"Nay!" Ian shouted. "Leave him be."

 

The panther swung toward him, snarling, then focused its familiar amber eyes on Toni. As its head turned, Ian noted the gleam of two gold studs in its pointed ears. Of course. He should have known. But he would have never guessed a panther.

 

The giant cat stalked toward Toni.

 

"No." She scrambled back and tried to get to her feet, but her legs were shaking.

 

Ian flung himself in front of her. "Carlos, no."

 

The panther growled low in its throat.

 

"Carlos?" Toni whispered.

 

Ian heard a dull thud and glanced back. Toni was sprawled on the floor in a dead faint. "Och, lass." He squatted beside her and brushed her hair from her face.

 

"That's Carlos?" Phineas lowered his sword and whistled under his breath. "Hello, kitty."

 

The panther padded toward Toni on its huge paws. Ian was relieved to see its claws were in, but those teeth were awfully sharp. One nip and Toni would be a were-panther for life. Was that what Carlos wanted?

 

The cat lowered its head to sniff her.

 

"By all the saints, doona bite her," Ian whispered.

 

The panther whipped its thick tail around so hard and fast, it knocked Ian onto his knees. Then it trotted toward Vanda's office. Toni had left the door slightly ajar, and the cat squeezed through.

 

"I thought he smelled like a shape shifter," Dougal said. "But I assumed he would be a black wolf."

 

"Me, too." Ian supposed Carlos was headed back to the harem room to change and dress. When Sabrina screamed, he knew the panther had arrived.

 

"God, I hate shape shifters." Vanda had found her whip and was looping it around her waist.

 

"You know of them?" Ian asked.

 

Vanda shrugged. "Long story. Just get that cat out of here, okay?"

 

"He saved Toni's life," Phineas reminded her.

 

"She wouldn't have needed saving if she'd followed orders," Vanda snapped. "You should fire her ass, Ian."

 

"No!" Cora Lee strode toward Vanda. "Toni cut me free. She freed all the hostages. And she kept that terrible Nadia from killing you, Vanda. Land sakes, I've never seen a mortal be so brave."

 

"Okay, okay, she's brave." Vanda tightened her whip. "But she still can't follow orders."

 

Yes, she'd disobeyed a direct order. Ian tamped down on the anger simmering inside him. She'd disobeyed him and come bloody close to dying. And he'd been helpless to save her. If it hadn't been for Carlos…his anger spiked. Dammit. That was the real cause of his anger. Carlos had saved her. He had not.

 

He heard her moan softly. He patted her cheek, and her eyelids flickered. "Toni, wake up."