All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire(106)

 

"I hope so, too." Toni hung up. She also hoped Bri could get over her fear of five orphaned were-panther children. Those poor kids needed help. They needed acceptance and love, so they wouldn't grow up feeling like monsters who deserved to be butchered like their parents.

 

"A guard's coming." Howard stood and lumbered toward the door.

 

Toni noted the daytime Romatech security guard on a monitor. He was holding a small gold box.

 

Howard opened the door. "Yes?"

 

"This was delivered to the front gate. For Toni Davis."

 

"Thanks." Howard closed the door and offered the small gift box to Toni.

 

She eyed it warily. "Do they expect me to fall for that again?"

 

Howard smiled. "This is legit. I saw Ian order it online last night."

 

"Really?" She grabbed the box and unraveled the golden ribbon. Inside the box, on a bed of cotton, lay a beautiful, gold filigree heart. She grinned. With the filigree design, it was obvious there was nothing hidden within the heart. It was pure.

 

Wedged in the top of the box was a note.

 

My dearest Daytona,

 

You've brought sunshine back into my life.

 

Ian

 

She pressed the note to her chest as her heart constricted with emotion. In that moment, she knew no matter what happened, she would not make a mistake as long as she followed her heart.

 

When Ian awoke Thursday evening, he warned Dougal and Phineas to be extra vigilant. Jedrek would be completely healed after his death-sleep and no doubt plotting to avenge his embarrassing defeat at the Horny Devils.

 

While Phineas and Dougal made a sweep of Romatech and the grounds, Ian called Angus to give him an update and request extra guards. Angus was still at Jean-Luc's home in Texas. Since Jack and Zoltan were planning to return to Europe soon, they agreed to stay in New York for a few nights before teleporting east. They would arrive before dawn.

 

A quick check of the monitors in the security office showed him Toni's location. She was in the Romatech cafeteria with Sabrina, Carlos, and Teddy. He studied the monitor screen closely. Toni was wearing the heart necklace he'd ordered. That was a good sign. She was laughing with Carlos and Teddy. Sabrina was eating quietly, casting an occasional wary look at Carlos.

 

According to Howard, Carlos, and Teddy had arrived an hour ago and filled out employment applications for MacKay Security and Investigation. Carlos would make an excellent guard when he wasn't busy tracking down more of his own kind. As for Teddy, Ian had different plans for him. He stopped in Shanna's office to pick up her folder, then he proceeded to the cafeteria.

 

Toni's pretty green eyes lit up when he approached. Her hand moved to the golden heart on her chest. "Thank you."

 

"Ye're welcome." He kissed her cheek, then greeted the others.

 

Sabrina watched him curiously. "He's wearing a kilt," she whispered to Toni.

 

"He's a medieval Scotsman," Toni whispered back.

 

"Oh." Sabrina's eyes widened.

 

"We have some nachos left." Carlos motioned to a plate on the table. "But I don't suppose you're interested."

 

"I already ate." Ian sat at the end of the table.

 

"Anyone we know?" Carlos's amber eyes twinkled. "Ouch." He glared at Toni.

 

Ian smiled for he'd heard the kick underneath the table. "I mostly drink AB positive. It's my favorite flavor." When Toni's cheeks turned a pretty pink, he inhaled deeply. "Smells like heaven on you."

 

Her blush deepened. "You can taste a difference between different blood types? And you can tell which type people have?"

 

"Aye." When Sabrina grimaced and turned away, Ian realized he'd better change the subject. He tapped the folder he'd brought from Shanna's office. "This is something that Roman and Shanna have been working on since Constantine started levitating at the age of three months."

 

He glanced at Sabrina and Teddy. "I should explain. Roman Draganesti is the owner of Romatech and inventor of synthetic blood."

 

"I already told them who's who," Toni said.

 

"And Howard told Teddy and me about the war against the Malcontents," Carlos added.

 

"Good." Ian opened the folder. "Roman and Shanna have a second child on the way. Heather and Jean-Luc plan to have children, too."

 

"You're talking about half-vampire children?" Sabrina asked, her nose wrinkled.

 

"Aye, it's the only way we can be fathers," Ian glanced at Toni, wondering how she would feel about giving birth to such a child.

 

Her gaze met his, and her eyes widened. Did she know what he was thinking? Did she know how deeply he was falling in love with her?