All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire(109)

 

He watched her warily. "Of course I wondered."

 

"You locked her away because she said vampires are real. But only a vampire could have helped her escape."

 

"You're as crazy as she is." Proctor's eyes lit up. "I'll lock you both up."

 

Toni smiled. "You can try. But first let me introduce you to someone." She lifted a hand to cue Ian, who was waiting outside by the window.

 

His body materialized in the middle of the room.

 

Proctor gasped and stepped back. "What? This—this is some kind of trick."

 

Ian raised his arms, spreading his cape wide. "You doona believe in the existence of the Undead?"

 

Toni bit her lip to keep from laughing. Ian's fake Transylvanian accent still had a touch of Scottish in it.

 

"Im-impossible," Proctor breathed.

 

Ian zoomed toward the desk at vampire speed. Proctor stumbled back and knocked against the bookcase.

 

"Ye will believe." Ian levitated into the air.

 

Toni winced as his head almost bumped the ceiling. At least Proctor looked truly terrified as he cowered behind his desk. She just thought Ian looked incredibly cute.

 

He dropped onto the desk, and with a flash, his eyes glowed a brighter blue and his fangs sprang out. Toni flinched. That wasn't very cute.

 

Proctor huddled on the floor, lifting his arms in a defensive posture. "Don't hurt me. Please."

 

With a hiss, Ian flipped his cape back over his broad shoulders. Toni wobbled as her knees grew weak. Good grief, he was in full monster mode, and all she could think of was Bite me. How strange that the Malcontent attack had left her terrified and disgusted, while the thought of Ian biting her made her skin tingle with anticipation.

 

Her face heated up, and she flushed all over, feeling the rush of blood through her veins. Rushing faster and faster as if it needed to escape, as if it were calling to him.

 

Ian turned to look at her, and a surge of lust nearly knocked her off her feet. She gasped as the blue glow of his eyes turned red hot. Oh God, he knew she was turned on.

 

She stepped back, lifting a hand to her throat. Her heart beat wildly. Her thighs squeezed together with sudden, hot need. Good grief, no wonder women had offered him blood over the centuries.

 

Ian turned back to the trembling doctor, huddled on the floor. He reached out his right arm, and Proctor flinched as if an invisible force had struck him.

 

"Ye are under my control." Ian's eyes glowed an intense blue, and Toni realized he was using mind control. "Ye are lowly, and I am yer master."

 

"You are lowly, and I am your master," Proctor whispered, his eyes wide and glazed.

 

Ian grimaced. "Nay. I am the master."

 

"You are the master," Proctor said.

 

Toni stifled a grin. Ian wasn't very good at being an evil monster. No wonder she adored him.

 

"Listen and obey," Ian ordered. "Ye'll never steal from Sabrina again. Ye'll never interfere in her life. Ye'll be an honorable uncle to her. Do ye understand?"

 

"Yes, Master."

 

Ian turned to Toni. "Anything else?"

 

"Call off the police," she whispered.

 

Ian extended his arm again. "Ye'll cease yer search for Sabrina and Teddy. Ye'll tell the police it was all a mistake. Ye'll fill out the proper release forms. Ye'll never gamble again. And ye'll pay off yer debts, using yer own resources."

 

Proctor nodded. "Yes, Master."

 

Ian jumped down from the desk to stand beside the doctor. "Ye'll tell no one about this night. I know how to find you, Joseph Proctor."

 

"Yes, Master."

 

"Are you done?" Carlos asked at the entrance, his arms full of Bri's belongings.

 

The maid looked curiously at Ian.

 

"One more thing." Ian turned to Proctor. "Ye will treat yer maid with respect." He laid his hand on Proctor's head, and the doctor slumped into a deep sleep.

 

"Thank you, señor." Maria crossed herself, then led them to the back door. "Is Sabrina okay?"

 

"Yes," Toni told her. "Thank you for your help."

 

"Gracias." Carlos kissed the maid's cheek.

 

Maria giggled as she shut the door.

 

"You were wonderful!" Toni hugged Ian. "Thank you."

 

He smiled and kissed her brow.

 

"Get a room," Carlos muttered as he strode to his car. He dumped Bri's stuff in the trunk.

 

Ian held Toni's hand as they walked back to Carlos's car. "Zoltan and Jack will be arriving before dawn. There's no' enough room for everyone at Romatech, so we'll go back to the townhouse for our death-sleep."