"That's good." Shanna sat across from him. "We've been teaching him to be careful about levitating. It's not something we want just anyone to see."
"Like Grandpa." Constantine drank more milk.
"I'm afraid so," Shanna agreed. "My dad is the head of the CIA Stake-Out team. They'd like to eliminate all vampires from the planet."
Toni winced. "That's got to be a little awkward for family reunion s."
"Tell me about it. Fortunately, my dad's crazy about his grandson, so he's ignoring the Vamps and concentrating on the Malcontents. But if he found out that Tino's inherited some unusual genes, it could cause a problem."
The little boy slumped over his book. "Would Grandpa not love me anymore?"
"Oh, sweetie." Shanna rushed over to hug her son. "He'll always love you. We all love you so much."
"We sure do." Radinka's eyes glimmered with emotion as she regarded the little boy.
Toni felt a tiny twinge of envy. How lucky this boy was to be so loved. She'd always wanted her mother's love, but it had never happened. Her mom had gone on to marry the man of her dreams and have two more children. Toni had never been welcome there. Her only experience with maternal love had been from her grandmother, and that had ended abruptly when she was thirteen. When she had failed her.
When Toni had first entered the Vamp world a few nights ago, she had expected to find a scary place filled with creepy characters. Instead she'd found a group of Vamps and mortals who were caring and compassionate. It was obvious that they looked out for one another. Shanna had run up five flights of stairs just to leave Ian a note.
Was she with them? That was the question Constantine had asked. With a small shock, Toni realized she could be an accepted member of this extended family—a family that cared for one another and trusted one another. She could be a part of it all. Never rejected again. Never made to feel like she wasn't good enough.
It was so…tempting. But alarming, too, for she already had her life planned out with Sabrina. Sabrina was her family, not these people in the Vamp world. As soon as the mess with Sabrina was resolved, Toni could leave the Vamp world forever. Two days ago she'd been eager to leave. Now she was starting to feel…wanted. And valued. For the first time, she realized she was getting pulled in two different directions.
"Are you all right, dear?" Radinka asked.
"I–I'd better go." She glanced at the clock over the kitchen sink. "My final starts in an hour."
Constantine placed his small hand on her arm. "You'll be okay, Toni."
Her arm tingled as a surge of warm energy rushed from the little boy's hand. She stiffened, then immediately relaxed as the energy washed over her with a soothing gentleness. Her tension melted away, leaving a sense of well-being and a feeling that she could accomplish anything.
She looked at the little boy, and he smiled back. There was an intelligence in his bright blue eyes that should have been frightening in a child so young, but she felt too relaxed to be concerned. Constantine radiated goodness, so she knew there was no need to be afraid.
He withdrew his hand and focused his attention back on his picture book. Toni gathered her things and said her good-byes. As she walked to the subway station, the little boy's question kept repeating in her mind. Is Toni with us? How deep was she getting sucked into this new world? Would it be hard to give it up when she left? Not so hard, if they completely wiped her memory. But how could she give up the memory of Constantine and the others?
How could she give up ever seeing Ian again?
That evening, Toni was celebrating the end of her college education with a big bowl of triple chocolate ice cream on top of a double chocolate brownie, when Ian walked in.
"Good evening."
He'd caught her with her mouth full. She gulped. "Hi."
He opened his mouth to speak, then apparently changed his mind. He wandered to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of blood. He hesitated, then placed it back in.
"Not hungry?" She scooped more ice cream into her mouth.
"I already ate." He paced across the room, his kilt swishing about his knees.
"Did you see the Christmas tree in the parlor? It's very pretty. Shanna and Constantine decorated it."
"Aye, it's nice." He continued to pace.
He seemed nervous to her. "Are you doing that interview tonight?"
"I think so." He flexed his hands as he paced. "But I have a bad feeling about it."
"Shanna thought you should skip it. Did you see the note she left you?"