"Toni, it will be all right," Ian whispered.
"No!" She fought back the tears, but the more she struggled, the more her emotions swelled. She broke free from Ian and staggered back. "I—I hate your kind!"
His face paled. She pressed a hand to her mouth, startled by the intensity of her outburst.
His mouth thinned, and pain glinted in his eyes. "At least ye're being honest now."
She splayed her hands across her scarred rib cage. "They chewed on me like I was food. Like I wasn't human. I was just a piece of meat." Tears rolled down her face, and she wiped her cheeks. "I couldn't fight them. They took over my mind, and it was like my soul was squashed."
He pulled her into his arms. She stiffened, but he held her tight. "Lass, I would never harm you. Ye can trust me."
She took a slow, shuddering breath, and let it out. "I know." She burrowed her face in his thick sweater and let his scent fill her nostrils. He smelled clean, but earthy. Sweet, but manly.
He rubbed a hand up and down her back. "I hope I do see those bastards tonight. I'd love to skewer them for what they did to you."
She rested her cheek against his shoulder. He still didn't quite understand. She appreciated his desire to protect her, but she didn't really want a protector against evil vampires. What she wanted was a way to protect herself. And given their superior abilities, she didn't think such a way existed. And that's what bothered her the most—the inequality and injustice of it all.
"I wish I could whip your ass," she whispered.
Ian chuckled. "That's my girl."
She nestled her cheek deeper into his thick sweater. He was surprisingly warm and wonderfully solid. When he released her and stepped back, she wanted to throw herself back into his arms.
"We need to go, lass." He dragged her suitcase off the dresser.
She pulled on her coat and grabbed her handbag. "Are you driving?"
"Teleporting. It's faster." He grasped the handle of her suitcase with one hand and extended the other toward her. "Ye'll need to hold on to me."
"Oh." Not a problem. She slid her arms around his neck.
"Closer." His arm tightened around her waist.
She pressed against his solid chest. "Like this?"
He closed his eyes briefly. "Aye."
Her breath caught when his eyes opened. "What's the deal with your eyes? They keep turning red."
"It's a normal reaction for a vampire."
"I don't think so." She studied the red, glowing irises. "None of the other Vamps do that."
"Good. I wouldna want to fight any of my friends."
"What are you talking about?"
He gave her a wry smile. "Toni, when my eyes turn red, it's because I'm wanting you verra badly."
She swallowed hard. "But it's been happening for days."
"Aye, since I first met you. But doona let it worry you. I know ye hate our kind."
"I don't hate you, Ian. I don't hate any of the good Vamps. Maybe I did at first, but now…"
He watched her carefully. "How do ye feel now?"
A flood of emotions brought tears to her eyes. "I–I have a lot on my mind. Not just you, but my friend Sabrina. I'm so very worried…and confused." She shouldn't feel so damned attracted to a vampire.
"Tell me what's going on. I might be able to help you."
She studied his handsome face and saw genuine concern and compassion. She wanted to trust him. Dear God, she wanted to stay in his arms forever. "I'll think about it."
"Good. Hang on, sweetheart." He pulled her tight, and everything went black.
As soon as Ian was assured that Toni was safely ensconced in the silver room at Romatech, he teleported back to the townhouse with Dougal and Phineas.
When they materialized on the back porch, they heard the high-pitched buzz of the alarm inside the townhouse. They instantly drew their swords. There were only two explanations for the alarm—either a mortal had broken into the townhouse and didn't hear the alarm, or a vampire had teleported inside and didn't know the proper combination required to turn the alarm off.
Dougal quietly unlocked the back door and let it swing open. They waited, swords ready, for someone to poke his head out the door and look. If it was a Malcontent, his head wouldn't stay attached for long.
No one fell for the bait. Ian moved to enter, but Phineas pulled him back.
"It's you they want, bro. Stay between us." Phineas entered first.
The kitchen was a mess. Cabinets and drawers hung open, and the contents were scattered on the countertops.