All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire(73)

 

Toni gaped. "You're going to become one of them?"

 

Shanna's eyes twinkled in merriment. "Ooh, scary! They're not monsters, you know. I realize it might take a while for you to see that. It took me a while. Well, only about a week." She laughed. "I fell for Roman so fast."

 

Toni could relate to that. There was something so special about Ian. He'd intrigued her from the start. And she could recognize herself in him. If he had to come up with four morning affirmations, she figured his would be identical to hers.

 

"I feel so fortunate to be a part of their world," Shanna continued. "I have the best husband and most wonderful little boy—"

 

"He's gone!" A shout came from the hallway, along with the sound of running. Radinka halted at the doorway, gasping for air. "Tino! He's gone!"

 

Roman strode toward her. "He's not in the nursery?"

 

"Oh my God." Shanna spilled punch as she set down her cup. She rushed toward Radinka. "What happened?"

 

"I don't know. I only turned my back on him for a second. I don't—"

 

"Dougal, Phineas, go check—" Roman started to give an order, but the two guards had already zoomed out the door.

 

"I'll take the east wing. Ye take the west," Dougal shouted at Phineas.

 

"Tell Connor!" Roman yelled after them. "And Howard!"

 

All the other Vamps and Father Andrew rushed from the room to help with the search.

 

"Oh my God." Shanna clutched Roman's arm. "What if he was kidnapped? What if the Malcontents—"

 

He squeezed her shoulder. "We won't panic yet. He might have just levitated and climbed over the door."

 

"I've told him a million times not to do that," Shanna said.

 

"From now on, I'm stationing a guard at the nursery," Roman said quietly. "I'll check the parking lot."

 

Shanna paled. "Don't go alone. This could be a trap."

 

Roman zoomed down the hall, shouting for Connor. Shanna and Radinka strode down the hall, calling out Constantine's name.

 

A wave of panic froze Toni. Would the Malcontents kidnap a child? If they teleported away with Tino, how would Roman ever find him? She wished she could do something to help, but she didn't know what. For the first time, she actually wished she was a Vamp so she could move faster and fight better.

 

She stepped forward and trod on something. It was the napkin she'd dropped before kissing Ian. She leaned over to pick it up and spotted something odd. The tablecloth had moved.

 

As the shouts for Constantine grew dimmer in the distance, Toni heard a small, whimpering sound. She circled to the back of the table and dropped to her knees. She lifted the bottom edge of the tablecloth.

 

Constantine gasped. He was hugging his knees to his chest, and his pink cheeks were wet with tears.

 

"Tino," she whispered. "How did you get here?"

 

"I don't know," he wailed and covered his face. "Mommy's going to be mad at me."

 

"Honey, no." Toni pulled him out from under the table and held him in her arms. "They're just scared. We need to tell them you're all right."

 

"No!" Tino clutched her shoulders. "Mommy told me not to leave the nursery. She'll be mad at me."

 

"She only sounds upset 'cause she's so scared. Believe me, she'll be thrilled to know you're all right."

 

He sniffled. "They won't be mad?"

 

"No, honey. They love you so much." Toni stood, still holding the little boy, then strode into the hallway. "He's here! Tino's fine!"

 

The Vamps must have heard her first, for Dougal and Phineas zoomed toward her. Connor, Ian, and Roman zipped toward them a few seconds later.

 

"Daddy!" Tino reached for Roman, who grabbed him and held him tight.

 

The other Vamps returned with Howard Barr and Father Andrew trailing behind. There were shouts of delight and slaps on the back.

 

"You found him?" Roman asked Toni. "I can't thank you enough."

 

"Way to go, Toni!" Phineas gave her a high five.

 

"Well done." Connor nodded at her.

 

She felt her face heat up. Was he going to fire her now? She glanced at Ian. Passion flared in his eyes, then he turned away.

 

"Constantine!" Shanna ran toward them, followed by a gasping Radinka.

 

Roman zoomed to them quickly, and Shanna flung herself at her husband, sandwiching their little boy between them.

 

"Thank God." Shanna hugged him tight.

 

"I was so scared." Radinka's eyes filled with tears. "I could never forgive myself if anything happened to you." She touched the boy's cheek.