Be Still My Vampire Heart(45)

"Nay, Emma's brave and good. She's been risking her life to protect the innocent."

 

"How does she feel about you?"

 

Angus swallowed hard. "She hates vampires with a passion, but she—I think she could like me."

 

"I'm sure she can if she spends more time with you."

 

"I kissed her."

 

Roman's eyes widened. "She didn't object?"

 

"That's what has me confused." Angus strode to the window and sat. "She kissed me back like she was enjoying it, but now she wants to stay away from me and act like it dinna happen."

 

Roman frowned. "She's conflicted."

 

"So am I." Angus rested his head in his hands. "I should leave her alone. But I don't dare leave her unprotected. If the Malcontents catch her, they'll kill her for certain. I swear that would kill me."

 

"Then you must continue to protect her," Roman concluded.

 

Angus nodded. "I will protect her. But I'll keep my distance. No more kissing. I willna risk a situation that could break my heart. Or break hers."

 

Roman frowned. "Very well."

 

"Ye doona approve?"

 

Roman shrugged. "It's not my decision. I just hope you're not throwing away something wonderful."

 

Angus shook his head. "Even if she could care for me, how could it possibly work?"

 

"Some things you have to risk on faith." Roman gave him a pointed look. "Believe me, old friend, some things are worth the risk."

 

In her office in Brooklyn, Katya read the lengthy e-mail from Galina one more time. Galina had teleported to Paris on Saturday night, then to the Ukraine on Sunday. She'd traveled with two vampire lovers, Burien and Miroslav, and the three of them had taken control of the minds of the nearby villagers they were feeding on. The village men were put to work, repairing Galina's manor house and preparing the prison cell for the vampire slayers and Angus MacKay.

 

Katya clenched her fists. It was about time Angus MacKay had been made to suffer. A knock sounded on the door. Alek strode inside, carrying a brown bag. "Phineas came through for us." He set the bag on Katya's desk. "He found the drugs you needed."

 

Katya peeked inside the bag. Excellent. She'd be able to make two dozen new doses of nightshade. "Thank you, Alek. How is the hunt for the slayers coming?"

 

Alek winced. "There was no sign of them tonight. I don't know how we can catch them if they've stopped hunting for us."

 

"Then make them start hunting again. Make them so angry, they have to come after you."

 

Alek gave her a blank look.

 

"It's simple, my dear." Katya patted his cheek. "All you have to do is kill some mortals."

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 10

 

 

 

 

Emma dragged herself to work Monday evening. After her date with Angus, she'd been unable to sleep well. Each time she dozed off, her mind and body betrayed her and replayed that glorious kiss. Then she'd wake up and refuse to think about it. Instead, she considered the new idea of good Vamps versus the Malcontents. She'd heard Austin say that Shanna Whelan insisted there were two different kinds of vampires, but Emma had dismissed that as brainwashing. Any woman married to a vampire would want to think he was good.

 

Emma also knew that Austin had befriended one of the female vampires during the taping of the reality show. He must have gone through the same learning process she was going through now. And there was no way Austin had been brainwashed. He had the strongest psychic power ever registered at the CIA.

 

She wasn't sure what exactly had happened to Austin. She only knew that he and Sean had argued, then Austin quit and Sean blacklisted him from any government job. Ever since then, Sean was suspicious of all of them and more paranoid than ever. When Emma strode into the conference room for the usual seven P.M. meeting, her two fellow team members were already there.

 

Alyssa frowned at her. "Are you all right?"

 

With a sigh, she realized she'd done a poor job of covering the dark circles under her eyes. She sat in a chair next to Alyssa. "I haven't been sleeping well."

 

"Too much partying, huh?" Garrett slurped coffee from a cup that boasted Too Hot to Handle.

 

While pretty-boy Garrett launched into another chapter of his romantic conquests, Emma tuned him out. She didn't believe half of it, and besides, the last thing she wanted to think about was romance.

 

Who in their right mind would kiss a vampire? She was lucky she didn't end up with a pierced tongue. And even crazier than that—she'd enjoyed it! Good heavens, what a kiss. Her face burned, just thinking about it.