"Are they orphans?" Angus asked.
"Banished like I was," Phil replied. "They have no home."
"They do now." Angus helped Robby to his feet. "I'm taking him to Romatech. Bring the others." Angus wrapped an arm around Robby's shoulders, and they vanished.
"Let's go." Phil took Vanda's hand.
She pulled back. "I–I'm going to take Marta to Howard's cabin. We have some catching up to do. I'll see you later."
Phil tilted his head, looking a little worried. "Are you sure?"
"Of course. We'll be fine," Vanda insisted. She blinked back the tears in her eyes. "I'll always love you, Phil. I know you have a great future ahead of you."
His eyes narrowed.
She grabbed her sister and teleported away.
Two hours later Phil left the boys in a conference room at Romatech, filling out registration forms for Shanna's school. He headed down the hall to the clinic to see how Robby was doing. The room was full of people waiting for some news.
He sat next to Brynley. "What are you doing here?"
She shrugged. "Waiting for one of these Vamp friends of yours to give me a ride home. How are the boys?"
"They're getting registered for school. You sure you don't want to apply for a teaching job?"
She frowned. "I don't know. I have a good life back in Montana."
"You could live on campus, see the boys every day."
"And never see my parents again? Or Howell and Glynis?" She gave him an annoyed look. "You don't even want to see your younger brother and sister?"
Phil sighed. "This is my home now."
Brynley looked about the room. "Where's Vanda? I thought you two were inseparable."
"She wanted to be alone for a while with her sister. I tried calling her, but she didn't answer."
"Great. She finally saw the light."
Phil cocked his head. "What did you say to her?"
"I explained who you are. I told her you have a great future ahead of you."
"She said that to me twice."
Brynley shrugged. "I guess she understands where you belong now. You'll be an important leader someday."
"Maybe. In about three hundred years," Phil growled. "Did you tell her that?"
"You're better off without her. She can't even give you children."
"You think I care?" Phil shouted, then realized everyone in the waiting room was looking at him. He lowered his voice. "I love her, Bryn. I'm going to marry her. And there's not a damned thing you can do about it."
Brynley glowered at him. "You could have everything. Wealth, power, and prestige. You would give it up for a vampire woman—"
"With purple hair," Phil finished her sentence. "Yes, you bet I would."
He left the waiting room and paced around the hall. He could have Phineas teleport him to Howard's cabin. And then what would he do? How could he convince Vanda that she was the perfect woman for him?
She'd always been the one for him. Years ago, when he'd rebelled against his father and ended up at the townhouse, he'd met Vanda for the first time. With her purple hair and bat tattoo, he'd known right away that he'd met another rebel. Another outcast. They were two of a kind, both hiding a passionate, angry beast deep within.
"Phil, how are you?"
He turned to see Father Andrew coming down the hall. "I'm fine, Father. How are you?"
"Good. I've been meaning to talk to you." The priest pulled out his day-timer and thumbed through the pages. "I was researching Vanda's family to see if I could locate her sister."
"We found her. Vanda's with her now. They're working things out."
Father Andrew glanced up, smiling. "Excellent." He tore a page from his day-timer and handed it to Phil. "I thought you might find this interesting."
Phil read it, and his heart expanded in his chest. This was the perfect way to win Vanda back. "Thank you, Father."
"You're welcome, my son." He patted Phil on the back. "So will I be officiating another wedding soon?"
Phil gulped. "You knew?"
The priest's eyes twinkled. "That you were engaging in forbidden acts? Don't worry. I believe in forgiveness."
Forgiveness. If Vanda could forgive her sister, maybe it was time he forgave his father. After all, if his dad hadn't banished him, he wouldn't have ended up in the Vampire World. He wouldn't have found Vanda. "I believe in forgiveness, too. And love."