Forbidden Nights with a Vampire(85)

 

Bile rose in Vanda's throat. "You think he's dead?"

 

Phil shook his head. "Everyone remembers seeing him alive. We…we think he was captured."

 

Vanda pressed a hand to her mouth. The cold blood she'd just imbibed churned in her stomach. Oh God, no. The Malcontents would torture him.

 

"I'm sure Casimir considers him a great catch," Phil continued. "He's the only living relative of Angus MacKay, the general of the Vamp army."

 

Vanda's eyes filled with tears. She wanted to hit something. "I hate war! I hate this! I never wanted to go through this again."

 

Phil pulled her into his arms and held her tight. "It'll be all right."

 

"No, it won't." She wrapped her arms around his neck.

 

"It was almost daylight there. They can't…hurt Robby if they're in their death-sleep." He kissed Vanda's brow. "We have to keep faith."

 

She nodded. "What can we do?"

 

Phil stepped back to call another number on his phone. "We'll think of something."

 

He paced away, talking into the phone. "Howard, it looks like Robby MacKay has been taken prisoner."

 

Vanda winced. She could hear Howard's booming voice raised in anger.

 

"Howard, listen up," Phil demanded. "How far along is Laszlo on that tracking device?…That's not good enough. Call Sean Whelan. Get some military experts over there and make them finish it. Then get it inserted in the prisoner while he's in his death-sleep."

 

There was a pause while Phil listened. "Okay, I realize the army can't tell if the device can be heard by vampires. Listen to it yourself. If you're not sure, use the damned Stay-Awake drug on a Vamp and test it on him. We have got to get it ready today. Then, as soon as the sun sets, you let the prisoner escape. Hopefully, he'll teleport straight to Casimir and that will lead us to Robby. Keep me apprised."

 

He snapped his phone shut and looked at Vanda. "It's a long shot, but I think it's our best chance at finding him."

 

She nodded. She'd never realized till now what a born leader Phil was. He was incredible. Strong and decisive, loyal and brave. And so beautiful, even with his torso covered with cuts. "I love you so much."

 

His blue eyes softened. "I love you, too."

 

"Oh my God," Brynley whispered.

 

An hour later Vanda scowled at the old horsehair blanket on the cellar floor. Things were already bad enough with Robby captured, Dougal wounded, and her sister Marta fighting with the enemy. But now Phil's sister was treating her like she'd suddenly grown two heads.

 

Brynley had lashed out at Phil, but he'd simply told her to hush. He would discuss it with her later.

 

Brynley had ignored that and blurted, "How can you possibly love her?"

 

"I do," Phil had replied with a stern look. "And we will not discuss it now."

 

Brynley had sat in her armchair, pouting, while Phil took Vanda down to the cellar to make sure it was safe for her death-sleep. He boarded up the one small window. Then he'd found the horsehair blanket and spread it on the floor.

 

"She doesn't like me," Vanda whispered.

 

"She's not marrying you. I am."

 

Vanda stared at him, agape.

 

"Oh, sorry." His mouth twitched. "Guess I forgot to ask. Will this be okay?" He motioned to the blanket.

 

She nodded. Phil seriously wanted to marry her? Why would a mortal want to marry a vampire? Sure, some of the Vamp guys were marrying mortal women, but the women would probably change over eventually, and for now they could give the guys children. She couldn't give Phil anything. She wasn't rich and charming like the Vamp guys. She was a neurotic, barren Vamp with purple hair and a nasty temper.

 

She felt the first tug of sleepiness as the sun neared the horizon. "I'm tired."

 

"Good night, then." He kissed her cheek. "I'll check on you every now and then."

 

She hugged him tight. "I'm not going anywhere."

 

"I love you, Vanda."

 

How can you possibly love her? His sister's words echoed in Vanda's mind. "Good night."

 

She watched him climb the ladder and step through the trapdoor onto the cabin's ground floor. He hauled the ladder up, then lowered the trapdoor shut. The cellar turned pitch-black.

 

In a moment Vanda's eyes adjusted and she scowled at the scratchy blanket. If Phil married her, they could never share a bed like a real couple. Unless he didn't mind sleeping next to a corpse.

 

How can you possibly love her?

 

Vanda paced across the small cellar. She had no doubt that Phil loved her. For now. But what if he discovered her darkest secrets? What if he learned about her terrible sins? He hated the Malcontents who fed from mortals, killing them in the process. He hated the Malcontents enough to risk his life fighting them.