It was after midnight when Austin's cell phone buzzed. By his respectful tone and the way he kept glancing at her, Shanna suspected he was talking to her father. She'd been worried all evening about the possibility of a vampire war. Her attempts to contact Roman mentally had failed.
"I understand, sir." Austin handed his phone to Shanna. "Your father wants to talk to you."
She lifted the phone to her ear. "Dad?"
"Shanna, I thought I'd let you know what was going on. We have a tap on Petrovsky's phone, so we heard him talking to Draganesti."
"What's happening? Are they going to war?"
"Well, it appears Draganesti was ready for one. He claims to have two hundred warriors. Petrovsky's been on the phone all evening, ordering his followers to show up. We think he has about fifty at the most."
Shanna exhaled with relief. "Roman has him outnumbered."
"Well, not exactly. You see, Draganesti made a deal with Petrovksy. They're meeting in Central Park. Instead of a war, the two of them are supposed to duel to the death."
Shanna's knees buckled and she collapsed on the bed. "What?"
"Yeah, they're supposed to meet alone on the East Green at two in the morning. Silver swords and only one left standing."
Shanna struggled for air. Roman was fighting to the death? "This¡ªthis can't be true. We have to stop this."
"Don't think we can, sweetheart. But I'm a bit concerned about your friend. You see, we heard Petrovsky order his men to show up this evening. As far as we know, Draganesti will be coming alone. But Petrovsky, he's bringing his whole army."
Shanna gasped. "Oh my God."
"When we listened in, we could tell Draganesti's people don't know where the duel's taking place. So there's no way they can help him. Kinda sad. Looks like a slaughter to me."
Shanna thought back over the conversation. Two a.m., East Green, Central Park. She had to let the Highlanders know.
"Gotta go, sweetheart. Just wanted to give you an update. Bye."
"Bye." Shanna gripped the phone tightly and glanced at Austin and Alyssa. "I have to make a call."
Alyssa stood. "We can't allow that, Shanna."
Austin lounged on the second bed. "What's the harm in it? Even prisoners are allowed one call."
Alyssa pivoted toward Austin. "Are you crazy?"
"No." Austin gave her a pointed look.
Shanna quickly punched in the number to Roman's house. She knew this was too strange. Too convenient. First her dad told her the information, and now Austin was letting her use his phone. But it made no difference. She still had to save Roman.
"Hello?"
"Connor, is that you?"
"Aye. Shanna? We've been worried about you."
"Can you, uh, do that phone thing?"
"Teleport? Aye. Where are you?"
"A hotel room. Hurry. I'll keep talking." Shanna glanced at Austin and Alyssa. "There are two other people here, but I don't think it should be a¡ª"
Connor materialized beside her.
"Holy shit!" Austin scrambled out of bed.
Alyssa's mouth dropped open.
"Sorry for the intrusion." Connor took the phone from Shanna. "Ian, are ye there?"
"He¡ªhe's wearing a kilt," Alyssa whispered.
"Aye, that I am." Connor's gaze drifted over the female CIA agent. "And ye're a bonnie lass."
Alyssa sputtered.
"How the hell did you do that?" Austin asked.
"Och, about the same way I do this." Connor wrapped an arm around Shanna. She grabbed him just as everything went black.
When the darkness faded away, she found herself in the foyer at Roman's house. The first floor was jammed with Highlanders, all armed to the teeth. An air of frustration hung over them as they paced about.
Angus MacKay strode toward her. "Connor, why have ye brought her here?"
Before Connor could answer, Shanna broke in. "I have news. Roman and Petrovsky are fighting a duel tonight."
"That is no' news, lass." Connor regarded her sadly.
"But Petrovsky is bringing an army! You have to help Roman."
"Bugger," Angus muttered. "I knew that bastard wouldna keep his word."
"How do ye know this, Shanna?" Connor asked.
"My father bugged Petrovsky's house. He heard their plans and told me. I had to warn you. Roman is meeting Petrovsky on the East Green in Central Park at two a.m."
The Scotsmen exchanged desperate glances.
Angus shook his head. " Tis no use, lass. We promised we wouldna follow him."
"I'm not leaving him alone!" Shanna reached for Connor's sword. "I made no promise, so I'm going."
"Wait," Connor shouted. "If Shanna goes, we can follow her. We never promised we wouldna do that."
"Aye." Angus grinned. "And the lass will need our protection. Roman would want us to follow her."
"Great." Shanna faced the Highlanders and lifted her sword in the air. "Follow me!"
The small kernel of hope Roman had garnered from his confession quickly withered away when he arrived at the East Green. Petrovsky had broken his agreement. He was not alone.
His coven spread out in a semicircle. Roman estimated fifty vampires, mostly male. About two dozen carried torches.
Petrovsky stepped forward. "It will be a pleasure killing you."
Roman gripped the hilt of his sword. "I see you were too afraid to come alone. You even brought a few women with you to wipe your nose."
"I'm not afraid. I gave my word I wouldn't harm any of your people, but I never promised that my followers wouldn't attack you if I'm killed. So you see, Draganesti, one way or another, tonight you will die."
Roman swallowed hard. He'd already figured as much. The prayers of one priest and three friends were not enough. God had abandoned him long ago.
"Are you ready?" Petrovsky drew his sword.
Roman drew his own sword. A gift from Jean-Luc, it was razor sharp, the steel blade plated with pure silver. The hilt was steel and leather and fit perfectly in his hand. He swished the blade through the air and saluted Petrovsky. He allowed himself one last thought of Shanna, then focused his mind on one thing only¡ªsurvival.
As Shanna ran to the East Green, she could hear the clash of swords. The sound was terrifying, yet reassuring. If Roman was fighting, he was still alive.
"Halt!" Angus stopped beside her. "I know we're supposed to be following you, lass, but we need to do it faster." He swung her up into his arms.
Trees zoomed by, and Shanna held on tight. The Highlanders moved with vampire speed until they reached the edge of the clearing.
Angus set her down on her feet. "I'm sorry I misjudged you. Here." He handed her a sword. "Now we will follow you."
"Thank you." She stepped into the clearing.
The warriors spread out behind her, led by Angus MacKay and Jean-Luc Echarpe. Roman and Ivan Petrovsky were in the middle of the clearing, circling each other. As far as Shanna could tell, Roman was untouched. Ivan's clothes were slashed in a few places. Blood oozed from a wound on his left arm.
Petrovsky glanced her way and cursed. "You bastard, you had her all along. And you brought your bloody army."
Roman eased back and glanced quickly at Shanna and the Highlanders. He focused once more on Petrovksy, but yelled, "Angus, you gave me your word you would not follow me."
"We dinna follow you," Angus shouted back. "We dinna know where ye were. It was the lass we followed."
Roman leaped to the right as Petrovsky charged. He spun about and jabbed the Russian in his hip. Ivan cried out and pressed a hand against the wound.
"Shanna!" Roman yelled. "Get out of here."
"I'm not leaving you." She stepped forward. "And I'm not letting you die."
Ivan looked at the blood on his hand. "You think you're winning, don't you, Draganesti? But you're wrong. Just like you were wrong about Casimir."
Roman circled him. "Casimir is dead."
"Is he now?" Ivan pivoted to keep Roman in view. "Did you see him die?"
"He fell just moments before sunrise."
"And you and your friends fled to shelter. So you didn't see what happened next. I took Casimir to my secret lair."
A gasp echoed among the Highlanders.
"You lie," Roman whispered, his face pale. "Casimir is dead."
"He lives. And he's growing his army for revenge!" Ivan lunged forward and slashed his sword across Roman's stomach.
Roman leaped back, but the slice still found its mark. Blood seeped from the wound. He stumbled back.
Shanna gasped at the sight of Roman bleeding. Then, behind him, she spotted two Russians drawing their weapons. "Roman! Watch out!" She ran toward him.
With lightning speed, Angus caught her. "Nay, lass." ¡ª Roman spun around to defend himself from the two Russians.
Ivan glared at Shanna. "I'm sick of you, bitch!" He zipped over to her, slicing the air with his sword.
Angus shoved her behind him and drew his weapon, but Jean-Luc leaped forward first, his sword raised. He brought it down with a loud clash. Ivan stumbled back. Jean-Luc lunged forward, thrusting and sending Ivan back in retreat.
Shanna gasped when she saw Roman skewer one of his Russian attackers through the heart. The man collapsed to the ground and crumbled into dust. The other Russian dropped his sword and backed away.
Roman moved toward Shanna. "Angus, take her back home where she'll be safe." He pressed a hand to the wound across his mid-section.
Shanna tried to run toward him, but Angus held her back. "Roman, come with us. You're wounded."
He gritted his teeth. "I have unfinished business." He charged toward Petrovsky.
Jean-Luc jumped back just as Roman's sword clashed against Ivan's. Petrovsky was caught by surprise. With a quick maneuver, Roman whisked Ivan's sword from his grasp. The sword flew through the air and landed close to one of the Russians.
Ivan ran toward his sword. Roman sliced him across the back of the legs, and he stumbled to the ground. He rolled over, but Roman was already there, pointing his sword at Ivan's heart. "You lose," Roman whispered.
Ivan looked frantically about.
Roman pressed the tip of his sword against Ivan's chest. "Swear that you and your coven will never harm any of my people."
Ivan gulped. "I swear."
"And you will cease your terrorist activities against my factories."
Ivan nodded. "If I promise, you won't kill me?"
Jean-Luc eased forward. "He has to die, Roman."
"Aye." Angus let go of Shanna and strode toward them. "You canna trust him."
Roman took a deep breath. "If he dies, someone else will take over his coven and leadership of the Malcontents. And the new leader will continue to terrorize us. But if we let Petrovsky live, he'll have to keep his word. Right?"
"Right." Ivan nodded. "I'll keep my word."
"Of course you will." Roman smiled grimly. "Or I will find you during the day while you are defenseless. Understand?"
"Yes." Ivan slowly stood.
Roman backed away. "Then we're finished here."
One of the Russians dashed forward and picked up Ivan's sword. "I believe this belongs to you." He stabbed Ivan through the stomach.
Ivan stumbled back. "Alek? Why do you betray me?" He fell to his knees. "You, you bastard. You want my power, my coven."
"No." Alek glared at him. "I want your women."
Ivan collapsed on the ground, clutching his stomach.
"You fool." A female vampire walked toward him and pulled a wooden stake from her belt. "You treated me like a whore."
Ivan gasped for air. "Galina. You stupid bitch. You are a whore."
Another female pulled a stake from her belt. "You won't ever call us bitches again. We're taking over your coven."
"What?" Ivan scooted across the grass as the two female vampires approached. "Katya, Galina, stop. You can't run a coven. You're too stupid."
"We were never stupid." Galina knelt beside him. "I'll have all the men I want."
Katya knelt on the other side. "And I'll be like Catherine the Great." She glanced at Galina. "Shall we?"
The two women plunged their stakes into Ivan's heart.
"No!" His cry faded as he crumbled away to dust.
The women rose and faced the Highlanders.
"A truce, for now?" Katya suggested.
"Agreed," Angus said.
The Russians zipped away, disappearing into the night.
It was over.
Shanna gave Roman a shaky smile. "That was strange. Here. Raise your arms so we can bind your wound."
Connor wrapped a bandage around Roman's middle and tied it off. Then he removed a bottle of blood from his sporran and passed it to Roman.
"Thank you." Roman took a drink, then reached for Shanna. "We need to talk."
"We sure do. Don't you ever agree to a stupid duel again. I'll lock you up in the silver room and lose the key."
He smiled as he wrapped his arms around her. "I love it when you're bossy."
"Release her!" a voice shouted.
Shanna turned to see her father approaching with a flashlight. Behind him, Garrett, Austin, and Alyssa were carrying flashlights and silver pistols. Their belts were lined with wooden stakes. They stopped a distance from them and surveyed the scene, their lights moving here and there.
Her father shone a light on a pile of dust. "I'm hoping that's Petrovsky?"
"Aye," Angus answered. "And ye're Sean Whelan?"
"Yes." Sean located the second pile of dust. "Another Russian?"
"Yes," Roman answered. "I killed him."
With a sigh, Sean gazed about the East Green. "Not exactly the result I was looking for. Only two dead."
"What are you talking about?" Shanna asked.
"You did your part well, sweetheart. I know you're under the influence of that filthy creature who has his paws on you right now. I told Austin to let you use his phone. I knew you would warn Draganesti's friends."
"You were hoping for a war." Roman tightened his arms around Shanna. "You hoped most of us would die."
"Less work for us if you kill each other off." Sean shrugged. "But we'll get you. Mark my word."
Jean-Luc lifted his sword. "Foolish words when we have you outnumbered."
"Aye." Angus moved toward them. "What ye doona realize is that ye need us. There's an evil vampire amassing an army as we speak. Ye'll not be able to defeat Casimir without our help."
Sean's eyes narrowed. "I haven't heard of this Casimir. And why should I believe anything a demon tells me?"
"It's true, Dad," Shanna yelled. "You need these men."
"They're not men!" Sean shouted. "Now, step away from that monster and come with me."
Roman cleared his throat. "I don't suppose this would be a good time to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage?"
Sean whipped a wooden stake from his belt. "I'll see you in hell first!"
Roman winced. "Yeah, bad timing."
Shanna touched his face and smiled. "I think your timing's perfect."
"Shanna, I'll try to give you everything you ever wanted. The house with the picket fence¡ª"
She laughed and hugged him close. "All I really need is you."
"Even children," Roman continued. "We'll figure out a way to insert my DNA into live sperm."
"What?" Shanna looked at him. "You want to be a father?"
"Only if you're the mother."
She grinned. "You do realize the harem has to go?"
"Already taken care of. Gregori's taking them to his house until they can manage on their own."
"Oh, how kind of him." Shanna laughed. "His mother will have a fit."
"I love you, Shanna." Roman kissed her mouth.
"Get away from her!" Sean advanced with the wooden stake.
"No!" Shanna turned to face her father.
"Shanna, come with me. That creature has a hold on your mind."
"No. The hold is on my heart." She pressed a hand to her chest. "I love him." She realized her hand was on the silver cross. "Oh, my gosh." She swiveled to face Roman. "Hug me again."
He pulled her close.
"It doesn't hurt you?" She stepped back and lifted the crucifix. "It didn't burn you."
Roman's eyes widened as he gently touched the cross.
"It must be a sign." Shanna's eyes misted with tears. "God has not abandoned you."
Roman's hand curled around the cross. " 'Perhaps you do not understand the magnitude of God's forgiveness.' A wise man told me that tonight. I couldn't believe it until now."
Shanna blinked back the tears. "God never abandoned you. And neither will I."
Roman touched her face. "I will always love you."
Shanna laughed as a tear escaped. "You realize if God can forgive you, you'll have to forgive yourself. You can't get away with hating yourself anymore. None of us can."
"Aye," Connor muttered. "We'll have to like the bugger."
Roman shoved the Scotsman away with a grin, then wrapped his arms around Shanna.
"This is not over!" Sean yelled. "We'll hunt you down, one by one." He stalked off, followed by his team.
"Don't worry about my dad." Shanna rested her head on Roman's shoulder. "He'll get used to you."
"Then you really will marry me?" Roman asked.
"Yes." As Roman's mouth came down on hers, she heard the cheers of Highlanders. She snuggled close. Life was good, even with the Undead.