Darcy patted her on the back. "He gave you a second chance at life."
Emma swallowed hard. She'd become the kind of creature that had murdered her parents. To be transformed into a vampire, she'd had to die first. Her stomach cramped.
"Angus killed me."
Her stomach heaved, and Emma lost her first meal as a vampire.
"En garde." Giacomo saluted Emma with his foil, then pointed it at her. She attacked with a flourish of thrusts and lunges. Giacomo defended himself easily enough, but Emma knew she was making progress. Three days ago, during her first fencing lesson, he could have defeated her blindfolded. Now he was fully engaged.
"Remember, the Malcontents do not fight fairly." With a flick of his wrist, Giacomo sent her foil flying through the air. It landed with a clatter across the exercise room.
"How will you handle this?" He charged at her, his sword pointed straight at her heart.
She pushed off the ground as hard as she could, thinking levitate. She soared up so fast, she clonked her head on the ceiling. "Ouch." She hovered, rubbing the crown of her head.
Giacomo grinned up at her. "You're a natural."
Austin stood by the door, chuckling. "I think she's underestimating her strength."
She glared at him. "I pinned you yesterday in forty-five seconds."
He shrugged. "Yeah, but you could whip me when you were a mortal, too."
Giacomo laughed. "La signorinais a fierce one."
"And don't you forget it." Emma whipped the dagger from her belt, teleported behind Giacomo, and poked him in the rear.
"Ouch!" He jumped forward, spinning to face her.
She smiled sweetly. "How am I doing, teacher?"
He narrowed his eyes. "Do I detect some latent anger, bellissima?"
Emma sighed as she stuffed her dagger back under her belt. Maybe she was angry. She was certainly frustrated. She'd been at Zoltan's house for one week, and Angus hadn't returned any of her e-mails or phone messages. She'd read his note so many times, she had it memorized.
Dearest Emma,
I do not expect forgiveness for the terrible thing I've done to you. I only hope you can be
changed back as soon as possible, so you can reclaim your life. You deserve a happy life,
filled with light and peace.
Peace? Did he really think she wanted peace when bad vampires like Casimir roamed the earth? She was a warrior like him. And now she was a vampire like him. Sure it had sickened her at first to think of him draining her dry and transforming her, but after a few nights of serious contemplation, she'd decided she was glad he was the one to induct her into this new life. She was undead because someone she loved had performed an act of mercy. That was so much better than dying the victim of an enemy's act of violence. And it was fitting that Angus had been the one. He'd been the one all along.
He'd taught her the difference between wreaking revenge and seeking justice. She no longer wanted to kill every vampire in her path to relieve the pain of her parents' murder.
She wanted to put that pain behind her and move on. She wanted to use her new power to protect the innocent, so others wouldn't suffer as her parents had.
Angus had taught her that love was so powerful, it survived death. She still loved him with all her heart. And she understood now that death couldn't disfigure or corrupt a person's soul. She was surrounded by loving, honorable Vamps.
So why was Angus ignoring her? Was he averse to a commitment that might last for centuries?
Darcy joined her husband at the doorway. "We just received an e-mail—"
"From Angus?" Emma interrupted.
Darcy gave her a sympathetic look. "From Roman. He reports that baby Constantine is healthy, happy, and normal."
"That's good," Austin murmured.
Darcy offered Emma a sheet of paper. "Some of his message was for you, so I printed it out."
Emma took the note and wandered across the large exercise room to read it.
Dear Miss Wallace,
I couldn't help but notice the e-mails and phone messages directed here for Angus. I thought you should know that he left here two nights ago for England. He's expecting you to come to New York to be changed back, and I don't believe he wants to be here for the event. This is not because he doesn't care. He cares very much. He's suffering greatly for what he did to you. Perhaps, in time, he'll be able to forgive himself. I think he'll begin healing once he knows you have safely returned to your mortal life. I am at your disposal, as soon as you are ready.
Sincerely,
Roman Draganesti
Emma folded the note. "Why does everyone want me to be mortal again?"
Darcy gaped. "You'd rather be undead?"
"Of course she does," Giacomo said. "It's a superior life."
Darcy snorted. "I didn't care for the diet."
"The blood tastes good to me." Emma crossed her arms, frowning. "Why shouldn't I remain this way? The man I love is a vampire." She grimaced. "Unfortunately, he won't speak to me."
"Amore." Giacomo pressed a hand against his heart. "How we suffer for it."
Darcy snorted. "Especially you, Jack, since you're so in love with yourself."
He stumbled back as if he'd been wounded.
"I'm not taking it anymore." Emma turned to Giacomo. "Will you help me teleport to England? Tonight?"
"Anything for amore." Giacomo grinned. "There are two places he could be—either his office in Edinburgh or in London."
"You'd better go to London," Darcy warned.
"Of course." Giacomo's dark eyes twinkled. "Edinburgh would be… awkward."
"Why?" Emma stepped toward him.
Giacomo shrugged. "That is where Angus has stashed his harem, and I doubt—"
"His what?" Emma shrieked.
Giacomo winced. "Oops."
Darcy groaned. "Way to go, Jack. Emma, it's not as bad as it looks."
"You think not? The bloody man has a harem!" Emma's heart thundered loud in her ears. Was this why he was refusing to see her? Why would he want one vampire girlfriend when he already had a freaking harem?
She crumpled the note in her fist and tossed it across the room. "Take me to London now, Giacomo. Angus is going to talk to me whether he likes it or not."
CHAPTER 24
Angus wandered quietly into the nursery at Romatech. Shanna had wanted a nursery next to her dental office, so she could tend the baby and the occasional patient, and Roman had readily agreed, for he liked having his family close by. She was busy changing the baby's diaper, and the mirror over the table reflected both her and the bairn.
Of course Angus didn't show up, so he cleared his throat to let Shanna know he was there.
She turned her head. "Angus!" Her smile started off joyful, but quickly faded to a look of concern.
He was used to that now. People looked at him like he was some sort of ghost. He felt like one, a shadow without a soul.
Shanna's gaze shifted back to the baby. "I didn't know you were in town."
"I just arrived."
She snapped the baby's outfit around his chubby legs. "Are you staying at the townhouse?"
"Aye." He could see her frowning in the mirror.
"That's good. Stay as long as you like. You… probably shouldn't be alone right now."
Did she think he was suicidal? Why kill something that was already dead? His body still functioned, but his heart had shriveled from constant aching, and his mind was worthless.
He'd tried to get some work done at his London office, but he couldn't concentrate. It was so bad, he was considering passing the business on to Robby. Every time Angus tried to look at a report, it blurred before his eyes. All he ever saw was a mental picture of Emma releasing her last breath of life. The image haunted him. It was the last thing he saw before slipping into death-sleep, and it greeted him each time he awakened.