Vampire Mine by Kerrelyn Sparks Page A

fifteen minutes, and in that time, Roman was going out of his mind. He thought he‟d lost her.”
    Angus sighed. “Laszlo thinks it took a long time because Shanna‟s subconscious dinna realize what was happening.”

    “Aye,” Connor agreed. “It all happened verra suddenly.”

    “She drank a small amount of Roman‟s blood, then fell back into the vampire coma,”
    Angus continued. “We willna know for sure if she‟s transformed until tomorrow night.”

    Connor swallowed hard. Like all Vamps, Roman would wake just after sunset, and hopefully, his wife would wake with him. “How are the children?”

    “Their aunt, Caitlyn, has taken them home. She and Carlos will stay with them. They . . .
    doona know what has happened.”

    A surge of guilt swept over Connor. If Shanna died, it would be his fault. The bairns would be motherless. The family he had sworn to protect would be destroyed.

    “I‟ve asked Robby and Olivia to act as bodyguards for Roman and his family,” Angus said quietly.

    Connor stiffened as if he‟d been struck in the chest. He was being replaced.

    “This is for the best,” Angus continued with a rush. “Olivia is a psychologist, so she‟ll be able to help the children adjust.”

    Connor gritted his teeth. “I‟ve kept Roman safe for over sixty years.”

    There was a pause before Angus responded. “Roman requested someone new.”

    Connor flinched. “Nay.”

    “Ye doona ken how upset Roman is. He was ripping the clinic apart with his bare hands.
    I‟ve never seen him like this before. Emma had to teleport Father Andrew here to calm him down.”

    With a sigh, Connor leaned forward on the railing. He knew the danger of uncontrolled rage. “I never meant to harm his wife.”

    “I understand, but if I canna trust ye to follow orders . . .” Angus‟s voice trailed off.

    Connor had a sinking feeling he was about to be fired. It was unthinkable. Not that he needed the money. He‟d stashed away plenty over the centuries. It was the fact that he was being seen as a failure, a traitor. “Angus, there was no way I could have predicted what happened to Shanna. Who the hell would have believed that I‟d find an actual angel—”

    “I know. That was explained to me in great length. I was verra close to firing you, but ye have a strong advocate here who convinced me ye were no‟ to blame. Father Andrew thinks verra highly of you.”

    Connor jerked upright with surprise. The priest had saved his job?

    “In fact, Father Andrew believes this has all happened for some sort of divine purpose.”
    Angus snorted. “He hasna convinced Roman of that yet. Nor me. I‟m still pissed that ye canna follow simple orders. If ye had, Shanna might still be alive.”

    Connor didn‟t think so. Even if he‟d gone back to the campground to meet Angus, he would have still seen the fireballs in the distance and gone to investigate. Could Father Andrew be right? Was he supposed to find Marielle tonight? Only a Vamp could have picked her up and helped her. Any mortal would have collapsed after touching her, just like Shanna had.

    He sighed. Father Andrew had to be wrong. God would never cast his barbaric, undead hide in a noble role. The priest was trying to interpret signs that didn‟t exist. Or trying to see goodness in a Vamp where it had long withered away.

    A breeze rustled the trees in the distance, then swept toward Connor. The minute the air hit his face, he felt more awake, more alert. His senses sharpened, anticipating . . . something. He scanned his surroundings and listened carefully. Nothing.

    “Father Andrew is eager to meet the angel,” Angus said. “Roman doesn‟t want her here at Romatech, so I thought I‟d have someone teleport the Father to the cabin.”

    “No‟ now. She‟s wounded and bleeding. I need to take her to Dr. Lee in Houston.”
    Connor referred to the Vamp doctor who had delivered both of Shanna‟s children and regularly patched up Vamps and shifters.