Kerrelyn Sparks: How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire

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—"

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—he'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—survival.

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." — 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."