No answer.
She willed herself to be strong. Just because she could no longer hear the angels, it didnt mean they couldnt hear her. She dropped the sheet in a pool around her feet, then with a shiver, she stretched her arms up to the heavens.
Connor shut the back door so he could talk on his cell phone without Marielle overhearing. She didnt seem to have any memory of the disaster at Romatech, and he was in no hurry to remind her. She was suffering enough already.
He scowled at the night sky, bright with stars and the three-quarter-full moon. It was chilly here in the Adirondacks, but much calmer than it had been in South Dakota. Even so, an angry storm was brewing inside him.
He wanted to curse the heavens and one angel in particularZackriel. The bastard had cruelly abused Marielle, and for the life of him, Connor couldnt imagine what she could have done to warrant the torture she was enduring. She had questioned Zacks orders in order to protest the killing of children. What was wrong with that?
She was gentle and kindhearted, everything he would expect an angel to be. Shed been more concerned about causing him harm than easing her own suffering. Shed even wished she could heal him instead of herself.
In spite of her good intentions, that moment had scared the hell out of him. Had she managed somehow to see into the black pit of his soul? It had to be some sort of angelic talent, but it made her dangerous. It made him want to flee. Even so, he knew he had to stay. The lass needed protection. She was so damned innocent, she didnt even know it was wrong to expose her breasts.
And what breasts. Full and soft. The luminous white skin made a startling contrast to the rich red color of her nipples. Nipples that had been pressed into the palms of his hands. Even now, his hands itched to touch her again. That soft, sweet skin.
Bugger. He slapped himself mentally. She was an angel, an innocent, sweet angel, and he was lusting after her. Again. Even for a sorry bastard, he was stooping to a new low.
She was just so damned beautiful. Any man would be reduced to a blithering idiot in her presence. And it wasnt just her beautiful body. Or face. Or voice. There was something about her eyes. Hed gazed into them and a strange sense of peace had enveloped him . . . until he realized he was groping her lovely breasts.
Connor? Anguss voice sounded impatient. Are ye still there?
Aye. He rested an elbow on the wooden railing that surrounded the back porch.
Ye dinna answer my question, Angus growled.
What question? Connor winced. His mind had wandered again to Marielles breasts. Could ye repeat it?
Angus grunted with frustration. I asked about the woman ye found. Is she really an angel?
Aye, she is. Admitting it out loud seemed bizarre, so he changed the subject. Did ye investigate the caves at the campground?
Aye, but they were empty. Casimir and his minions must have moved on after killing those puir families.
Connor groaned inwardly. It always seemed to go that way. They could track Casimir by the dead bodies he left behind, but that left him always one step ahead. And it left them unable to protect his next group of victims. Was there any sign of him at the other places?
Nay. We have no idea where he is.
Connor took a deep breath. How is Roman?
Hes pissed. What do ye expect?
I thought ye said Shanna was going to be all right.
We think she will be. She did finally accept some of Romans blood. But it took about fifteen minutes, and in that time, Roman was going out of his mind. He thought hed lost her. Angus sighed. Laszlo thinks it took a long time because Shannas subconscious dinna realize what was happening.
Aye, Connor agreed. It all happened verra suddenly.
She drank a small amount of Romans blood, then fell back into the vampire coma, Angus continued. We willna know for sure if shes 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.
Ive asked Robby and Olivia to act as bodyguards for Roman and his family, Angus said quietly.