All I Want for Christmas Is a Vampire - By Kerrelyn Sparks Page 0,98

women were herded together, and a Malcontent woman looped more silver rope around them to keep them confined and unable to teleport away.

Phineas and Dougal materialized next to Toni, carrying five swords and some wooden stakes. Ian passed a sword to Carlos. "Do ye know how to wield it?" "I can learn." Carlos gripped the hilt. "Why don't you use guns?" "We can recover from most bullet wounds, but a sword through the heart is permanent." Ian

offered the last spare sword to Vanda. "No thanks." She untied the whip from her waist. "I'm more comfortable with this." "Can I have a sword?" Teddy approached him. "Teddy, no!" Sabrina pulled him back. "We shouldn't get involved." "I want to be a hero, too," Teddy insisted. Ian passed him the sword. "Ye'll guard the women." "He can protect Bri." Toni grabbed some wooden stakes. "I'm not staying here." "Ye are--" Ian was interrupted by Jedrek's booming voice.

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"Ian MacPhie! I know you're here. Bring me the Stay-Awake drug or I'll start killing." Jedrek's

voice was muffled by screams from the hostages. Ian motioned for Phineas and Dougal to join him at the screen. "We'll teleport at the same time. I'll take Jedrek."

Phineas peered through the screen. "I'll take Stan." "Then I'll take Yuri," Dougal said. "And I'll take the woman," Toni added. Ian stiffened. "Nay. Ye're staying here." "I will take the woman." Vanda glared at Toni. "I can teleport. You can't." Toni glared back. "I can handle the silver ropes to untie the hostages. You can't." "Ye're no' going--" Ian was interrupted by Jedrek. "Don't think you can attack me, MacPhie!" he shouted from the stage. "We have a hostage here,

and she'll die if anyone comes close to me. Nadia, you will kill the blonde to please me." "Yes, Master." With gloved hands, Nadia tied a blonde hostage to the dancer pole on the stage. "Oh no," Vanda whispered. "It's Cora Lee." The bartender struggled against the silver ropes that bound her and sizzled against her bare skin.

"Let me go!"

Jedrek pointed his handgun at her. "Silver bullets, my dear. They really hurt." When Cora Lee whimpered, he smiled. "Your fear makes you even more attractive." "Vanda," Toni whispered. "Do you have any wire cutters around here?" "Maybe. There's a tool kit in my office." "Toni." Ian regarded her sternly. "Ye are no' going down there." When she opened her mouth to

argue, Ian continued, "This is no' a friendly request. I'm yer boss. Ye'll do as I say." Her eyes flashed with anger. Ian turned to Carlos. "Ye both stay here." "You can't order me around," Carlos growled. Ian ignored him and motioned to the other Vamps. "We teleport on three." He counted, and they

vanished.

Ian materialized beside Jedrek and with the first swipe of his sword, he sent the gun flying from Jedrek's hand. Jedrek jumped back, spotted the blood seeping from his cut hand, and yelled, "Kill the blonde,

Nadia!" Ian glanced over to see Cora Lee, still tied to the pole, squirming and crying. Nadia was too busy avoiding Vanda's snapping whip to follow her master's orders.

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Ian charged at Jedrek, but he vanished. "Damn!" Ian spun around to see where the coward had teleported. Dougal and Phineas had engaged their opponents, and the clash of swords mingled with frantic

screams from hostages. Jedrek reappeared, standing on the bar. He drew his sword, and blood

dripped from his hand. Good, let his grip grow slippery. Ian jumped from the stage and stalked toward him. Let him grow weak from the loss of blood.

Jedrek kept his eyes on Ian as he reached down and nabbed some paper napkins off the bar. He pressed the napkins against his bleeding hand. "Amazing how much those little cuts can bleed," Ian observed.

With a sneer, Jedrek tossed the bloodied napkins to the floor. From the corner of his eye, Ian noticed Toni slipping from Vanda's office. Dammit, no! She had wooden stakes stuffed in her waistband and wire cutters in her hand. Staying low, she dashed to the back of the hostages.

He couldn't let Jedrek see her. Jedrek had sent her the heart pendant. He knew Ian cared for her, and that made her a prime target. By all the saints, she should have known that. She should have minded him and remained hidden.

Ian zipped quickly to the bar and leaped on top, forcing Jedrek to face him and turn his back to Toni. Ian lunged, slashing his sword with full force. Jedrek teetered on