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CHAPTER 1

"Ye're late" Connor greeted her with a disapproving frown

"So?" Vanda Barkowski returned the Scotsman's frown as she stepped into the foyer of Roirl anyreat Master snaps his fingers"

Connor arched a brow "Ye were sent an official suional Coven Meeting would start at ten o'clock tonight" He locked the door behind her and punched some buttons on a security pad

Was she in trouble? That «official» suh she hadn't let anyone know She would have arrived sooner if she'd been allowed to use her Vamp skill of teleportation, but the summons had warned her not to teleport inside Roer the alar, and result in a hefty fine So she'd driven frohtclub in Hell's Kitchen with a detour first to Queens to pick up some costumes she'd had custom made The traffic had been awful all the way to White Plains, leaving her much too tense Damn, she didn't want to be here

She took a deep breath and fluffed up her spiky, purple-dyed hair "Big deal So I'm a few minutes late"

"Forty-five minutes Late"

"So? What's forty-five oat like you?"

"I believe it is still forty-five minutes"

Was that a glint of hu considered ah, dammit And he should have been insulted that she'd called hioat Connor Buchanan didn't look a day over thirty She would have considered him very handsome if he hadn't fussed at her so much over the years

She adjusted the black, braided whip she wore around her waist "Look I'm a businesswoman now I'm late because I had to open the club and run soet back to work soon" She had ascheduled at eleven-thirty with all the ive theust

Connor looked unimpressed "Roman is still yer Coven Master, and when he requests yer presence, ye're expected to arrive on time"

"Yeah, yeah, I' in my little boots"

Connor pivoted toward a table, causing his red and green plaid kilt to swing around his knees "I'll need to search yer handbag"

She winced inwardly "Do we really have time for this? I'm already late"

"I check every bag co in"

He'd always been a stickler for the rules How uards at Rouard orked for MacKay Security & Investigation A deliciously handsouard

Connor worked for MacKay S&I, too, so he knew guards were never supposed to fraternize with their charges As far as Vanda was concerned, that old rule needed to be tossed out Ian had gotten involved with his uard, Toni, and her love for him hadn't weakened her one bit In fact, her love had e her to kill Jedrek Janow in spite of the Malcontent's attempt to stop her with vampire mind control

However, when it caood reason to cling to his precious rules Since the nasty Malcontent va Vamps, they also hated Roed to bomb Romatech three times in the past

Vanda sighed "I didn't bring a bomb Do you think I would blow myself up? Do I look crazy to you?"

A glint of humor sparkled in his eyes "I believe that will be deter"

Da on the table "Knock yourself out"

Heat crept up her neck as he ru God, she hated embarrassment It made her feel weak and sain She lifted her chin and glared at Connor

"What's this?" He pulled out a scrap of fabric that looked like a stuffed yellow tube sock with a large brass nozzle on the end

"It's a dance costume For Freddie the Fireman That's his personal fire hose"