onday night, the phone rang, jolting Austin from a deep sleep. The clock read only eleven-thirty. He'd gone to bed early after an exhausting day on a new construction site. His nerves clenched as he fumbled for the receiver. A call this late usually meant bad news. "Hello?"

"The procedure is scheduled to begin in twenty minutes."

Procedure? "Who is this?" he asked, although the caller's Scottish accent made it fairly obvious.

"Connor. I thought ye might want to be here for Darcy."

"She¡ªshe's doing it?" Austin's heart lurched in his chest. "She's going to be changed back¡ª"

"Aye," Connor interrupted him. "They're prepping her now. All her friends are here, so¡ª"

"Where?" Austin jumped out of bed.

"Romatech. Ye know where it is?"

"Yeah. White Plains. I'll be there. Tell Darcy I'm coining." Twenty minutes? Damn, he'd never make it in time.

"Ye should know there's a possibility she'll no' survive."

His heart plummeted into his stomach. He could have sworn both lungs had collapsed cause he couldn't breathe. He heard a clicking sound. "Wait!" Too late. Connor had hung up.

He dropped the receiver back into its cradle. Holy crap. He should have never given them the knife. Darcy could die.

He threw on some clothes, grabbed his wallet and keys, and charged out the door. Try to think positive. The elevator took an eternity to reach the ground floor. Think positive. She'll be mortal. He sprinted to the parking garage. His hands shook as he fumbled to unlock the car. He climbed in and started the engine.

She could die.

He sped out of the garage and zoomed north on the West Side Highway. His gaze darted to the dashboard clock every few seconds. Was she afraid? Dammit, of course she was afraid.

She could die.

His heart hammered when twenty minutes had passed. They were starting the procedure. And he wasn't there. He sped past a police car in the Bronx. Holy shit. He glanced in the rearview mirror. No flashing lights. Thank God. He turned north onto the Bronx River Parkway.

She could die.

Finally, he reached the outskirts of White Plains. He swerved into the entrance of Romatech, ignoring the guard station and the kilted Scotsman who shouted at him. He screeched to a halt by the front door and ran inside. Two Scottish guards grabbed him.

"Where's Darcy?" He struggled. "I have to see her."

"Ye're Austin Erickson?" The first guard restrained him while the second one removed Austin's wallet and checked his ID.

"Yes." Austin yanked his arm free from the vampire's grasp. "I'm here to see Darcy Newhart."

The second guard returned his wallet. "Connor told us ye were coming. This way."

Austin followed the guards down a hallway, around a corner, and down another hallway. Finally, they opened a pair of swinging doors.

Austin rushed inside and halted when he saw Gregori and all the ladies from the reality show. Gregori was leaning against a wall, his arms crossed. He shot Austin a hostile look. Vanda was pacing about the room. Maria Consuela and Princess Joanna were kneeling together with a priest, all of them praying in Latin. Maggie took one look at him and started crying. Lady Pamela and Cora Lee sat on each side of Maggie, whispering assurances. Then they looked at Austin with accusation in their eyes.

He should have never recovered that knife. It would be his fault if Darcy died. He cleared his throat. "How is she?"

"How do you think she is?" Gregori growled. "They're draining every drop of blood out of her."

Vanda slowed to a stop in front of him. "Connor comes out about every five minutes to tell us what's happening."

Austin strode toward Gregori. "Tell them to stop. It's not too late to keep her a vampire, right?"

Gregori snorted. "Why would you want to stop it? She wasn't good enough for you as a vampire, was she?"

Austin clenched his fists. "I love her just the way she is. Now go in there and tell them to stop!"

Gregori hesitated, so Austin strode toward the door. "Darcy! Don't do it!" The door was locked. He pounded on the door. "Don't risk your life for me, dammit!"

The door opened suddenly as Connor exited. Austin tried to go in, but the Scotsman shoved him back and held him against the wall with one hand. Austin strained against Connor's grip, but the Scotsman was incredibly strong.

"Ye're making too much noise out here," Connor growled.

"You have to stop the procedure," Austin whispered.

"She's entered the vampire coma," Connor announced softly. " 'Tis too late."

Maggie burst into tears. Cora Lee and Lady Pamela joined her. Vanda stumbled to a chair and collapsed. Gregori slumped against the wall, his eyes closed.

Austin's eyes filled with tears. What the hell had he done? He had no right to take Darcy away from these people who loved her. "You can still let her stay a vampire."

Connor shook his head. "It was her choice. She deserved to have a choice, and ye know it."

"Listen! If things go badly, if she's dying, I want you to make her a vampire. She'll be safe that way."

Connor dropped his hand, releasing Austin. "I asked her about that, and she said no. If she dies, we have to let her go."

"No!" Austin paced away, refusing to accept this. He marched back to Connor. "I won't let her go. You'll change her back into a vampire." He leaned closer. "And then, you'll change me."

Connor's eyes widened. "Are ye serious?"

Austin pulled down the collar of his shirt. "What are you waiting for? Go for it, you bastard!"

Gregori strode toward them. "You're willing to become a vampire to save Darcy?"

"Yes. I'll do whatever it takes."

Connor exchanged a look with Gregori. "I wasna certain she'd made the right choice. Or that this man was worthy of her. But now, I see that he is."

Austin's vision blurred with tears. "Don't let her die."

"We'll do our best." Connor slipped back inside the operating room.

Austin leaned forward, pressing his forehead against the door. Live, Darcy. You have to live.

"I misjudged you," Gregori spoke behind him. Austin turned. The young vampire extended a hand, and Austin shook it. They waited by the door in silence.

After a few minutes, Gregori perked up. He pressed an ear against the door.

"What is it?" Austin asked.

"They're getting excited," Gregori whispered. "I can hear them. She... she's responding. She's breathing on her own."

"I'm going in." Austin wrenched open the door and marched inside. Darcy was lying on an operating table with bright lights illuminating her pale face. Roman Draganesti and the short chemist named Laszlo were hovering over her.

"Ye shouldna be here," Connor muttered.

"Buzz off," Austin growled.

"Is that any way to talk to yer new boss?"

"I don't care¡ªwhat?" Austin glanced at the Scotsman before returning his gaze to Darcy.

"She's coming around," Roman announced.

Austin stepped forward. "Is she all right?"

Roman glanced up. "You must be Austin."

"Yes, sir." He stopped beside the operating table. "Is she all right? Did it work?"

Roman checked her life signs on a nearby machine. "She's doing great."

"We did it!" Laszlo twisted a button on his lab coat. "This is a momentous achievement, sir."

Darcy moved her head and moaned.

Austin touched her face. "Darcy?"

Her eyes flickered open. "Austin?"

"Yes." He took her hand. "I'm here, sweetheart."

Her gaze flitted around the room. "I¡ªI'm alive."

"How do you feel?" Roman examined her eyes with a small flashlight.

"Tired. Weak. Thirsty."

"Thirsty for what?" Roman clicked off the flashlight.

Darcy licked her lips. "Water. Juice." She slowly smiled. "A vanilla milkshake."

Roman smiled. "That's a good sign."

The short chemist removed his latex gloves. "I could go to the cafeteria and bring her back something."

Roman nodded. "Just some juice for now. Thank you, Laszlo."

"My pleasure." Laszlo plucked at the button on his lab coat. "It's been an honor to participate in such a miraculous event." He scurried from the room.

Loud cheers erupted from the waiting room. Laszlo had obviously spread the good news.

Austin brushed Darcy's hair back from her brow. "Do you hear that, sweetheart? All your friends are happy for you."

She gazed at him, her eyes shimmering with tears. "I was so afraid."

"I'm sure you were. I was terrified."

"Aye, that he was." Connor stepped forward. "The lad even offered to become a vampire if we would stop the procedure."

Darcy's eyes widened. "Oh, no, Austin. I would have been so angry with you."

"I know, but I figured you'd get over it in a century or two. And we would have been together."

She smiled.

And he was undone. "Marry me. I know this isn't the most romantic setting for a proposal, but I can't wait. Please say you'll marry me."

A tear trailed down her cheek. "I will marry you."

Austin grinned. He leaned close to wipe her tear away. "Now, don't cry. I'm not much of a catch right now. I don't even have a job, and¡ª"

"Wait a minute, lad," Connor interrupted. "I told Angus MacKay about you, and he wants to hire you. We need your help in locating Casimir. He's somewhere in Eastern Europe."

Austin straightened. "Who is Angus MacKay? And who is Casimir?"

"Casimir is the leader of the Malcontents," Roman explained. "He's the crudest, most vicious vampire in the world."

"As a mortal, ye have the advantage of snooping about during the day," Connor continued. "And with yer psychic abilities and CIA training, ye're the best man for the job."

Austin swallowed. It was just the sort of mission he'd always wanted. He glanced at Darcy.

"You should do it," she whispered.

"I won't leave you."

"I'll come with you. I was always good at research and investigation. I can help."

"It could be dangerous." Austin corrected himself. "It will be dangerous."

Darcy smiled. "I always wanted to do more serious stuff."

Austin turned to Connor. "Darcy and I are a team. You'll need to hire us both."

The Scotsman's mouth twitched. "Aye, we can do that."

"I have a villa in Tuscany you can use as your base," Roman offered.

"Thank you," Austin replied. "That's very generous."

Roman smiled. "I'm in a generous mood. I just found out last night that I'm going to be a father."

"Och, that's grand." Connor shook his hand. "But I thought ye had stopped trying because of the... problem."

Roman's smile faded. "Apparently, our first attempt worked."

A vampire fathering a baby? Austin gave Darcy a questioning look.

"I'll explain later," she whispered.

Austin glanced at Roman and Connor. They looked more worried than happy. "Congratulations." Austin extended a hand.

"Thank you." Roman shook it, his smile returning. "You'll enjoy working for Angus."

"Who is he?"

"The owner of MacKay Security and Investigation," Connor explained. "And coven master of the United Kingdom."

"Oh." Austin swallowed. He should have realized he'd be working for a vampire organization.

Connor's eyes twinkled. "How soon can ye start?"

"Ah, we need a few weeks. We need to get married."

"You can have the reception here, no charge," Roman offered. "And I have an apartment in Paris you can use for your honeymoon, if you like."

"Thank you." Austin realized that even though he and his future wife were mortal, their life would still revolve around vampires. "Darcy and I need to make a few trips first."

"Trips?" she asked.

"One to Wisconsin to see my family. And the other¡ª"

She gasped. "My family?" She glanced at Roman and Connor. "Is that all right?"

Connor shrugged. "As long as ye have a good explanation."

"Don't worry," Austin assured her. "I'm an old pro at cover stories. We'll just say you were in hiding from some bad guys, and now that the bad guys are dead, you're able to resume your old life."

She looked skeptical. "You make it sound so simple."

"The simpler stories are the best," Austin said.

She smiled. "Then I'll also tell them you were the hero who rescued me."

"Well, if you insist."

She took a deep breath. "Everything's perfect now." Austin kissed her brow. "We have each other." She smiled at the men surrounding her. "Mortal and vampire." She squeezed Austin's hand. "I have the best of both worlds."