“Actually, Salvatore has claimed that she is the daughter of a pureblood.”
“She’s a Were?” Expecting frank disbelief, Styx was caught off guard when Viper instead gave a slow nod of his head. “Shay did say that she smelled of wolf, although not even she was certain.”
Styx frowned. Shay had suspected that Darcy was a Were?
Damn, damn, damn.
He resisted the urge to growl as he offered Viper a stern glare. “It no longer matters what she is.”
“Devil’s balls,” his friend muttered. “It bloody well does matter.”
“This is none of your concern. Viper.”
“You are our Anasso. It is all of our concern.”
With a deliberate ease, Styx allowed his power to fill the hallway. Viper was his friend, but he was in no mood to be lectured as if he were a fledgling demon.
“Do you wish to challenge me? Do you believe you belong in my place?”
The dark eyes narrowed. If push came to shove, both knew that Styx possessed the greater power, but the younger vampire was far from intimidated.
Viper was like any vampire.
He was too damn arrogant to be intimidated.
Not even when he should be.
“Don’t be an ass, Styx,” he snapped. “I wouldn’t take your position if it was handed to me on a silver platter. But I can’t stand aside and watch you endanger yourself with a female who is clearly tied to the Weres. What if she is a trap?”
“A trap?”
“There is nothing to say that Salvatore didn’t deliberately lure you into believing they were hunting Darcy so you would capture her yourself.”
Styx hissed softly, his expression hard with warning. “Why would they wish me to kidnap Darcy?”
“Perhaps she is simply a spy.” Viper bravely—some might claim stupidly—refused to heed the danger that was swirling through the air. “Or more likely, she was sent to seduce you into lowering your guard and distracting you from the fact that the Weres are breaking their treaty. A trick that has been all too successful.”
Styx gritted his teeth as he forced himself to step back. It had been centuries since he had struck out with mindless rage, but in this moment he couldn’t be certain that it wasn’t a possibility.
“You make no sense, Viper,” he said with deliberate control. It was that or snapping and snarling. “One moment you are suggesting that I am not treating Darcy with the proper respect, and the next you are ac cusing her of being some devious siren designed to bring about the downfall of vampires.”
“That is the point, Styx. We don’t know enough about her to decide if she is friend or foe.” Viper gave a frustrated shake of his head. “We certainly don’t know enough for you to have made her your mate.”
Enough was enough.
He had never wanted to take on the burdens of being the Anasso, but he was without question the leader of all vampires.
He did not have to explain or apologize for any decision he might make.
Especially when it came to his mate.
“We will speak no more of this. It is done and cannot be altered.” There was no mistaking the command in his tone. “Now, why did you insist on interrupting me?”
For a moment Viper struggled with his own dominate nature. He was a clan chief and was accustomed to giving orders, not taking them.
At last he managed to overcome his instinct to continue the futile battle and gave a stiff nod of his head.
He would comply, but he didn’t intend to be happy about it.
Styx could live with that.
“Desmond has arrived in Chicago demanding the return of his clansmen.”
It took a moment for Styx to recall precisely who Viper was referring to. Of course, at the moment it was difficult to recall anything beyond his need to return to Darcy.
A dangerous realization.
At last he managed to dredge up the memory of the two desperate vampires who had so recently petitioned him for his protection.
Desmond had to be the clan chief whom they feared.
“He trespassed in your territory?” Styx demanded with a hint of surprise.
It was a death wish to enter the territory of another vampire without formal permission.
“He claims the right of Reparation since we are currently holding two of his people against their will.”
“It is known that they came to petition me and are currently under my protection. To challenge you is to challenge me.”
Viper shrugged. “I presume that was the point.”
By the gods, there were times when he wouldn’t wish the position of the Anasso on his worst enemies.
“What is the damage?”
“So far he’s killed three hellhounds, an imp, and five Scibie demons.” Viper grimaced. “Enough car nage to draw me out, but not enough to provoke an all-out clan war.”
“No vampires?”
“Not yet, but it is only a matter of time. I must take care of this, but I would prefer to do so without having to kill the chief.”
Styx resisted the urge to sigh. He knew what was coming and he wasn’t going to like it.
“You desire me to go with you?”
“Yes.” Viper gave a lift of his hands. “Of course, if you cannot…”
“I will go.” Despite his reluctance, Styx understood he had no choice. It had been his decision to give pro tection to the two vampires. It was now his responsibility to confront the chief who came searching for them. “Allow me a few moments alone with Darcy.”
Viper’s expression hardened, but thankfully he resis ted the urge to continue his arguments.
Smart, smart vampire.
“As you wish,” he murmured, with a low bow. “I will await you downstairs.”
Darcy was standing beside the window when she felt Styx move into the room. For a moment she continued to gaze into the thick darkness, silently savoring the cool rush of power that brushed over her skin.
She might be troubled by the thought of being mated to a vampire, but that didn’t change the fierce passion she felt whenever he entered the room, or the strange sense of comfort that settled deep in her heart.
As if his mere presence was enough to complete her world.
Cripes.
Slowly turning, she wrapped her arms about her waist. She didn’t know if the mating had made her more sensitive to Styx’s mood, but she knew before even meeting the guarded black eyes that something was wrong.
“What has happened?”
He moved forward. Close enough to cup her cheek in his hand. His touch was gentle, but Darcy could feel the tense need that hummed through his body. He touched her as if he had to touch her.
“A clan chief has entered Viper’s territory. He must be dealt with before he causes vampire blood to flow.”
Her hand reached up to cover the fingers that pressed against her face.
“I don’t like the sound of that.” She frowned as her heart gave a sharp squeeze of fear. “Are you going to be in danger?”
He shrugged, seeming more interested in the shape of her lips than the fact that he was about to confront a dangerous vampire.
“Very little. Desmond merely needs to be reminded of the danger in flaunting our laws.”
Her eyes narrowed at his nonchalant tone. “I still don’t like the sound of that. What if this vampire doesn’t want to be reminded of your laws? What if he decides to hurt you?”
“Viper will be with me. There are few things that can stand against the two of us.” He paused as his gaze shifted to lock with hers. “You are concerned for me?”
Well, duh.
For all their disturbing perception, there were occasions when vampires could be incredibly dense.
“Of course I’m concerned. You may drive me nuts, but I would never want you to be hurt.”
His expression softened. “Because you care?”
She stiffened at his soft words. Not because she objected to his accusation, but because it was so pa
infully true.
She cared so very, very much.
Still, she found herself ridiculously reluctant to confess the tangled emotions that clutched at her heart. They were too raw and tender to be dragged out and discussed.
At least for now.
Darcy lowered her gaze to hide her eyes behind the sweep of her lashes.
“I wouldn’t want to see anyone hurt.”
His fingers tightened on her cheek. “Can you not just say the words, angel? Can you not admit that you might care a little?”
“You know I care,” she at last sighed.
“You don’t sound happy about it. Does it trouble you that I am a vampire?”
“Of course not.” She lifted her gaze. “In fact, I’m glad you’re not human. I’ve always known that I couldn’t be with… a normal man.”
Styx blinked at her blunt confession before giving a reluctant chuckle.
“Have I just been insulted?”
An answering smile touched her lips. That hadn’t come out precisely as she had intended.
“You know what I mean.” Without thinking, she lifted her hand so her lingers could lightly stroke the strong line of his jaw. How could she not touch him? He felt so damn good. “I’ve spent years avoiding relationships because most people think I’m either crazy or an outright freak. I’ve never been able to just be myself. It’s wonderful not to have to pretend to be something I’m not.”
He turned his head to brush his lips over the palm of her hand. “You never have to pretend with me, angel. You are perfect in my eyes.”
“Hardly perfect.”
The dark eyes flashed. “If I think you are perfect, then you are perfect.”
“And your word is law?”
“As a matter of fact, it is.”
Unable to argue, she gave a roll of her eyes. “Such ar rogance.”
“Perhaps, but you are attempting to distract me, angel.” His fingers tightened on her cheek. “I can feel what is in your heart. I can smell it on your skin. It scents the very air around you. Why can you not speak the words?”
Darcy struggled to put her reluctance into words. “Too much is happening too fast, Styx. I just need time to sort through it all.”
The dark eyes flared with a fierce emotion as he struggled to regain the cool control that was so much a part of him.
A part that was absent more often than not when she was near.
Hmm. Was that a good or bad thing?
Abruptly recalling his raw passion and aching ten derness, she decided it was good.
Very good.
“You are right, but it is not easy,” he growled, with a shake of his head. “Strange considering I have often planned and schemed for centuries without ever losing my patience. You make me feel as if I am a foundling once again.”
“A foundling?”
“A vampire newly risen,” he explained.
“Good grief.” She resisted the urge to giggle as she tried to imagine this proud warrior as poor Oliver beg ging for a bowl of porridge. “You make it sound like you are no more than a helpless orphan.”
He shrugged. “That’s not a bad analogy.”
She deliberately allowed her gaze to travel over his very large, very broad male form before returning to linger on his oh-so-white teeth.
Surely there had never been a more dangerous predator.
“An orphan with fangs?” she demanded.
He didn’t so much as bat an eyelash, but Darcy physically felt his faint withdrawal. As if she had stirred up memories he kept deeply buried.
“They do little if you do not know why you have them or what to do with them,” he at last said in a bleak voice.
Well, she hadn’t been expecting that.
Her fingers gently moved to touch the chiseled lips. She never failed to be moved by his brief glimpses of vulnerability.
“What do you mean?”
“When vampires awaken we have no memories of our previous life, and no realization of what or who we are. Most die with the first sunrise, and even those who survive rarely make it beyond a few weeks. Not without the protection of an elder.”
Darcy shivered at the thought of Styx being forced to endure such a traumatic transformation alone.
“Did you have an elder to protect you?”
His beautiful features tightened. “No.”
“But you survived.”
“Only by sheer luck, and even then I was too weak to battle those warriors who wished to use me as a slave.”
She grimaced before she could halt her instinctive reaction. “I didn’t know vampires had slaves. That’s… horrible.”
“It was. More horrible than you can even imagine.” His flat tone warned Darcy that she didn’t want to try to imagine. “That was the reason I joined with the previous Anasso. He was determined to bring the vampires together as a race and to halt our habit of slaughtering and brutalizing one another.”
Darcy battled back ridiculous tears. Her own child hood had hardly been a bed of roses, but she was beginning to suspect that it was nothing compared to Styx’s past.
And yet he wasn’t bitter or filled with a dark need for revenge. Instead of brooding on the sins of others, he had taken command of the situation and fought to better the world for all vampires.
How could a woman not fall in love with such a man?
“And you succeeded?” she asked softly.
“In part, but there is still much to accomplish.” The haunting pain was replaced with a grim determination. “Beginning with our newest and most vulnerable brothers.”
She studied him with genuine curiosity. “What are you going to do?”
“I will not allow foundlings to be abandoned by their makers. In the future they will be taken in by clans and not allowed to struggle to survive.”
“You are a very good leader, Styx,” she said softly.
He dipped his head to stroke her lips with a lingering kiss. Darcy felt the familiar heat, but before she could truly get down to business Styx was pulling back with a rueful sigh.
“A leader who needs to take care of Desmond,” he admitted as he stepped back and reached for his heavy cape. “I don’t want to leave you, angel, but I must.”
“I know.” Darcy wrapped her arms about her waist, disliking the strange chill of apprehension that trickled down her spine. “Just promise me that you’ll be careful.”
“That I can promise.” He smiled before startling her as he removed the amulet that hung about his neck and gently pulled the leather band over her neck. With a jolt of power, the beautiful amulet settled between her breasts. He framed her face with his hands as he offered her one last kiss. “I will return to you,” he swore against her lips. “I will always return to you.”
“Styx…”
With a shake of his head, he pulled away and slipped silently from the room.
Once alone Darcy reached up to touch the amulet about her neck. Her fingers tingled as they brushed over the smooth stone.
Perhaps it was her imagination, but she could almost believe she could feel the presence of Styx contained in the amulet. The cool surge of his power. The fierce, relentless confidence that masked a vulnerability that few were allowed to see. The unwavering loyalty to his fellow vampires.
With a sigh she moved to stretch out on the bed. She was weary to the bone, but there was an aching emptiness deep inside her.
It was an emptiness she had to admit was directly caused by the absence of Styx.
Dang it all.
He might claim that he was the only one bound by their unexpected mating, but she knew the truth.
She didn’t need any tattoos to tell her that she already belonged lock, stock, and barrel to a freaking vampire.
Chapter Nineteen
It was the delicious aroma of food that lured Darcy from her light sleep.
Rubbing her hands over her face, she sat up on the bed to discover Levet hovering in the doorway with a tray in his hands.
“L
evet.” She groggily glanced toward the still-dark window. “What time is it?”
“A little past three.”
Meaning that she had only been asleep two hours. No wonder her brain felt as if it was stuck in first gear, and her eyes scratchy enough to use as sandpaper.
With a shake of her head, she struggled to form a co herent thought.
She wasn’t remotely surprised by the first one that floated to the top of her mind.
“Has Styx returned?”
The tiny gargoyle gave a flick of his dainty wings. “Not yet, but Viper called just a few minutes ago to say they had managed to track the clan chief to a small house west of the city. They should be back well before dawn.”
“Oh.” She battled the stupid flare of unease. Jeez, couldn’t Styx be gone a few hours without her wigging out? It was getting beyond ridiculous. She sternly turned her attention to her unexpected guest. “Is that tray for me?”
“Yes.”
Darcy smiled as she slipped off the bed and stretched her stiff muscles. “Thank you. It smells delicious.”
Strangely the demon hesitated. “May I enter?”
“Of course.” Darcy frowned in confusion. “You know you don’t need to ask.”
Levet grimaced. Quite a sight considering his lumpy features.
“Actually I do.”
“You do?”
“I’m not supposed to be bothering you.”
Darcy gave a shake of her head wondering what was wrong with the tiny demon. Goodness knew he was hardly one to hesitate barging in wherever he wanted to go.
He was impervious to insult, entirely without manners, and had skin as thick as that of a… well, a gargoyle.
“You’re never a bother, Levet,” she said in confusion.
“Tell that to Mr. High and Mighty.”
“Styx?”
“Sacre bleu. I have never encountered such a bossy-pants.” Rolling his eyes, the gargoyle managed a credible imitation of Styx. “Darcy is hungry. Darcy is tired. Darcy must not be bothered. Darcy must be protected. Darcy must…”
With a small laugh Darcy held up her hand. “I think I get the point.”
“That was only the beginning of the list. He even insisted that Viper’s housekeeper be brought here so that she could fix your favorite dinner.”
A small smile touched her lips as she glanced toward the waiting tray. Being independent was all well and good, but she couldn’t deny a renegade flare of pleasure at Styx’s obvious concern.
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