This one was taller with lean muscles beneath the ruffled white shirt that was worn beneath a gold velvet jacket and black satin pants. He should have appeared ridiculous, but with his long hair the pale silver of moonlight and his eyes the startling darkness of midnight he was hauntingly beautiful.
A fallen angel.
Already suspecting the identity of the powerful vampire, the Andrax took away all doubt as he held out a pleading hand.
“Thank god, Viper. You have to help me.”
Ignoring the whining demon, Viper regarded Jaelyn with a piercing intelligence.
“Hunter,” he at last murmured, offering a formal bow of his head.
She returned the gesture. “Clan chief.”
The dark gaze briefly dipped to the struggling demon, his beautiful features unreadable.
“I see you’ve met Lector.”
She shrugged. “He introduced himself.”
“Viper, do something,” Lector gasped.
A smile of anticipation curved Viper’s lips. “Oh, I intend to.”
Jaelyn tightened her grip. She was the one who had been insulted and threatened by the overly aggressive bully.
“I’m not finished playing yet.”
“I understand your desire for blood, my dear, I truly do,” Viper drawled with seeming regret.
“But?”
“But I fear that I have first claim on torturing our friend.” The dark eyes glittered with a frigid fury that made Jaelyn shudder in relief that it wasn’t directed at her. “I really must make him an example for my other fighters who think they can flout my rules.”
“My lord ...” Dropping to his hands and knees as Jaelyn abruptly released her hold, Lector crawled over the marble floor, desperately kissing Viper’s glossy leather shoes. “Please.”
With a casual ease, Viper kicked the Andrax in the face, sending him flying across the hallway to land in a bloody heap.
“Stop groveling, you pathetic worm,” he growled. “I did warn you what would happen if I caught you out of the pens.”
“Forgive me... .” Lector gave a choked groan as Viper’s power filled the hallway.
“And now you’ve attacked one of my guests.”
The Andrax warily returned to his feet, wiping away the blood draining from his broken nose.
“I didn’t lay a hand on her,” he protested. “She attacked me.”
Viper appeared unimpressed by his defense. “Spike, would you escort Lector to the dungeons?”
The young vampire at his side made a sound of protest. “I told you not to call me that.”
Viper arched a brow. “Will you do the honors or not?”
“With pleasure.” Moving with the eagerness of a vampire who enjoyed his job, Spike grabbed the Andrax and pressed the dagger into his throat. “Any torture in particular?”
“I think you should start with cutting out his tongue,” the clan chief suggested as Lector’s screams echoed off the marble walls.
“An excellent choice,” Spike approved.
“I’ll let your imagination take you from there.”
“Do you want him alive in the morning?”
“Not particularly.”
“No,” Lector managed to rasp despite the hole in his throat. “I’m your best fighter. You can’t do this.”
It turned out Spike could.
And did.
With remarkable ease.
In less than a heartbeat, the young vampire was dragging the struggling demon down the hall, leaving Jaelyn alone to face the clan chief of Chicago.
“Such an unpleasant creature,” Viper said with a grimace.
“Then why do you keep him around?”
The dark eyes turned to study her with an unreadable expression.
“He wasn’t boasting when he claimed to be my best fighter. Or rather ...” The vampire gave a dismissive wave of his hand. “He was.”
“Will you really let your guard kill him?”
“Yes, I really will.” His smile revealed his complete lack of regret at the loss. Damn. Jaelyn had thought she was cold-hearted. “Now tell me what brings a Hunter to my humble establishment?”
She thrust aside all thought of the soon-to-be-dead demon and focused on her reason for coming to the Viper Pit.
“I need to speak with the Anasso, but I’m not sure how to contact him.”
The dark eyes narrowed at her abrupt request. “Your Ruah ...”
“This isn’t Addonexus business,” she interrupted. “I’m working on behalf of the Oracles.”
“And they sent you?”
She deliberately ignored his question. “Will you take me to him?”
“I see the Addonexus haven’t spent much time training their recruits that they can catch more flies with honey,” he said dryly.
She resisted the urge to point out the Addonexus didn’t run a freaking charm school.
See? She did have at least a little tact.
“I’m sorry, but it’s urgent that I speak with him,” she managed to say between clenched teeth. “Please.”
He studied her grim expression for a long moment. “Very well, but it will take a day or two to set up a meeting.”
A day or two?
She stepped forward, shaking her head. “No, this can’t wait.” She held up her hand as his lips parted. “Not unless you actually want the return of the Dark Lord?”
“Thank you, Viper.” A hard, commanding voice filled the hallway. “I’ll take it from here.”
Chapter 17
Jaelyn had mistakenly assumed that no vampire could match the strength and power of her Ruah.
Weren’t the members of the Addonexus supposed to be the elite of the elite of the vampire world?
That’s what she’d been taught.
But slowly turning to discover the six-foot-five Aztec warrior towering over her, she realized that her teachers had grossly overestimated their own worth.
Styx, the current Anasso, maintained the bronzed skin and proud angular features of his ancestors as well as the dark, silky hair that fell in a braid to the back of his knees. And while his muscular form was currently covered by a green silk shirt and dark dress pants, it was all too easy to picture him striding through the jungles of South America.
There was something not quite civilized about the vampire.
Turning from Jaelyn, Viper regarded the King of Vampires with more curiosity than fear.
She’d heard rumors that the clan chief and Anasso were acquainted, which was why she’d sought out the Viper Pit, but now she suspected that they were actually friends.
Odd.
Two such alpha males rarely bonded.
“Do you want me to stay?” Viper was asking.
A rueful smile touched the ancient vampire’s lips. “I think I can manage.”
“You can use my office.” Viper glanced toward the silent Jaelyn. “I think I’d better make sure there aren’t any other surprises roaming my club.”
The clan chief slid into the shadows and swiftly disappeared as the Anasso waved a hand toward the nearby staircase.
“This way.”
Jaelyn hesitated, impatient to say what needed to be said so she could be on her way.
Thankfully she was impatient, not mental.
If the six-foot-five Anasso with massive fangs and enough power to destroy Chicago wanted her to go upstairs, then by God she’d go upstairs.
It didn’t, however, mean she’d be happy about it.
Climbing the steps Jaelyn allowed herself to be led into a well-appointed office with recessed shelves that were lined with leather-bound books and a stone fireplace on the far wall.
Styx pointed toward one of the wing chairs sitting near the heavy walnut desk, waiting for her to take a seat before heading toward the carved side table and opening the built-in fridge to pull out a bag of blood. With surprising expertise, the vampire poured the blood into a crystal cut glass and popped it into the microwave.
Almost as if he wa
s ... domesticated.
Her inane thoughts were brought to a sharp end as the vampire crossed the dark wood of the floor to press the glass into her hand.
Instinctively she gave a shake of her head, attempting to thrust the glass away.
The dark eyes flared with warning. “Drink.”
“No. I can’t.”
He muttered something beneath his breath about Addonexus and stubborn relics.
“It’s clean and you’re about to collapse.” His voice slid over her with a promise of pain. “I can make it an order if you want.”
“No,” she muttered, gulping down the blood.
He was right. She was dangerously weak after the energy she’d used to survive her brush with dawn and if the Anasso wanted her dead he wouldn’t need to use tainted blood to do it.
Even when his power was leashed it was like a pulsing threat that filled the room.
Removing her empty glass, Styx moved to lean against the corner of the desk, studying her with an unnerving intensity.
“You’re the Hunter who helped Tane and Laylah,” he finally broke the thick silence.
She shrugged. “Our paths crossed.”
“Did you manage to capture the Sylvermyst?”
Jaelyn’s fingers tightened on the arm of the chair, but her training allowed her to meet the dark gaze without flinching.
“My mission has been changed.”
“I see.” He folded his arms over his massive chest. “Well, I don’t actually see, but I presume that it has something to do with the return of the Dark Lord?”
There was just enough of a bite in his voice to warn that he didn’t like the thought that he might be out of the loop.
Control freak?
Naaaaw.
“The child is in the hands of Tearloch and his pet wizard,” she abruptly admitted.
“Yes, Tane told us the child was stolen by the Sylvermyst and Sergei in the Russian caves. A pity, but at least we rescued Maluhia.”
Maluhia?
She assumed that must be the twin to the baby held by Tearloch.
“The wizard isn’t Sergei,” she corrected, her heart contracting at the reminder that the mage was even now with Ariyal. Somewhere. “I’m not sure what happened to him.”
“Then who?”
“Tearloch summoned a spirit that goes by the name Rafael,” she informed him. “I think you know him.”
The Anasso abruptly straightened, a scowl marring his brow.
“Rafael? You’re certain?”
“Yes.”
“Shit.”
Shoving his hand into the front pocket of his slacks, Styx pulled out a slim cellphone and jabbed in a series of numbers.
Jaelyn rose to her feet, feeling her strength returning from the blood her king had forced her to drink.
“What are you doing?”
“Dante will want to hear this,” he told her, turning away to speak softly into the phone.
Once done he returned the phone to his pocket and turned back to meet her questioning gaze.
“Dante?”
“The vampire who killed Rafael the first time around.” He smiled with cruel anticipation. “He’ll be pissed if he gets left out on a second chance. He’s on his way.”
“Fine, but I don’t have time to wait for him.”
Power prickled over her skin, and Jaelyn silently cursed her uncharacteristic lack of control.
Dammit, the King of Vampires wasn’t a benevolent leader who ruled with a gentle democracy. He was a powerful demon, perhaps the most powerful in the entire world, and he was well within his rights to crush her if she offended him.
Thankfully the brief punishment was the extent of his reprimand.
“Tell me what you need from me.”
Relieved to have gotten off relatively unscathed, Jaelyn swiftly outlined their pursuit of Tearloch since leaving the Russian caves, carefully editing the more private details. Not that she was fooling anyone.
Styx could no doubt sense her inner turmoil when she spoke of the Sylvermyst who was supposed to be her enemy.
The Anasso listened in silence, his expression hard as she revealed the wizard’s attempt to fry her with the morning sun.
“The child must be rescued,” she at last concluded her tale, her hand unwittingly clutching the stock of her gun.
“I agree,” the king said without hesitation. “How many are in the caves?”
“Tearloch and a half-dozen Sylvermyst as well as the wizard.” She held up a warning hand. “But there could be others.”
“Others? You suspect the Sylvermyst has allies?”
“I doubt that Sergei has given up his ambitions to rule the world.”
The Anasso grimaced, obviously familiar with the Russian magic-user.
“He’s a tenacious bastard,” he readily agreed, his piercing gaze never wavering from her face. “But I sense he isn’t your primary concern.”
“No. While we were searching for Tearloch, I had a run-in with a cur.”
“A very stupid or very brave cur,” the king murmured. “I assume he’s dead?”
“ No.”
A dark brow arched in surprise. “No?”
“He was a magic-user.”
Styx tensed. “Damn, I wonder if Salvatore knows? He won’t be pleased.”
“Neither was I,” she said dryly.
He frowned, as if debating some inner quandary. “The Were called a meeting for tomorrow night. I suppose the information can wait until then.” With a shake of his head, the vampire returned his attention to her. “Is the cur connected to Tearloch?”
“I can’t say for sure, but I’m not a big believer in coincidences.”
“Me either.” Styx lifted a hand to brush a finger over the amulet that was hung around his neck. Jaelyn knew from her studies that Aztec people believed that they could tap in to the power of their ancestors with such talismans. Yeah, like this man needed any secret weapons. “Was the cur alone?”
“No, he was traveling with another cur and a human witch. And ...” She gave a lift of her hands. “I don’t know.”
“A demon?”
She considered her words, disliking her lack of concise facts. Vague speculation too often led to poor decisions.
“My guess would be a vampire, but it was able to disguise its scent.” She regarded him with a frown. “Is that possible?”
“If he’s traveling with a witch he could have an amulet to mask his presence,” he suggested.
She shook her head. “I don’t think that was it. I could sense him, but it was muted, as if he was blocking my powers.”
An odd expression tightened the bronzed features, almost as if Styx had been struck by an unpleasant suspicion. But before she could question him, he was pacing to study the row of monitors that revealed the crowds filling the club below.
“He must have considerable skill if he was able to shroud himself from a Hunter.”
She narrowed her gaze. He was hiding something.
“Does it ring any bells?”
“None that I’m will to comment on without further information,” he said, revealing he hadn’t been deceived by her delicate attempt to probe. “Where are they now?”
She didn’t even consider pressing for an answer. Actually, she wasn’t sure she wanted to know.
She had quite enough on her plate, thank you very much.
“The last I knew Levet was trying to track them.”
Styx shuddered as he turned back to face her. “Good God.”
Jaelyn smiled. The tiny gargoyle seemed to have a genuine knack for irritating males, no matter what their species.
Then, as the thought of Levet reminded her that he was currently with Ariyal, and that they both might be in danger, she headed toward the door.
“I must go.”
“Wait.” With a speed that shocking even for a vampire, Styx was standing directly before her, his expression forbidding. “I need you here.”
“I’ve already tol
d you all I know.”
“You’ve recently been in the caves.” He took a deliberate step forward, towering over her. “We’ll need you to lead us to the child.”
“I can draw you a map.”
“You have someplace more important to be?”
She met the dark gaze, refusing to be intimidated. “I’m still under contract to the Oracles.”
His jaw clenched. “I’m sure they’ll understand if you take a short detour.”
Understand?
Clearly this vampire had never had to deal with the Commission.
“I’ve already detoured more than I should have,” she informed him, her tone edged with the impatience she could no longer control. “Now I need to go.”
Grudgingly he stepped aside, but as she pulled open the door he called out.
“Hunter.”
She glanced over her shoulder. “What?”
“I intend to gather my most trusted warriors and enter the caves tomorrow night, just before midnight,” he informed her. “Your presence might very well mean the difference between success and failure.”
“But no pressure, right?”
He smiled without apology. “All’s fair in love and war.”
“Yes.” A smile touched her own lips as she turned and hurried from the demon club. She had been playing by the rules since she’d been turned into a vampire, but the world was hurtling toward Armageddon and she intended to snatch whatever happiness she could discover before it was too late. “All’s fair in love and war.”
Ariyal slammed the treacherous mage into the wall of the abandoned warehouse. At the same time, his power filled the late-night air with enough heat to make the candle sitting on a broken crate melt into a puddle of wax.
“You son of a bitch, I’m going to kill you,” he growled.
“No ...” Sergei struggled to breathe. “Wait.”
“For what?” Ariyal demanded. “More lies?”
He had no doubt been a fool to trust the mage. But he hadn’t had much choice.
Not if he wanted to get out of the lead-lined cavern.
And more importantly, to gain the information the magic-user had dangled like the proverbial carrot.
Predictably Sergei hadn’t been satisfied when Ariyal’s initial portal had taken them just a few feet from the caves. He’d been convinced that the shadows were crawling with the Dark Lord’s minions. And since he refused to reveal his information until they were on the outskirts of Chicago, Ariyal had little choice but to bring them to this empty warehouse.
GOE 08 - Bound By Darkness Page 22