Her lips twisted wryly. "And don't forget you intend to hand me over to a pack of werewolves."
"That is far from decided," he growled. "Salvatore has made no effort to negotiate. Until he does, there will be no discussion of you going anywhere."
Her gaze dropped to his amulet, which she absently stroked. "Still, you are right. I should fear and resent you."
He flinched at her blunt words. "So why do you not?"
Why, indeed.
Darcy sucked in a deep breath. "To be honest, I don't know exactly. Perhaps it's because I haven't truly felt like a captive. After all, you haven't locked me in my room, you've made sure that your housekeeper always has my favorite foods, and you did send poor Levet out into the snow to retrieve my plants." She gave a shrug. "Or perhaps it's because I don't think like most people."
He gave a lift of his brows. "You don't?"
She laughed. "No surprise, huh?"
His features softened. "I believe you are a woman who follows her heart rather than her head."
"Meaning that I'm impulsive and utterly lacking in common sense most of the time," she agreed dryly.
"Meaning that you are kind and compassionate and capable of seeing something good even in those who don't deserve your sympathy." His hand moved to curl his fingers around the back of her neck. "Even a cold-hearted, ruthless vampire."
Darcy gave a slow shake of her head. "You are not coldhearted, Styx. Quite the opposite."
His lips thinned. "There are few who would agree with you, angel."
"Only because you go out of your way to appear ruthless," she pointed out. "No doubt it assists you to be seen as a capable leader, but I know differently."
"Do you?" He studied her with a bemused fascination.
"Yes." Darcy considered a long moment, realizing the true reason she could not look on him as her enemy. "Everything you do, including kidnapping me, is done for the welfare of your people. They are your family. Your responsibility and duty. And you would do anything, even die, to protect them. I respect you for that. And I hope that... if I had a family I would do the same."
Something flashed deep in his eyes. "Angel. .." The sound of pounding on the door brought his words to an abrupt halt. "Dammit, DeAngelo, go away."
"Master," the deep, emotionless voice floated through the heavy door, "you have petitioners."
"Petitioners?" Darcy inquired.
With a grimace Styx flowed to his feet, his naked body glowing with a bronzed perfection in the muted light.
"Vampires who seek justice. I fear I must attend to this."
Darcy struggled against the urge to run her hands over the chiseled line of his leg. Damn DeAngelo and his interruption. She didn't want Styx running off. Not when he was looking delectable enough to eat.
Unfortunately, she understood that Styx possessed duties that were beyond the both of them.
"It's tough being king, eh?" she sighed.
"More often than not," he muttered, pulling on his leather pants and boots before regarding her with a fierce gaze. "Will you be here when I return?" She smiled wryly. "Is there anywhere I can go?" He bent down to steal a sweetly gentle kiss. "Not anywhere that I wouldn't find you."
"Somehow I knew that."
Styx couldn't deny a fierce disappointment at being torn from Darcy's side. Peculiar. He had already sated his passion as well as his bloodlust. There was no reasonable need to linger in her company.
Of course, nothing about his relationship with Darcy was reasonable, he wryly acknowledged.
It went far beyond the need for sex or blood. It even went beyond discovering the truth of why she was so important to the Weres.
The truth of the matter was that his life was different when Darcy was close.
He was more than a grim guardian, or all-powerful leader of the vampires.
He was ... a man.
A man who had long ago forgotten just how precious a true companion could be.
A delicious, beautiful, sweet companion who was clearly out of her mind to offer a dangerous vampire such ready affection.
Giving a shake of his head, Styx forced his thoughts from Darcy and attempted to concentrate upon the matters at hand.
As much as he longed to sweep Darcy to his rooms and lock out the world, his duties could not be forgotten.
Smoothing back his hair, he reached for the heavy black robe that DeAngelo held in his hands.
"Who are the petitioners?" Styx demanded as he slipped on the robe and mounted the steps that led to the kitchen.
DeAngelo's pale features were unreadable. If he possessed any opinion on his master's unmistakable obsession with their prisoner, he was wise enough not to reveal it.
Smart vampire.
"They have called themselves Victoria and Uther," he murmured.
"I don't recognize the names."
"They have traveled from Australia."
"Is it a land dispute?"
"Actually I believe it is more of a ..."
Entering the kitchen, Styx came to a halt and regarded DeAngelo with a frown.
"What?"
"Personal dispute."
"And they bring it to me?" Styx gave a growl of annoyance. "I am the Anasso, not..."
"Ann Landers?" DeAngelo offered, with a faint smile.
"Who?"
"Never mind." Unlike Styx, the younger vampire had not cut himself off completely from the world over the past centuries. Thankfully, however, he rarely bored his master with tedious fads or fashions. They have come to seek asylum."
"Why do they not go to Viper? I have no clan."
"No, but you can offer them protection from their chief." DeAngelo's expression became grim. "He has called for a Blood Challenge."
Styx gave a lift of his brow. A Blood Challenge was a one-on-one battle to the death. A challenge that should not be undertaken lightly, even by a clan chief.
"What is his charge?"
"He has claimed that they conspire to take over his clan." DeAngelo gave a lift of his shoulder. "They deny his accusation and say that the clan chief has discovered they are lovers and wishes to halt their determination to become mates."
"The clan chief wants this Victoria for himself?" Styx demanded.
"Uther," DeAngelo corrected.
"Ah." Styx heaved a faint sigh. The last thing he desired was to be drawn into some domestic squabble. Especially when that domestic squabble was keeping him from Darcy. Unfortunately, the mere fact that a Blood Challenge had been issued forced him to take the matter under consideration. Dammit. "I will see them," he muttered, forcing himself toward the front of the house, where he could sense the vampires waiting for him.
Entering the living room, he watched the tall, black-haired woman and towering Viking as they lowered themselves to their knees and pressed their foreheads to the carpet.
"My lord," they intoned in unison.
Styx stifled a sigh and set his features into aloof lines. "Rise, Victoria and Uther, and reveal why you seek the justice of the Anasso."
Chapter Eleven
It was nearing dawn when Darcy left the solarium and entered the kitchen. She had seen nothing of Styx since he had been called away by his petitioners, and she could only assume that he was still closeted with them.
For a time she had regretted the knowledge she could not watch Styx play at being king.
She didn't doubt he looked very imposing as he disposed justice to those beneath him.
A proud warrior seated on his royal throne.
Then her common sense managed to kick into gear.
She didn't know much about vampire justice, but she was fairly certain it didn't include warm, fuzzy sessions with a psychiatrist, or any sort of community service.
It more than likely included swords and blood and swift retribution.
Not at all her sort of thing.
Wandering into the kitchen, Darcy plucked an apple from one of the cabinets and abruptly turned as the outer door was thrown open and Levet waddl
ed into the room muttering curses beneath his breath.
She gave a small shiver as the frigid air rushed into the room.
"Good heavens, you look frozen," she said as she moved to close the door. As much as she loved snow-she didn't want it filling the kitchen.
"No doubt because I am frozen," Levet muttered. He gave a shake of his wings to rid himself of the clinging ice. "One of these days I fully intend to stick that obnoxious vampire in a freezer and see how he likes being a demon Popsicle."
Darcy gathered a towel and began to gently dry the rough gray skin.
"Styx sent you out again?"
"Do you think I willingly tromp about in the snow?"
"Why would he do such a thing?" she demanded in annoyance. Really, what was Styx thinking? The poor gargoyle was nearly blue with cold.
"Oh ..." A strangely wary expression rippled over the lumpy features. "Just a small errand. Where is the lord and master?"
"Sitting on his throne."
Levet gave a startled blink. "I fear to even ask what you mean."
With a chuckle Darcy tossed aside the towel. "He is dealing out justice to some vampires who arrived."
'Sacre bleu. Just like a vampire to send me out in the snow, and then expect me to kick my heels until he is prepared to see me."
Watching the gargoyle stomp toward the table, Darcy noticed the large envelope he clutched in his hand. A strange chill inched down her spine.
Obviously he had some information for Styx. Information that might very well have to do with her.
"You still have not told me what you were doing," she reminded her companion softly.
Levet paused, his expression troubled. "I am not certain that your captor would wish me to share what I have discovered."
"And?"
There was another pause before the gargoyle gave a sudden smile. "And so of course I will happily share whatever you wish to know."
Darcy returned the smile. She had known from the beginning she was going to like this tiny demon.
"Tell me where you've been," she demanded.
A hint of smugness touched Levet's smile. "While your so brave champion was still recovering from his near fatal wound, I managed to slip into the werewolf lair."
Aha, she knew it.
She managed to look suitably impressed. "How very clever, not to mention brave, of you."
Levet gave a flap of his wings. "Ah well. I have something of a reputation for being astonishingly courageous when the situation demands it."
"I can understand why." Darcy's gaze shifted to the envelope in his hand. "Did you discover anything of value?"
"It is certainly intriguing."
"May I see?" She held out her hand, her brows lifting as he hesitated. "Levet?"
He grimaced as he heaved a rumbling sigh. "I suppose you must see them at some point, although I'll no doubt find my manly parts chiseled off when I awaken."
The chill traveled to the pit of her stomach. She couldn't imagine what the Weres might possess that would concern her. And she had to admit that there was a small part of her that felt a measure of unease.
Secrets were dangerous beasts.
They could reach out and bite a person when least expected.
Still, she had to know. She simply had to.
"What is it?" she rasped.
With an awkward motion the gargoyle shoved the envelope into her hand. "Here."
Swallowing the lump in her throat, she settled in one of the wooden chairs that were set around the table. It seemed a wise precaution, since her knees already felt weak.
After opening the envelope, she pulled out a stack of photos and spread them on the table.
"Gripes," she breathed, her gaze narrowing as she regarded the numerous pictures. They were all of her, and all taken over the past two weeks. Her in the grocery store. Her in the park. Her in her small apartment (thank God in the kitchen, not the bathroom). A wave of nausea rolled through her stomach. "They have been spying on me. That's just. . . creepy."
"There is more," Levet said softy.
Darcy glanced up in surprise as Levet handed her another photo that he had kept hidden.
Taking the picture, Darcy felt her heart give a violent leap as she studied the woman with long, pale blond hair and green eyes.
If she hadn't been obviously older with longer hair, she might have passed as Darcy's identical twin.
"My God. She looks like me," she breathed.
"Yes."
"She has to be a relative." Darcy licked her suddenly dry lips as she glanced up to meet Levet's guarded gaze. "Perhaps even ... my mother."
Feeling as if her entire world had tilted to a strange angle, Darcy didn't even notice the tall, silent form who entered the room and regarded her with a searching gaze.
Not until a cool hand touched her shoulder. "Darcy, what is it?"
With a tiny jump she tilted her head back to discover that Styx was standing directly behind her chair.
Her hand trembled as she held out the shocking photo. "Look."
Unexpectedly, his lean features hardened with a dangerous anger. "Where did this come from?"
Levet stepped forward, his expression stubborn. "Salvatore's lair. You did tell me to search it."
The vampire gave a soft hiss of annoyance. "And to bring whatever you discovered to me, not Darcy. What the hell were you thinking?"
Darcy blinked in bewilderment even as the gargoyle gave a nervous flutter of his wings.
"Why should she not see? The pictures do, after all, concern her."
"Of course they concern me," she said, rising to her feet. She didn't understand Styx's odd reaction, and at the moment she was too overwhelmed to give it much thought. Nothing mattered but the picture. "This is ... I don't know. I must speak with Salvatore."
"Out of the question."
Darcy stiffened as she glared at the vampire looming over her. For the first time she noticed the elegant robe that was draped over his shoulders. No doubt a symbol of his authority.
A symbol that had obviously gone to his head if he thought he could order her around as if she were one of his vampire flunkies.
"It most certainly is not out of the question." She waved the picture beneath his arrogant nose. "Do you understand what this means? I have ... family. And the werewolf knows who and where she is."
With a blur of motion he had snatched the picture from her fingers and was glaring at her with smoldering black eyes.
"And what if it is nothing more than a trick?"
She took an instinctive step back from the prickling power that shimmered in the air around him.
"What do you mean?"
"Salvatore is desperate to get his hands on you. Do you think he wouldn't stoop to any means to lure you into his clutches?"
Something very close to disappointment clenched her heart. Perhaps it was understandable that Styx would treat anything that had been in the hands of the Weres with suspicion, but he could at least try to understand her excitement.
For goodness sake, she had waited for this moment for thirty years.
"That is no trick." She pointed at the picture in his hand. "Whoever that woman is she looks like me. Enough like me to be my mother."
"Darcy..."
He reached out as if he would stroke her cheek, but Darcy quickly darted away. She wouldn't be distracted by his tender caress.
This was too important.
"No. I have to know."
Impatience rippled over his beautiful features before he managed to regain that cool control that was so much a part of him.
"Then we will discover the truth," he said with dark authority.
"How?"
He gave a lift of his shoulder. "I will approach Salvatore myself."
Darcy rolled her eyes. "Right, because it worked out so well for you last time."
A hint of fang flashed at her deliberate jab. He didn't like to be reminded that Salvatore had ever gotten the best of him.
"I was cau
ght off guard. I assure you, that will not happen again."
Darcy believed him. He would kill the pureblood before he would allow himself to be humiliated again.
Which did nothing for her confidence in his ability to discover the truth that she needed.
She couldn't get answers from a dead wolf.
"Maybe not, but Salvatore's not very likely to answer any questions to his sworn enemy, is he?"
"He will if he knows what is good for him."
"Oh, for God's sake, you can't beat the truth out of him," she snapped, her usually sunny temperament pressed beyond all reason. "It makes far more sense for me to question him. This might be the reason he is seeking me. Maybe this woman has paid him to find me."
"Or else she is already in his clutches," he said darkly.
"Oh." She pressed a hand to her heart. The thought of the unknown woman being held by the Weres was enough to send her into a panic. "Dear God. We must do something."
"I have already promised I would deal with this, Darcy. Leave it in my hands."
She sucked in a deep breath. He had to be the most stubborn vampire ever created.
"If you insist on being involved that's fine, but I'm going to be the one to confront Salvatore."
The dark eyes flashed with warning. That is not your decision to make."
"I'm making it my decision. I won't have you endangering this woman because you want to punish the werewolves."
Darcy had argued all she intended to. She had made up her mind and that was the end of it. With firm steps she headed to the door.
"Where are you going?" Styx growled from behind her.
"To change."
Styx watched with impotent anger as Darcy swept from the room.
Well, he had managed to screw that up with stunning success.
Of course, it wasn't entirely his fault.
Whirling around, he pointed a finger directly at the tiny demon attempting to hide behind one of the wooden chairs.
"You," he breathed in a lethal tone. "You did this."
With an effort the gargoyle tilted his chin to a stubborn angle. "Hey, don't blame the messenger. After all, you're the one who sent me to that damn lair. I could have been killed."
A pity he hadn't been, Styx savagely told himself. He had come in search of Darcy in the hopes of spending the last of the fading night in her arms. He was in need of her soft touch after hours spent dealing with two demanding vampires who expected him to magically solve their troubles.
Guardians of Eternity 03 - Darkness Everlasting Page 13