Bound By Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #8)(72)

“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 was ... 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.