Darkness Avenged (Guardians of Eternity #10)(36)

“It clears my mind,” she said, smoothly rising to her feet.

He snorted, not fooled for a second. A vampire didn’t use that amount of power to find their inner self.

“And you were hoping to contact the Oracles?”

Her eyes narrowed. “If only you were as clever as you think you are.”

He slowly paced to stand mere inches from her. “I’m not only as clever as I think I am, but I’m even better looking.”

She stepped back before she could hide her revealing retreat. Then, squaring her shoulders, she forced herself to meet his wicked grin. “Did you convince Styx to send out his Ravens?”

His gaze lowered to the lush red lips, a ready heat spreading through his body. Oh, the havoc those lips could wreak.

“Once I assured him the gargoyle was no longer missing.”

“Styx was concerned about Levet?” she asked in bewilderment.

“Not Styx. Darcy,” he corrected her. “Like me, the Anasso couldn’t care less if the aggravating pest stayed absent.”

“Ah.” The cool composure slammed back into place. “I’ve already had word that he’s waiting for us just north of here.” She waved her hand toward the glass of blood that was set on the low table. “You should eat so we can join him.”

He crossed to lift the glass to his lips, draining it in one long swallow.

It held the rich flavor of Harpy, but it wasn’t the jasmine-scented blood he longed for. Still, it replenished his strength. Anything else would obviously have to wait.

Replacing the empty glass on the table, he turned back to study his companion. “Aren’t you going to join me?”

She shrugged. “I need very little sustenance.”

Hmmm. Interesting. Santiago had heard rumors that there were those behind the Veil who abstained completely from blood. Just another way to make themselves superior to their more savage brethren, he wryly assumed.

“Because of your age or because of your time behind the Veil?”

She arched a brow. “It’s hardly polite to discuss a woman’s age.”

“Why are you so secretive?”

“I’m not.”

“Then answer the question. Do you feed?”

Something that was almost an emotion flared through her eyes before it was ruthlessly squashed. “Not when I’m with my clan.”

“So it’s true that the Veil steals all hunger?”

Her jaw clenched. He knew she hated being questioned almost as much as she hated revealing anything about the mysteries beyond the Veil. Thankfully she’d learned that he was just as stubborn as she was.

“It diminishes the more primitive needs,” she admitted in clipped tones.

“And passions?”

“For most.”

He grimaced. Endless nights without desire or hunger or pleasure?

“Why the hell would anyone choose to live there?”

“There are those of us who have interests beyond physical satisfaction,” she informed him with an edge of censure.

Ah. A challenge. He returned his attention to the temptation of her lips as he moved to stand close enough to be wrapped in her jasmine scent. “There’s a lot to be said for physical satisfaction,” he reminded her in a husky voice.

She stiffened, but held her ground. “And even more to be said for the powers that come from abstinence.”

“What powers?” he swiftly pounced.

She abruptly turned away, heading toward the door. “If you’re finished we should go.”

He moved to stand in her path. “What powers?”

A burst of frigid energy lashed against him, just a small taste of her displeasure.

Damn. Why was that so sexy?

“I’ve told you before that the talents of vampires are as varied behind the Veil as they are in this world.”

He pretended that he didn’t notice the tightness of her features that warned he was wearing on her last nerve. Unless he pushed the issue he would never truly discover the woman beneath the clan chief.

And he wanted that.

With a brutal need that was more than a little frightening.

“I know there’s shape-shifting and mist-walking.”

“Yes.”

“And the ability to pass as human?” he asked, referring to the rumors that there were vampires who could feign breathing, a heartbeat, and even warm their skin.

“For a rare few.”

“Day-walkers?”

“Even fewer.”

“Dios.” He didn’t bother to hide his surprise. He hadn’t truly believed it was possible. “Can you walk in the daylight?”

“Long ago I could endure the sun for very limited periods of time.”

“Why not now?”

“Because my visits have become more frequent to this world,” she said, her composure a brittle shell. “It steals my abilities.”

“Why have they been more frequent?”

“There was an . . . incident two centuries ago that I had to handle and more recently I devoted my attention to searching for the prophet.” Her dark gaze shifted toward the door, her profile rigid. “I had hoped that once the Dark Lord was defeated I would be allowed to return to my studies.”

Santiago scowled, disgruntled by her regret. It appeared painfully genuine. Was this a warning that her place was firmly behind the Veil?