Darkness Avenged (Guardians of Eternity #10)(93)

“What the hell?”

“Santiago!” Levet called out in warning, then there was a thud, as if he’d been tossed into the wall.

He had half a second to turn toward the door before Nefri was in the room, her hair floating around her exquisitely beautiful face and her eyes glowing with a mindless rage.

Her features had been sharpened, the alabaster skin so perfect it shimmered like the finest silk. And her slender body sculpted with the grace of an Amazon.

She was as nature intended.

An exotic symbol of pure female power.

Santiago stood in speechless wonderment. A mistake, as Nefri’s fierce gaze shifted toward the female imp chained to the wall.

Tonya cried out in fear as Nefri flowed forward, her fangs fully extended and her hands curled into claws.

“Nefri.” He was moving before he could consider the consequences, placing himself between Tonya and the feral vampire. “No.”

Nefri slammed into him with enough force to send him flying into the wall, his teeth rattling from the impact. He grimly ignored his cracked ribs and ice that was beginning to form on his skin as Nefri’s fury blazed over him with frigid force.

He couldn’t stop her. He’d always known in a head to head battle her strength was greater.

But he could try to distract her from Tonya.

After that . . .

Hell, what did it matter? Chances were good he would be dead. He didn’t really need a long-term plan.

With that cheerful thought at the forefront of his mind, he launched himself forward, wrapping his arms around Nefri as he struggled to contain her without causing her any injury. He felt her quiver, the sweet scent of jasmine filling his senses as if she were battling against the violence that thrummed through her veins.

But even as a tiny hope began to form, Nefri was wrapping her fingers around his throat and he was lifted off his feet. He grunted, refusing to reach for his weapons. He wouldn’t harm her. No matter what the cost.

Instead, he gazed deep into her eyes, allowing her to see the love that was branded onto his very soul.

A love that he’d never spoken, but had offered in every touch of his hand, in every lingering kiss.

He could only pray that she’d been able to sense what he’d been too cowardly to say.

Assuming the creature in control of Gaius was intent on enjoying his slow, painful death, Santiago found himself abruptly dropped as Nefri released her grip.

Falling to his knees, he glanced up to discover that she was staring blankly at the far wall, clearly oblivious to her surroundings.

Then, Gaius stepped between them, staring down at Santiago with a cruel smile. “I will release her on the world, Santiago,” he purred. “I will release her and the only way to halt her rampage will be to kill her. Are you prepared to sacrifice her for your oh-so-noble loyalty?”

Santiago’s gaze shifted back to the female who had sacrificed so much to protect others, knowing what her choice would be. She would demand that once again she be the one to suffer.

“Damn you,” he rasped, already knowing what his decision would be.

Gaius grimaced, seeming to briefly come to his senses. “We are all damned, my son.”

Chapter 26

Styx’s lair in Chicago

Roke had never been the most flamboyant of his brothers. Or the most gregarious.

He was, in fact, a taciturn vampire who was as willing to share his feelings as a rattlesnake.

Tonight, however, there was no doubt of his emotional state. As he paced the carpet of Styx’s study, his moccasins made no sound, but the floor shuddered beneath his feet and the recently repaired chandelier swayed as his power sent tiny quakes through the air.

Leaning against the massive desk, Styx folded his arms over his chest, his expression one of exasperation. “Roke, I understand your precaution, but—”

“No,” Roke interrupted, halting his pacing to glare at his king.

“What if the book is important?”

Still dressed in jeans, a T-shirt, and his leather jacket, Roke shoved a hand through his hair. He’d almost ignored Styx’s text that demanded his presence in the study. Unfortunately, it was difficult to ignore a royal summons.

“Then it will still be important a month or even a century from now,” he growled.

“But—”

“No.”

Styx muttered his opinion of pigheaded vampires before he pointed an accusing finger toward Roke. “Has anyone told you that the art of negotiation consists of both sides being willing to compromise?”

“This isn’t a negotiation.” Roke allowed Styx to glimpse his unyielding resolve. “Sally isn’t going anywhere near that warehouse until we discover why that coven was slaughtered. And who did it.”

They matched each other glare for glare, both too alpha to back down.

Then, with a shake of his head, Styx straightened from the desk. “Dammit. I’ll have Jagr do some research,” he snapped, his eyes narrowing in warning. “You need to concentrate on tracing Sally’s family tree. The sooner you break the mating bond, the better.”

Roke clenched his jaw, caught off guard by the raw stab of fury at Styx’s callous words.

Magical trickery or not, the bond felt as real as any other mating.

Not that he was about to admit as much. To anyone. Instead he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “You mean I’m actually allowed to leave Chicago?”