Darkness Everlasting (Guardians of Eternity #3)(63)

That was a talent every woman needed.

Glancing toward the seemingly silent estate, Darcy futilely searched for some glimpse of the lurking vampires.

"If the place is being watched by vampires, then how do you expect to slip past them? God knows they can smell us a mile away."

"I've arranged for a small distraction." Shay smiled with a rather smug anticipation. "Just wait."

Darcy was about to point out the spectacular stupidity of hanging around waiting for the vampires to track them down when the silent night was abruptly shattered by a deep boom that rattled the windows and sent Darcy tumbling onto her frozen backside.

"Ouch," she muttered, forcing herself back to her feet. "What was that?"

"Levet."

"Did he set off a bomb?"

"No, that's what usually happens when he tries any sort of magic."

Darcy couldn't help but laugh. Somehow it didn't surprise her at all that the tiny gargoyle was prone to magical disasters.

"Something to remember."

"Exactly." Shay shifted around one of the towering oaks and then surprisingly reached down to pull a grate off what Darcy could only suspect was a tunnel. "Let's go."

"Through there?"

"Trust me," Shay murmured as she disappeared into the darkness. "And try to keep up. I'm not very fond of dark spaces, and I'd rather get this over with as quickly as possible."

Darcy followed behind, holding out her hands as the inky black swiftly consumed her. Blast. She didn't have a problem with tunnels, but she wasn't particularly fond of running headlong through the thick darkness at breakneck speed. With her luck, she was bound to run into a wall and knock herself senseless.

They traveled in near silence, Shay more silent than Darcy, until at last they left the tunnel and entered a large basement.

Darcy sighed in relief as toasty air wrapped about her. At the moment she didn't care if they were in the basement of hell itself as long as it was warm.

The thought had barely passed through her mind when the overhead lights were flipped on and a pretty, dark-haired woman with a stunning pair of light blue eyes moved forward.

"Abby." Shay moved forward to embrace the slender woman before waving a hand in Darcy's direction. "This is Darcy Smith."

"Darcy." With a charming smile, the woman moved forward to take Darcy's hand. "You are most welcome to my home."

Darcy felt a small tingle run through her at the woman's touch. A sense of power that was unmistakable.

She would remember not to piss the woman off.

"Thank you," she murmured, resisting the urge to shiver as Abby dropped her hand and turned toward Shay. "Dante's out searching for Darcy, so we might as well go upstairs, where we'll be more comfortable."

Shay gave a small grimace. "Actually, I need to go check on Levet. I hope to God he didn't manage to singe his wings again. I had to listen to his moans for a week the last time he did that."

Abby chuckled. "Bring him back here. I'll order from his favorite Greek restaurant. If anything will divert him from his complaining it is a seven-course meal."

"Good thinking," Shay murmured as she headed for the nearby stairs. "Have that food ready."

The half demon rushed from the room and, feeling oddly strange to be left alone with a genuine goddess, Darcy awkwardly tried to brush the dust from her jeans.

"I'm assuming all vampire lairs have these tunnels?" she asked.

Abby gave a chuckle. "They're a little obsessive about having dark places to hide in. I suppose I can't blame them. They are rather flammable in sunlight."

A portion of her unease faded at Abby's casual manner. She seemed almost... normal.

Whatever the heck that meant.

"This way." Abby led the way to the stairs, and together they climbed toward the upper floors. Once in the wide hallway that could have held her entire apartment,

Darcy came to a sharp halt. With a sense of disbelief, she allowed her gaze to travel over the crystal chandelier, which cast a soft glow of light over the priceless paintings and ceramic-tiled floor.

Realizing her guest had halted to gape in wonderment, Abby slowed her steps and glanced over her shoulder. "Darcy? Is something wrong?"

Darcy gave a slow shake of her head. "I've never been in the house of a goddess before. It's incredibly beautiful."

Abby gave a small snort as she retraced her steps and linked her arm through Dairy's. With a small tug, she had Darcy moving toward another sweeping staircase.

"Well, this goddess would rather be living in a comfy apartment that's in dire need of a good dusting, and close enough to the mall that I can catch the scent of Prada handbags," Abby confessed, with one of those smiles that invited the world to join in her happiness. "Dante, on the other hand, prefers a more lavish style."

"What's it like?" The words left Darcy's lips before she could halt them.

"What's what like?" Abby demanded.

"Being married to a vampire?"

"Ah." The pretty features abruptly softened into a dreamy expression. It was the same expression that Darcy had noticed on Shay's face when she spoke of Viper. "I suppose it wouldn't be for every woman," Abby confessed. "Most vampires are prone to excessive arrogance and are way too fond of giving orders. And, of course, they have little experience in sharing their emotions. They need a great deal of training to become a proper mate."