Darkness Everlasting (Guardians of Eternity #3)(65)

He didn't want to consider, let alone try to explain, his fierce refusal to contemplate handing over Darcy to the Weres. Not when it was bound to reveal a growing weakness within him.

Viper regarded him with a disturbing smile. "No, I suppose you don't."

Styx gave an impatient shake of his head. "I need to see Darcy."

"You will." Viper turned his gaze toward the house. "But first allow me to speak with Shay."

"Viper..."

"No, Styx." Viper turned to face Styx squarely. "If Abby is within, she can stop you from entering—you know that. It is best we try to accomplish this with a minimum of bloodshed. Especially if that bloodshed happens to be my own."

At the moment, Styx could care less about how much bloodshed was needed, or even who would have to shed it.

He had to see his angel.

And he had to see her now.

"I will have Darcy," he swore in a low tone.

"Great. This should be fun." Squaring his shoulders, Viper began walking down the street. "Come on."

As Darcy had soaked in her bubble bath, she had been blithely unaware of the battle that had raged below.

Thank God, since she would have been deeply distressed by the raised voices, the accusations, and occasional threats that burned the air.

Of course, it might have been nice to have had a bit of warning that Styx was making his way through the house like a natural disaster before coming out of the bathroom and simply discovering him pacing the bedroom floor.

"Cripes," she muttered, eyeing the nearby door and judging whether or not she could make a dash for it.

Easily following the direction of her thoughts, Styx smoothly stepped between her and the door, his expression tight with an unreadable emotion.

"Wait, Darcy. Please don't run from me," he said softly, his gaze trained hungrily on her pale face. "1 just wish to talk."

It wasn't Styx's request that halted her flight. After all, she was still royally ticked at him. Walking out seemed just about right.

But with nothing between her and damp nakedness except a small towel, it seemed wiser to remain in her rooms. No doubt Styx had brought the entire vampire nation with him. She preferred to keep her private parts private.

Besides, if she stayed she could glare at him to her heart's content.

Something she had been longing to do for hours.

"Did Shay tell you I was here?" she demanded.

"No, your conspirators were very determined to keep me from you." His eyes held a lingering hint of annoyance. Good, she told herself. She hoped that Shay had made him jump through hoops and dance a jig before allowing him upstairs. "Thankfully, I was far more determined to get to you."

She gripped the towel tighter. "I'm mad at you."

His lips twisted. "I reasoned that out when you tried to burn my lair to the ground."

"It was a very small fire."

"No fire is small to a vampire."

A pang of guilt raced through her heart. "No one was hurt, were they?"

Styx cautiously removed his heavy cape and tossed it onto a nearby chair. Darcy caught her breath at the sight of him in tight leather pants and a loose silk shirt that was sheer enough to give a hint of the perfect body beneath.

Even worse, his hair had been left loose to float about him like a river of ebony.

Dang it.

Men weren't meant to be so incredibly beautiful.

Or to be able to make a woman hot and bothered just by being in the same room.

"Only DeAngelo's pride." Styx shrugged. "He's none too pleased he was outwitted by such a tiny slip of a girl."

Darcy sternly returned her attention to his bronzed face. She was supposed to be angry.

A bout of hot, sweaty sex was not on the agenda.

Not now, anyway.

"So, was he offended because I'm tiny or because I'm a girl?" she demanded.

"Both, I suspect."

She gave a small snort. Vampires.

"Then I'm glad I hurt his pride."

The dark eyes darkened even further as he took a step closer. "It was foolish of you to sneak away. You could have been harmed."

"And you were worried you would lose your bargaining chip?" she demanded.

"Dammit, Darcy, I was worried about you," he growled with a heat that sent a tingle down her spine.

Darcy abruptly turned to pace toward the large bay window. She wasn't about to let him see just how much his concern meant to her.

Not when she didn't know if his concern truly was for her and not his damnable vampires.

"As you can see I'm fine."

"It was still a reckless stunt. You should have known better."

Well that effectively squashed the small warmth that had begun to bloom in her heart.

She spun around to resume her glaring.

"And what about that stunt you pulled on me, huh? I wouldn't have needed to sneak away if you hadn't tried to brainwash me, you ... you creep."

The bronzed features tightened. In anyone but Styx she might have taken his expression as one of guilt.

This vampire, however, was far too arrogant to ever believe he could have been mistaken.

"I did it for your own good," he predictably countered.

Darcy rolled her eyes. "Oh, give me a break. You did it because you couldn't control me and that would never do for the oh-so-powerful leader of all vampires."