Darkness Revealed (Guardians of Eternity #4)(80)

It was nearly two hours later when Anna and Cezar at last emerged from their underground room and made their way toward Viper’s private study at the back of the large, but charmingly unpretentious, country house.

They had showered (a slow, hot, delicious shower) and changed into the clothes that Viper had sent to them, and since Cezar had earlier contacted his host and asked that he request Styx to meet him here, he knew they would impatiently be awaiting their arrival.

Still, he found his feet halting before he could reach the door to the study, as if they had acquired a mind of their own.

At his side, Anna turned to face him. “Is something wrong?”

“I wish…” His voice was thick, his body feeling stiff and awkward. Dios. He’d never felt fear such as this. Not even when he was wading through the bloodiest of battles. “I wish this was over and done with so we could just be together.”

A sad smile touched her lips. “Yes.”

On the point of reaching for her, Cezar was halted as the door was yanked open and Styx stepped into sight. As always, the looming Aztec looked ominous in his black leather and braided hair.

“Night is wasting, amigo,” the Anasso rasped. “We need to make our plans.”

“We’re coming,” Cezar muttered, his narrowed gaze sending Styx retreating back to the study with a wry smile. Waiting until they were alone, he reached to take Anna’s hand. He frowned as he realized it was even colder than his own. Quite a feat for a warm-blooded woman. “Ready, querida?”

She gave a short laugh. “Are you kidding?”

“Are you as ready as you will ever be?”

She sucked in a deep breath. “As long as you’re at my side.”

He squeezed her fingers. “Forever.”

“Then let’s do this.”

Hand in hand they entered the study. Cezar instinctively sent a searching gaze around the room, noting the French doors set between the desk and long bookcases, and the window near the matching leather chairs. Only when he was confident there were no lurking fairies waiting to leap into the house did he turn his attention to the three vampires peering at something on the far wall.

Viper and Styx were easily recognizable, but it took a moment before he realized he knew the third vampire with his long blond braid and massive body.

Jagr.

“Dios,” he breathed, shoving Anna behind his body as Styx hurriedly joined him near the door. “What’s he doing here?”

“Who is it?” Anna demanded, smacking him in the middle of the back.

“Anna.” Moving around Cezar, Styx offered a small bow of his head. “My wife has prepared dinner for you in the kitchen. She hopes that you will join her there.”

Cezar turned to watch the conflicting emotions that flitted over his mate’s expressive face. On one hand she understood the need to eat and keep up her strength; on the other she didn’t want to be left out of the planning. With a smile he ran the back of his fingers down her cheek.

“You must eat, Anna. We will make no decisions without you.”

Her gaze warned of dire retributions if he didn’t keep his word before she grudgingly turned and headed back out the door.

Cezar couldn’t deny a small flare of relief at her departure. He didn’t want Anna anywhere near Jagr. Hell, he wasn’t sure he wanted to be near Jagr.

Waiting until her slender form had disappeared down the hall, Cezar turned to stab his leader with an annoyed glare. “You haven’t answered my question.”

Styx pointed toward a map that had been pinned to the wall. “He possesses the most detailed maps of Illinois. Viper asked if we could borrow them.”

“And he left his lair to bring them?” His attention returned to the large, feral vampire who was speaking softly with Viper. “Amazing.”

“Not really.” Styx’s smile was cold. “I can be quite persuasive when I issue an invitation.”

Persuasive? More like lethal.

“Are you sure it’s safe?” he growled, still not pleased at having the vampire near Anna.

Styx shrugged. “He is…unstable and fiercely independent, but he knows better than to stir my anger.”

Cezar smiled wryly. “Don’t we all?”

Amusement briefly flickered through the dark golden eyes before the hard, aloof expression returned.

“How is Anna?”

“Scared.”

“I meant, how did she receive the information that you mated her while she was unconscious?”

Cezar shoved a hand through his hair, which he’d left loose after his shower. Anna seemed to like running her fingers through it, and he liked letting her.

“Actually she received it better than I could ever have hoped,” he muttered, still in awe at the memory of her ready acceptance of his bonding. He had spent hours preparing himself for her fury, even hatred. What he hadn’t prepared himself for was her desire to complete the ceremony. Dios. He’d rather have taken a stroll through the sun than to deny her request. “Better than she should have.”

Styx lifted his brows, easily sensing Cezar’s raw flare of pain. “Tell me what troubles you.”

“She desires to complete the ceremony,” he admitted.

The dark eyes narrowed. “Should I offer my congratulations?”