Darkness Unleashed (Guardians of Eternity #5)(100)

Styx arched a brow. “And Viper told me you were just another pretty face. Obviously all those years of scholarly research wasn’t a complete waste.”

Jagr’s sharp laugh echoed through the room. “I wouldn’t jump to any hasty conclusions. I can be remarkably stupid when I put my mind to it.”

Styx moved to stand directly before him. “What will you do now?”

“In the next few moments, or with the rest of my existence?”

Styx flashed his rare smile. “You are in a philosophical mood tonight.”

“It must be the ambiance.”

“Gods, don’t remind me.” Styx shuddered as he cast a disgusted glance around the ornate, elegant furnishings before returning his attention to Jagr. “Are you returning to your lair?”

“For now.”

“There’s no need for you to be alone, you know. Viper called earlier with an invitation for you to join him and Shay. And, of course, you are always welcome here.”

Jagr narrowed his gaze at the low, almost commanding tone. Why the hell would Styx care where he stayed? God knew he’d been left alone in his lair for years without…

Comprehension struck like a bolt of lightning, and Jagr stiffened in humiliation.

“Ah, Regan told you about my bout of madness,” he gritted. “Are you afraid I might ravage Chicago?”

Styx allowed a hint of his power to flow over Jagr, the prickle of energy a painful reminder of the Anasso’s strength.

“If I feared you were mad then you would be locked in a cell, not sipping my finest brandy in the lair I share with my mate.” As swiftly as the punishment began, it came to a halt, and Styx reached out to lay a hand on Jagr’s shoulder. “My only concern is for your happiness, my brother.”

Jagr gave a shake of his head, spinning away from the disturbing compassion etched on the vampire’s face.

Dammit. Just a few weeks ago he’d been a nearly forgotten vampire living beneath the streets of Chicago. An eccentric loner who possessed the nasty sort of reputation to keep others away.

And that was exactly how he had liked it.

Then without warning, he’d been dragged kicking and screaming back into a world filled with clan brothers, vampire politics, and a beautiful Were that had breathed life back into his frozen soul.

He wasn’t sure if he wanted to stick a stake in Styx’s heart, or fall to his knees and bless him.

Maybe both.

“I need…distance,” he at last admitted.

“From Regan?”

“Yes.”

There was a long silence, then Styx moved to take his seat behind the desk.

“You could leave Chicago if you want,” he said smoothly.

“Not without fighting every clan chief whose territory I enter. That’s why I approached Viper in the first place.”

“As one of my Ravens, you could travel the world without fear of being challenged by other vampires.”

Jagr jerked around, meeting Styx’s steady gaze with an undisguised shock.

Holy hell. He hadn’t seen that coming.

“A Raven?”

Styx leaned back in the chair, his fingers steepled beneath his chin as he studied Jagr.

“It’s rare that I find a warrior of your skill and loyalty. When I do, I’m smart enough to insist upon their service.”

“Loyalty?” Jagr shook his head, wondering if the man was suffering from dementia. What else could possess the usually intelligent vampire to make such a dangerous offer? “In case you’ve forgotten, I don’t follow orders.”

“Loyalty is different from blind obedience,” Styx countered. “I often send out my Ravens on delicate tasks. I need soldiers who can think for themselves and make decisions when they can’t contact me.”

Jagr snorted. “I’m about as delicate as a war hammer.”

“Sometimes a mission takes a rapier, and sometimes it takes a war hammer.” Styx tapped his fingers on the glossy surface of the desk. “It’s my job to determine which weapon is needed.”

“And my bouts of madness?” he demanded. “They are rare, but…”

“They are no more than any other demon battles, including myself,” Styx overrode his argument.

Jagr shook his head.

A Raven.

A part of him wanted to laugh at the sheer absurdity.

He was a half-feral vampire who had devoted his first centuries to hating those who’d tortured him, and the last few centuries hating the beast he’d become.

Now, the King of Vampires was offering him a position of highest respect among the demon-world.

Talk about irony.

But another part of him, the part he’d kept closed off until Regan had smashed into his life, was strangely tempted by the offer.

He’d always depended on his studies to give him a sense of purpose. The gaining of knowledge was not only fascinating, but it was as lethal a weapon as his sword or daggers.

Besides, there was a quiet peace to be found in his vast library. And of course, the bonus of knowing his books weren’t going to try to kill him.

Now, however, he couldn’t help but wonder if it was time he put an end to his self-imposed exile.

Without undue vanity, he knew he was one of the most powerful vampires to walk the earth. And his vast studies gave him insights into both the human and demon-world that few others could claim.