Darkness Unleashed (Guardians of Eternity #5)(43)

A rabid tiger would be more likely to dance the rumba.

Obviously it suited his purpose to stand in an empty field, staring at the large, abandoned building. A building that looked as if it could be some sort of creepy asylum.

A suspicion that became absolute certainty when Jagr tilted back his head as if testing the air.

“Remain close to my side,” he muttered.

Regan rubbed her arms, as much from the brittle tension radiating from Jagr as from the chill still clinging to her skin.

“You think the curs are chasing us?”

His gaze continued to scan the darkness. “There’s always a possibility that we’ve been followed, but I’m more concerned with the vampire who has a lair in the area. I wouldn’t want any misunderstandings by bringing a Were into his territory.”

Regan stiffened in wariness. Another vampire? Just what she needed.

“There’s a clan here?”

“No. Tane has no connection to a clan, although he no doubt has a number of guards with him. He’s a Charon.”

“A Charon.” She shook her head, dredging up the little Greek mythology she’d read. “You mean a ferryman?”

“Not quite.” His expression had settled into those cold, remote lines that always meant trouble. “A vampire assassin.”

Well, this just got better and better.

“Just to clarify, does that mean he’s a vampire who happens to be an assassin, or that he’s an assassin who kills vampires?”

“He hunts vampires.”

“He’s some sort of cannibal, and you intend to invade his territory? Are you nuts?”

“Tane’s not a cannibal. He’s a part of an elite group of warriors that Styx founded long before he became the Anasso, their sole purpose being to destroy those vampires who have become unstable.”

“Unstable?”

“It’s rare, but not unknown.”

Regan shuddered. The thought of a powerful, predatory vampire becoming unhinged wasn’t a pretty one.

Actually it was downright terrifying.

“Should I ask?”

His expression was grim. “No.”

Good enough for her.

“So this Tane hunts them down and kills them?” she instead demanded.

“It’s his duty.”

“Lovely.” With a grimace, her attention shifted toward the nearby building. At a distance it looked as if it had once been a handsome structure. Three stories, with a large verandah on the ground level and a balcony with a decorative railing running along the second floor, it boasted the type of high arched windows popular before air-conditioning, and six fluted columns that added an air of graceful dignity. The darkness, however, couldn’t disguise the fact that the red bricks were crumbling into slow oblivion and the windows were missing most of their panes of glass. “Why does he live out here in the middle of nowhere? Does he give the other vampires the heebie-jeebies?”

“A Charon must always remain above the politics and loyalties of various clans,” Jagr said, his tone distracted as he continued to remain on guard. “The killing of a vampire, even one who is beyond salvation, has started too many wars.”

“So he has to live in isolation?”

“Beyond his servants, yes. It helps avoid complications.”

“Jeez.” Regan grimaced. “What a crappy job.”

“Tane took his position willingly. Many vampires prefer solitude.”

“Vamps like you?”

His head turned, his brilliant eyes narrowed as if her soft question had struck a nerve.

“I can’t deny that I’ve spent the past centuries preferring the company of books to that of my brothers.”

“Did you blame them for leaving you in the hands of Kesi?”

Jagr tensed, his fangs flashing as his features hardened with a frozen fury.

“I blamed them for allowing me to be turned into the same sort of monster who tortured me in the first place.”

“You…” Regan was forced to halt and clear her throat. “You resent being a vampire?”

“I did.” The cold bitterness slowly thawed as he studied her wary eyes. “But I’m beginning to discover being turned isn’t without a few benefits.” His finger brushed her cheek, the cool caress leaving a trail of fire in its wake. “Do you want me to tell you some of those benefits, little one?”

Her mouth went dry.

She knew those benefits in intimate detail.

And she wanted more.

God almighty, did she want more.

“Did Styx try to make you one of his Charons?” she abruptly demanded, jerking away from his lingering finger. Holy crap, did all vamps possess the ability to seduce with a touch?

“Jagr as a Charon?” a dark, oddly hypnotic voice floated on the warm night breeze. “Our Anasso is far too wise to send one feral vampire after another. The idea of a Charon is to prevent a bloodbath, not create one.”

Jagr smoothly turned as Tane at last revealed his presence.

He’d sensed the dangerous vampire lurking near the dilapidated building since they’d crossed into his territory, but it was never wise to acknowledge a Charon unless they invited you to do so.

“Tane.”

The assassin remained wrapped in shadows, keeping enough distance to warn he wasn’t pleased at the unexpected intrusion.