Darkness Unleashed (Guardians of Eternity #5)(6)

“Yes.”

“Well, who died and made her queen?” she mocked.

“The Anasso.”

Regan blinked in confusion. “What?”

His gaze briefly swept over her pale face before lifting to clash with her uneasy glare.

“You asked who died to make Darcy queen,” he retorted. “Her mate Styx killed the previous King of Vampires, which made him the current leader, and your sister queen.”

Well, of course she was a freaking queen.

She’d never met Darcy, or any of her three sisters for that matter, but she’d learned from Salvatore that Darcy was currently mated to a vampire who not only adored her, but had just purchased a flipping mansion on the outskirts of Chicago for her. No doubt she was also drenched in diamonds, and attended the opera on a regular basis.

Not that Regan wanted all that froufrou crap. She’d rather be stabbed in the eye than put on a dress. Still, her sister’s cushy lifestyle was a thorn in Regan’s side.

Her family had abandoned her to the hands of a psychotic imp who had relentlessly abused her for thirty years. As far as she was concerned, the entire bunch of them could go screw themselves.

“Awesome, my sister is married to a genocidal maniac,” she drawled. “And people wonder why I’m not leaping at the chance to get to know my family.”

“Styx is no more genocidal than any other vampire. Or Were, for that matter.”

She snorted at the flat, emotionless tone. “Are you trying to reassure me? If so, you suck at it.”

“My only duty is to escort you to Chicago.”

“Duty?”

“Yes.”

Freaking perfect. This gorgeous hunk of man was nothing more than a flunky for her sister.

She pressed her hands against the unyielding wall of his chest. “Well, consider yourself officially off duty, because I have no intention of going.”

“Your sister is concerned. She only desires to protect you.”

His low, hypnotizing voice tingled down her spine even as his words pissed her off.

“Yeah, and where was all that sisterly concern when I was being held captive by a monster?”

His stark, beautiful face was without mercy. “You’re free now, aren’t you? Be grateful.”

“I don’t want to be grateful, and I sure as hell don’t want to have my supposed sister pretending she gives a damn after all these years. Tell her to take her concern and shove it up her…”

His head swooped down, his lips claiming her mouth in a kiss that was raw and demanding, and shocking as hell.

Regan had braced herself for the familiar blow. Even a savage bite to her neck. She wasn’t prepared for the sensation of cool, skillful lips parting her mouth, or the oddly erotic press of fangs.

The treacherous heat returned with a vengeance, flowing through her trembling body and tightening her muscles with the promise of beckoning pleasure.

He tasted of brandy and temptation, his hard body pressed against her most intimate places. She wanted to rip off the black T-shirt that looked spray-painted to his muscled bulk, and rub against the wide chest.

She wanted…

God, she just wanted.

With a groan, she allowed his tongue to slip between her lips, sucking it gently as her hips instinctively arched upward. Never in her life had she ever felt the touch of a man’s hand. Not unless it was to dole out punishment. Now her body was changing, altering as his kiss deepened.

Her lips softened, her ni**les hardened to tight points, nearly begging to be stroked, her fingers spread across the chiseled muscles of his chest.

Then, as swiftly as he’d kissed her, the vampire pulled back to regard her with a strange expression of wariness. As if he was as caught off guard by her volatile reaction as she was.

Embarrassed, Regan smacked her hands against his chest. Damn the bastard. She’d just made a fool of herself, and it was entirely his fault.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

His features smoothed into an unreadable expression. “Darcy is my queen. You’re not allowed to insult her without consequences.”

“You consider rape a consequence?”

“It was a kiss, nothing more, and the only means to stop your childish whining without leaving a bruise.”

“You bastard.” Smack, smack, smack. “I have every right to whine after what I’ve suffered. You have no idea…”

“You’re not stupid enough to believe that you’re the only one who has ever suffered,” he said, overriding her words, his voice edged with ice. “It’s done. Move on.”

Her jaw clenched. Damn the cold bastard. It was bad enough he had gotten her all hot and bothered while he remained Mr. Freeze, but now he was dismissing her years of torture as if she were nothing but a sulky child.

“I would love to move on, but it’s a little difficult with freaking Hulk Hogan squashing me. Get off.”

His eyes narrowed. “What do you know of vampires?”

“That you’re evil, soulless bastards who care about nothing but yourself.”

“We’re also stronger, faster, and far more lethal than Weres.”

“And your point?”

“I’m going to release you, but know that if you annoy me, I won’t hesitate to tie you to the bed and shove a gag in your mouth.”