Devoured by Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #7)(46)

Laylah stubbornly refused to turn and watch Tane’s approach.

What was the point?

Her body was already giving her a play-by-play.

The soft tread of his bare feet against the cement floor. The cool wash of his power that filled the air. The male scent that made her think of things that were illegal in some states.

Then he was standing at her side, his golden skin glowing in the overhead lights, and his face impossibly beautiful.

Her heart gave an odd, dangerous lurch before she was squashing the sensation.

The vampire was drop-dead, heart-stopping, Johnny Depp gorgeous. And of course, there was that whole badboy thing with the mohawk and huge dagger stuck in the waistband of his shorts.

Not that he needed either to be a badass.

It was chiseled into his DNA.

Was it any wonder when he strolled around wearing nothing more than a pair of khaki shorts her hormones were shot into hyperdrive?

Heat washed through her as she met the liquid honey gaze, but before she could make a complete fool of herself, Tane was abruptly whirling toward the back of the hangar, shifting to stand between her and whatever he’d sensed approaching.

“What is that stench?” Levet complained, his eyes widening in sudden surprise. “Ah, I should have known. The King of I-have-a-bigger-stick-stuck-up-my-derrière-than-you is approaching.”

Laylah frowned. “Who?”

“The Anasso.” Tane shot a warning glare at the gargoyle. “You’ll show proper respect or I’ll have your head mounted on my wall, gargoyle.”

“Shit.” Laylah didn’t think. She whirled on her heel and took off.

Two steps later, Tane had her by the arm and spinning about to meet his searching gaze. “Where are you going?”

“Anywhere that isn’t here.” She gritted, futilely struggling against his hold. “Maybe you’ve forgotten I’m considered the equivalent of Typhoid Mary among the demon world, but I can promise you the King of Vampires hasn’t. He’ll consider it his duty to hand me over to the Oracles.”

“Laylah, it’s too late to run.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Damn you. You led me straight into a trap.”

His brows snapped together, like he was offended. “No, Laylah. I didn’t contact Styx.” “Yeah right. You expect me to believe he just happened to make a royal appearance at a tiny airport in the middle of nowhere?” “Tane speaks the truth.”

A voice echoed through the hangar, the air so thick with frigid power Laylah could barely breathe. Holy shit.

Talk about making an entrance. With her heart lodged in her throat, Laylah forced herself to turn. And was terrified all over again. But who wouldn’t be?

Styx, King of all the Vampires, was a towering brute. He easily topped six foot five, with shoulders that looked like they should be registered in different counties. He was dressed in black leather matched with heavy shit-kickers that would have given Tim Gunn an ulcer, and his raven hair was pulled into a braid that fell to the back of his knees.

But it wasn’t the whole Blade-vibe that made the hair on the back of her neck stand up and her innate powers stir in warning.

It was the grim, bronzed face that hinted of Aztec ancestors and the dark eyes that held an ancient knowledge. There was a cruelty etched in his handsome features that warned this vampire hadn’t earned his position as Anasso because of some stupid popularity contest.

He was the biggest, baddest, most ruthless demon going.

Period.

Strolling to stand directly in front of her, Styx turned his head toward Tane, a raven brow flicking upward as the younger vampire placed a protective arm around her shoulders.

“He was not the one to inform me of your imminent arrival, nor did he warn me that he intended to journey to Victor’s territory with a creature he was commanded to capture,” the Anasso drawled. “Something we’ll discuss in full detail at a more appropriate moment.”

Laylah stiffened. Dammit. It was moronic to be offended, but she was freaking sick of being treated as if she didn’t have feelings. Or pride.

“Creature?”

Tane’s arm tightened around her. “Laylah, maybe you should let me handle this.”

Styx’s power thickened until Laylah felt as if it might flay the skin from her body.

“You seek to challenge me, Charon?” he asked, oh so softly.

To his credit, Tane didn’t flinch. His manner, however, was one of wary respect. Smart vampire.

“I request the opportunity for an audience.”

Styx shot a brief glance toward Laylah. “Intriguing.” He paused before returning his attention to Tane. “And impressive. Not many vampires are suicidal enough to dangle a forbidden half-breed beneath the noses of the Oracles.”

“That wasn’t my intention.”

“I’m relieved to hear it.”

Laylah parted her lips to inform the offensive duo that it was rude to talk about her as if she weren’t there, but before she could descend into complete madness, Levet charged forward, his wings flapping.

“Hey, where’s the Starbucks? A gargoyle cannot be expected to be civilized before his vanilla dolce latte.” He planted his fists on his hip. “And what about my Cinnabon? Where are the Cinnabons?”

Styx snapped humongous fangs at the gargoyle, but without warning the biting power eased and something that might have been resigned amusement flashed in the Anasso’s dark eyes.