Fear the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #9)(88)

“Fine. I’ll send Hess with them,” the Were agreed. “He can help coordinate with any packs in the area if a rift is found.”

Styx smiled with wry amusement at the thought of the barely house-trained cur and the nearly feral vampire trying to work together. “That should make an interesting partnership.”

“No more than ours,” Salvatore pointed out dryly.

“True.” Lifting his head, Styx glanced at the vampire who stood in motionless silence. The younger man hadn’t spoken a word since the meeting started, but Styx had been well aware of his growing disapproval. “Roke?”

The odd, silver eyes shimmered in the light of the overhead chandelier. “Yes?”

“Do you have something to add?”

The lean face remained unreadable. “Not really.”

“There’s something on your mind,” he insisted, knowing that the younger vampire would refuse to express his doubts unless directly confronted.

There was the slightest hesitation before Roke pointed toward the map. “It’s all defensive.”

Styx frowned. “What is?”

“Your strategy,” he explained. “It’s all about defense, not offense.”

Styx made a sound of disgust. Did the younger vampire think that Styx wanted to play the game of whack-a-mole with the Dark Lord? That he didn’t realize how futile it was to be constantly reacting to trouble that popped out of thin air instead of staging an attack on his ground and on his terms?

“Until someone finds me a way to get into the evil bitch’s prison, I don’t have a hell of a lot of choices.”

“No choices,” Roke slowly agreed, his gaze never wavering. “Unless you draw her out.”

Salvatore planted his hands on the desk and leaned forward, his expression one of curiosity. “Explain.”

Roke held his ground despite the Were’s choking power thickening the air. Styx hid a small smile. The Nevada clan chief was as cold-blooded and fearless as the rattlesnakes that populated his territory.

“As long as the Dark Lord is able to hide in the mists while she empties hell into our world, she’ll be impossible to destroy,” Roke clarified. “Our only hope is to lure her to this dimension before we’re completely overwhelmed.”

“And how are we supposed to lure her to this world?” the King of Weres demanded.

“I don’t know.”

Salvatore made a sound of disgust. “A helluva lot of help that is.”

“I’m just a humble soldier.” Roke’s eyes flashed with silver fire. “You’re the king. Both of you.”

“You want the crown?” Styx mocked. “You can have it.”

Roke squared his shoulders, not amused. “All I want is to return to my people.”

“Fine.” Styx held the younger vampire’s annoyed gaze. “Figure out how to entice the Dark Lord out of the mists and you’ll be free to go.”

Roke scowled. “You keep changing the rules.”

“I’m the king. It’s my prerogative.”

Salvatore abruptly straightened, glancing toward the open door. “Gargoyle.”

“Shit.” Styx rubbed the back of his neck, already prepared for the tiny creature to piss him off. “Like this night hasn’t been bad enough?”

On cue, the miniature gargoyle waddled into the room, his wings twitching and tail as stiff as a board. A sure sign he wasn’t rushing in with good news. But then, who did have good news these days?

“Salvatore, you must come,” Levet commanded.

Ah, he wanted the dog. Styx gave a sharp laugh at the sour expression on Salvatore’s face. “Things are looking up,” he murmured softly.

The King of Weres gave a warning growl before turning to glare at the gargoyle, who was nearly dancing with impatience.

“Actually, whether I come or not is very much up to debate,” Salvatore corrected, his wolf prowling close to the surface. “What do you want?”

“It’s Cassandra.”

All three men stiffened at the mention of the prophet. Shit. They’d just managed to get her back. They couldn’t lose her now. Not when she might hold the key to the future.

“What about her?” Salvatore growled.

“She’s with Caine.”

“Damn,” Salvatore breathed, exchanging a horrified glance with Styx.

The Were had already revealed that Caine was trapped in his feral insanity with no hope of being salvaged. If Cassie had gone into his cell, then . . . Styx shuddered at the mere thought.

“Why didn’t you stop her?” Salvatore rasped, his infuriated gaze snapping back to Levet.

The tiny demon lifted his hands in a helpless motion. “I tried. She refused to listen to me.”

Salvatore clenched his teeth. “Is she dead?”

“I don’t know.”

Styx felt a small flare of relief. At least there was still a chance she might be alive.

“I have to go,” Salvatore said.

“I’m coming with you,” Styx growled, sparing an impatient glance for the vampire still standing beside the desk. “Roke.”

“Yes?”

“Cezar is waiting for me in the library. Get with him and find a way to draw the Dark Lord into this world.” He gestured toward the gargoyle. “Levet will assist you.”