Hunt the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #11)(101)

“I promised Sally that it would never happen again,” Roke swore.

Styx’s expression abruptly softened and he reached out to grasp his shoulder.

“Talk to her, amigo,” he urged. “It’s only fair.”

Roke scowled. “Maybe I don’t want to be fair.”

Sally walked beside her father in silence as they left the manicured lawns of Styx’s estate to the narrow band of trees that were beyond the high fences that concealed the house from its distant neighbors.

She wasn’t sure why Sariel had asked her to stroll with him.

He’d made it fairly obvious he hadn’t been pleased by her insistence on freeing the imprisoned fey. Or by her refusal to listen to his warnings that the vampires were dangerous beasts who were destined to betray her.

Somehow she’d assumed he would simply disappear. No good-bye. No thank you for saving his life.

Which made this strange encounter even more awkward.

“I assume you will soon be returning to your people?” she asked, feeling a sudden need to break the silence.

“Our people,” he corrected, halting so he could turn to study her with his amber gaze. “And yes, I must join them.”

She cleared her throat, still not comfortable with the idea she was some sort of powerful Chatri. Even worse, the poor creatures they’d released from the Nebule prison had been so determined to show her their gratitude they’d spent the entire day spreading word of her heroism throughout the fey world.

Already there were piles of gifts outside the gates to Styx’s driveway and several dozen fairies hoping for a glimpse of her and her father, the King of the Chatri.

It was enough to make any woman long to lock herself in her bedroom and throw away the key.

Especially if that bedroom included a silver-eyed vampire who could make her shiver with the demanding pleasure of his lips and the sweet invasion of his hard body that made her arch in need.

She licked her lips, resisting the urge to tug at the neckline of her sweatshirt as a hot flash nearly boiled her alive.

Holy crap.

With an effort, she slammed the door on the image of Roke spread naked on her bed.

It was just . . . creepy when she was standing next to her father.

She forced a stiff smile to her lips. “Will you be coming back here?”

“That’s a question I will consider,” he murmured.

“So . . .” She licked her dry lips. “I suppose this is good-bye.”

Expecting Sariel to take advantage of her farewell, she was startled when he reached to take her hand in an uncomfortable grip.

“It need not be.”

She glanced down to where his slender fingers held hers.

“No?”

“You could come with me.”

She struggled to follow the bizarre conversation. “To your home?”

“That is where you belong. With me.”

Okay. This was so not what she was expecting.

She shook her head. “It’s a kind offer, but my place is here.”

A hint of impatience rippled over his painfully beautiful face.

“You have no desire to meet your family?”

She sucked in a sharp breath as he hit her at her most vulnerable spot.

A lucky shot? She didn’t think so.

Her father was clearly a masterful manipulator.

“You’ve spoken to them?”

“Of course.”

“Tell me about them,” she requested, her voice nearly lost on the chilled breeze.

“You have four sisters who are all princesses. Three are married to suitable Chatri males and the fourth will be married as soon as I return,” he readily answered. “There are also two brothers who are in line for the throne. They are currently training to become leaders of their own houses.”

His words were no doubt intended to tempt her into traveling to his home. Unfortunately for him, they only reminded Sally of the difference between herself and her siblings.

Princesses? Princes?

She would be a joke.

Feeling Sariel’s piercing gaze, she ducked her head. “I’m nothing more than a stranger to them.”

“You rescued me from the Nebule. You would be a hero to them.” His voice was coaxing. “They will no doubt compose songs and poems in your honor.”

Sally grimaced in sheer horror. “No thanks.”

The perfect features tightened, as if he was irritated by her response.

“Then what about your family?” he insisted.

“What about them?”

“Among the Chatri nothing is more important.” He chose his words with care. “Would you deny them the opportunity to meet you?”

Sally couldn’t deny a pang of regret.

She’d been so alone for so long, always secretly dreaming she would find a place to call home.

Now that she was actually being offered one, it was unbearably wrenching to turn her back on it.

“I’m not truly family,” she whispered.

His grip tightened on her fingers. “What do you mean?”

“I’m a half-breed,” she reminded him. “I doubt the princes and princesses would be happy to have me pop out of the proverbial closet.”

With his usual arrogance, Sariel shrugged aside the inevitable horror at her arrival among the coldly aloof, shatteringly beautiful Chatri.