When Darkness Ends (Guardians of Eternity #12)(8)

“I agree.” Styx grimaced. “He’s never been subtle.”

“Which means he’s in trouble.”

Trouble.

It was a word that he’d heard too often over the past year.

Was it really too much to ask that he have one damned week without some disaster lurking?

“I have my Ravens searching for him,” he said. “Between them and the fey there’s no rock that will be left unturned. And once I have my hands on whoever is responsible”—his power made the electricity flicker—“there will be hell to pay.”

“Yes, there will be, no matter who is responsible for kidnapping the princess,” a male voice drawled from the doorway.

Styx’s fangs lengthened, aching for the opportunity to drain the idiot who waltzed into the library as if he owned the place.

Prince Magnus was exactly what you would expect of a pure-blooded fey.

His long hair shimmered like the finest rubies in the light from the chandelier. His brow was wide, his nose a thin, noble blade, and his lips lushly carved. And his eyes were the color of cognac and rimmed with gold.

Tonight he’d put aside his usual flowing gown encrusted with jewels to wear a pair of black slacks and a jade green silk shirt, revealing his surprisingly muscular body.

A humorless smile twisted Styx’s lips. The clothes had changed, but the outrageous arrogance was the same.

Viper moved to stand at Styx’s side. “I presume this is Magnus?”

The Chatri lightly touched the large emerald pendant that was hung around his neck, the intoxicating scent of finely aged whiskey filling the room.

“Prince Magnus,” the fey corrected, his expression pinched as if he had a corn cob stuck up his ass.

Styx wondered if his expression would be the same if it was a size thirteen boot stuck up there.

Viper smiled, deliberately exposing his fangs. “The last royal I met ended up as my dessert.”

The pale, elegant features hardened, hinting at a dangerous power hidden behind the fey’s pretense of namby pamby stupidity.

“I do not fear you, vampire,” he said.

Viper tapped the tip of his fang with his tongue. “Then you’re even more stupid than you look.”

“Enough,” Styx interrupted, not entirely pleased by the suspicion that Prince Magnus wasn’t quite the harmless fribble he’d first assumed. “What do you want now?”

The prince sniffed, once again a harmless, aggravating pain in the ass.

“I smelled imp,” he said.

Styx belatedly caught the scent of plums at the same time that Viper glanced in his direction.

“He’s right. Tonya’s here.”

“Thank God for portals,” Styx muttered, lifting a hand as the female imp appeared in the doorway. “Enter.”

A hum of male appreciation buzzed in the air as the tall woman with lush curves and a stunning mane of dark red hair sashayed across the carpet. Tonya was the sort of imp that could make any demon rejoice at being a male.

It was more than her pale, perfect skin and slanted emerald eyes. It was the blatant sensuality that oozed from her, enticing and provoking the male senses.

“You wanted nectar,” she murmured, holding up a jar that contained a pale gold liquid.

Styx nodded toward the man standing near the marble fireplace.

“It’s for him.”

“Who . . .” The imp turned, her flirtatious expression freezing as she caught sight of the Chatri prince. “Oh.”

“Well?” Magnus snapped his fingers. “Bring it to me, imp.”

“Yes.” Clearly bedazzled by the fey, Tonya obediently headed toward Magnus.

Waiting until she was standing directly in front of him, Magnus took the jar from her hand and sniffed at the golden liquid.

“Pedestrian,” he muttered. “But I suppose it will have to do.” Setting the nectar on the mantel, he turned his attention to the enthralled female. “Why are you not on your knees?”

Viper made a choked sound. “Oh hell.”

Tonya blinked, as if coming out of a spell. “Excuse me?”

“You are a lesser fey,” Magnus informed her, his superior tone enough to make any demon consider the pleasure of kicking him in the nuts. “You should be on your knees when in the presence of your master.”

The emerald eyes widened; the scent of scorched plums making Styx rub his nose.

“Master?”

“I am Prince Magnus.” The idiot gave a wave of his hand. “Bow before me.”

“How about I do this instead?” the imp said, pulling back her arm before punching the prick directly in the nose. Viper shrugged as the prince cursed in pained disbelief. Turning his head, he met Styx’s amused gaze.

“He really did ask for it.”

Styx chuckled. “I think I just found my fey liaison.”

Cyn unrolled the fragile scroll with a practiced care that would have surprised most people.

They only saw the wild berserker who would destroy anyone who threatened his clan. Or the impulsive hedonist who reveled in sensual pleasures.

His love for history was a hobby that he shared with very few.

“Where did you get this?” he asked, his voice reverent.

“It was presented to the Commission as a gift.”