The Darkest Kiss (Lords of the Underworld #2)(83)

Rolling his eyes, he pushed his empty plate away, leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. He'd braided the hunks of hair at his temples. Now they were hooked behind his ears, colorful beads clicking together every time he moved. "Sorry, but my answer is no."

"Well, then." Anya, too, leaned back in her chair. She'd always admired this room. Vaulted ceilings, a granite island counter, modern appliances, baskets of fruit hanging from wall hooks. Would William destroy it in a fit of rage when she finished with him? "Maybe now's a good time to tell you that I have your book."

William froze, the patent stillness of a predator coming over him. "You don't. You can't. I saw it this morning before I came down to eat." There was violence in his gaze.

Lucien picked her up and placed her in his lap. She snuggled her head into the crook of his neck. Protection wasn't something she needed, but she appreciated the gesture. "Think again," she said.

"Anya," William snapped. "You don't have it. I have it. I saw it this morning."

"Watch your tone," Lucien snapped back.

"You saw a fake," she explained.

"You're lying." The warrior leaned toward her, pupils swallowing his irises.

Immediately Lucien was on his feet, shoving her behind him. Be still my little heart.

"I told you to watch your tone."

William thrust from the table, his chair skidding backward and slamming into the island. Smack. "If it's gone..." On a cloud of red fury, he stalked from the kitchen.

"Damn. He actually walked away without destroying the room. Come on. We don't want to miss this." Anya twined her fingers with Lucien's, gasping at the electric jolt she felt on contact.

Now she knew what those naughty fingers could do to her...

Trembling, she pulled him along after William, following the same path the warrior had taken. The hallway was well-lit with flickering gold bulbs. Wisps of colorful lace covered the lamps, which splattered rainbow hues throughout. The vampiresses' doing? Trying to domesticate the warrior?

There were no pictures or weapons on the walls as there usually were. She'd bet, oh, ten million American dollars on William having removed them last night after sating his vampires. He was well acquainted with Anya's penchant for theft - but too late to save his precious book. Silly man had had one of his witches cast a spell over the book's locked case a long time ago. A spell she had broken with her key.

"What is this book you mentioned?" Lucien asked, keeping pace at her side. "And did you really steal it?"

"A book of ancient prophecies decreed by the gods. And yes. I took it. William should have been a smart boy and studied it a few times over the centuries, but nooo, he was afraid he'd do more harm to his fate than good." She rounded a corner. Stairs loomed ahead. Damn, but this place was huge. She wasn't used to walking it; usually she just flashed.

"See, one of the prophecies is about William. Written around the time he went to prison, if memory serves. Something about a woman. Of course, there's always a woman. Anyway, his prophecy is encrypted, like a riddle, and somewhere in the book is the key to decoding it and saving himself."

"Anya! How could you f*cking dare?" William shouted. His angry bellow echoed off the walls.

"I guess he found the fake."

"Will he try to hurt you?"

She grinned. "Not while I have his precious." She said the last in an evil demon voice.

Lucien just shook his head.

They turned another corner and were suddenly in the study. William was holding the fake she'd had made. First time she'd visited him here, she'd tried to pick a fight with him, had needed to fight. One of her mortal companions had died and her need for disorder had been high. William had been too sated to oblige her, falsely claiming he was more a lover than a fighter. He'd offered to sex her, though. She'd spent some time tossing and shattering glass instead.

Then she'd spotted the book in its tantalizing case. Blood-red rubies were embedded on its cover and spine. They'd called to her, a siren's song. Knowing what the book meant to him had made the stealing of it all the sweeter, she was ashamed to admit. She didn't suppose it would console him to know, though, that she was now a wee bit ashamed.

"The cover appears to be the same, but the pages are blank," he growled.

She splayed her arms wide. "Sorry. I couldn't help myself."

"Someone should have put you down a long time ago."

"Like that would have done any good," she muttered.

"Why do I like you? Why do I always allow you back? You and your f*cking All-Key are a menace. Give me back the book, Anya!"

"How does everyone know about this key, yet I had never heard of it?" Lucien complained, tossing up his hands.

"Why don't you just take the key from her?" William suggested to Lucien with an evil grin.

"Shut up, Willie!" She stomped her foot and pushed a hand through her hair. "He already knows."

"Everything?"

"Yes." Well, kind of.

William grinned. "Liar. So, Lucy," he said, tossing the empty book to the ground and slapping his hands together.

"Did you know that if she gives you the key, she'll be giving you her memories? You'll know everything about her. Her every sin, every crime, every man she's ever touched. Even better, you'll know where she is every second of every day. She'll never be able to hide from you."