Styx could live with that.
"Desmond has arrived in Chicago demanding the return of his clansmen."
It took a moment for Styx to recall precisely who Viper was referring to. Of course, at the moment it was difficult to recall anything beyond his need to return to Darcy.
A dangerous realization.
At last he managed to dredge up the memory of the two desperate vampires who had so recently petitioned him for his protection.
Desmond had to be the clan chief whom they feared.
"He trespassed in your territory?" Styx demanded with a hint of surprise.
It was a death wish to enter the territory of another vampire without formal permission.
"He claims the right of Reparation since we are currently holding two of his people against their will."
"It is known that they came to petition me and are currently under my protection. To challenge you is to challenge me."
Viper shrugged. "I presume that was the point."
By the gods, there were times when he wouldn't wish the position of the Anasso on his worst enemies.
"What is the damage?"
"So far he's killed three hellhounds, an imp, and five Scibie demons." Viper grimaced. "Enough carnage to draw me out, but not enough to provoke an all-out clan war."
"No vampires?"
"Not yet, but it is only a matter of time. I must take care of this, but I would prefer to do so without having to kill the chief."
Styx resisted the urge to sigh. He knew what was coming and he wasn't going to like it.
"You desire me to go with you?"
"Yes." Viper gave a lift of his hands. "Of course, if you cannot. . ."
"I will go." Despite his reluctance, Styx understood he had no choice. It had been his decision to give protection to the two vampires. It was now his responsibility to confront the chief who came searching for them. "Allow me a few moments alone with Darcy."
Viper's expression hardened, but thankfully he resisted the urge to continue his arguments.
Smart, smart vampire.
"As you wish," he murmured, with a low bow. "I will await you downstairs."
Darcy was standing beside the window when she felt Styx move into the room. For a moment she continued to gaze into the thick darkness, silently savoring the cool rush of power that brushed over her skin.
She might be troubled by the thought of being mated to a vampire, but that didn't change the fierce passion she felt whenever he entered the room, or the strange sense of comfort that settled deep in her heart.
As if his mere presence was enough to complete her world.
Gripes.
Slowly turning, she wrapped her arms about her waist. She didn't know if the mating had made her more sensitive to Styx's mood, but she knew before even meeting the guarded black eyes that something was wrong.
"What has happened?"
He moved forward. Close enough to cup her cheek in his hand. His touch was gentle, but Darcy could feel the tense need that hummed through his body. He touched her as if he had to touch her.
"A clan chief has entered Viper's territory. He must be dealt with before he causes vampire blood to flow."
Her hand reached up to cover the fingers that pressed against her face.
"I don't like the sound of that." She frowned as her heart gave a sharp squeeze of fear. "Are you going to be in danger?"
He shrugged, seeming more interested in the shape of her lips than the fact that he was about to confront a dangerous vampire.
"Very little. Desmond merely needs to be reminded of the danger in flaunting our laws."
Her eyes narrowed at his nonchalant tone. "I still don't like the sound of that. What if this vampire doesn't want to be reminded of your laws? What if he decides to hurt you?"
"Viper will be with me. There are few things that can stand against the two of us." He paused as his gaze shifted to lock with hers. "You are concerned for me?"
Well, duh.
For all their disturbing perception, there were occasions when vampires could be incredibly dense.
"Of course I'm concerned. You may drive me nuts, but I would never want you to be hurt."
His expression softened. "Because you care?"
She stiffened at his soft words. Not because she objected to his accusation, but because it was so painfully true.
She cared so very, very much.
Still, she found herself ridiculously reluctant to confess the tangled emotions that clutched at her heart. They were too raw and tender to be dragged out and discussed.
At least for now.
Darcy lowered her gaze to hide her eyes behind the sweep of her lashes.
"I wouldn't want to see anyone hurt."
His fingers tightened on her cheek. "Can you not just say the words, angel? Can you not admit that you might care a little?"
"You know I care," she at last sighed.
"You don't sound happy about it. Does it trouble you that I am a vampire?"
"Of course not." She lifted her gaze. "In fact, I'm glad you're not human. I've always known that I couldn't be with ... a normal man."
Styx blinked at her blunt confession before giving a reluctant chuckle.
"Have I just been insulted?"
An answering smile touched her lips. That hadn't come out precisely as she had intended.
"You know what I mean." Without thinking, she lifted her hand so her lingers could lightly stroke the strong line of his jaw. How could she not touch him? He felt so damn good. "I've spent years avoiding relationships because most people think I'm either crazy or an outright freak. I've never been able to just be myself. It's wonderful not to have to pretend to be something I'm not."
He turned his head to brush his lips over the palm of her hand. "You never have to pretend with me, angel. You are perfect in my eyes."
"Hardly perfect."
The dark eyes flashed. "If I think you are perfect, then you are perfect."
"And your word is law?"
"As a matter of fact, it is."
Unable to argue, she gave a roll of her eyes. "Such arrogance."
"Perhaps, but you are attempting to distract me, angel." His fingers tightened on her cheek. "I can feel what is in your heart. I can smell it on your skin. It scents the very air around you. Why can you not speak the words?"
Darcy struggled to put her reluctance into words. "Too much is happening too fast, Styx. I just need time to sort through it all."
The dark eyes flared with a fierce emotion as he struggled to regain the cool control that was so much a part of him.
A part that was absent more often than not when she was near.
Hmm. Was that a good or bad thing?
Abruptly recalling his raw passion and aching tenderness, she decided it was good.
Very good.
"You are right, but it is not easy," he growled, with a shake of his head. "Strange considering I have often planned and schemed for centuries without ever losing my patience. You make me feel as if I am a foundling once again."
"A foundling?"
"A vampire newly risen," he explained.
"Good grief." She resisted the urge to giggle as she tried to imagine this proud warrior as poor Oliver begging for a bowl of porridge. "You make it sound like you are no more than a helpless orphan."
He shrugged. "That's not a bad analogy."
She deliberately allowed her gaze to travel over his very large, very broad male form before returning to linger on his oh-so-white teeth.
Surely there had never been a more dangerous predator.
"An orphan with fangs?" she demanded.
He didn't so much as bat an eyelash, but Darcy physically felt his faint withdrawal. As if she had stirred up memories he kept deeply buried.
"They do little if you do not know why you have them or what to do with them," he at last said in a bleak voice.
Well, she hadn't been expecting that.
Her fingers gently moved to touch the chiseled lips. She never failed to be moved by his brief glimpses of vulnerability.
"What do you mean?"
"When vampires awaken we have no memories of our previous life, and no realization of what or who we are. Most die with the first sunrise, and even those who survive rarely make it beyond a few weeks. Not without the protection of an elder."
Darcy shivered at the thought of Styx being forced to endure such a traumatic transformation alone.
"Did you have an elder to protect you?"
His beautiful features tightened. "No."
"But you survived."
"Only by sheer luck, and even then I was too weak to battle those warriors who wished to use me as a slave."
She grimaced before she could halt her instinctive reaction. "I didn't know vampires had slaves. That's ... horrible."
"It was. More horrible than you can even imagine." His flat tone warned Darcy that she didn't want to try to imagine. "That was the reason I joined with the previous Anasso. He was determined to bring the vampires together as a race and to halt our habit of slaughtering and brutalizing one another."
