Darcy gave a startled blink. "You're that certain?"

Abby halted before a closed door. "Yes, but not because I'm vain enough to think I'm irresistible." She gave a soft chuckle. "Just the opposite, in fact. But once a vampire is mated, he is incapable of desiring another woman. Dante will always love me as much as he did the night we became one."

Darcy experienced a queer pang in her heart.

A pang she at last realized was envy.

How would it feel to have such absolute confidence in a companion? To know beyond a doubt that he would always be at your side? That he would never stray, never waver in his affection, and never decide to abandon you for another?

For a woman who had never had such security in her life, it sounded just like heaven to Darcy.

"You're a very lucky woman," she said, with a wistful smile.

"Yes, I know." Abby tilted her head to one side. "Not that I want you to believe it's all been some sort of fairy tale. There might have been lust at first sight, but no love. To be honest, in the beginning most days I just wanted to punch Dante in the nose."

Darcy laughed. "I know the feeling all too well."

"Styx?" the woman gently probed.

"Yes." Darcy heaved a deep sigh. "There are moments when he can be the most tender, most thoughtful man I have ever met. And then the next thing I know, he's tossing around orders and using his vampire powers on me. He's very . . . aggravating.'

"A typical vampire, I fear."

She met the curious blue gaze squarely. "I need to know that I can trust him."

"Yes, you do. Until then, you are more than welcome to stay with me." Abby patted Darcy's arm before reaching out to push open the door. "These will be your rooms. There is a bathroom through the door on your left, and I have ordered a vegetarian dinner to be brought up. Why don't you have a nice soak and I'll bring you some clean clothes."

"Oh, yes," Darcy sighed. "That would be lovely."

"And don't worry," Abby said, with a smile. "While you're here you're perfectly safe."

Darcy smiled. "Shay was right."

"Oh?"

"She said I would like you very much, and I do."

Abby gave her a swift hug. "The feeling is entirely mutual, my dear. Now go enjoy your bath."

Chapter Sixteen

"Bloody hell." Styx turned to glare at the vampire standing at his side. "You're sure she's here?"

Santiago gave a respectful bow of his head. "Yes, master. The woman you seek is within the house."

"Damn."

With a chuckle designed to be annoying as possible, Viper clapped him roughly on the back.

"Look on the bright side, ancient one, you were worried that Darcy might be in danger. Now you've discovered she is in the safest place possible in all the world for her to be."

Styx gave a low hiss. Certainly he was relieved that Darcy was safe. Profoundly relieved.

And, of course, he was pleased that she was not in the company of the damn Weres.

Still, he wasn't a fool.

For all his power he was no match for a goddess.

If Abby desired to keep him from Darcy, then there wasn't a blasted thing he could do about it.

"What the devil was Dante thinking?" His cold glare shifted to the looming mansion. "He was supposed to be out searching for Darcy, not hiding her."

"I do not doubt that Dante is even now scouring the streets for your missing captive," Viper soothed. "This smells far more of Abby and my own dear mate."

Styx's hand closed around the medallion about his neck as he struggled to control the power that raced through him.

The urge to battle his way to Darcy's side was as dangerous as it was ridiculous.

It revealed just how difficult it was to control his unruly emotions.

"Why would they interfere in vampire business?" he demanded in a frozen tone.

"Because they are women." Viper gave a lift of his hands, his expression resigned. Not surprising. Discussing women tended to bring that expression to most men's faces. "They band together far more fiercely than any other creature and will tear a poor man to shreds if he dares to harm one."

"Not even Shay could imagine I intend to harm Darcy."

There was a silent beat before Viper carefully cleared his throat. "Master, you did kidnap Darcy with the sole intent of bartering her to the werewolves. You can't blame Shay for wondering what your intentions might be."

Styx's fangs flashed in the darkness. "Salvatore will never have her. Never."

"What of your plans to trade her—"

"I do not have to explain myself, Viper," Styx snapped, thankful for the first time for his position of the Anasso.

He didn't want to consider, let alone try to explain, his fierce refusal to contemplate handing over Darcy to the Weres. Not when it was bound to reveal a growing weakness within him.

Viper regarded him with a disturbing smile. "No, I suppose you don't."

Styx gave an impatient shake of his head. "I need to see Darcy."

"You will." Viper turned his gaze toward the house. "But first allow me to speak with Shay."

"Viper..."

"No, Styx." Viper turned to face Styx squarely. "If Abby is within, she can stop you from entering—you know that. It is best we try to accomplish this with a minimum of bloodshed. Especially if that bloodshed happens to be my own."

At the moment, Styx could care less about how much bloodshed was needed, or even who would have to shed it.

He had to see his angel.

And he had to see her now.

"I will have Darcy," he swore in a low tone.

"Great. This should be fun." Squaring his shoulders, Viper began walking down the street. "Come on."

As Darcy had soaked in her bubble bath, she had been blithely unaware of the battle that had raged below.

Thank God, since she would have been deeply distressed by the raised voices, the accusations, and occasional threats that burned the air.

Of course, it might have been nice to have had a bit of warning that Styx was making his way through the house like a natural disaster before coming out of the bathroom and simply discovering him pacing the bedroom floor.

"Cripes," she muttered, eyeing the nearby door and judging whether or not she could make a dash for it.

Easily following the direction of her thoughts, Styx smoothly stepped between her and the door, his expression tight with an unreadable emotion.

"Wait, Darcy. Please don't run from me," he said softly, his gaze trained hungrily on her pale face. "1 just wish to talk."

It wasn't Styx's request that halted her flight. After all, she was still royally ticked at him. Walking out seemed just about right.

But with nothing between her and damp nakedness except a small towel, it seemed wiser to remain in her rooms. No doubt Styx had brought the entire vampire nation with him. She preferred to keep her private parts private.

Besides, if she stayed she could glare at him to her heart's content.

Something she had been longing to do for hours.

"Did Shay tell you I was here?" she demanded.

"No, your conspirators were very determined to keep me from you." His eyes held a lingering hint of annoyance. Good, she told herself. She hoped that Shay had made him jump through hoops and dance a jig before allowing him upstairs. "Thankfully, I was far more determined to get to you."

She gripped the towel tighter. "I'm mad at you."

His lips twisted. "I reasoned that out when you tried to burn my lair to the ground."

"It was a very small fire."

"No fire is small to a vampire."

A pang of guilt raced through her heart. "No one was hurt, were they?"

Styx cautiously removed his heavy cape and tossed it onto a nearby chair. Darcy caught her breath at the sight of him in tight leather pants and a loose silk shirt that was sheer enough to give a hint of the perfect body beneath.

Even worse, his hair had been left loose to float about him like a river of ebony.

Dang it.

Men weren't meant to be so incredibly beautiful.

Or to be able to make a woman hot and bothered just by being in the same room.

"Only DeAngelo's pride." Styx shrugged. "He's none too pleased he was outwitted by such a tiny slip of a girl."

Darcy sternly returned her attention to his bronzed face. She was supposed to be angry.

A bout of hot, sweaty sex was not on the agenda.

Not now, anyway.

"So, was he offended because I'm tiny or because I'm a girl?" she demanded.

"Both, I suspect."

She gave a small snort. Vampires.

"Then I'm glad I hurt his pride."

The dark eyes darkened even further as he took a step closer. "It was foolish of you to sneak away. You could have been harmed."

"And you were worried you would lose your bargaining chip?" she demanded.

"Dammit, Darcy, I was worried about you," he growled with a heat that sent a tingle down her spine.