Santiago’s hands clenched, a snarl caught in his throat. He didn’t know why her icy composure set his teeth on edge, but the sight of her rigid expression made him want to smash through her defenses. She could play the ice princess with everyone but him.
Never him.
Ignoring his power, which sizzled through the air and stirred the silken curtain of her ebony hair, she squared her shoulders, as if preparing herself for some unpleasant duty.
“Can you find Gaius?” she at last demanded.
He studied her with a brooding gaze. “He’s moved far enough away that I have only a general direction, but once I’m closer I won’t have any trouble cornering the bastard.”
“Then I will allow you to lead me to him.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’ll allow me?”
She gave a regal nod. “Yes.”
So, not just an ice princess, but Queen-of-the-freaking-Universe.
“No.”
She went predator-still at his blunt refusal. “I don’t understand.”
“Then let me make it easy.” A humorless smile touched his lips. “N. O. No.”
She frowned. “You just demanded that you be included in the search.”
“I told you that the rules have changed.”
“And I told you that you don’t make the rules.”
“And if you want my help you will not only plead nicely—”
“Never.”
He ignored her interruption, reaching to run his fingers down the cool silk of her hair. “But you will tell me what you know.”
He expected her to knock aside his hand; instead she turned smoothly away, offering him a view of her rigid back.
“Levet,” she murmured.
With a smug twitch of his wings, the aggravating pest waddled forward. “Oui, ma chérie?”
“We’re leaving.”
Santiago was moving to block her path before his brain was fully engaged. “Don’t be a fool, Nefri.”
The gargoyle made a choked sound, stepping behind Nefri to avoid being damaged in the crossfire. Not so stupid as Santiago had assumed.
Nefri arched a dark brow, the temperature dropping by several chilling degrees. “Do you think because I’m a female I won’t hurt you?”
His brain jerked back into gear, forcing him to halt and actually consider his words. “I think that you will do anything to prevent another massacre,” he said, not hesitating to use her horror at the brutal slaughter to his advantage. There was no way she was leaving this house without him. Not because Styx had ordered him to discover what was going on with Gaius. Or because he had a score to settle with his sire. But because. That was it. Just because. “Even endure my distasteful company.”
Levet sent Santiago a raspberry, but his expression was resigned as he glanced back at Nefri. “Ma chérie.”
“Yes, I know, Levet,” she said, her words coated in ice, her gaze never wavering from Santiago. “It appears we must be temporary allies.”
“I—”
“Don’t speak,” she overrode his response. “That doesn’t mean I will be treated with anything less than respect. Is that clear?”