"He arrived. Now I want him gone."
Leaning against the desk, the younger vampire folded his arms over his chest. "Not that I don't feel your pain, old companion, but I'm afraid I had nothing to do with sending Levet. It was Shay who insisted that your guest would need some sort of companion. She's quite convinced that you will make the poor girl miserable."
Styx stiffened. By the gods, he had treated Darcy with exquisite care. Hadn't he ensured she had the comforts that she needed? Hadn't he answered her questions?
And despite all temptation, hadn't he denied the fierce urge to join her in the bed and sink himself in her heat?
A temptation that still managed to torment him despite the miles between them.
"I have offered her no harm," he said in a warning tone.
Viper shrugged. "Well, in Shay's defense you did torture me quite brutally the last time I visited and fully intended to kill her as a sacrifice. She might be just a bit prejudiced."
Styx refused to apologize. He had only been doing what he thought was his duty to keep the vampires from ruin. And in the end, he had been forced to betray his own sense of loyalty to assist Viper.
"I also stepped between you and a deadly attack," he reminded in a cool tone.
Viper sighed. "Why do people keep claiming they saved my life?"
"No doubt because it is the truth."
"All right." The younger vampire gave a lift of his hands. "Perhaps—and I stress the perhaps—you did at least take a nasty blow meant for me, but that doesn't make you Martha Stewart."
Styx blinked in confusion. "Who?"
"Good gods, you really are out of touch. I am trying to point out that you have little experience in dealing with humans. Especially not human women."
Styx found himself gritting his teeth. No matter how good their intention might be, no one was allowed to interfere in his dealings with Darcy Smith.
He didn't know why. He only knew that it was an absolute rule.
"The girl is in no danger from me." His gaze narrowed. "And even if she was, the gargoyle could hardly halt me from harming her."
"I think Shay hoped that Levet could provide more of a ... comforting presence. It can't be easy for the woman to be kidnapped by a vampire." Viper sent him a pointed glance. "Especially a vampire who has spent the last five centuries in near isolation. Your people skills are rusty, old friend."
"And she thinks Levet is a comfort?" Styx demanded. "More likely the gargoyle will drive the poor woman mad and I shall have to take measures to save her sanity."
Viper straightened from the desk, his expression hard. "Actually Shay is quite fond of the little beast, and I should take it quite ill if anything nasty were to happen to him."
Danger prickled in the air.
"Are you threatening me?"
Viper ignored the lethal edge in Styx's voice. "I'm offering you some friendly advice." With a smooth motion, Viper crossed toward a built-in refrigerator and removed two bags of blood. After warming the bags in a microwave, he poured the blood into crystal goblets and handed one to Styx. "Now, while you're here why don't you tell me about this woman? Have you discovered why she is so important to the Weres?"
Styx drained the blood before setting aside the goblet. It had been hours since he had fed. He would have to take greater care if he was to have a human beneath his roof. He possessed exquisite control, but Darcy presented more than one temptation.
"I have discovered nothing more than the fact that she is not a woman," he confessed.
Viper gave a sound of choked surprise as he hastily set aside his own glass.
"Not a woman. Don't tell me she is actually a he."
It took a long beat for Styx to follow Viper's words. Not that he was shocked by the implication. He had lived for well over a millennium. Few things could shock him.
"No, of course not. She is ... decidedly female, but not entirely human."
"What is she?"