That was something he would consider later.
Much, much later.
"More likely he is simply arrogant enough to believe he is capable of stealing her away without conceding anything. He needs to be reminded of the dangers of crossing my will."
"So this is all a matter of teaching the Were a lesson?"
Styx turned back at the unmistakable disbelief in Viper's tone. "Is there something wrong with that?"
"I thought you desired to avoid bloodshed? Is that not why you took the woman in the first place?"
Avoid bloodshed? Not damn likely.
"He offered an insult that cannot be ignored."
Viper shrugged. "As long as you keep Darcy well guarded what does it matter if the man plots to steal her? Besides, would it not be best to avoid any direct confrontations until you have them back on their hunting grounds?"
Styx swallowed an angry curse. His old friend was treading on dangerous ground. What he did or did not do with Darcy was no one's concern but his own.
"There will be no ... negotiations until I have discovered what he wants of her," he rasped.
There was a startled pause before Viper tilted back his head to chuckle with seeming delight.
"I see."
"What?" Styx moved back up the alley to stab the chortling vampire with an impatient glare. "What is so amusing?"
"You."
"Me?" Styx clenched his hands with an impotent annoyance. He was many things. Arrogant, commanding, fiercely lethal. But he had never, ever been amusing. At the point of reminding his companion that it was a dangerous habit to laugh at his leader, Styx was suddenly distracted by an unexpected scent. "Hold on, Viper, something approaches."
Viper thrust aside his lingering amusement at his friend's obvious befuddlement. He would have plenty of time later to enjoy watching Styx brought firmly to his knees. For now, he was far more interested in the unmistakable stench of approaching curs.
"They're trying to surround us," he muttered, pulling out the two small daggers he had tucked into his jacket before leaving his club.
Weapons—never leave home without them.
A motto that had kept him alive for a long time.
Styx tilted back his head to sniff the air. "Three from the south and two from the north."
Viper grinned in anticipation. His mate, Shay, took a very dim view of him engaging in recreational battles. Like many women, she simply didn't have a taste for violence and there was always a lecture waiting him when he happened to come home with a few bloody gashes.
But tonight she couldn't possibly expect him to stand aside and allow his master to become a midnight snack for curs.
"Good." He twirled the daggers in his hands. "You take the north, I'll take the south."
Styx lifted an eyebrow. "They're after me. I'll take the south."
"Flip you for it?"
"Just take the north," Styx commanded, turning his back to Viper so they each faced one end of the alley.
"Aren't you supposed to be a little more democratic? You are, after all, an American now," Viper demanded, his gaze restlessly searching the thick shadows.
"I'm a vampire, and until someone takes my place, my word is law."
Well, it was hard to argue the arrogant claim.