when Styx stepped forward, looking like a walking nightmare in black leather pants and black T-shirt that was stretched across his massive torso.
“Nice shirt,” he drawled to Ariyal, fondling the hilt of his huge sword.
Yep. As obnoxious as possible.
“Styx,” she hissed, moving to stand at the side of her mate, who was already holding his bow and wooden arrows notched and ready to fire. “All we’re asking is a chance to convince Ariyal’s tribesmen to leave the caves before you enter.”
The power of the Anasso was like a heavy throb in the air. “Why should I trust him?”
“Because I said you could.” She stood her ground, acutely aware of Ariyal’s smoldering fury. Gods, please don’t let him do anything stupid. “Do you trust me?”
Styx lifted a broad shoulder. “He’s your mate.”
Her lips twisted. The vampires had sensed her mating with Ariyal the moment they’d approached the caves.
Which had only added to the tension.
“Yes, I know.”
The large vampire shifted his attention back to the silent Ariyal.
“Your loyalty now lies with the dark fairies.”
“You son of a bitch.”
She barely had time to place herself between her mate and certain death, slamming her hands against his chest to hold him in place.
“Ariyal, please.”
“He can say whatever he wants about me.”
“Thank you,” Styx drawled.
Annoying SOB.
“Shut up, leech,” Ariyal snarled, his gaze never leaving Jaelyn’s pleading expression. “But he’s not allowed to insult your honor.”
Her heart melted, even as she wanted to slug him for his stubbornness.
No one had ever defended her honor before.
No one.
“There’s no insult in wanting to know if I’m about to be led into a trap,” Styx said without apology.
Ariyal placed his arm around Jaelyn’s shoulders and tucked her close to his side.
“If you thought it was a trap then why the hell did you come?”
“When the Hunter approached me she hadn’t yet bound herself to our enemy.”
“Oh, for Christ’s sake,” Jaelyn snapped. “He’s not our enemy. We all want the same thing.”
“Do we?” Styx demanded, his power brushing over her as if seeking the truth of her heart.
“Yes.”
There was a short, tense silence as the Anasso continued to study her; then with a smooth lift of his hand he gestured for his vampires to step back.
“You have fifteen minutes.”
Jaelyn’s rush of relief was cut short by Ariyal’s typical male reaction.
“You may be King of the Vampires, but you’re—”
“Ariyal.” She stepped directly in front of her mate, framing his face in her hands. “If we haven’t convinced them to join us in fifteen minutes then we’ll already be captured or dead.”
Simple and straight to the point.
For once, it worked.
Hallelujah.
Clenching his jaw, he forced himself to draw in a calming breath and speak to the Anasso in a voice that wasn’t deliberately intended to provoke the vampire.
“What’s your plan?”
Styx slid his sword into the scabbard that ran the length of his back, his own expression altering to one of commanding efficiency.
“I have three Ravens performing sweeps through a five-mile perimeter to make sure nothing is allowed to sneak up on us.”
Ariyal tilted back his head, testing the air. “I smell Were.”
Styx lifted a brow, as if caught off guard by Ariyal’s ability to detect the distant scent.
“Salvatore is in the area searching for the curs who attacked you,” he admitted.
Ariyal wasn’t pleased. “Will he be joining us in the caves?”
“Not unless absolutely necessary.” Styx smiled without humor. “He was trapped down there not long ago. He’s in no hurry to repeat the performance.”
Jaelyn briefly wondered if the Were was responsible for the damage in the lower levels. Well, the initial damage. Ariyal had done his own share.
Then she was struck by a sudden thought.
“Did you warn him that the cur is a magic-user?” Styx nodded. “Yes, as well as the fact he’s traveling with what we suspect is a vampire that has unusual talents.”
Jaelyn very much wondered about the strange vampire and exactly what Styx was hiding, but before she could press for an answer Ariyal was speaking.
“You might also warn him that Sergei is still lurking around, along with that damned gargoyle.”
There was a rustle from the trees that lined the nearby graveyard before the unmistakable scent of granite wafted on the air.
“Hey,” Levet protested, waddling forward with a wounded expression. “I just rescued you from a fate worse than death.”
“You rescued me?” Ariyal made a sound of disgust. “Don’t you have that backwards?”
“Oh.” Levet blinked, coming to a halt next to Jaelyn. “Do I?”
Ignoring the rueful amusement of the vampires, Ariyal glared at the tiny demon.
“Where’s the mage?”
Levet cleared his