Darkness Avenged (Guardians of Eternity) Page 0,13
more about what’s going on,” he drawled, “why don’t you explain it to me?”
She took a deliberate step backward. “I have no information.”
Step forward. “Nefri.”
“What?”
“Can you sense him?”
Her slender fingers lifted to touch the medallion, her jaw tightening. “No.”
He reached out to capture her fingers, which still clutched the medallion like a lifeline, his knuckles resting against the soft curve of her breast. “Can you catch his scent?”
“No.”
“Then you need me.”
“Your lack of manners is only exceeded by your complete arrogance.”
A wicked smile curved his lips at her icy rebuttal. “Oh no, cara, the rules of the game have changed.”
She tensed. One predator sensing another. Not that she was going to concede defeat. Not without a fight. Good. Strong women were so damned sexy.
“What game?”
“The last time you called the shots, this time—” His words broke off as he caught the unmistakable scent of granite approaching the back steps.
No. Oh no. Fate couldn’t be that cruel.
But it seemed it was.
Even as he turned, the door leading to the bog of a backyard was being shoved open and a tiny gargoyle waddled into the kitchen.
“Did something die in here?” the creature muttered, his ridiculous wings twitching. “I smell”—he came to a halt, regarding Santiago with a sour smile—“vampire.”
“Santa madre.” Santiago turned back to glare at his beautiful companion. “Have you gone completely loco?”
Yes, Nefri silently answered the question.
In this moment she was fairly confident that she was at least skirting the edges of becoming loco. And had been since the moment she realized which vampire Styx had sent to spy on her.
What was it with this man? Granted, he was gorgeous. Breathtaking, mouthwatering, do-me-right-now gorgeous.
And powerful enough to challenge her despite the fact he wasn’t a clan chief.
And edible. Even when he was being stubborn and so aggravatingly arrogant she wanted to slug him in the nose, he made her think of running her hands over those hard muscles and tasting his warm Spanish blood.
But she’d met thousands of gorgeous, powerful, even sexy men over the past centuries and none of them had made her react like a . . . She swallowed a low growl. Why not admit it? She was reacting like a Harpy in heat.
And worse, he was all too aware of her vulnerability.
That knowledge only reinforced the need to get rid of him as soon as possible. As if ticking off the Oracles wasn’t reason enough.
At least her inner turmoil wasn’t visible as she met Santiago’s searing black gaze. “Excuse me?” she asked in the cool tones she knew set his fangs on edge.
He pointed a finger toward Levet. “Why are you traveling with that pest?”
She narrowed her gaze. “Please do not insult my companion.”
“Oui, do not insult her companion,” Levet muttered, moving to stand at her side with an offended sniff. “In case you missed the mammogram, I’m a hero.”
Santiago scowled. “Mammogram?”
“Memo,” Nefri corrected him. “Missed the memo.”
The exasperated male gave a shake of his head. “Are you being punished?”
“I didn’t think so.” She allowed her gaze to flick over his lean, muscular form, shown to perfection in his tight jeans. “Until now.”
Santiago muttered a curse. “There’s no need for him to be here.”
“That’s not your call.” She nodded toward the nearby doorway. “If you’ll excuse us, I need to speak with Levet in private.”
It couldn’t be that easy.
“No.”
“I wasn’t asking for your permission.”
“He can’t follow Gaius’s trail.”
Her lips thinned as she realized he’d so easily read her mind, but with a grim hold on her composure she turned her attention to the gargoyle as he stuck his tongue toward Santiago.
“For your information, I am a superb tracker.”
“Can you find him?” she asked softly.
“Given time,” Levet assured her, then with obvious embarrassment, wrinkled his ugly little snout. “Well, perhaps it will be more difficult than usual. The vampire somehow managed to have his . . . essence stripped. There’s no scent to follow.”
“There, you see,” Santiago mocked.
She turned back with a lift of her brow. “See what?”
“You need me.”
Oh . . . damn. She did.
Even the Oracles would agree there was nothing more vital than finding Gaius. And more importantly, what was currently controlling him.
Of course, she had to be sure that he could actually produce results before she agreed to anything.
“How do I know this is not a trick?” she demanded.
He scowled, as if offended by her question. “Why would I want to trick you?”
“Your male pride was obviously wounded by my return to my people without first gaining your approval.”