Shades of Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #16) - Alexandra Ivy Page 0,3
customers got into a drunken brawl and destroyed one of the roulette tables. It’s not even midnight.”
The elevator doors slid open and both males stepped inside. “It was Ulric’s job to make sure you weren’t bothered with the staff,” Basq reminded him.
Chiron scowled. Ulric was a pureblooded Were who’d been Chiron’s most trusted companion for centuries. Together they’d created the chain of resorts that catered to humans around the world. But six weeks ago, the male had left Vegas.
“Plus, he mated my most valuable employee and now she’s gone with him.” Chiron continued his complaint, stabbing the top button on the electronic panel.
Rainn had only been with Dreamscape for twenty years or so, but she’d earned a spot as a trusted manager. She was also a rare zephyr spite who wanted to return to her family, taking Ulric with her to some super-secret, on-a-need-to-know-basis spot deep beneath the desert.
“I thought you were pleased for him?” Basq reminded him.
“I was until I realized his happiness was going to be a pain in the ass,” Chiron told his companion. “Do you know, until the past month I would have sworn that Dreamscape Resorts runs like a well-oiled machine? Now I’m wondering if it’ll survive the night.”
“It would be easier if you shared Ulric’s duties.”
Chiron glanced at his clansman. “Are you offering?”
The male arched a brow. “Do you really want me dealing with the humans?”
A shudder raced through Chiron. Basq wasn’t much of a people person. Not unless they were on the menu. He was, however, an extraordinary warrior. And utterly loyal. Perfect for the head of Dreamscape security.
“No, thanks,” he said in dry tones. “Ulric can be…”
“Surly? Rabid?” Basq suggested as Chiron struggled for the proper word.
“Both,” Chiron agreed. “But he has a surprising skill in dealing with the staff and customers.”
“The same skill Lilah possesses.”
The doors slid open with a small hiss. Chiron stepped out of the elevator, his expression tightening.
Lilah…
It’d been several months since he’d mated the gloriously delectable witch, but it still felt like a miracle every time he thought of her. He couldn’t believe that she was truly bound to him for the rest of eternity.
Which might explain why he wanted to treat her like a princess. She was too precious for him to risk.
“I want to pamper her, not bury her in work,” he said, crossing the outer reception room.
Basq followed behind him, pausing to glance out the bank of windows that looked over the Mojave Desert on one side and the Vegas Strip on the other.
Chiron wasn’t in the mood to appreciate the stunning view. Instead he marched across the room that was decorated with a silver carpet and sleek chrome with black leather furniture, then he entered his private space that had been specifically created for the needs of a vampire. There were no windows, the lighting was muted, and the furniture was built to endure the weight of an elephant although it maintained a sleek elegance.
Moving to lean against the silver and glass desk, Chiron folded his arms over his chest as Basq halted directly in front of him.
“Have you asked Lilah what she wants?” the younger male demanded.
Chiron flashed his fangs. Everyone knew what Lilah wanted. She was quite…vocal when she thought that Chiron wasn’t giving her enough responsibility.
If it was up to his ambitious witch, she’d be in charge of the entire Dreamscape empire. Hell, she’d be in charge of the world.
“Stop being sensible,” Chiron growled. “It’s annoying.”
Basq grimaced. “I’m about to become even more annoying.”
“What now?”
“The human girl.”
“Chaaya?” Chiron asked, even though there was only one creature who could inspire the frustration that was smoldering in Basq’s eyes.
Chaaya wasn’t exactly a girl, considering she was older than both Chiron and Basq. And she wasn’t exactly a human, since she’d been sacrificed centuries ago to battle against the evil beast that Ulric had recently encountered.
The truth was that no one knew exactly what she was.
Well, they knew she was a cyclone of endless trouble.
She drank, she cheated his guests at cards, she drove his staff to the brink of homicide and went out of her way to piss him off. Not a night passed that he didn’t want to toss her into some dark, dreary dungeon. Unfortunately, he didn’t happen to have one of those handy here in Vegas. And even if he did, he was fairly confident it wouldn’t hold the girl.
As if to confirm his dark thoughts, Basq clenched his hands. “She’s gone.”