Ash gave the demon an affectionate hug before he got up and sauntered over to Vane. Tall and lean, Ash was the epitome of a young man in the prime of his life. There weren't many people taller than Vane, but Ash was one of them.
And it wasn't just his height that was intimidating. There was something primal and powerful about the Dark-Hunter. Something that even the animal in Vane feared.
Even so, they had known each other for centuries. In fact, Ash had been the one who had helped Vane to find his mother. To this day, Vane wasn't sure why the Dark-Hunter had helped him.
But then, no one understood Acheron Parthenopaeus.
"You know, it's not nice to spy on people, wolf."
Vane snorted at that. "As if anyone could ever spy on you." He looked back at the demon and little girl. "I never pegged you for a babysitter."
Ash glanced down at Vane's hand, then met him with a level gaze. There was something extremely disconcerting about Ash's liquid silver eyes that swirled with mystical power and ancient knowledge. "I never pegged you for a coward."
Anger sizzled through Vane at the insult. He lunged at Ash, only to have the Atlantean spin out of his reach.
"Don't." That single word carried enough command to give Vane pause.
Ash looked over his shoulder to the old woman who was still standing in the opening of the curtains. "Liza, would you fetch Vane a cup of tea, please?"
"I don't drink tea."
"Liza?"
"I'll be right back with it." The old woman went out into the shop.
"I don't drink tea," Vane reiterated.
"You'll drink hers and you'll like it."
Vane's gaze darkened again. "I'm not one of your Dark-Hunters, Acheron. I don't dance to your command."
"Neither do they. But that's neither here nor there, is it?" Ash cocked his head as if he were listening to something that only the Atlantean could hear.
"You're seeking answers."
"I don't need anything from a Dark-Hunter. Ever."
Ash let out a slow, deep breath. "I'm sorry about Anya, Vane, but it was meant to be."
Vane curled his lip at the offer of sympathy; his heart was still broken over her loss. "Don't talk to me about fate, Dark-Hunter. I've had it with that subject."
To his amazement, Ash agreed. "I know the feeling. But it doesn't change what's going on inside you, does it?"
He cut a glare at Ash. "What do you know about it?"
"Everything." Ash crossed his arms over his chest as he watched him with a gaze that set Vane on edge. "Life would be so easy if we had all the answers, wouldn't it? Will your pack come for you? Will Fang be normal again? Will Bride ever accept you as her mate?"
Vane went cold at his words. "How do you know about Bride?"
He didn't answer. "You know, humans are amazing in their capacity to love.
Don't sell either one of you short because you're afraid of what might happen. Instead, maybe you should focus on what will happen if you leave her."
That was easy for him to say. He wasn't the one being hunted. "What do you know about fear?"
"Enough to teach a lifetime course on it." Ash looked past him to see the infant standing up beside the demon on wobbly little legs that were still learning how to support the baby's weight. "She's beautiful, isn't she?"
Vane shrugged. He was far from an expert on what made a human child beautiful.