would love nothing more than to stick this through your heart."
Dante merely laughed. He had hit a direct nerve. The man's frustrated ambition was nearly tangible in the air.
"God, I thought I had been pussy-whipped by those witches." He rubbed the salt a bit deeper into the open wound. "At least I never willingly allowed myself to be turned into a schmuck."
The pale eyes flashed with fury, but behind the anger was a cold hunger that he could not entirely conceal.
"I will have my rewards."
"A few crumbs dropped by the great master? Pathetic."
"Shut up."
Dante folded his arms over his chest, inwardly cursing the rattling chains. He hated chains. They made him want to bite something. Hard. Instead he smiled with mocking humor.
'You could have had it all. Power, glory, a place at the side of the Prince." His smile widened. "But then, maybe you like being a flunky. I've noticed most humans prefer being sheep to wolves."
A loud breath hissed through clenched teeth. "I know what you're trying to do, and it won't work."
Oh, it was working. The man was nearly drooling with the desire to snatch the power he felt being denied him.
"Look, I couldn't care less who manages to kill that bloody Phoenix, just as long as it's good and dead." Dante glanced down to inspect his fingernail. "I intend to walk out of this cave a free vampire."
The man gave a humorless laugh. 'You think the Prince won't want a taste of you?"
"Why should he?"
Another step closer, but still out of reach.
'You protected the Chalice."
Dante didn't even bother to glance up. That didn't mean, however, he wasn't fiercely aware of the exact distance that separated them.
"I was compelled by the witches. It wasn't as if I wanted to be chained like a dog."
"I doubt he's that understanding."
"I'd say my chances of living through the night are considerably better than your own."
A shocked silence filled the chamber. It was obvious the fool had not even considered the cost of returning the dark power to the world. Typical. Most wizards were concerned only with the rewards, never the sacrifice that would be demanded.
And there was always a sacrifice.
"Now what are you babbling about?" he rasped.
Dante lazily lifted his head to regard him with a steady gaze.
'You do know that the Prince can't survive in this world without feeding?" he demanded. "He requires blood. A lot of blood. Thankfully, I'm fresh out."
A frown touched the young man's brow. "The woman holding the Phoenix will be the sacrifice."
"Abby? She's barely a snack, even for me."
"I…" His lips tightened. "There are servants."
Dante chuckled. "I hope for your sake there is a whole flock of servants. Otherwise you're about to find yourself laid over the altar with a knife carving out your heart."
Gripping the stake so tightly it threatened to snap in half, the mortal paced toward the narrow opening. Farther away from Dante but clearly unnerved by the thought of altars and knives and the ripping out of hearts.
"I suppose you think I should let you go so that you can help me overthrow the master?"
"Me?" Dante gave a sound of disgust. "Why the hell would I want to help you? It doesn't matter to me who kills the bitch. I'm free either way."
The decidedly nervous disciple whirled back. A tick in his left eye revealed his barely controlled emotions.
"I don't think you're nearly as unconcerned as you want me to believe. I think you have feelings for the woman."
Dante widened his eyes in mock disbelief even as he inwardly conceded that the man was not quite the idiot he had supposed. Something to remember when it came time to kill him.
"I'm a vampire, you twit. I don't have feelings for anyone or anything. Although…" He deliberately allowed his words to trail away.
"What?"
"She was a helluva lay," he drawled, hopefully cementing his seeming disregard for a mere mortal. The moment this fool was certain Dante would travel to the pits of hell to save Abby was the moment he lost all advantage. "The things she could do with her tongue could make a man explode like a volcano. Ill have to admit I wouldn't mind another couple of rounds before she's tossed to the Prince. You should try her."
A disdain marred the youthful features. "Not all of us are animals."
"Ah… a woman hater. You prefer men? Or is it something a little more exotic?" Dante gave a taunting smile. "I have a friend who could fix you right up."