Now Hess was moaning about some sly intruder who supposedly had slipped into the building through the sewers and was now set to ...

Well, Hess hadn't been entirely clear on what he suspected the intruder intended to do. Of course, Hess rarely bothered to use the lumpy gray mass that was stuck in his skull.

Why bother thinking when you could flounder around with raw instinct?

Thankfully unaware of Salvatore's less than complimentary thoughts, Hess came to a sudden halt and peered into the inky blackness.

"There, I warned you," the cur hissed, his finger pointing toward a distant corner. "An intruder."

A jolt of surprise raced through Salvatore as he studied the tiny demon who was currently grumbling beneath his breath as he attempted to clean his delicate wings.

He sniffed deeply, unable to believe this stroke of fortune.

"The gargoyle. The same one I smelled at Styx's lair," he whispered. "How intriguing."

Hess stiffened, the air prickling about him as he struggled not to shift into wolf. "He belongs to the vampire?"

"So it would seem."

"Not much of a gargoyle. I will swallow him in one bite."

The larger man stepped forward only to come to a sharp halt as Salvatore reached out to grasp his arm.

"No."

"But..."

"He's obviously here as a spy for the vampires." Salvatore's gaze remained upon the gargoyle, who was shaking his tail and still muttering. "It is only polite to ensure that he has something to take back to his master."

Hess quivered with outrage. "Have you lost your mind? We should kill him."

"Really, Hess." Salvatore sighed. Curs. "You're always so eager to solve your problems with violence when diplomacy would serve you so much better."

"When you kill your enemies, you don't need diplomacy."

"And what good does a corpse do you?" Salvatore demanded.

Hess growled deep in his throat. "They lie on the ground and don't cause trouble."

"A lesson, my friend," Salvatore drawled. "A wise man can use everyone. Even his enemies."

A strained beat passed as Hess struggled to make his brain function. "The gargoyle?"

"And through him his master," Salvatore murmured, a smile touching his lips.

"You were quick enough to fire an arrow at the vampire," the cur groused.

Salvatore shrugged. He couldn't deny that he had taken great pleasure in putting the arrogant bastard on the ground. The only pity was that he hadn't managed to kill him.

"Well, he did make such an irresistible target," he drawled. "Tonight, however, I intend to use another sort of arrow to shoot at the Anasso."

"What will you do?"

"Let me worry about the gargoyle," Salvatore commanded. "I want you to make sure your curs don't stumble over him. We want the tiny demon to believe that he managed to slip in and out undetected."

Hess hesitated before giving a shrug and slipping through the darkness. The cur might prefer a more bloodthirsty response to the intruder, but he possessed enough intelligence to do as he was told.

Dismissing his servant from his mind, Salvatore returned his attention to the gargoyle, who was carefully making his way across the damp floor.

A smile touched his dark face.

On this occasion the mountain was about to come to Mohammed.

Darcy breathed a deep sigh of contentment. She hadn't intended to seduce Styx when she had come in search of him. Or at least not consciously. But what woman could have watched such male perfection flowing about the small arena and not have her passions stirred?

Especially a woman who had gone so many years denying herself the least hint of intimacy.

Moreover, she couldn't make herself feel guilty.

Her life was too often filled with loneliness and disappointment. Why not enjoy the unexpected flashes of happiness that came her way? She would live in the moment and damn the consequences.

Lying on the soft mat still wrapped in Styx's arms, it was easy to live in the moment.

Feeling utterly content, she touched the strange amulet that he wore around his neck before lifting her head to meet his smoldering gaze.

"Are you suitably vanquished?" she murmured softly.

A slow smile curved his lips. "I claim defeat, although I must admit that I feel far more like the victor."

Heat tingled to her very toes. "Strange, so do I."

"Why did you leave my bed this evening?" His finger lightly traced her lips. "I missed you when I awoke."

"You were injured and you needed your sleep. Besides, I'm not much of a lying in bed kind of girl."

"Something I intend to change," he murmured.

"And how do you intend to do that?"

His arms tightened about her. "If you want me to demonstrate we could return to my rooms."

She chuckled. "I think any demonstrations should wait until later. Unlike you, I'm human enough to need some time to recuperate."

"You are far more than merely human."

She stiffened. She couldn't help it. The mystery of what and who she was would haunt her until she discovered the truth.

"Perhaps more, but what? That is the question. Not even Shay could tell me."

It was Styx's turn to stiffen, his expression becoming guarded. "So you met Shay?"

"As if you didn't know. You no doubt smelled her the minute she arrived on the doorstep." Darcy gave a shake of her head. "That's really starting to freak me out."

"Shay on our doorstep?"

"No, the whole smelling thing. It isn't really polite, you know."

He shrugged, sending a ripple of muscle beneath her hand. Nice.

"Most demons use their sense of smell for survival. Did you ... enjoy her visit?"

"Very much." Darcy smiled as she thought of the beautiful half demon. "I like her."

"I suppose she can be charming when she chooses," he grudgingly conceded.

She shifted onto her elbow so she could peer down at his tight expression. Her heart gave a small jerk at the sheer beauty of his dark, lean features.

It wouldn't matter if she stayed with this vampire for an eternity, she would never get used to his fierce splendor.

"I already got the idea that the two of you have issues," she said, her tone husky.

"Issues." His nose wrinkled. "Yes, you could say that. She no doubt warned you that I'm a heartless bastard."

"She did."

He shifted his hand to cup her cheek, his gaze searching. "And yet you sought me out."

"It would appear that I did."

A frown touched his brow. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"I cannot imagine another woman who would not hate and fear me." His hand tightened on her cheek. "Not only am I a vampire, but I have taken you captive and hold you here against your will."

Her lips twisted wryly. "And don't forget you intend to hand me over to a pack of werewolves."

"That is far from decided," he growled. "Salvatore has made no effort to negotiate. Until he does, there will be no discussion of you going anywhere."

Her gaze dropped to his amulet, which she absently stroked. "Still, you are right. I should fear and resent you."

He flinched at her blunt words. "So why do you not?"

Why, indeed.

Darcy sucked in a deep breath. "To be honest, I don't know exactly. Perhaps it's because I haven't truly felt like a captive. After all, you haven't locked me in my room, you've made sure that your housekeeper always has my favorite foods, and you did send poor Levet out into the snow to retrieve my plants." She gave a shrug. "Or perhaps it's because I don't think like most people."

He gave a lift of his brows. "You don't?"

She laughed. "No surprise, huh?"

His features softened. "I believe you are a woman who follows her heart rather than her head."

"Meaning that I'm impulsive and utterly lacking in common sense most of the time," she agreed dryly.

"Meaning that you are kind and compassionate and capable of seeing something good even in those who don't deserve your sympathy." His hand moved to curl his fingers around the back of her neck. "Even a cold-hearted, ruthless vampire."

Darcy gave a slow shake of her head. "You are not coldhearted, Styx. Quite the opposite."

His lips thinned. "There are few who would agree with you, angel."

"Only because you go out of your way to appear ruthless," she pointed out. "No doubt it assists you to be seen as a capable leader, but I know differently."

"Do you?" He studied her with a bemused fascination.

"Yes." Darcy considered a long moment, realizing the true reason she could not look on him as her enemy. "Everything you do, including kidnapping me, is done for the welfare of your people. They are your family. Your responsibility and duty. And you would do anything, even die, to protect them. I respect you for that. And I hope that... if I had a family I would do the same."