Sensing his presence, Darcy opened her eyes and that caution returned. "What about you?" she demanded.
A hint of annoyance narrowed his gaze. He had already assured her that he would not force her to share blood. He was unaccustomed to having his honor questioned.
"I have already eaten."
"Oh." She ducked her head as she concentrated on the food before her. "You don't have to stay, you know. I promise not to try to escape for at least the next twenty minutes."
"Are you attempting to be rid of me?"
"You must have better things to do than watch me eat."
Styx frowned. "What is troubling you?"
She never lifted her head as she continued to eat. "I'm being held against my will by a vampire. A pack of werewolves is lurking outside hoping to snatch me. And to top it off, I'm missing work, which means I don't get paid. Don't you think any poor woman would be a little tense?"
Styx was forced to concede she did have a point. Although he had gone to an extraordinary effort to ease her confinement, there was no denying that she was his prisoner.
How could he hold her to blame for not being entirely happy with the situation?
"Perhaps," he muttered, leaning back in his seat to watch her polish off the last of the lasagna and two slices of bread. "There is more if you wish."
She gave a wry smile as she tossed aside her napkin. "Good lord, no. I'm stuffed. What I need now is a long walk."
Styx rose from the table to glance out the window in puzzlement. "The elements would not trouble me, but it is far too cold for a human."
She moved to stand beside him, completely unaware of his body's reaction to the heat and scent of her.
"Oh, look, it's snowing."
He glanced down to discover her expression softened with delight. "Angel, you cannot go outside with no shoes or coat."
"I suppose not." A wistful smile touched her lips. "I love snow. It always makes the world look so fresh and new."
By the gods, he was the master of all vampires. Demons around the world quaked at the mention of his name. There was none who would stand in his path. And yet, the slightest hint of longing from this woman had him scrambling to please her.
It was downright pathetic.
Swallowing a sigh, he reached down to sweep her off her feet and cradled her against his chest.
Darcy gave a startled squeak as she clutched at the gaping edges of her robe. "What are you doing?"
"I believe I might have a solution that will please you," he assured her as he left the kitchen and headed down the hall to the far wing of the house.
"Styx, put me down."
"Not yet." He opened the door to the new addition and set Darcy on her feet before reaching to switch on the lights. "Here we are."
Her eyes widened with delight as she glanced around the glass enclosure that offered an unobstructed view of the falling snow.
"A solarium," she breathed, turning to offer him an enchanting smile. "It's beautiful."
"It's not entirely finished. Viper plans to surprise his mate once it is completed."
"Wow." She gave a soft laugh. "A very generous gift."
Styx allowed a smile to touch his own lips. "He mentioned something about an untimely interruption in another solarium that he intended to correct. I didn't probe further."
"No doubt a wise choice." She walked across the floor, not seeming to mind the bare shelves and only partially Finished fountain. She gently touched her hand to a frosted pane. "Levet told me of Viper and his wife. Is she a vampire as well?"
He silently moved to stand behind her. "Actually, she is like you. A mixture of human and demon."
Her body tensed at his words. "We don't know if I do have demon blood. Not yet."
Styx studied her reflection in the glass. "You are something more than human."
"Maybe."
Sensing her reluctance to consider the possibility of demon blood, he easily turned the conversation.
"If you would like, I can ask Shay to visit so you can speak with her."
She turned with a curious expression. "According to Levet, she is not very happy with you."
He grimaced. "We have a... difficult past. And she's angry that I have taken you as my guest."
"Guest?"
"Prisoner, if you prefer."
"I like her already."
Styx abruptly wished he had not suggested that Shay visit. Darcy was already determined to hold him at a damnable distance. Once Shay revealed his past this woman would consider him nothing less than a monster.
"Perhaps we should wait for her visit until..." Styx's words came to a halt as he leaned close to the curve of her neck.
The scent was faint, but unmistakable.
Werewolf.
Disbelief was followed closely by a cold stab of anger.
In the past hour Darcy had been in the company of Salvatore. The bastard had actually possessed the sheer balls to invade his home and somehow corner Darcy while she was alone.
Even worse, this woman had deliberately concealed the encounter.
No wonder she had seemed distracted.
Had Salvatore threatened her if she revealed his outrageous trespassing? Or had the Were managed to convince her that he was harmless?
Were they even now plotting her escape?
"Styx?"
Realizing that Darcy was staring at him with a growing suspicion, Styx eased his tension and even managed a faint smile. He had only known this woman a short time, but it was enough to convince him that he could never force her to confess her secrets.
Not without resorting to vampire tricks.
Something he was oddly reluctant to do unless all else failed, of course.
"Is something the matter?" she demanded.
"What could possibly be the matter?"
She frowned at his tight tone, but any response she might have made was interrupted when the door to the conservatory was rudely thrown open and a grumbling Levet stomped into the room.
"Sacre bleu, do you think you could have possibly chosen a more miserable night to send me plodding around the city as if I am a packhorse?" He gave a shake of his wings, sending snow flying through the room. "Perhaps tomorrow night you would like me to build you a snowman and dance around it naked."
There was a choked laugh from Darcy, and with an effort Styx forced back the urge to toss the intrusive demon through the nearest window. As annoying as he found the gargoyle, he couldn't deny his timing was perfect.
Who better to distract Darcy.
"I can safely assure you, Levet, that I shall never request that you dance around naked—in the snow or not," he drawled as he took a step away from Darcy. "But you can keep my guest entertained for me. I fear I have pressing business that I can put off no longer."