Salvatore had invaded his lands and put his filthy hands on Darcy.
Styx wanted blood.
Werewolf blood.
That was the only thing on his mind.
Or it was until he caught the unmistakable scent of vampire.
Hastily clearing his mind, Styx slipped into the shadows of a nearby alley, his dagger in his hand.
As the ruler of vampires, he was above petty duels and the occasional clan wars that still erupted. That didn't mean, however, that a rogue vampire might not decide his leadership skills could be improved by a stake through the heart. He ruled with an iron hand, and there were more than a few of his subjects who were not always pleased with his laws.
Ah, the pleasures of being king.
Styx was braced to strike when the vamp came close enough for him to recognize the familiar scent. With a muttered curse, he slipped the dagger back into his boot and stepped from the shadows to confront his aggravating friend.
"Viper." He planted his hands on his hips. "What a less than pleasant surprise."
Coming to a halt, the silver-haired vampire offered a deep bow. He should have looked ridiculous in the gold satin jacket that fell to his knees and black velvet pants, but, as always, the demon managed to appear utterly elegant.
"Good evening, ancient one."
"Don't call me that," Styx growled. "What are you doing here?"
"Would you believe that I just happened to be in the neighborhood?"
"Not for a minute."
"Fine." Viper stepped forward, his expression smoothing to somber lines. "I'm here because of you."
"How did you know I would be here?"
There was a beat before Viper gave a small shrug. "DeAngelo was concerned."
"He contacted you?" Styx gave a sharp shake of his head. He had turned each of the Ravens himself. Their loyalty was above question. "No. He would not dare."
"What choice did he have?" Viper demanded. "You left the estate in an obvious temper without taking one of your guards with you."
In a temper? Styx stiffened at the insinuation. He never lost his temper. And if he did, no one would be capable of detecting his mood. He would never lower himself to stomping about in some sort of childish snit.
He suddenly grimaced as he realized that that was exactly what he had been doing. Right down to the stomping.
Damn.
This was all Darcy Smith's fault. She alone had managed to rattle the icy control he had honed over hundreds and hundreds of years.
"I do not need a babysitter, Viper," he retorted.
"No." Viper regarded him steadily. "What you need is protection."
"From a pack of curs?" His nose flared with wounded pride. "You think so little of me?"
"This has nothing to do with the Weres." Stepping forward, Viper placed a hand on his shoulder. "You are no longer just another vampire, Styx. You are our leader, and DeAngelo is your second in command. He wouldn't be worthy of being a Raven if he had not taken measures to see to your safety."
Styx wanted to argue. On this night he was not thinking as the master of all vampires. He was thinking as a man. A man who wanted to beat the holy shit out of another man.
A night for testosterone, not politics.
Unfortunately, DeAngelo had been within his rights. He could not have known that Styx planned nothing more dangerous than a small squabble with a pack of dogs.
"Very well," he grudgingly conceded. "You can stay here and watch the mold grow if you want."
He shook off his friend's hand and took a step forward only to be halted as Viper smoothly stepped into his path.
"You intend to begin negotiations with Salvatore?" the younger vampire demanded.
"Do I now have to offer you my itinerary as well?" Styx snapped.
"It is a simple question." Viper narrowed his gaze. "Are you here to bargain with the Weres?"
Styx hissed softly. He answered to no one. Not even to a powerful clansman who also happened to be his friend.
"I'm here to make sure that Salvatore understands that the next time he attempts to invade my territory it will be his last."
"He was at the estate?" Viper demanded in surprise.
He should be surprised. Only the very brave, or very stupid, would dare to enter a vampire's lair.
"He slipped into Darcy's room while I was downstairs."
"Did he harm her?"
"No."
"I assume he tried to take her against her will?"
Styx glared with a cold warning. He wasn't about to confess that he had no idea what the Were's devious plot had been. Or that Darcy had deliberately concealed her meeting with Salvatore. Not when the mere thought was enough to make his blood run hot and his fangs ache to sink into warm flesh.
Viper would no doubt lock him in a cellar until his senses could return.
"What does it matter? Isn't it enough that he dared to approach her at all?"
"But isn't that what you wanted, old friend?"
Styx stepped back with a frown. "What did you say?"
Viper gave a lift of his hands. "She can hardly be a suitable bargaining chip if Salvatore is not anxious to get his hands upon her. The fact that he dared certain death to try to retrieve her means that he will concede to any demand that you make of him."
Styx turned on his heel to pace down the alley. He didn't want Viper to see his expression. Not when it was bound to reveal his sharp flare of fury at the mere notion of handing over Darcy to the pureblood.
That was something he would consider later.
Much, much later.
"More likely he is simply arrogant enough to believe he is capable of stealing her away without conceding anything. He needs to be reminded of the dangers of crossing my will."
"So this is all a matter of teaching the Were a lesson?"
Styx turned back at the unmistakable disbelief in Viper's tone. "Is there something wrong with that?"
"I thought you desired to avoid bloodshed? Is that not why you took the woman in the first place?"
Avoid bloodshed? Not damn likely.
"He offered an insult that cannot be ignored."
Viper shrugged. "As long as you keep Darcy well guarded what does it matter if the man plots to steal her? Besides, would it not be best to avoid any direct confrontations until you have them back on their hunting grounds?"
Styx swallowed an angry curse. His old friend was treading on dangerous ground. What he did or did not do with Darcy was no one's concern but his own.
"There will be no ... negotiations until I have discovered what he wants of her," he rasped.