He wasn't fooled for a moment by the man's near delicate build. He possessed enough power to make Styx's skin prickle.
"Desmond, I presume," he stated with a deliberate arrogance.
The mocking smile never wavered. "You have that honor."
"Honor is not the word I would use."
"No? Well, perhaps that is because you know nothing of honor."
Styx didn't hesitate as he reached out to grasp the vampire by his neck and dangled him off his feet.
There was a rustle of agitation as the gathered vampires prepared for battle, but Styx calmly ignored them. He would not tolerate disrespect. Not from one of his brothers.
"You tread on dangerous ground," he said in a lethal tone.
"And you are more stupid than I suspected if you think my clan won't kill you where you stand," Desmond warned. "Release me."
"Never question my honor."
With a disdainful flick of his hand, Styx dropped the treacherous vampire, pleased when he awkwardly stumbled before managing to catch his balance and straighten.
Petty, but what the hell.
Pausing to smooth his hands over his jade silk shirt, Desmond at last managed to regain his smile.
"You misunderstand, my lord. I'm not complaining at your lack of morals. I've always thought that chivalry was long overrated. What place does honor or loyalty or tradition have among bloodthirsty demons? We are above such weak human notions."
Styx wasn't shocked by the man's confession. It was a sentiment shared by many vampires.
"Obviously you believe you are above vampire laws as well," he said with frigid disdain.
"Actually, you broke the laws first when you took in two of my clansmen."
"They petitioned for protection. It is within my rights to offer them sanctuary."
The man gave a lift of his brows. "Your rights?"
"I am the Anasso."
The green eyes darkened as the vampire's power swirled through the air. "So you claim."
"Claim?" Styx clenched his hands at his sides. It was that or wrapping his fingers around the throat of this puffed-up idiot. "There is no doubt that I am the leader of the vampires."
"And yet, how did you take such an illustrious position?" The man pretended to consider for a long moment before giving a snap of his fingers. "Ah yes, now I recall. You murdered the previous Anasso. Quite enterprising of you, I must say."
Styx stiffened at the accusation. In truth, it had been Viper who had landed the killing blow upon the previous Anasso, but Styx had never denied his own culpability. He took full blame for the death of the vampire he had admired and protected for centuries.
A vampire who had gone mad from his own twisted addictions.
"Are you here to have the return of your clansmen or to debate my rights of leadership?"
The vampire smiled. "The truth?"
"If you can speak it."
"I am here to take your so-called rights away from you."
Styx frowned. Damn. He had come here believing that this vampire was merely flexing his muscles in an attempt to retrieve his clansmen. Now he realized that it was a far more dangerous situation.
Dangerous and potentially lethal, he acknowledged as he covertly glanced toward the circling vampires, who continued to point their weapons directly at his heart.
"Is this some sort of jest?" he growled.
With an aggravating smirk, Desmond glanced toward the towering vampire at his side. "Jacob, am I jesting?"
The large vampire with lank black hair and dull brown eyes gave a slow shake of his head. Styx didn't have to look closely to realize that this was a vampire who had been broken of all will.
At one time it had been accepted that the stronger vampires would brutalize and enslave the weak. A chief would rule by terror, and those beneath him obeyed or paid a ghastly price.
Over the past centuries Styx had slowly, and at times painfully, tried to change such practices.
Unfortunately, it appeared that Desmond held on to the old ways, and his entire clan suffered for his arrogance.
"No, my lord," the servant intoned.
"There, you see?" Desmond taunted. "No jesting."
Styx regarded the vampire with a cold disdain. He could think of nothing he would enjoy more than ripping out the throat of the filthy braggart. Unfortunately, the half dozen crossbows currently pointed at him severely limited his options.
"What is your plan?" he demanded. "That you kill me and then step into my shoes?"
"Something like that. It is what you did, after all. I always learn from a master."
"You truly believe that the vampires will follow you simply because you claim yourself the Anasso?"
"Why not?" Desmond pretended to study his manicured nails. "They follow you, don't they?"
Styx gave a short, humorless laugh. "When it suits them to do so."
"Nonsense, my lord. You are far too modest. Your reputation has spread far and wide. All vampires know-that to cross your will is to dig their own grave. Indeed, your name is used to make foundlings shiver in their shoes." He lifted his gaze to reveal a hectic glitter in the green eyes. A glitter that Styx was beginning to suspect was due more to sheer madness than simple ambition. "Which means that the vampire who manages to slay you will prove to all that he is even more dangerous, even more brutal. The perfect leader."
Okay, he truly had plummeted over the edge.
Styx took a moment to consider his options. There weren't many. He could no doubt cloud the mind of a handful of the vampires, or stun them with his power, but not all at once. There were simply too many enemies to battle his way free. And not even he was fast enough to outrun a crossbow.
His only hope seemed to be convincing the rabid vampire he would never pull off such a daring scheme.
Perfect.
"You are pathetic," he at last said with a sneer of his own.
"I am pathetic?" Fury rippled over the gaunt face even as Desmond struggled to appear indifferent to the insult. "Strange, I am not the one currently being held hostage, am I?"
Styx shrugged. "You can kill me if you wish, but the vampires will never follow you."
"Why not? One Anasso is as good as another to most of your brothers. What does the name matter as long as he upholds the laws for all?"
"If that is true what is to keep another chief from coming along and taking the position by the same treacherous means as you?"
"I am wise enough not to lock myself away in damp caves and play the aloof, mysterious monk." He flicked a dismissive glance over Styx's large form. "The humans have proven that you do not need to be a kind, or an intelligent, or even a competent ruler. How many buffoons and idiots have sat on a throne? You only have to win the goodwill of your people and they will follow."