Styx gave a sharp laugh. By the gods, this vampire had allowed his ability to terrorize his small clan to go to his head.
"You really think you can play human politics among demons?'"
"Well, there will be a few tweaks here and there." A cruel smile touched the thin lips. "And, of course, I shall ensure I have enough enforcers to convince those who might have issues with my leadership style."
He thought a handful of bullies would ensure his position as Anasso?
"I was wrong. You are not pathetic; you are a fool." Styx deliberately leaned downward, emphasizing his own size as he spoke directly into the man's ear. "You would be dead within a month. If not from a clan loyal to me, then by my Ravens. They would never rest until each and every one of you is dead."
Desmond took a hasty step backward before he could halt the revealing movement. His face tightened with annoyance as his hands smoothed over his shirt in an effort to pretend the embarrassing incident had never occurred.
"Yes, I must admit the Ravens have troubled me. They are a formidable enemy," he conceded in a sharp tone. "Not only are they well trained, and loyal beyond reason, but they would never be stupid enough to attack in a fury of revenge. Oh no, they are the sort to hide in the shadows and pick off my clan one by one."
Styx smiled coldly. "They would hound you for all eternity."
"As I said, a problem. Unless..."
Styx didn't like the smug glint that smoldered in the green eyes. It warned that the surprises were not over for the night.
A pity.
He was way past his limited tolerance for surprises already.
Any more and he was bound to become extremely violent.
"Unless what?"
"Unless you were kind enough to proclaim me as your heir," Desmond said, with a mocking smile. "In writing, of course, since you sadly will not be here to make the pronouncement yourself. The Ravens will then have no choice but to accept my position. Perhaps I will even make them my own personal bodyguards."
Styx gave a slow shake of his head. This went way beyond mere crazy. The vampire was downright delusional.
"You intend to kill me, but before I die you expect me to name you my heir?" he demanded, unable to halt his sharp laugh. "And people call me arrogant."
The green eyes narrowed. "I did not claim you would be pleased to obey my command, but you will do it."
Styx flashed his fangs in warning. He had sacrificed everything he held dear to save the vampires from a psychotic madman. He wasn't about to hand them over to another.
Not even if it meant his own death.
"Never."
"A vampire should know never to say never." Desmond gave a snap of his fingers. "Jacob, fetch paper and a pen."
"At once, my lord." The large vampire gave an awkward bow before lumbering up the stairs and disappearing into the house.
Styx took a step forward, smiling with cold amusement as Desmond stumbled back.
"You are wasting your time," he hissed.
Desmond glared with annoyance before regaining his brittle smile. "I think not. After all, I may not possess your strength, but I happen to be very, very clever. I never openly battle an opponent unless I have absolute insurance that I will win." His smile widened. "In this case I have the insurance of a pretty little blond who seems to have caught your fancy."
Styx stiffened as a numbing shock raced through him.
"Darcy?" he breathed.
"Such a charming name."
Panic threatened to rise before Styx firmly gained control of his senses.
No. It wasn't possible. Styx wasn't sure how Desmond managed to learn of Darcy, but there was no way he could get his filthy hands on her.
This was nothing more than a ploy to provoke him into doing something stupid.
Well, something even more stupid than charging into a blatant trap set by a vampire with a God complex and his band of idiotic merry men.
"Yes, and safely under the protection of the Phoenix," Styx drawled. "Or did you intend to battle the goddess?"
"Certainly not." The man possessed the nerve to smirk. Jackass. "Thankfully you made sure that such a horrible fate would not be necessary."
"I ..." Infuriated by the mere suggestion that he would somehow endanger Darcy, Styx came to a sudden halt. Abruptly he realized how the vampire had known of Darcy. And how he had known exactly the moment that he would be with Viper so that he could be easily lured into tracking the renegades to this house. "Your clansmen," he rasped with a flare of self-disgust.
"Precisely," the soon-to-be-dead vampire drawled. "By believing their pathetic story and putting them in Dante's home you gave them the perfect opportunity to discover your every weakness. And, of course, the perfect means of capturing your beloved Darcy. Even now they are collecting her so that she can join us during this momentous occasion."
Styx slowly sank to his knees as a cold lethal fury raced through him.
Later he would have the opportunity to punish himself for having been so easily fooled by his enemies. There would no doubt be years of brooding and self-recriminations and cold-blooded plans to ensure he never repeated such a mistake. That was, after all, what he did best.
For now, however, he was utterly consumed by a rage that had no bounds.
Desmond's one miscalculation in his elaborate scheme was in the fact that Styx was newly mated.
He was not the cold, calculating Anasso who would consider his situation with a detached logic. That Styx would easily realize that he was outgunned, outnumbered, and outmaneuvered. He would understand that the most sensible means of keeping Darcy safe would be to concede to the vampire's demands.
This Styx was a rabid animal who only knew that his mate was in danger and that he would kill anything and everything that stood in his path.
Feeling the power beginning to thunder through his body, Styx glanced up as Jacob returned from the house with the pen and paper clutched in his meaty hands.
Unaware he was mere moments from death, Desmond smiled as he glanced down at the kneeling Styx.
"Well, Styx, it appears that your ruling days are about to come to an end. Do you have any last words?"
The wind began to whip and the ground shake as Styx slowly rose to his feet.
"Just one." His hand lifted toward the growingly puzzled face of his opponent. "Die."
Chapter Twenty
A peaceful hush bathed the elegant mansion. Well, the peace bathed all but Darcy's luxurious rooms.
Realizing that she would be getting no more sleep until Styx had safely returned, Darcy had foolishly allowed herself to be lured into a game of checkers with Levet.