Gods. Tane not only witnessed the woman he loved plunge into madness, but he had to watch her gory meltdown in full living color.
That would scar anyone.
“And it never occurred to her that you might put a stop to her rampage?”
“Why should she?” He slowly turned, revealing his stark expression. “I had been her loyal sycophant for countless years.”
She reached up and framed his face in her hands. His skin was cool and deliciously smooth. Perfect.
But his eyes were filled with a pain that made her heart bleed.
“And now you carry the guilt of those she killed?”
“Not killed.” He grasped her forearms, gripping her as if caught between the urge to shove her away or haul her against his chest. “They were slaughtered, Laylah. Ruthlessly, savagely slaughtered.”
She welcomed the pressure of his fingers that dug into her flesh. He’d been smothering his emotions for so long. It was a wonder he hadn’t exploded.
“You’re not to blame.”
“That’s my call to make.”
Laylah swallowed her words of protest. He’d decided it was his fault, and for now there was no arguing with him. Typical male.
“Did Styx know your history when he asked you to become a Charon?” she instead demanded.
He hesitated, his gaze narrowing with suspicion at her abrupt change of subject.
“Yes.”
“Bastard.”
He tugged her close, his gaze instinctively flashing toward the closed door.
“Take care, my sweet, Styx has played the gracious host so far, but make no mistake he is a very bad enemy,” he warned.
She leaned against the broad strength of his chest, feeling the usual flare of excitement stirring in the pit of her stomach. Along with far more dangerous sensations.
The sort of sensations a wise woman pretended didn’t exist.
“It seems that he makes a very bad friend as well,” she muttered.
He pressed a finger to her lips. “Laylah.”
“No, he deliberately used your guilt to manipulate you into a position that not only has made you a leper among vampires, but puts your life at constant risk,” she insisted.
He stilled, his gaze sweeping over her face as if seeking an answer to an unspoken question.
“Hardly constant.”
She made a sound of impatience. “Have you forgotten you were attacked by your precious brothers the same day we met?”
His eyes blazed with a sudden heat as his arms wrapped around her.
“I’ve forgotten nothing of the day we met,” he said, his husky tone making her heart slam against her ribs. “Nothing.”
Yeah well … ditto.
Her eyes drifted to the hard curve of his mouth, memories of the sensual devastation of those lips sliding over her skin jolting through her before she was sternly squashing her flare of arousal.
No.
She wouldn’t be distracted.
“He had no right to ask you to sacrifice so much.”
“Styx isn’t a benevolent leader.” He snorted. “Hell, he’s a son of a bitch who wouldn’t hesitate to do what he thought necessary to protect his people. But, he didn’t manipulate or compel me to become a Charon.”
She scowled. Tane’s loyalty to the terrifying Anasso was admirable, but it blinded him.
“Are you so certain?”
His hands lightly skimmed up her back, as if offering her comfort.
“Actually, he’s the only one who truly understands.” She shook her head, far from convinced. “Understands what?”
“He had his own history with guilt and the scars of a twisted relationship.” His jaw muscles knotted. “He knew I needed a tangible means of righting the wrongs of my past.”
Laylah bit back a sigh of frustration.
She wanted to insist that Styx was using Tane’s guilt to manipulate him into being a Charon. That way she might have a chance of convincing the stubborn fool that it wasn’t worth the danger.
But if his position was a personal holy war …
She shook her head. Dammit. She didn’t want to be concerned.
It implied that she cared.
And hadn’t she already decided that was a very bad idea?
There was a click from the direction of the desk, then Styx’s voice once again filled the room.
“Tane, you won’t like what happens if I have to fetch you.”
They both flinched at the icy edge in the voice.
With a low curse, Tane bent down to snatch a searing kiss before striding toward the door.
“We’ll speak later.”
“Tane.”
He shot a glance over his shoulder. “Yes?” “Don’t…” “Don’t what?”
She clenched her teeth. “Don’t do anything stupid.”
Chapter 13
Over the years Tane had developed a finely honed sense of self-preservation. A vampire assassin learned to stay on guard or he died. That simple.
But, Laylah was proving to be a dangerous distraction. He barely noted the priceless statues that lined the marble halls or the framed masterpieces that would no doubt make a collector wet himself. Which meant he barely noted the shadowed alcove where an enemy might be hidden and the coved ceiling where a trap might have been set.
His thoughts remained on Laylah’s unexpected anger. She didn’t like that he was a Charon. But why?
Because she was worried about him?
Because she … cared?
A dangerous warmth stirred in his heart.
A warmth that was still stirring and even spreading when he was abruptly jerked out of his inane thoughts by a wave of crushing energy that nearly sent him to his knees.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Nothing but an Oracle could throw out voltage power that high.
He hesitated outside the library where he could sense Styx impatiently awaiting his arrival.
The savage urge to rush back to Laylah and carry her away blazed through him. Stupid, of course. He didn’t stand a chance in hell of getting her out of here. Not before they could be stopped by Styx’s Ravens.
Or worse.
Still, it was only the years of self-discipline that gave him the strength to step over the threshold into the vast library rather than rushing off like some newbie vampire with a hero-complex.
He was going to convince the Oracle that Laylah wasn’t a danger.
Or die trying.
Belatedly on full alert, Tane took a cautious glance about the long room with its soaring windows that overlooked the sunken garden bathed in moonlight.
There were the expected shelves with a portion of Styx’s enormous collection of books, and a heavy desk set near a marble fireplace. Across the room there were various leather chairs dotted about the expensive carpet and a glass case that held a variety of ancient scrolls.