“I . . . of course not.”
“But you suspect I’m incapable of holding on to my prisoners?”
“No.” Gaius sought to minimize the danger. “I was just curious why you would want me to return to Chicago.”
The punishing pressure eased, although the crimson gaze regarded him with an unwavering intensity that warned his brush with death was far from over.
“The child I need is being held there.”
Child? There was only one child that the Dark Lord could be interested in, and yet, Gaius paused, certain that he must have misunderstood.
“You mean the babe that’s being protected in the King of Vampire’s lair?”
Crimson eyes flared with hunger. “Yes.”
“That is . . .” This time Gaius managed to swallow his impulsive words.
“There’s something you want to share?” the Dark Lord mocked.
Hell yes, there was something he wanted to share. He wanted to share that it was sheer madness to try and battle his way into the most highly guarded lair in the entire world.
He would be dead before he ever reached the front gates.
“No matter what my powers, I can’t possibly bluff my way past the Anasso and his Ravens,” he cautiously pointed out. “And I certainly can’t overpower them.”
Sally shrugged. “You won’t be alone.”
Gaius glanced toward the flakes of black dust that was all that remained of Dolf. “I doubt my remaining companions would offer the firepower I would need.”
“The curs are no longer necessary to my plans.” Sally gave a wave of her hand. “I have a new servant to assist you.”
Gaius didn’t know whether to be relieved or terrified. “May I ask who it is?”
“A vampire named Kostas.”
Kostas. The name wasn’t familiar to Gaius, but that wasn’t surprising considering that he’d spent the past few centuries beyond the Veil. But he did know that the vampire wasn’t one of Styx’s Ravens or one of his trusted allies, which made him wonder what kind of help he could provide.
“He has access to the babe?”
“He assures me that he is capable of sneaking in and out of the lair unnoticed.”
Gaius frowned. “Then why do you need me?”
“You will provide the distraction so no one will notice the absence of the child until he is well away from the lair.”
Which meant he would be the one the infuriated vampires, and perhaps even a few pureblooded Weres, would be chasing. “Perfect,” he muttered beneath his breath.
Sally put a hand on his shoulder, her palm searing a painful heat through the fabric of Gaius’s dressing gown. “Once you’re away from the vampires, you will bring me the child. This time there will be no mistakes. Understood?”
Gaius nodded. The mistakes had been made the moment he’d allowed the Dark Lord to whisper in his ear.
The only question was whether or not it was too late to correct them.
Chapter 14
Styx’s lair in Chicago
Styx and Viper stood in rigid silence as Roke studied the piece of paper Levet had given them. The Las Vegas clan chief was wearing his usual attire of a pair of faded jeans, with his dark hair left loose and his chest exposed to reveal the dragon tattoo that marked his position as chief.
So far as Styx knew, Roke had rarely left the rooms that he’d been given after his arrival in Chicago. No big surprise. The taciturn vampire had never been the life of the party, and being forced to remain so far from his people hadn’t improved his temperament.
Unfortunately for him, Styx had no intention of allowing him to leave. Not until the latest danger from the Dark Lord had passed.
“Is it a prophecy?” Viper demanded, his impatience adding a sharp chill to the air.
Slowly, Roke lifted his head, his lean face hard with concern. “Not so much a prophecy as a warning.”
Styx stepped forward. “What does it say?”
“Beware the shadows.”
“That’s it?” Viper snapped. “Beware the shadows?”
“Yes.”
Viper hissed, clearly not pleased by the vague forewarning. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Roke moved until he was nose to nose with the Chicago clan chief, his smoky eyes shimmering with power. “You asked me to decipher the glyph and I did. It’s not my fault you don’t like what it says.”
“He’s right, Viper.” Styx smoothly stepped between the two. Tensions were riding high and the last thing he needed was two of his most powerful brothers at each other’s throats. Literally. He kept his gaze on Roke. “Is that all you can give us?”
There was a tense moment when Styx prepared for violence. Then, with a tight smile, the younger vampire stepped back, his gaze lowering to the paper still clutched in his fingers.
“I sense the child when I touch the glyph, as if the prophet was thinking of Maluhia when she sent this message.”
Viper was already headed toward the door by the time Roke finished speaking. “I’ll have the guards doubled,” he said.
“Viper.”
The silver-haired vampire turned to regard him with an impatient scowl. “Yes?”
“Tell them . . .” Styx grimaced.
“Tell them what?”
“To look for shadows.”
“They’re going to think I’ve lost my mind,” Viper growled.
Styx shrugged. “They assumed that centuries ago.”
“Thanks.” With a flash of fangs, Viper turned and disappeared down the hall.
At the same time, Roke moved to stand at his side. “Is that all you need from me?”
Styx folded his arms over his chest. “Are you in a hurry to be somewhere?”
“Home,” Roke said, a muscle in his jaw knotted with a seething resentment at being away from those he’d taken as his family. “My clan needs me.”
Styx shook his head. As much as he sympathized with Roke’s fierce loyalty, he needed his talents. Hard times called for hard decisions. “I understand your urgency to be with your people, but for now your duty is here.”
Roke hissed, waving a slender hand toward the glass cases that contained some of Styx’s most treasured artifacts. “So I can sit on my ass, surrounded by your collection of froufrou, just on the off chance you need me to transcribe a prophecy?”
Styx lifted his brows. “First, my collection isn’t froufrou, it’s chichi,” he informed the younger vampire. “Second, you’re here to stop the end of the world. I think that might be worth a few days of boredom, don’t you?”