Page 7 (1/2)

His expression was cold, aloof Giving nothing away

"They must answer to me"

"Are they your eue "No They owe ave a short laugh "Isn’t that a little medieval?"

A hint of impatience touched his beautiful features "The Weres are beneath the laws of the vampires, and as the leader of the vampires they must obey me"

She blinked If he was crazy, he at least made sure he was the head lunatic Aof the vampires?"

"I am the master, the Anasso," he retorted with a smooth pride

Darcy felt her lips quiver She couldn’t help it There was soance that always struck her as funny

Of course, s in life struck her as funny

She had discovered long ago that if she didn’t laugh at the world and all its follies, then she would drown in bitterness

"Wow" She widened her eyes "Mr Big Shot"

His expression remained unreadable, but the dark eyes see Shot? That is a huet out in the world ed "More than I wish to"

"Actually, it doesn’t really lad that she wasn’t the hysterical sort, but then again it was probably not the s of vampires Or crazed lunatic Whichever the caseof this Salvatore I certainly don’t know anything about olves I don’t even believe in theet hoht at the stark denial "What do you reat effort to track you down"

"I’ve told you, I can’t help I don’t have any idea why he would be following me"

"Perhaps not, but your presence will still prove to be a benefit"

"What’s that supposed to aze reh to negotiate for your release"

Stupidly it took a moment for Darcy to understand what he intended Perhaps because she hadn’t seen it co Or, more likely, because she just didn’t want to believe he would really be that coldhearted

She preferred to think the best of people Even if they did happen to be blood-sucking ure

"You" She licked her lips, not aze watched the movement with a dark intensity

Unfortunately, she wasn’t sure if he was thinking of sex or dinner "You intend to hold otiate to hand me over to the Weres?"

"Yes"

Painfully blunt

"Even though you don’t knohat he wants froht want to sacrifice ht have decided I would make a tasty meal"

Styx turned to pace toward the , then pulled aside the heavy shutters to reveal that night had already fallen Of course--it was December in Illinois The sun barely rose before it was headed down again

Still, how long had she been asleep?

"Salvatore would not need to go to such effort for a mere sacrifice, or even a meal," he at last said in a low tone "I believe he wants you alive"

"You believe?" Darcyto meekly allow herself to be handed over to a olf (if he really was a olf) without an argu that is My tiny life ht not be important to you, but I assure you that it’s very irabbed a pillow and tossed it at his back With impossible speed he turned and snatched the pillow before it could touch hi other than huo hoether, almost as if he was bothered by her soft plea "Darcy, it would not be safe If you leave this estate, the Weres will have you captured before you can ever return to your ho was cut off as the sound of a shrill, coh the door It was a voice that held a thick accent and a healthy dose of French disdain

"Out ofsuccor to the prisoner?"

Styx glanced toward the door, his expression one of disbelief

Cripes, as coods, what is he doing here?" Styx breathed

"Who is it?" she deaze shifted back to her "Prepare yourself, angel"