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That ridiculous, annoying question!

"Would you have me risk ith the Weres for a ave a short laugh "Styx, I illing to risk the entire race of vah Styx had nearly killed both Viper and Shay "But she was your mate You loved her"

"I still believe that sonored the odd tightness in his chest He didn’t want to knohat itto us"

Viper looked annoyingly unconvinced "It is your decision to hly overrated position, I assure you"

Viper gave his shoulder a squeeze "Don’t allow yourself to be rushed into a decision, my friend The Weres are troublesome, but we can keep them in check while you discover what they want of her There is no use bargaining with Salvatore until you know precisely what your chips are worth"

Styx slowly nodded It made sense If he could discover what Salvatore wanted with Darcy, then he ether

If he wanted her bad enough, the Were would have to give in to whatever deht make

"Wise counsel"

"I do haveas they may be"

Viper took an abrupt step backward, his eyes wide "Was that a joke?"

"I havetoward the door He had been away froh He paused at the door to shoot his friend a warning glance "I will tolerate the gargoyle as long as he does not trouble Darcy If he so much as makes her frown, he will find himself on the streets, if not worse" With his threat delivered, Styx walked out of the office, but not before he witnessed the slow, utterly inexplicable smile that curved Viper’s lips

Chapter Four

Styx returned to the dark burgundy Jag parked in the back alley

He had no fear of walking the dark streets, no h to attack a master va into the alley, he caers from his boots and scanned the darkness

Even over the stench of garbage and human waste he could detect the unmistakable scent of Were

Three curs and a pureblood

And close

He widened his stance as he caught sight of the nearest cur In hu brown hair He looked more like a schoolyard bully, or petty thief, than a creature of the night But Styx didn’t low in the brown eyes that revealed he was close to shifting

Even curs could be dangerous when their blood was running hot and their beast was calling

Never taking his eyes from the cur as poised near a black Jeep, Styx reached out with his senses to find the other Weres He wasn’t about to be distracted by one y cur so that the others could outflank him

One more cur was hidden behind a Du cur were on the roof of an es

Srowl in his throat He was going to attack Already hisin small pants In contrast, Styx reers held loosely in his hands

His see the rabid cur needed, and with a hair-stirring growl he launched himself forward

Styx waited until thethe beast by the throat There was a strangled whine followed by the gurgling rattle of death as Styx lifted higling forer between his ribs and deep into his heart A Were could heal from almost any wound except silver to the heart or decapitation

There was a gasping cry as the cur went li aside the corpse, Styx smoothly turned in time to watch the next cur rush froer in his hand with such blinding speed that the attacking cur took several steps before at last co in his chest