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There were four boxes of her various plants and a s at them with an unconscious frohen Levet joined her at the table

"I did get theave a sine why you would wish a bunch of weeds stuck in ugly pots They seereat deal of trouble when you can step out the door and dig up any number of weeds just like them"

"They are not weeds; they are my companions," she corrected

"Well, I suppose as roommates they are at least quiet"

She smiled ruefully as she reached out to touch one of her lacy ferns "No one really understands"

There was a short beat before Levet cleared his throat "Actually, I would guess that at least one vampire understands"

"Yes," she

Styx

He did understand Or if he didn’t understand, he was at least willing to accept the importance to her And he had sent Levet out in the snow so that she wouldn’t be fretting over her things

It was

Cripes, it eet And thoughtful And not at all in keeping with a coldhearted monster who intended her harm

And for some stupid reason it touched her far more than was reasonable

Well, perhaps not stupid, she silently conceded After all, when a person was alone in the world the slightest offer of kindness tended to take on greaterthan for other people

Even if that kindness ca her captive

"Excuse me," she muttered to Levet as she left the kitchen and went in search of the elusive Styx

She needed to see the beautiful demon

She wanted him to know she wasn’t indifferent to his concern for her happiness

As sheroom and equally empty study, Darcy paused as a coldness prickled over her skin It was a coldness like the one that surrounded Styx but without the added surge of excitement his always stirred

With a swift motion she turned, not at all surprised to discover the silent va in the doorway

"Oh" She shifted uneasily "Hello"

The vampire was motionless as he stared at her from the depths of his heavy cowl

"Is there some requiree to shiver He looked like afor Styx Do you knohere I can find him?"

"He has left the estate"

"Do you knohen he will return?"

"No"

"I see"

Darcy couldn’t deny a flare of disappoint before her Even a woman who tried to think the best of everyone shouldn’t be pining for theher prisoner

That was crazy Just crazy

Chapter Seven

The trail from Darcy’s bedroom to the dilapidated hotel wasn’t particularly difficult to follow That didn’t, however, do anything to ease Styx’s s temper

Salvatore had invaded his lands and put his filthy hands on Darcy

Styx wanted blood

Werewolf blood

That was the only thing on his ht the un his ger in his hand

As the ruler of vampires, he was above petty duels and the occasional clan wars that still erupted That didn’t ht not decide his leadership skills could be ih the heart He ruled with an iron hand, and there were more than a few of his subjects ere not always pleased with his laws

Ah, the pleasures of being king

Styx was braced to strike when the vanize the faer back into his boot and stepped fro friend

"Viper" He planted his hands on his hips "What a less than pleasant surprise"