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And, of course, there was the knowledge that Salvatore would be arriving at any e to trust the pureblood at the moment Whether he sent the olf or not, he was still responsible for the attack

It seemed best to retreat so she could take some time to consider more fully just how and when she shouldout of the lot, Darcy pulled the phone from her pocket As she drove slowly down the empty road she carefully committed Salvatore’s number to her memory

When she was satisfied that she could recall it without effort, she lowered the carand with a small s

She was tired of being a hapless bargaining chip in a private demon war she didn’t understand

Froa of ancient curses as he entered the dark warehouse Although Darcy’s scent was thick in the air, it was obvious she had already fled

Even worse, there was the unh the shadows, Styx discovered the wo wound on the side of her face and a luhty blow

Darcy?

It seeel could have battled off this cur, but if he’d learned nothing else over the past few days, it was that it was futile to try to predict how Darcy ht react

She had confused and baffled and fascinated him from the moment he had taken her captive

There was a stir of air behind hiathered the va out in pursuit of Darcy He had learned his lesson in charging off on his own, and he had already sent his Ravens to travel to Salvatore’s lair to keep watch on the da lot, but she must have found a car to escape She is no doubt miles away by now"

"Da too swiftly Soon it would be dawn and he would be forced to seek shelter

Darcy would be out here alone

At the mercy of Salvatore

Well, perhaps not utterly at his aze traveled over the unconscious olf Following his gaze, Viper folded his arms over his chest

"Who’s the cur?"

Styx curled his nose in disgust "She smells of Salvatore She must be a part of his pack"

"Do you think she cah to s ache to sink into olf flesh Of course, his

"Whatever she came here for, it doesn’t appear to have worked out as she had expected"

"No, it doesn’t seeard Styx with a lift of his brow "Your woman can hold her own"

"So it seeht of Darcy doing battle with the Were Not just because she could so easily have been hurt, but because he knew his angel well enough to suspect she ounded deep in her heart at har another "She must have felt her life was threatened or she never would have struck out" He abruptly turned to walk toward the door, sniffing deeply of the stale air "But ould Salvatore send a cur to attack her? If he wanted her dead, he could have killed her in the bar or even when he crept into the estate He seemed desperate to take her alive"

"That does seem to be the question" Viper conducted his own search of the warehouse, his expression intent "There was another woave a low hiss "None of thisthat had been left on the floor before giving a shake of his head

"It is a mystery that will have to be solved later, old friend The dawn is less than an hour away We cannot linger here"

Styx clenched his hands "If Darcy has a car she could be across the state before I can begin to track her again"

Easily sensing the fury and frustration that boiled through Styx like a volcano on the edge of explosion, Viper crossed to lightly place his hand on Styx’s shoulder

"Not even the Anasso can battle the sun and win," he said gently

"Surely you’re not saying that the invincible Styx is afraid of a few stray rays of sunlight?" avoice drawled fro you know, you’ll be telling s or halt speeding bullets"