Page 55 (1/2)

"Open this door"

"When night has fully fallen"

"Viper" His voice could have frozen the Sahara "You will open this door or I will bring this entire house down upon our heads"

"Such talk is hardly likely to convince me that you should be released," Viper pointed out "I did, after all, lock you in chains to keep you froet out until I’ained your senses"

Styx sed the fury that threatened to rise Da friends

"You havestupid"

"I have your word you won’t leave this rooht has fallen?"

"My word," he forced hi easily open He waited until Viper was in the narrow roorasp his black silk shirt in a fierce grip "What have you discovered?"

Viper grimaced but didn’t try to pull away as he studied Styx’s ravaged expression

"Shay ed to follow Darcy’s trail back to Salvatore’s lair"

His teeth claether It hat he expected, but that didn’t make the pain any less

"She’s certain that Darcy is still there?"

"Yes"

"Is " Styx was forced to stop and clear his throat "Is she harrasp his upper arm "She is well Styx, the Weres will not harrowled deep in his throat "Apparently, she was bleeding when she was taken frorounds"

"Barely more than a scratch"

"And if it were Shay?"

The pale, elegant features hardened "Then I would be the one locked in this roo e into Salvatore’s lair without at least a plan" Viper gave a lift of his brows "I think we’ve done enough blundering for one week, don’t you?"

Styx abruptly loosened his grip on his friend and turned to pace across the dirt floor

He couldn’t deny that he had doneAn unheard-of weakness for the vaic

And a weakness that he fully intended to put behind hi Darcy

Sharply turning back around, Styx discovered his co hioyle?"

Viper blinked at the abrupt question "Still in statue form" He took a step forward "Styx, I hope you won’t hold him to blame He did what he could to protect Darcy, and to be honest, I’m not sure you could make him feel any worse than he already does"

"Relax, Viper" Styx waved an impatient hand "I know that the little one held off the traitors so that Darcy could try to escape I won’t forget his courage"

Viper’s frown remained "Then why do you need him?"

"He’s been in Salvatore’s lair I hope he can draw us a h idea of where they ave a slow nod, his eyes narrowing as he considered the possibilities "If he could slip in unnoticed he could also tell us how et her I’d rather not be caught unprepared again"

Styx sed in his heart as he finalized his plans in his h he would have Darcy back in his ar less would be tolerated

"Actually, I have no intention of fighting anyone if I can avoid it"

Viper gave a choked laugh "Can you really see that as an option?"

Styx ran his fingers i hair He needed a shower and a change of clothes He would also have to feed before he left Dante’s estate He wouldn’t go after Darcy without being at his full strength

"It has to be," he said in a distracted tone, his thoughts centered on the weapons he could carry with the most ease

"Surely you do not fear the Weres?"

"Never" Styx smiled wryly "But I do fear my mate"

"Very wise, but I still don’t understand"