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Chapter Twenty-Five

It was a series of low curses that woke Darcy from her deep slumber With a lazy stretch, she forced her heavy-lids open and discovered herself alone in the bed Not surprising, she ruefully acknowledged The past teeks had taught her that Styx was ruthless in his de to his endless duties of Anasso and of course, devoting a great deal of the night to paer that lonely outcast struggling to survive without faarded the cris on her arm with a dreamy smile In less than a month, she had collected a faoyles, de, to-die-for vampire for a mate

All in all, not a bad feeeks

With a chuckle, she pushed back the covers and reached for the heavy robe that was tossed at the foot of the bed It was several sizes too large, but at least the thick brocade was a welcome warmth Styx hadn’t lied when he’d warned that the caves would be cold and dah the air, and with a sense of curiosity, Darcy headed toward the opening

She had never expected to be alone with Styx in the remote caves He was the Anasso and as such must be protected by his Ravens at all times But the five vampires who formed Styx’s Secret Service were usually so silent that it was impossible to knohen they were even around

Surely so actual noise?

Belatedly wishing she had taken tie rooaze first went to the large fire burning happily in the fireplace before slowly searching the chamber to discover Styx and two of his Ravens in the center of the rooe pine tree that was leaning precariously fro all atte her entrance, the three va a deep bow before silently sliding from the room

Darcy barely noticed their retreat as she walked toward the tree with a faint frown

"Styxwhat is going on?" she deloose down his back, the vampire looked just about as delectable as a led not to drool

"Atterin "Without ave a slow shake of her head, her heart doing an odd flop as she abruptly realized what she was seeing

"Is that a Christaudily wrapped boxes set on the floor "Andpresents?"

"I believe that is the tradition, is it not?"

Her breath caught as he bent to pluck one of the boxes from the floor and moved to stand directly before her It had been years since she had celebrated Christmas And even in her youth it had never been a day that truly captured the warmth and peace she had so desperately needed Not when she was so obviously unwanted

In this moment, however, her fantasies were complete

"Oh, Styx," she breathed as she took the box from his hand

His expression was unbelievably tender as he touched her cheek "It’s your first Christmas with your new fah to press her face to his bare chest, reveling in the feel of his cool skin beneath her own

"It is perfect"

"Open your present,back, she hid her sht this vampire aloof and indifferent was beyond her She had never known anyone who cared more for others

With swift motions she tore the paper froerness that seemed to please Styx, she flipped open the lid to reveal the large, outrageously flawless ruby ring within

Stunned, she lifted her head tothe box fro place and gently pushed it onto her finger

"I believe it is a hus between h "Yes, but this is "

His hand closed over her fingers "It doesn’t please you?"

"It’s beautiful, but it’s too much You shouldn’t have--"

"I wanted to," he interrupted firazed into her wide eyes "I want you to be happy, Darcy"<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>