Beware the Darkness Read online

  Tarak refused to back down. Once upon a time he’d have been honored to be called son by this male. It was a sign of honor. Now it just made him sad.

  “You know I cannot.”

  A fleck of blood dribbled down the Anasso’s chin. He was too muddled to realize he’d cut his lip with his own fang.

  “A pity.” The hand he’d been holding out was suddenly slashing through the air.

  Tarak frowned. The Anasso hadn’t tried to hit him. It was more like he was giving a signal to some unseen onlooker. “What are you doing?”

  “The easiest solution would be to kill you,” the Anasso threatened.

  Tarak shrugged. “I do not fear death,” he said. “I’ve endured it once before.”

  Vampires had no memory of their lives before they were turned from human to demon, but Tarak presumed that he’d realized the end was near as his sire had sucked the last of the blood from his body.

  An unmistakable madness glowed in the ancient vampire’s eyes. “We all fear death. Even immortals. Some contain their dread behind a pretense of bloated courage.” He released an ugly laugh. “A few prefer to forget the looming specter of becoming a pile of ash with my little entertainments.”

  Tarak curled his lips, revealing his fangs. Not as a threat, but as a display of disgust. “Another excuse?”

  Fury radiated from the Anasso. “An explanation.”

  There was the echo of heavy footsteps crunching against the rock floor. Tarak couldn’t determine how many demons were approaching, but there were more than one.

  “Your guards will never agree to kill me,” Tarak assured his companion, feeling more relieved than alarmed by the sound. “Not when I tell them what I have discovered.”

  The large male appeared indifferent to the threat. Was it because he was teetering on the edge of insanity? Or because he was convinced that he had nothing to fear from Tarak?

  “I have a wide variety of servants,” he said in mocking tones. “These are a few of my most loyal warriors, and I assure you that they will do exactly what I tell them to.”

  Tarak felt his first stab of fear as a foul scent suddenly laced the air.

  “Trolls?” he rasped, staring at the Anasso in disbelief.

  No self-respecting vampire would have dealings with trolls or orcs or goblins. It was an unspoken rule.

  The Anasso shrugged, indifferent to Tarak’s incredulity. “Mongrels,” he clarified. “I’ve discovered that they come in quite handy on occasion.”

  Tarak shook his head. Why hadn’t he listened to Chiron? The younger vampire had been able to see far more clearly than the rest of them. He’d known that the Anasso had fallen into a darkness so deep there was no hope of salvation.

  “Pet trolls. Yet another secret, my king?” he rasped. “Do you use them to kill off those who might threaten your place on the throne? A throne, I might add, that you created for yourself?”

  His words touched a nerve. The Anasso gave a low snarl, his hands clenching before he managed to regain command of his composure.

  “That was my first intention, I will admit,” he drawled. “But I suddenly realize that you have more value alive. At least for now.”

  Tarak narrowed his gaze. Being torn into pieces by a pack of trolls wasn’t the end he’d envisioned for himself, but he was fairly sure that was preferable to whatever the Anasso had planned.

  “What do you intend to do with me?”

  The Anasso lifted a hand, smoothing it down his robe as if he was completely unaware that it was a stained, rumpled mess.

  “Several years ago I became beholden to a stranger,” he murmured. “I will not bore you with the details.”

  “And?”

  The Anasso smiled as the first troll appeared around the corner of the tunnel.

  “And you, my friend, are about to pay that debt,” the Anasso said, gesturing for the lumbering troll to approach.

  The creature wasn’t as large as a full-bred troll, but he was still over seven feet tall, with a bulky body and skin that was as tough as steel. He also had razor-sharp tusks that jutted from his lower jaw. The Anasso spoke in a low voice to the beast as three more trolls crowded behind Tarak. The stench made him gag, but he forced himself to conjure a pretense of calm indifference. Even when the Anasso sent him a taunting smile.

  “First, however, my guards have insisted on having their fun. A pity, Tarak. You should have made a better choice.”

  The first blow came from behind Tarak. A fist that shattered his ribs. Then a club smashed in the side of his skull.

  From then on it was a ferocious avalanche of pain that lasted an eternity.

  Chapter 1

  The demon hotel in the depths of the Florida Everglades was a sprawling structure with two long wings surrounded by lush gardens. A week ago, it had been hidden behind a thick layer of magic, but the spell had been broken, and the demon guests had been encouraged to leave the premises.

  At the time, Chiron’s only thought had been to have some time alone with Lilah. After all, when a vampire finally located his true mate, it was a time of celebration. And since Chiron was quite convinced that his beautiful witch, Lilah, was the most special mate since the beginning of mates, the celebration had to be something spectacular.

  Unfortunately, the best-laid plans of mice and vampires tended to go to hell. And even as Chiron had shooed away the guests and sent Ulric—his faithful Were guard—to track down his master who’d just escaped his prison, he’d realized that any hope of a private oasis was a fantasy.

  And, as if to emphasize the fact that the honeymoon was on hold, the King of the Vampires had arrived a half hour ago, demanding a full account of the unfolding disaster.

  Now they stood in the middle of the vast lobby of the hotel. Styx, the current Anasso, the formal title for king, stood well over six feet, with stark Aztec features. His hair was long and as dark as midnight. Currently he had it pulled into a braid that was threaded with turquoise medallions. And as usual, his massive frame was covered from head to toe in leather. Oh, and he had a sword the size of a shovel strapped across his back.

  Chiron had dark hair as well, but he kept his neatly trimmed. He also preferred to wear designer suits that were tailored to fit his slender frame. He was a wealthy owner of a chain of hotels, spas, and casinos called Dreamscape Resorts, which catered to humans. He sold sophistication and luxury, so that was the façade he’d adopted over the years.

  Beside him was Lilah, his new mate. She was a foot shorter than Chiron with a lush figure and glorious, untamed curls that fell past her shoulders. She had honey-gold skin and her eyes were a swirl of gold and green. Unlike the two male vampires, she was a human witch who stayed young by bathing in the Fountain of Youth that was conveniently located in the back of the garden in a hidden grotto.

  Styx folded his arms over his chest, his expression grim. “Explain to me again what happened.”

  Chiron swallowed his impatience. He was a Rebel, which meant he didn’t consider Styx his king, but the ancient male had the sort of power that could flatten the hotel and potentially destroy the fountain that kept Lilah alive. Chiron couldn’t risk that.

  “I discovered that the former Anasso captured Tarak and handed him over to the King of the Mer-folk,” Chiron said in clipped tones.

  Styx already knew that his predecessor had locked away Chiron’s master, Tarak. That was why he’d given Chiron the scroll that had led to this hotel, and eventually to the key that had released Tarak from his prison.

  What none of them had known was that Tarak had been betrayed by the previous Anasso and given to Riven, the leader of the mer-folk, for some nefarious purpose.

  Styx scowled. Did the ancient vampire hope that Chiron’s story would change? Probably.

  “You’re sure?”

  Chiron nodded. “Positive.”

  “W
hy would a merman imprison a vampire?” he snapped.

  It was a question that had plagued Chiron since he’d realized who was holding Tarak captive. As far as he knew, the mer-folk had disappeared from the world centuries ago.

  “I have no idea,” he admitted. “You’ll have to ask Riven.”

  “Oh, I intend to.” The ground shook and the lights flickered as Styx’s power thundered through the lobby. “First I have to deal with a crazed vampire whom you released to rampage across Florida.”

  A burst of anger stiffened Chiron’s spine. This male had refused to heed his warnings that the previous Anasso was bat-shit crazy. And that he was using intoxicated humans to fuel his addiction. Then he’d accused Chiron of lying when he’d said he was convinced that his master, Tarak, had been taken prisoner, and had done nothing when Chiron was banished.

  “I suppose you would have preferred that I leave Tarak in his prison,” he accused the older vampire.

  Styx narrowed his gaze. “I wouldn’t have brought you the key if that’s what I wanted. But I’d hoped you would keep him contained until we could determine if he was a danger to the world.”

  Chiron bared his fully extended fangs. “He wouldn’t have been a danger to the world if you had listened to my warnings about your predecessor.”

  Styx stepped forward, the marble floor cracking beneath his heavy boots. Suddenly, Lilah was grasping Chiron’s arm, giving it a warning squeeze.

  “Maybe we should concentrate on what we’re going to do now instead of squabbling over the past,” she suggested in low tones.

  The lights flickered before Styx visibly loosened his tense muscles.

  “A wise mate,” he told Chiron.

  Chiron’s unbeating heart warmed. It’d only been a week since they’d completed the mating, which might explain why he was still besieged with a sense of acute wonderment. But he was fairly confident his giddy happiness was a permanent thing.

  “Yes,” he readily agreed with Styx as he placed an arm around Lilah’s shoulders and tugged her tight against his side. “And patient,” he continued, glancing down at her lovely face. “We’re supposed to be on our honeymoon.”

  She smiled, lifting a hand to lightly touch his cheek. Sparks darted through him.

  “We have an eternity together,” she murmured. “Right now we need to find Tarak.”

  “She’s right,” Styx said.

  Chiron glared at the large man. Centuries ago they’d been brothers, fighting with the first Anasso to end the brutal clan wars between vampires and unite them. But the loyalty he’d felt toward Styx had been destroyed when Tarak had disappeared and he’d been banished.

  “Are you offering your help?” he asked the older vampire.

  Styx shrugged. “We have to keep Tarak away from the human cities. I have my Ravens spread around the wetlands,” he said, referring to his lethal personal guards. “What about you?”

  Chiron grimaced. “I had Ulric on his trail,” he said.

  Styx took a second to place the name. “The Were?”

  Chiron nodded. He’d rescued Ulric from the slave-pits beneath the Anasso’s lair. Since then the younger male had not only become Chiron’s devoted bodyguard, but his closest friend. It didn’t matter to him that Ulric was a pureblooded werewolf. Everyone had their faults.

  “Yes, I sent him to look for Tarak after he’d escaped from the prison. But when it was obvious that my master was simply crisscrossing the Everglades with no apparent destination, I sent him back to Vegas.” Chiron exchanged a rueful glance with Lilah. The Were had returned to the hotel a bedraggled mess. His clothing was torn, and his skin was coated with a goopy mud that took an hour to scrub off. “Ulric is a fine warrior, but his temper was near the snapping point at his belief that Tarak was simply leading him through the bogs to be a jackass.”

  Styx made a sound of impatience. “You have no idea what Tarak is doing?”

  “Actually, Lilah has come up with a theory,” Chiron said, watching a blush stain his mate’s cheeks.

  Long ago Lilah had been a ruthlessly ambitious leader of her coven who’d been willing to sacrifice anyone to save her own skin. But after centuries of being isolated at the hotel with no memory of her past, she’d been stripped of her vanity to become a sweetly vulnerable woman who preferred to remain in the background.

  “What theory?” Styx demanded.

  Her blush deepened. “I think Tarak is trying to capture Inga.”

  Styx frowned. “Who?”

  “My nanny,” Lilah told Styx. Then she grimaced. “Or the female I thought was my nanny.”

  Styx’s confusion cleared. “The ogress?”

  “Half ogress and half mermaid,” Chiron clarified.

  “Does Tarak blame her for imprisoning him?” Styx asked.

  Inga had worked with Lilah and her coven of witches to create the barriers that had held Tarak captive.

  “It’s a possibility,” Lilah murmured.

  “But you suspect he has another motive?” Styx pressed.

  “I think it’s possible he is planning to force her to take him to the mermaids,” Lilah admitted.

  Styx appeared startled by the soft words. Like most demons, the ancient vampire had no doubt assumed the mermaids had disappeared forever.

  “She can do that?”

  Lilah nodded. “She admitted she’d visited them before.”

  Styx’s jaw tightened. “Damn. He’s trying to get to Riven.”

  “It’s only a theory,” Lilah hastily reminded the powerful vampire.

  Styx turned his attention to Chiron, his expression grim. “We need to find the ogress before Tarak does.”

  Chiron rolled his eyes. “Good luck with that. She’s not only huge and lethal, but she’s as cunning as an imp. Plus, she can create illusions that would fool even the most powerful demons.”

  “Illusions?”

  “Yeah, the best I’ve ever seen.”

  “Damn.” A strangely rueful expression settled on the Anasso’s face. “We don’t need power.”

  Chiron stared at him in confusion. “What do we need?”

  “Levet,” Styx revealed. “He can see through any illusion. “Where is the—” The vampire cut off whatever rude word he was about to utter. “The gargoyle?”

  Chiron exchanged another glance with Lilah. He’d hoped that Styx would have forgotten that Levet had traveled with him to Florida.

  “Actually…” His words trailed away.

  Styx snapped his brows together. “Tell me.”

  “I left him in charge of guarding the ogress after it was revealed she’d been working with the mermaids. When I went back to check on him I discovered that he’d disappeared along with Inga,” Chiron admitted. “We don’t know if he helped her escape. Or if he’s being held hostage.”

  The temperature in the lobby dropped below freezing as Styx glared at him with a surprising fury.

  “Shit. If something happens to that idiotic creature, my mate is going to chew off my ass,” Styx rasped, pointing a finger into Chiron’s face. “And since she’s a pureblood Were that’s not a metaphor.” The large male pivoted on his heel, heading toward the door.

  Chiron took an instinctive step forward. “Where are you going?” he demanded.

  “To find Levet,” Styx growled, turning his head to send Chiron a warning glare. “You catch that demented master of yours before I have to destroy him.”

  The heavy door slammed behind Styx as he stepped out of the hotel. The chandelier rattled overhead, and tiny quakes continued to shake the floor.

  Styx not only made a dramatic entrance, but he managed to leave with the same theatrical flair.

  “So that’s the new Anasso.” Lilah finally broke the heavy silence that filled the lobby. “He’s very…”

  “Arrogant?” Chiron suggested.

/>   “Forceful.”

  Chiron shook his head in resignation. “And I thought the first Anasso was bad.”

  * * * *

  Tarak left the nest of lily nymphs with a sense of dissatisfaction. Although the lovely creatures had been eager to appease his hunger, he’d found their blood bland and tasteless. Like champagne that had gone flat.

  He told himself that it was a result of his obsession with his long overdue revenge. How could he enjoy a meal, no matter how tasty, when his thoughts were focused on finding the ogress so she could lead him to the mermaids? Plus, he’d just escaped from a prison where he’d been trapped for over five centuries. Perhaps his taste buds needed time to adjust.

  It certainly had nothing to do with the beautiful female who’d visited during the long years of his imprisonment…

  As if on cue, the thick vegetation that surrounded him began to glow with a shimmering light. Then the vision of a familiar slender woman appeared directly in front of him.

  A strange excitement buzzed through him. As if he was eager for the opportunity to see her once again.

  He released a low growl. What the hell was wrong with him? The female was probably a figment of his crazed imagination. After all, there was a good chance he wasn’t entirely stable after being locked away. What demon wouldn’t be a little stressed after five hundred years surrounded by a barren cell of stone walls? And if she really was appearing before him…then she was the enemy.

  Still, the buzzing continued as he took in the sight of her pale hair that was highlighted with hints of blue that fell as smooth as silk down her back. Her wide eyes were the color of aquamarines and her skin appeared as if it’d been dusted with the luminescent shimmer of a pearl.

  As always, she was wearing a gown that flowed to her ankles. It had a plunging neckline and was sheer enough to offer glimpses of her naked body beneath.

  She was as lovely as all fey creatures, but vampires had little interest in superficial beauty. They had the ability to see inside the soul of creatures. And this female’s essence was a fascinating combination of rare innocence and a fierce spirit that she desperately tried to keep hidden.