Darkness Revealed (Guardians of Eternity #4)(41)
Author: Alexandra Ivy

Her brows lifted. “You mean you have to kill them.”

“Si,” Cezar admitted without apology. He was what he was. There was no changing that. “It’s my belief, although Viper would argue with me, that the demon can’t take command of the body until the soul has departed.”

“And the memories go with the soul?”

“Of course. They are a part of the very essence that was once human.”

It was obvious that she battled against her natural instinct to be disgusted by his calm explanation. A common reaction. There were few who could understand the compulsions that drove a vampire.

“Then the demon is left with an empty body to fill?” she demanded.

“In a manner of speaking.”

“Did you ever…”

“Ever?”

“Ever transform someone?”

He smiled faintly at her reluctance to ask the question that was clearly troubling her.

“Si. I’ve sired others. Even vampires feel the urge to procreate.”

She shivered, her beautiful eyes darkening. “So you have children?”

Cezar felt an ancient pain tremble through him. Unlike many of his brethren he had never turned a human and left them to fend for themselves. A habit that had nearly been the end of vampires.

Instead he had taken them as clan members and did his best to make sure they possessed the skills necessary to take their place in the demon world.

Unfortunately, his tutoring hadn’t been enough to save them from the savage vampire wars that had once spread across Europe. Or even from their own stupidity.

“It isn’t quite the same,” he said softly, regret in his voice. “And no, none of those that I sired has survived. The last was staked by his lover shortly before I met you.”

She lifted her head, her expression shocked. Cezar hid a small smile. Dios. In some ways this woman remained heartrendingly naïve.

“By his lover?”

He gave a small shrug. “Vampires can be as foolish in love as anyone else.”

She pondered the notion a moment before a faint smile curved her lips. “And obviously you don’t have a prejudice against other species.”

He allowed his gaze to deliberately roam over her gloriously naked body.

“Obviously not.”

She gave his arm a small pinch. “I mean that Styx chose a werewolf as a mate, which I assume is something like a wife.”

Mate. A strange quiver rushed through his body. One he was determined to ignore. Nothing could match a vampire when it came to ignoring things he didn’t want to acknowledge.

“It’s far more than just a wife,” he said softly, “but yes, vampires often seek their mates among other demons. Viper’s mate, Shay, is a Shalott, which is one of the few demons capable of besting a vampire, and Dante is mated to a goddess.”

“A goddess?” She gave a short, disbelieving laugh. “You’ve got to be kidding?”

“Not at all.” Cezar tugged one of her honey curls. “Abby is a Chalice that carries within her a spirit that is worshipped by many, and feared by even more.”

“Do you worship her?”

“No. Vampires don’t worship the Phoenix, although I’m intelligent enough not to piss her off. Dante is a brave vampire to live with a woman who carries such power within her.” A wicked smile touched his lips as he studied her delicate features. “Of course, many would consider me brave to dare being so close to you.”

She gave a soft snort. “I’m far from a goddess.”

Cezar hid his smile. As a member of the Commission, Anna would be revered by vampires and demons throughout the world.

Her word would quite literally be law.

“Perhaps not so far from a goddess as you believe,” he murmured. Then, as she frowned in confusion, he brushed a kiss over her lips and reluctantly slipped from the bed. “As much as I hate to end this lovely interlude, your dinner will soon be here. We must make our plans for the night.”

“Plans?” Sitting in the center of the mussed bed, Anna reached for the robe and pulled it around her naked body. Cezar stifled the urge to reach out and tug it back off. As much as it might be a sin to ever cover such beauty, he wasn’t about to risk having the dinner tray arrive while Anna was still naked. Viper might not be entirely happy if Cezar was forced to kill one of his servants. “You have plans?”

His lips twitched at her obvious disbelief. “They’re still a work in progress.”

“Ah.” She slid off the bed and moved to stand directly before him. “Meaning that you don’t have jack crap?”

He tapped the end of her nose. “Get dressed, little shrew. I must speak with Viper.”

Locking herself in the bathroom, Anna indulged in a quick shower before pulling on her one clean pair of jeans and a heavy sweatshirt. After her recent demolition derby in the parking garage, she had no desire to play around with her powers. Not even to warm the air around her.

Pulling back her hair and securing it with a scrunchie, she brushed her teeth and returned to the bedroom to find a tray filled with eggs, French toast, bacon, and a muffin drenched with butter and honey. At first glance it appeared to be enough food to feed an army, but once she began eating she discovered herself unable to stop.

It could be the fact that her meals had been few and far between since arriving in Chicago, or that the use of her powers had increased her appetite, or it could be quite simply that Viper’s chef possessed the touch of an artist.

Whatever the case, she made swift work of the mounds of food, not setting aside the tray until it was empty. Only then did she pour a mug of coffee and allow the caffeine to stir her blood.

Walking toward the windows on the far wall she twitched aside the heavy curtains to watch the sun slip over the horizon. Three stories below her the street was narrow and already cloaked in shadows. Night was creeping across Chicago and soon she would be forced to decide what she was going to do.

Which truly was a hell of a question.

She’d always considered herself an intelligent, fairly resourceful woman. After all, she’d managed to survive for two centuries completely alone. Nothing to thumb her nose at.

But during all those years she never had to face something like Morgana le Fay. She hadn’t even known there was anything like Morgana le Fay. How the hell was she supposed to protect herself when she didn’t have a clue what might be thrown at her next? It wasn’t like she had a Dummies Guide to Battling Demons.

Leaning her head against the chilly pane of glass, Anna remained lost in her dark thoughts until a subtle movement caught her gaze.