Page 10 of Reign of the Beast

The Ancient seemed startled. “You would deny me a power boost from yourplaythingduring these dark and dangerous times?”

“You have misjudged the situation. He is not a plaything, not a power tap.” He caressed my hair lovingly, thenslid his hand into mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “He is my beloved.”

A gasp escaped the Ancient. His sharply angled jaw ticked. “Ah,scusa,” he gritted out. “I was unaware that you had… settled down.” The disdain in his voice was clear. He took a cautious step forward and addressed me. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, youngling.”

Youngling.His derisive emphasis of that didn’t escape my notice.

He held out his left hand, devoid of those chunky rings. “Vincenzo Daza.”

Holy shit.

He chuckled, seeing my shock. “The name is familiar to you, I see.”

Damn right it was familiar.

Not just to me. To all Guardians.

He wasn’t merely known, he was on our top ten most-wanted list.

For centuries, he’d cut a path of destruction throughout the supernatural world, been responsible for horrific massacres of the human population, the razing of towns and villages. He was a merciless, relentless monster.

And right alongside him back then had been none other than Lucian.

Unlike him, though, Vincenzo hadn’t repented, hadn’t become a force for good. He’d continued on with his brutality, until a threat from Cornelius had forced him into hiding a century ago.

Now, here he was inPolaris, in a highly public space, as though he wasn’t a wanted being, as though he wasn’t standing before two Guardians.

“You have bigger fish,” he said, reading my reaction well.

“I'm a hell of a multitasker,” I fired back.

He grinned. “Hmm. Luc does enjoy fire in his… companions.” He took a step closer. “I should know. In fact, I am intimately familiar with his predilections.”

“Vincenzo,” Lucian hissed. “We are done here. Take your leave.”

“Done?” he scoffed. “I think not, amore mio.” He stepped up close to Lucian, “However, I will allow you time to consider my offer.”

In the next breath, he was gone with a burst of vampire speed, the office door opening and closing in a blur.

“Offer?” I queried, eyeing Lucian.

He sighed heavily and pulled away, striding over to his bar in the corner.

I watched him pour himself another scotch and down the whole thing.

When he set about pouring another, still not offering any response up, I’d just about had enough.

My night had been a shit show from start to finish and I’d reached my limit of bullshit.

“He’s a fugitive, Lucian. The Guardian Movement has been searching for him since he disappeared a century ago. And, not only were you sitting in here having a cozy fucking chat with him, but you also let him go. If it wasn’t for your damninhibitor, I would’ve taken him down myself!”

He spoke calmly over his shoulder, “The complexities involved in dealing with a being like Vincenzo are incredibly difficult to explain. Besides, I never took you for such a stickler for the rules inanysituation.”

“Don’t patronize me!”

“He makes a much better ally than an enemy, Ryker.”

“Oh, come the fuck on! That’s all bullshit!”

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