Cezar knew the minute he woke from his magically induced sleep that the Commission had come to take Anna.
There could be no other explanation. Viper’s defenses were impenetrable to all but the most powerful of demons. And, of course, there was the fact that whoever had entered the bedroom had managed to do so without him being aware of their presence.
Besides, the lingering scent of Siljar still hung heavy in the air.
Leaping from the bed, Cezar’s first thought had been to rush to the distant caves and physically fight his way to Anna’s side. He’d be damned if she was forced to face the Commission alone.
Then sanity had made an unwelcome intrusion as he yanked on the black jeans that Anna always preferred, and a plain T-shirt.
He could easily make his way to the caves hidden beside the Mississippi river, but for all his power he couldn’t possibly hope to enter them without the permission of the Oracles.
Even worse, his impulsive attempt might very well endanger Anna.
They might be the leaders of the demon world but they could be as petty and vindictive as a clutch of harpies. They wouldn’t hesitate to punish his mate for his own sins.
Besides, he’d known this day was coming.
He’d known it for two long centuries.
He just hadn’t expected it to come mere days after making Anna his mate.
Plagued by a sorrow that pulsed through his body, Cezar paced the bedroom that he shared with Anna, soaking in her lingering scent and stroking his fingers over the few possessions she had scattered around the room. A jagged pain constricted his heart as he touched the hairbrush that he had used only a few hours ago to brush her thick, honey hair. He could still feel the rich satin texture beneath his fingers and smell the intoxicating scent of figs that had filled the air.
Dios. The bulbs in the room exploded as his power swirled through the room.
How was he expected to live without her?
She was his life. His sole purpose to exist.
Without her…
A sharp knock on the door interrupted his agonizing thoughts, although it brought no relief to his pain. He could sense Styx standing in the hallway and as much as he respected his Anasso, at the moment he was no more than an unwelcome intrusion.
“Not now,” he called out, his voice raw with emotion.
In answer the door was thrust open, nearly coming off its hinges as Styx stormed into the room, his massive form covered from head to toe in black leather, his expression revealing that he wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
Cezar gritted his teeth. Damn Viper. It had to be the clan chief who had sensed Cezar’s stark pain and sent for the leader.
That all-seeing golden gaze swept over the glass littering the carpet before landing on Cezar’s tense form.
“Come with me,” he commanded.
Cezar shoved his fingers through his tangled hair, struggling to contain the power that still swirled through the air.
“I’m not really in the mood for company, Styx.”
Styx folded his arms over his massive chest. “You would rather be pacing a hole in Viper’s rather expensive carpet?”
“I’d rather be in my bed with my mate,” Cezar snapped.
“There is no point in wishing for the impossible.” Styx narrowed his gaze. “And even less point in locking yourself in this room and brooding. Let’s go.”
Cezar gritted his teeth. He wanted to tell the older vampire to go to hell. The last thing he wanted was to leave this room and pretend as if his life wasn’t crashing down around him.
Unfortunately, Styx wasn’t just another vampire. He was the Anasso and he possessed the power to force the cooperation of others.
Including Cezar.
“If you insist.” With a stiff bow of his head, Cezar forced his feet forward, passing by the older vampire and stepping into the hallway. “But if you tell me that everything is going to be fine, I swear I’ll throw you out the nearest window.”
Joining him in the hall, Styx pointed toward the back stairs that led to Viper’s private tunnels. For a time they walked in silence, the vampire guards that filled the house disappearing into the shadows at the approach of the two powerful demons.
As they reached the stairs, Cezar felt the heavy weight of Styx’s gaze on his tight expression.
“The Oracles will not harm her, you know,” he said softly.
He didn’t ask how Styx had known why he was so disturbed. They’d both known that this day would come sooner or later.
Cezar hissed as he thought of his sweet, tenderhearted mate in the hands of the Commission. They would be ruthless to get what they wanted. And what they wanted was Anna to take her place as an Oracle.
They might not physically harm her, but they might very well crush her spirit if they thought it necessary.
“I pray you’re right,” he rasped. “But even assuming that Anna’s transition to the Commission is without complications, they will never return her. She’s lost to me.”
“I claim no knowledge of the Commission’s inner workings, but surely Anna will have some say in her future?”
Cezar stiffened at the soft question. No. He wouldn’t allow the dangerous hope to settle in his mind. It would only drive him mad.
“She’s an Oracle.” He closed his eyes as he forced the words past his clenched teeth. “It was the reason she was born.”
Without warning, Styx grasped his shoulder in a tight grip. “Destiny is not always etched in stone, amigo.”
Cezar opened his eyes as he glanced toward his friend. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I once believed that fate could not be altered. Should not be altered,” Styx said, a rueful smile touching his lips. “And I was prepared to sacrifice all that I held dear to battle those who would dare to change the future. I was a fool.”
Cezar nearly stumbled as they reached the wide opening at the bottom of the stairs. Forcing Styx to admit that he might be wrong was like trying to force an imp to confess where he’d hidden his gold.
“Good God, I never thought to hear those words from your lips, my lord.”
Styx laughed as he led them down a wide tunnel. “Enjoy them while you can. They will never leave my lips again.”
They continued through the thick darkness and Cezar found his renegade thoughts dwelling on his companion’s words.
“So you no longer believe in destiny?” The words were out before he could stop them.
Styx halted before a large wooden door, his expression somber as he studied Cezar’s haunted expression.
“I believe that destiny, good or bad, is crafted by our own hands.”
“It was foreseen that Anna is to become an Oracle,” Cezar muttered. “That’s a destiny that I can’t craft away.”
“Have faith in your woman, Cezar,” Styx said gently.
“My faith in Anna is beyond question,” he growled.
“Then that’s all you need.”
With his cryptic assurance offered, Styx reached to push open the door and with a mere thought ignited the numerous torches that were set in the walls of the large room. With a sweep of his arm he gestured Cezar forward.
Cezar’s brows lifted as he stepped through the doorway. A mere glance was enough to confirm they were in Viper’s private armory. And that there were enough ancient and modern weapons in the glass cases to take over a third world country.
Viper’s rare collection was whispered of, but rarely seen. Little wonder. There were demons that would stop at nothing to get their hands on such a lethal arsenal.
“What are we doing here?” Cezar demanded as Styx crossed the floor to retrieve two long swords from a nearby case.
Styx turned and tossed one of the swords in Cezar’s direction. “It’s been some time since I’ve had an opportunity to spar with a worthy opponent.”
Catching the sword by the delicately carved hilt, Cezar absently tested the weight and balance of the weapon. It was, of course, perfectly crafted and fit his hand as if it had been forged for him. Viper would never have anything but the best.
He glanced toward Styx, who was eyeing him with an expectant expression. Maybe a few hours of testing his skill with a master was precisely what he needed. It would be hard to brood with a very large vampire swinging a sword at his head.
Pretending to study his sword, Cezar casually settled his weight on the balls of his feet and bent his knees to a fighting stance.
“It won’t be much of a competition,” he warned. “I’m no match for you even when I’m not distracted.”
“Ah no.” Styx gave a shake of his head, his lips twisted in a wry smile. “Others might be fooled by your pretense of ineptitude, Conde Cezar, but I am not one of them. I have battled at your side and know just how lethal you are with a sword in hand.”
Cezar barely had time to react before Styx was flowing forward in a flurry of lethal steel and fangs.
Anna decided that teleportation was only marginally better than traveling through a portal. Sure, there was no lightning crawling over her skin, but to compensate there was the feeling that her stomach was being turned inside out and her retinas being seared by the violent flashes of light.
It was the sort of thing to make any sane woman appreciate public transportation.
Of course, on the plus side she did arrive back at Viper’s country estate just after midnight. She would endure a lot more than a twisted stomach and spots before her eyes to ease the aching sadness she could sense from her mate.
Politely thanking Siljar for the quick trip home, Anna waited for the demon to disappear in a flash of light before going in search of Cezar.
To avoid any unnecessary unpleasantness, Anna had requested that they be popped into the beautiful conservatory rather than the bedroom. The last thing she’d wanted was for Cezar to attack the Oracle and be toasted before Anna could stop him.
Now she closed her eyes and allowed the sensation of him to flow through her body. She felt a flicker of surprise as she realized that he wasn’t in the main house, but somewhere in the vast connection of tunnels that ran throughout the estate.
There was a brief hesitation as she debated between returning to the bedroom to change into something halfway decent and the burning need to be with Cezar.
The burning need won out as she left the conservatory and made her way to the door that led to the tunnels. The half-dozen vampires and demons that were spread throughout the house had seen a hell of a lot more than bare legs over the past few centuries.
Relieved to discover the hidden door already opened, Anna made her way down the steep staircase, her pace slowing as she was forced to stumble blindly through the pitch black that shrouded the tunnels. Someday she intended to convince the demon world that not everyone possessed the vision of a freaking owl.
Would a night-light kill them?
It was the sound of faint grunts and the unmistakable clang of steel swords being struck together that led her down one of the larger tunnels. She might have been worried if it weren’t for the complete lack of fear she sensed from Cezar.
Bitter sadness, anger, a frustrated need to vent the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him, but no fear.
Biting her lip against the raw pain she could feel pulsing through him, Anna hurried toward the open door that thankfully had a soft glow of light spilling through it. Stepping through the opening, Anna halted at the sight of Cezar and Styx flowing across the bare floor, their swords moving so swiftly she could barely follow the motions.
For a moment she watched the lethal dance with breathless fascination. Good God, she’d never seen anything quite so beautiful. Despite Styx’s size advantage, Cezar possessed a superior speed that allowed him to avoid the savage swing of the massive blade, sliding past the blows and delivering a few of his own.
They were master predators, she silently accepted. Deadly, exquisite creatures who ruled the night.
With a shake of her head she took a step forward. As much as she was enjoying the show, she didn’t want Cezar to suddenly realize that she was near and lose his concentration. It was obvious that it took his full attention to keep Styx from doing serious damage.
“Is this a private battle or can anyone join in?” she demanded softly.
As one the vampires halted their swinging swords and whirled to face her. Styx merely narrowed his gaze, but with a low growl Cezar launched himself across the floor and pulled her into his arms.
“Anna.” He crushed her against his chest for several long moments before pulling back to run trembling hands over her rumpled, half-naked body. “Dios. Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”
“I’m fine.” When it was clear that her words hadn’t penetrated the fear clouding his mind, Anna reached up to frame his face with her hands. “Cezar, listen to me. I’m fine.”
“I thought…” With a shudder he buried his face in the curve of her neck.
Anna allowed her gaze to lift to meet Styx’s steady regard, surprised by the softening of his stark bronzed features.
“Is there anything you need, Anna?”
She smiled as she wrapped her arms around Cezar and allowed his sandalwood scent to explode through her senses.
“Not now.”
“Then I will be upstairs with Viper.” With a formal bow of his head the vampire moved toward the door, halting for a moment to lay a light hand on Cezar’s shoulder. “Fate is in your hands, amigo. You have only to grasp it.”
Waiting until Styx was gone, Anna shifted her hand to run her fingers through his tangled hair.
“Should I ask?” she teased.
Nuzzling several desperate kisses along the line of her throat, Cezar reluctantly pulled back to study her flushed features with a wary gaze.
“Anna, do the Oracles know you’re here?” he demanded.
She leaned forward to kiss the tip of his nose. “Not only do they know, but it was Siljar who was kind enough to use her powers to return me.” She grimaced. “Not my favorite mode of transportation, but at least it’s fast.”
The dark brows snapped together at the mention of the powerful demon. “Did they tell you why they summoned you?”
“Unfortunately.” She arched a chiding brow. “You could have at least warned me that I was supposed to join the damn Commission. I don’t like surprises. Or at least, not that sort of surprise.”
His beautiful features tightened. “It was forbidden.”
“Typical.” She rolled her eyes. “You know, they might be all-powerful but they’re way too fond of playing cloak-and-dagger games. Not everything has to be some mysterious secret. And don’t get me started on their manners. I intend to make some changes now that I’m an Oracle.”
Cezar stilled, his dark eyes smoldering with a fierce, aching regret. “You’ve already taken your place on the Commission?”
Her breath caught as his grief slammed into her with the force of a speeding truck. Dear God. She knew that he would be upset by her promotion to the Commission, but this wrenching sadness nearly sent her to her knees.
“Officially I’m a member, but unofficially my duties won’t begin for a while,” she told him softly.
He shuddered with longing as she stroked her fingers through his hair.
“How long is a while?” he rasped, his eyes darkening with something other than pain.
“Oh…a century or so.”
He hissed in sharp surprise. “What?”
“Well, I’m very young, you know.”
“Anna, you’re making me crazy,” he growled. “Will you just tell me what happened?”
Not about to torment a dangerous vampire when he was so obviously suffering, Anna swiftly related her encounter with the Oracles, skimming over the attempts to browbeat her and emphasizing their grudging agreement that they wouldn’t interfere in her mating with Cezar.
Not that she needed to bother.
Cezar had spent two centuries bound to the ruthless Commission. Which explained his horrified expression by the time she was done.
“Dios.” She was once again hauled against his chest, his arms so tight she had to struggle to breathe. “Only you would dare to barter with the Commission. Do you know what they could have done to you?”
Anna smiled as she snuggled her face against his shoulder. This was it. What she’d waited her entire life to feel.
“Nothing that would be any worse than being forced to give you up,” she said, so softly only a vampire could hear her words. “They could threaten and bluster all they wanted, but there was no way in hell that I was giving in. We’re in this together or they can find a new Oracle.”
“Querida.” Turning his head, Cezar pressed his lips to the sensitive hollow behind her ear.
Anna allowed a low moan of pleasure to escape her parted lips. Her fingers tightened in the lush black hair in silent encouragement.
“Of course, I haven’t asked you yet how you feel about being stuck with an Oracle,” she said, struggling to concentrate on their unfinished conversation. A task that would be considerably easier if he wasn’t kissing a delicious path down the line of her jaw. “You could walk away and never have to deal with the Commission again. That’s got to be tempting after the way they treated you over the past few centuries.”
Pressing a rough, hungry kiss to her lips, Cezar pulled back to regard her with a burning gaze.
“I would live in the pits of hell if that was the only way I could be with you, Anna Randal. You are mine.”
She gave a tug on his hair. “Not exactly. At least not yet. You still have to make an honest woman of me.”
“Anna…”
She slapped her hand over his mouth. She knew that tone. It meant he was going to say something she didn’t like.
“No. If you tell me there’s still some mysterious destiny I’ve yet to fulfill I’ll pick up that sword you dropped and stick it through your heart.”
She felt his lips curve into a smile as he spoke against her palm. “That won’t kill me, you know.”
Dropping her hand she gave him the evil eye. “Maybe not, but it’ll hurt like a bitch.”
“There’s that.” His amusement faded as he ran a tender hand up the curve of her back. “I just want you to be certain, querida. There’s no going back once the ceremony is completed.”
Anna lifted herself to her toes, pressing her lips to his with all the love that flowed through her heart.
“Conde Cezar, there was no going back from the moment I followed you through that London townhouse and was hauled into the bedroom by a wickedly beautiful vampire,” she whispered against his lips.
A groan was wrenched from his throat. “Wickedly beautiful?”
“Absolutely.”
With one smooth motion Cezar had swept her off her feet and cradled her against his chest as he headed for the door. A sinful smile touched his lips as he held her gaze with a dark intensity.
“I like the wicked part.”
Anna looped her arms around his neck, her heart racing with the excitement this man would always inspire.
“I’m kind of fond of it myself.”