Darkness Unleashed by Alexandra Ivy Page A

Lecter of vampires?
    Shit, Caine was going to skin her alive.
    Literally, not figuratively.
    “Why would he protect the Were?”
    Duncan leaned against the stone mantel, folding his arms over his chest.
    “Oh, I don’t know,” he drawled. “Perhaps it has something to do with the fact her sister is the current Queen of Vampires?”
    The thought of Darcy being discovered after so many years, only to be snatched away by the King of the Living Dead, sent another wave of fury through Sadie, forcing her to battle the instinctive urge to shift.
    “Interfering leeches. I warned Caine that leaving that ditzy Were in the hands of the vamps was trouble.”
    Duncan’s lips twisted as his gaze skimmed down her tense body, lingering on the tattoo of a striking snake that coiled about her waist.
    “I heard your complaints, but I noticed you didn’t offer yourself to become fodder in the skirmish between the vampires and purebloods, Sadie, luv.”
    Sadie stepped back from Duncan’s pulsing heat. Now was not the time to be distracted.
    “Where are the others?” she demanded.
    “Dead.”
    Sadie whirled to hurl the empty bottle of booze into the fireplace. The shatter of glass was satisfying, but it did nothing to soothe her scalding fury.
    It wasn’t that she gave a crap about the dead curs. They were nothing more than renewable resources. But the fact they had failed in their duty made her want to rip their corpses apart piece by piece.
    “The vampire?”
    Duncan rubbed his side as if remembering a painful blow. “No, we were hit by a spell.”
    Sadie sucked in a sharp breath. “They have a witch?”
    “Not human. Some sort of demon.”
    “Shit. What kind?”
    “I didn’t wait around for DNA testing.”
    Sadie grabbed the front of Duncan’s blue cashmere sweater he’d matched with black chinos. The male was addicted to Project Runway .
    “You’re certain you weren’t followed?”
    Duncan’s jaw tightened, but he was smart enough not to struggle. “I still have the amulet the witch gave me, and just to be certain I headed straight south before doubling back. If there was anyone on my trail, they’re in St. Louis by now.”
    Sadie briefly considered crushing her fist into the cur’s face, if only to relieve the frustration that curdled in the pit of her stomach. A pity she still had need of the incompetent fool.
    Tossing the cur away, Sadie paced the narrow room. “We have to get the Were before Caine returns.”
    “Don’t look my way, luv.” Duncan smoothed his sweater, his natural arrogance back in full force. “I’ve already had my near-death experience for the week.”
    Sadie curled her lips. “Be careful, Duncan. Your balls get any smaller, they might disappear altogether.”
    “At least I’ll still have them intact.” He cupped his impressive package. “You want the Were? Go get her.”
    “Oh, I intend to.”
    “And the vampire?”
    Sadie shrugged, her cunning mind already plotting her next move. “Beneath all that fang and fury, he’s just a man.”
    “Get over yourself, Sadie,” Duncan drawled. “You might be a cur’s wet dream, but you’re way out of your league when it comes to vamps. Every demon knows they accept nothing less than perfection.”
    Sadie merely smiled. Her years as a whore had taught her that any man could be controlled. It was all a matter of finding what buttons to push.
    “I could have the vampire on his knees if I wanted,” she purred, “but men have more weaknesses beyond just an inability to think with anything besides their cock.”
    “And those would be?”
    “Overblown ego, and an insatiable need to flex their testosterone.” Sadie tossed her raven curls. “I set the trap, and he walks in. Bringing the sweet little Were with him.”
    “You’re in over your head, luv.”
    “Unlike you, Duncan, I have a spine.”
    “Until Jagr rips it out.”
    Sadie’s smile faded, a ruthless chill of unease inching down her still-attached spine. With a low growl, she