An instant later, it opened of its own accord. Most people might think that odd or creepy, but where they lived, it was just par for the course, normal.
Ash stood back for Urian to go first.“Entrez.”
Urian laughed at Acheron’s invitation. “Um, yeah, I don’t think so. First Daimon in the door usually gets staked. How you think I’ve lived this long? I’m not about to walk into a Dark-Hunter’s house uninvited.” He smacked Ash on the arm. “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” He clicked his tongue at him.
Ash appeared less than amused. “Don’t make me rip out your esophagus and beat you with it.”
“That threat would carry more weight,Uncle,if we weren’t related now.” Urian grinned at him.“Après-vous.”
Ash passed a smirk to Xyn. “Tell me something. Is or was he ever sweet and cuddly?”
She shrugged. “Only after sex.”
With a visible shudder, Ash led the way in. “Oh, so not going there.” Then under his breath, he said, “No wonder you two get along. Sheez!”
Laughing, Urian pulled Xyn into his arms and put her in front of him.
“What are you doing?”
“Equality, my lady dragon. You’re my meat shield because I know the Hunter can’t harm you.” He kissed the back of her head playfully as the door behind them slammed shut with an eerie thud.
Xyn would be offended but for the fact that she knew Urian better. If anything were to happen, he’d be the first to trade his life for hers. “Ummhmm, Daimon. Keep talking. I’ll throw you out in daylight.”
“Not a threat anymore. Uncle Ash made me dayproof.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I did. Am regretting it now. Should have crispy-fried his ass before I released my brother from captivity and learned Urian’s mother was a goddess of equal power who really likes him.” As if he were guided there by something unseen, Ash headed down the narrow hallway that led the length of the house, to the far back left room on the first floor.
Following along, Xyn ran her finger down the flocked dark burgundy wallpaper. She’d never seen any place decorated like this before.
“The style’s called Victorian and brocade.” Urian pointed up at the black chandelier over their heads, which hung off the main staircase. “They had a morbid fascination with the occult, hence the jet crystals. You slept through a lot of changes.”
Indeed, she had.
Ash knocked three times on the door, which opened alone, just as the front one had.
“It’s not dusk, Ancient Wonder.” The thickly accented voice came from the center of a four-poster bed that had thick burgundy draperies pulled closed around it. “Why are you here, Ash, and bringing friends no less?”
Xyn could feel the man’s powers. Very few had the essence of his. These were more akin to Shadow’s than Acheron’s or Urian’s or even hers.
Unnaturally born.
His had been inherited after birth and finely honed by years of practice. Yet beneath that, she sensed that some of them had been stolen.
Who was this man?
“Sorry to disturb, Xander, but we need your expertise.”
He let out a soft growl before he parted the curtains. Only he didn’t touch them. As with the doors. They flew back so that he could look at them while he lay in bed on his side. “I wasn’t a morning person when I was human. That hasn’t improved since my conversion to a Dark-Hunter.” He stretched languidly, then yawned.
Suddenly, he froze. “You want me to do what?”
Xyn glanced around. No one had spoken.
“We’ll wait for you in the parlor.” Ash’s tone wasn’t a question. It was a definite “get dressed and move.”
As they walked, Xyn took Urian’s hand and rubbed his chest, amazed at what an incredibly handsome creature he was. His features were so elegantly sculpted. And the way he wore his pale hair pulled back into a tight ponytail only accentuated their chiseled perfection. He was flawless in his beauty.
