Free When Darkness Ends by Alexandra Ivy

possible.
    â€œUnfortunately it is,” she said stiffly.
    â€œI beg your pardon?”
    â€œStyx has forced . . . requested that I be his liaison.”
    â€œAnd what does that mean?”
    â€œAny requests you have for the King of Vampires must go through me,” she informed him.
    He made a sound of impatience. “That’s unacceptable.”
    â€œNo shit,” she muttered. “But that’s the way it is. So what do you want?”
    Magnus studied her for a long minute, taking careful note of her stubborn expression. At last he heaved a resigned sigh.
    â€œI wondered if he was aware there has been an imp circling the estate for the past hour.”
    â€œAn imp?” Having expected some ridiculous demand, Tonya was caught off guard by the prince’s question. With a smooth motion she was on her feet and heading toward the windows that overlooked the rose garden. When the Chatri had first made their appearance in Chicago, the King of Vampires’ estate had been nearly overrun by fey who were desperate to catch sight of their one-time gods. Then Styx had sent his Ravens to warn the various imps, sprites, fairies, and nymphs that his house wasn’t a damned tourist attraction and that he’d start putting fey heads on spikes if they didn’t stay the hell away. It’d been enough to send the gawkers fleeing in fear. It seemed almost unbelievable that there would be an imp brave enough to invite the Anasso’s wrath. “You’re certain?”
    Outrage touched the lean, beautiful face. “Of course I am certain.”
    â€œMale or female?” she demanded. “Did you get a good look at them?”
    His gaze followed her hand as it slid into the back pocket of her leather pants to pull out her cell phone, lingering on the lush curve of her ass before it was abruptly jerking up to meet her taunting smile.
    â€œA male,” he said, his voice frigid although Tonya didn’t miss the color that stained the pale honey of his skin. The prince had been sneaking a peek. “And I didn’t see him at all.”
    Tonya’s brief flare of amusement was forgotten as she studied him in confusion. “Then how do you know there’s someone out there?”
    â€œI can sense them.”
    She blinked in shock. “Even through the layers of magic?”
    He shrugged. “It is my talent.”
    Her first thought was that he was lying. No one had the ability to detect an imp that was several hundred yards away and on the opposite side of the thick shields that protected the estate.
    Then she realized that he had no reason to make up a story.
    Not when he could so easily be proved wrong.
    â€œI’ll let Styx know.” Tapping a brief text to the vampire who was no doubt just rising, she lifted her head to meet the cognac gaze that was studying her with an unnerving intensity. “Is there anything else?”
    â€œAre all imp females so—” Words seemed to fail him.
    â€œWhat?” She tilted her chin, her expression warning that she wasn’t opposed to planting another punch to his nose. “Beautiful? Clever? Sexy?”
    â€œOutspoken.”
    Tonya shrugged. “We’re all different, but most have no difficulty in sharing their opinion. Does that bother you?”
    â€œTrue ladies—”
    â€œCareful,” she drawled, hiding her stupid reaction to his barely concealed disdain behind a façade of mocking indifference.
    She was intelligent, capable, and most men found her sexy as hell. What did it matter if this prissy prince found her less than a woman?
    â€œIt is no wonder Sariel wished to separate us from this world.”
    Stepping forward, Tonya allowed her fingers to lightly stroke over his chest. “Are you afraid of a real woman?”
    He stiffened, but he made no effort to slap away her hand. Instead his nose flared. Anger? Or was he breathing in her scent?
    â€œThe Chatri women are