Devoured By Darkness (21 page)

There was a pause, as if the vampire wanted nothing more than to disappear, then he heard her low curses. “The Sylvermyst escaped,” she at last confessed. “Damn.”

Tane slid from the bed, his gaze ruefully watching Laylah pull on a pair of jeans and stretchy T-shirt before looping the disguise amulet over her head.

The Sylvermyst bastard was going to pay for interrupting his mating night.

Once he had tugged on his shorts, he strapped the stolen sword to his back and tucked two daggers into his waistband. Then, tugging Laylah into his arms, he kissed her with a fierce promise of pleasures delayed.

She returned his kiss before pushing him away, chuckling at his undisguised frustration.

“Later,” she said softly.

He moved to pull open the door, reminding himself that the sooner they’d destroyed Marika and her happy band of misfits, the sooner he could have Laylah all to himself.

What better motivation?

“What happened?” he demanded as Jaelyn stepped into the room, still dressed in black spandex and carrying her favorite shotgun.

Her expression hardened. “That’s still under investigation.”

Tane’s brows snapped together. Was she evading his question?

“Did you let him out of the cell?”

She growled, her eyes glowing with fury. “Stupid questions piss me off.”

Moving a speed only an ancient vampire could follow, Tane had a dagger pressed beneath her chin, his expression grim.

“And petulant foundlings who have to constantly prove how tough they are piss me off.”

Jaelyn trembled, battling not to be stupid enough to provoke a vampire bigger, badder, and older than herself.

“I’m not a foundling,” she gritted.

Tane narrowed his eyes. “You’re barely out of the nursery and if you think …”

“Yeah, yeah,” Laylah abruptly interrupted, moving to stand at his side. “You’re both super scary.” She turned her attention to Jaelyn. “How did he escape?”

Something that might have been embarrassment rippled over the young vampire’s face before she was stepping away from Tane’s dagger and gathering her composure.

“The surveillance camera caught him just …” She grimaced. “Disappearing.” Laylah frowned. “A portal?”

“It shouldn’t be possible,” Jaelyn muttered. “The cell was lined with lead.”

Tane shrugged. “We don’t know what magic the Sylvermyst possess. Especially Ariyal.”

Jaelyn’s eyes flashed with blue fire. “He won’t get far.”

Tane lifted his brows. It was a Hunter’s cardinal rule to remain impervious to their prey. Any emotion, whether it was anger or hatred or attraction, would only cloud their considerable skills.

The Sylvermyst had clearly gotten under her skin.

“It doesn’t matter, the damage has been done,” he said.

Laylah sent him a startled glance. “What damage?”

“He knows where we are.”

She shivered. “Which means he’s going to tell my aunt.”

Tane wasn’t nearly so certain, but now wasn’t the time to discuss his suspicions of the Sylvermyst. Not when it was nothing more than a gut feeling.

“That’s certainly a risk,” he said.

Jaelyn stepped back, her shotgun resting against her shoulder.

“I’ll do my best to keep them off your trail.”

Tane dipped his head. “We’re in your debt.”

“Don’t worry, I have every intention of collecting.”

With a taunting smile, Jaelyn turned on her heel and jogged down the hall, swiftly disappearing from view.

Tane shook his head. How did so much bitch get into such a small package?

At his side, Laylah heaved a sigh. “Now that is a woman who can take care of herself.”

Tane glanced at her in shock. “You can’t be envious.”

“I am,” she said, her lips twisted in a wistful smile. “I’ve depended on others to protect me my entire life.”

He framed her face in his hands. “There are times when we all depend on others. That’s why there are clans and families and packs.” His thumb brushed the sensuous curve of her lower lip. “And mates.”

“But…”

“Laylah, you not only survived despite being hunted from the day you were born, but you’ve protected the world from a potential Armageddon.” He studied her beautiful face, wondering how she couldn’t realize just how astonishing she truly was. “Not bad.”

Her lips twitched into a rueful smile. “I suppose when you put it that way.”

He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Of course, I wouldn’t mind seeing you in that spandex.”

“Hmmm.” She nipped his throat, sending jolts of white-hot desire directly to his cock. “Only if you’re very, very good.”

“I prefer to be very, very bad,” he growled, barely resisting the urge to topple her back onto the bed. Oh, for another hour. Or ten. “Unfortunately we don’t have time. We have to get out of here.”

“My thoughts exactly,” an aggravatingly familiar voice said from behind. “Where are we going?”

He turned, regarding the tiny gargoyle with a steady gaze. “Levet, we need a distraction.”

Laylah grabbed his arm. “Why do we need a distraction?”

“If Ariyal is capable of forming portals then it won’t take him long to collect your aunt and return.”

She shook her head. “There’s something you’re not telling me.”

Tane sighed. He’d forgotten the side effects of the mating. He’d never be able to lie to Laylah again. Not always a good thing.

“I have a feeling that Ariyal was willing to use your aunt to track the child,” he confessed, “but now that he’s found you, he plans to take matters into his own hands.”

“What matters?”

“I don’t intend to find out.” He glanced toward the gargoyle. “But I need your help.”

Levet folded his arms over his narrow chest. “Ah, so I am to remain behind and become a martyr?”

“That’s what heroes do.”

The gargoyle hesitated, no doubt debating between his desire to remain with Laylah and his oddly quixotic nature.

“True,” he finally conceded, heaving a tragic sigh. “I am, after all, a Knight in Shining Armor.”

Laylah moved to kneel in front of the demon. “Just promise me you’ll be a knight who doesn’t take foolish chances.”

Levet glanced toward Tane with a sly grin before placing a kiss on Laylah’s cheek. “For you, I promise.”

Tane reached down to grab his mate’s arm, gently pulling her back to her feet.

Damned gargoyle.

“We must go,” he muttered.

Levet snapped his wings. “How will I find you?”

Tane parted his lips to inform the beast he could start his search in hell, when Laylah caught them both by surprise.

“We’ll be in Siberia.”

He flashed her a puzzled frown. “Why the hell are we going to Siberia?”

“Cassie told me, ‘to find the end you must return to the beginning.'”

Just before dawn they found themselves in Styx’s lair.

Laylah hadn’t been pleased, but he’d convinced her they needed to share the information they’d learned with the Anasso, not to mention the fact that she could use another day of rest before trying to shadow walk with a baby and vampire as passengers.

Now she was settled in an upstairs bedroom and he had sought out his king in his private study so she could actually get some sleep.

Damn.

Just the thought of her stretched on the massive bed with satin gold sheets draped over her naked body was making him hard. She wouldn’t get any rest if he didn’t control his libido.

He leaned against the massive desk, watching Styx pace the floor as he processed Tane’s account of what had happened since they had last met in this room.

“Darcy’s sister is a prophet?” he at last muttered, tugging on the amulet that hung around his neck while the turquoise ornaments in his long braid filled the air with a musical tinkle. “Damn.”

Tane grinned. “You have interesting in-laws.”

“Tell me about it.” Styx came to a halt in the middle of the office, his arms folded across his massive chest. “We just had a visit from Darcy’s mother.”

Tane’s smile widened. Darcy’s mother was a pureblood Were who liked her sex rough and often. The more often the better. Styx usually had to give his Ravens an entire week off after a visit from his mother-in-law just to recover.

Then he recalled the date and he doubled over in laughter. “She visited during a full moon?”

Styx failed to find the humor. “She was … terrifying.”

Tane straightened, his amusement fading. “Speaking of mothers. Have you heard from Uriel?”

“Victor sent word that Uriel had located the tomb where the gypsy was being held, but there was some difficulty in the escape.”

That didn’t sound good.

“Difficulty?”

“He didn’t go into detail, but he did promise to send word once she’d been brought to his lair and he’d determined she wasn’t a threat to Laylah.”

“Good.” Tane nodded. If it was up to him the gypsy wouldn’t be allowed near Laylah until it was proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was her mother. Unfortunately, he sensed his mate might have her own opinion. “She doesn’t need any unnecessary distractions. Not now.”

Styx studied him with a somber expression. “She is determined?”

“You have no idea.”

“Is that a joke?” Styx demanded in incredulous tones. “I’m a walking testament at having a mate who is determined to risk her neck at every opportunity in the name of truth.”

Tane grimaced. “Does it get any easier?”

“No.”

“Thanks.”

Styx shrugged. “Would you prefer I lie?”

Hmmm. Was ignorance bliss?

Tane didn’t have an answer.

And in the end, it didn’t matter.

Laylah was his. And no amount of future aggravation, annoyance, and downright terror would convince him that it was anything but a miracle.

Time for a new conversation.

“Have you discovered any information on the Sylvermyst?”

“Not much.” Styx’s expression hardened. He didn’t like the fact the evil fey had managed to keep their presence hidden. Or the fact that they weren’t sure just how much a danger they posed. “Jagr has been studying what little information he has in his library.”

“And?”

“From what he read they share the same magic of other fey. They can form portals, cast hexes, and enchant objects. They can also create the usual illusions.”

Tane straightened from the desk. That was next to worthless.

“Styx, these were no typical fey.”

“No, they aren’t,” he agreed, his eyes darkening with frustration. “But they were always secretive and rarely mixed with other demons, so the truth of their powers is hid in obscurity. Now there’s nothing more than nearly forgotten rumors.”

“What are they?” Tane demanded. Rumors were better than nothing.

“One claims that they have a much higher tolerance to iron than their cousins.”

“That’s no rumor. The bastard disappeared out of a cell made entirely of iron and lined with lead while shackled. I’ve never heard of another fey who could do that.” He shook off his regret they hadn’t kept a constant guard on the bastard. How could they have known he could create a portal through enough lead to kill most fey? “What else?”

“They can speak with the dead.” Tane shuddered at the unexpected revelation. “Charming.”

“More than charming,” Styx said. “They can compel spirits into their service.”

“Are you saying they have ghost slaves?”

Styx held up a warning hand. “Don’t dismiss the danger, Tane. There are spirits who can cause damage even to a vampire. And the more powerful shades are capable of pulling souls into the underworld.”

Tane had heard of demons who possessed the talent of necromancy, but they could rarely do more than communicate with those who’d passed to the underworld.

To actually be able to take command of a shade …

He abruptly stiffened. “Damn.”

“What is it?”

“Jaelyn must be warned,” he said.

“Don’t worry,” Styx soothed. “I’ve sent DeAngelo and Xander to track her.”

Tane shook his head. Jaelyn was a genuine pain in the ass, but she was a true born Hunter.

“They’ll never find her.”

Styx regarded him with a curious expression. “She’s that good?”

“The best I’ve ever encountered.”

“Excellent.” The Anasso smiled. “I have need of a Hunter. Perhaps I’ll invite her to join my Ravens.”

Tane snorted, trying to imagine the prickly female trying to make nice with the massive, overly arrogant vampires that made up Styx’s bodyguard.

Blood would most certainly flow.

“Better you than me.”

“Why?”

“She has the attitude of a rabid badger.”

Styx was unfazed. “I remember another vampire with impressive skills and a nasty attitude,” he murmured. “I had to kick his ass on a regular basis, but eventually I managed to tame him.” He shrugged. “Or maybe I just found the means to focus his feral nature.”

Tane grimaced. He rarely thought back to those days. After he was forced to kill Sung Li, he’d retreated from the world, living as little better than a rabid animal in the caves of northern Mongolia.

He wasn’t sure how much time passed when Styx made his first appearance, but he did know that he’d done his best to kill the massive Aztec. He didn’t know that Styx was a servant of the previous Anasso, and wouldn’t have given a shit if he did. He would have been happy if the unknown vampire had managed to put an end to his miserable existence.

But Styx didn’t strike the killing blow.

Instead he retreated, only to return the next night, sitting on a rock near Tane’s cave and eventually leaving behind a blanket. The next night he had settled a few feet closer and left behind a stack of books. The next night it had been clean clothing.

His patience had been remarkable, and slowly he’d earned enough of Tane’s trust to lead him back into civilization. And eventually he’d trained him to become his Charon.

At the time Tane hadn’t known why the vampire would make such an effort.

It was only in the past months that he’d discovered that two of them had committed the same fatal sin.

Styx had covered the madness of the previous Anasso until it was nearly too late.

They shared a sense of gnawing guilt and regret that no one else could truly understand.

“I have never …”

“Hell, no,” Styx cut in, his brows snapping together in a scowl of warning. “If you start with any touchy-feely crap I’m tossing your ass out of here.”

“I owe you my life,” Tane pressed. “It won’t be forgotten.”

“You have repaid any debt several times over.” Styx paused, as if struck by a sudden thought. “Of course, now I suppose I shall have to choose a new Charon.”

“Yes.” Tane smiled, realizing he no longer had the driving need to purge his guilt. Laylah had healed the wounds that plagued him for so long. “I intend to devote myself to my mate once we’re done with this mess.”

A mysterious smile touched Styx’s lips. “We’ll see.”

Tane froze. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

“I always have need of loyal vampires.”

“I don’t think Laylah would be any happier with me becoming one of your Ravens.”

An evil glint entered the ancient vampire’s eyes. “I was thinking more as a liaison to the Commission.”

Tane made a sound of choked disbelief. Styx wanted him to negotiate with a group of powerful demons who could turn him into a toad on a whim?

No. Way.

“I’d rather have my head chopped off,” he said, meaning every word. Styx shrugged. “We can discuss it later.”

“We can discuss it never,” he growled, heading for the door. Obviously the Anasso had lost his damned mind. “Now I’m going to join my mate before you suggest I become a translator for the hellhounds.”

Styx chuckled. “I’ll have dinner sent to your room at dusk.”

Tane glanced over his shoulder. “Make sure there’s German chocolate cake. Laylah loves cake.”

“I did not become the most powerful mage in the world to tromp through damp woods,” Sergei whined, looking decidedly worse for the wear with his hair hanging loosely around his thin face and his expensive clothing stained beyond repair. “My shoes are completely ruined.”

Marika was no happier when Sergei’s spell finally picked up Laylah’s trail only to discover it led her straight back to the lair of the Anasso.

The one place certain Marika couldn’t follow.

Aggravating little bitch.

But whatever her annoyance, she was too wise to reveal any lack of confidence in her ultimate glory in front of the Sylvermyst that she’d commanded to surround and keep watch on the Chicago estate.

It was bad enough that their leader, Ariyal, had disappeared during their battle with the wood sprites. The ridiculous fey had been convinced that it was a bad omen. She wasn’t going to have Sergei’s petulant behavior further undermine their belief in her leadership.

A pity she still had need of the idiot.

She would take great pleasure in offering him as a public sacrifice.

“Shut up, you moron,” she hissed, standing near the edge of the tree line, trusting that Sergei’s cloak of concealment would keep them hidden from the Anasso’s Ravens. “You have done nothing but complain since leaving London.”

His lips thinned with childish resentment. “I possess a fragile constitution.”

“You are an embarrassment to mages everywhere,” Marika mocked. “Even the fey consider you a spineless fool.”

“Ah yes, your precious Sylvermyst.” He glanced toward the slender warriors who were nearly impossible to see among the dark shadows of the trees. “Tell me, Marika, just where is Ariyal?”

Her expression revealed none of her fury at Ariyal’s vanishing act.

Or the suspicion he wasn’t as dedicated to the cause as he pretended to be.

“He was obviously captured or killed.”

“Or he switched sides.”

Her tongue toyed with the tip of her fang. A reminder that for all of Sergei’s magical abilities, she could kill him with one strike.

“Jealous, Sergei?”

“Jealous of a fey who spent endless centuries playing whore to Morgana le Fey?” His disdainful tone didn’t entirely hide his edge of envy. Ariyal hadn’t bothered to conceal his amusement at the mage’s superior attitude. The fey was a natural leader of his people who had no need of magical tricks to gain respect. “Not hardly.”

Marika laughed with cruel enjoyment. “He’s more of a man than you’ll ever be.”

“He’s a demon whose loyalty is for sale to the highest bidder,” the mage snapped. “Be careful, my dear. He might be using your own army to betray you.”

The fact that the fear had crossed her mind more than once infuriated Marika.

She regarded him with a cold glare. “The only traitor in my employ is you, mage.”

Sergei was an arrogant ass, but he wasn’t suicidal. Dropping the subject he instead glanced toward the house that was guarded by a dozen vampires.

“How long do you intend to wait here?”

“As long as Laylah and the babe remain.”

“They could stay in the Anasso’s lair for the rest of eternity.”

“Then we wait.”

Biting back his angry words, Sergei turned to pace through the thick undergrowth, his hands clenched at his side.

Marika left him to his pouting, returning her attention to the Anasso’s lair. If Laylah had any sense she would remain in the protection of the King of Vampires, but she’d already proven she was willing to take ridiculous risks when it came to protecting the child.

Eventually she would find some need to leave.

And when she did, Marika would be prepared.

She wouldn’t escape again.

It was nearing midnight when Sergei abruptly fell to his knees, shaking his head as if trying to clear it. “Bloody hell,” he gritted.

Marika whirled to study him with displeasure. “What is it now?”

“Someone just entered the cave in Siberia.” “What cave?”

Slowly he lifted his head. “The one where I found the child.”

Marika watched the mage climb to his feet, unease stirring in her heart.

“How do you know?”

“I set alarms in case there was any unwanted interest.”

“It could be an animal or an overly curious human.”

He shook his head. “No, the spell was cast to ignore the mundane intruders, even if they could penetrate the natural barriers.”

“So it’s a demon?”

She paced across the uneven ground, the sense of foreboding knotting her stomach.

There was no reason for a demon to be roaming in such a frozen, desolate cave. Even those who preferred the cold avoided the area that was riddled with active volcanoes and a barren lack of prey.

“Or a magic user,” Sergei added.

She halted, a dark suspicion spreading through her like poison.

“Laylah,” she breathed.

Sergei frowned. “I have no way of knowing for sure.” Marika had no doubts.

The worthless bit of baggage was just like her mother.

Stubborn, rebellious, and refusing to concede gracefully to her inevitable fate.