Devoured By Darkness (6 page)

It was a valid point. Few men survived a night in her arms. Not that they complained. Most of them died with a smile on their face.

But she had reached the end of her short patience. Her fingers squeezed until they were a breath from crushing his larynx.

“Find out what’s bothering my twin and find out quickly.” He hissed in pain. “Without delay.”

Tane was a vampire feared throughout the demon world.

Rooms emptied when he entered. Clan chiefs barricaded themselves in their lairs when he approached their territories. His name was used to terrify foundlings.

He was the vampire that even vampires feared.

With good reason.

Which put him at the very top of the food chain.

A pity all his power and props were worth jack shit in the cold, clinging mists.

Silently cursing the strange surroundings, he followed Laylah through the thick fog, her arms still filled with the unconscious gargoyle.

He’d devoted grim centuries to ensuring he would never again feel like an impotent bystander, no matter what the situation. He was a take charge kind of vamp and his ruthless power made certain no one questioned his authority.

Now a pint-sized mongrel had managed to drag him into this damned maze of endless fog, stirring ancient sensations he’d buried along with his massacred clan.

“How do you know where you’re going?” he demanded.

She tossed a mocking glance over her shoulder. “I just fumble around until I find the place I want.”

He growled low in his throat. “Laylah.”

With a sigh she returned her attention to the dense mist spread before them, walking with a confidence that set Tane’s teeth on edge.

It was bad enough to be stuck in the bizarro place without being able to see if there were any dangers lurking nearby.

“What do you want me to say?” she rasped. “It’s not something I can explain. I think of the location I want to go and start walking. Eventually I sense that I’m there.”

He grimaced. It wasn’t exactly an explanation that offered comfort.

But then again, would anything offer comfort at this point?

What the hell had he been thinking when he’d tried to stop Laylah from disappearing?

He always allowed his warrior’s instinct to guide him. It was the only way to survive for nearly a thousand years. So why hadn’t his instinct warned him to allow Laylah to escape with a wave of his hand and a pat on his back for being rid of the nagging, ill-tempered female?

Because when she was near it wasn’t his warrior’s instinct that was driving him, but an instinct far more primitive.

Why not admit it?

He had gone far beyond his duty to track down a stray Jinn mongrel. Not even Styx would have blamed him if he’d chosen to return to his lair and report that the female had managed to slip away while he was battling for his life.

As Charon he was expected to hunt down those rare vampires who drank blood tainted with drugs or alcohol. Few creatures knew that a vampire could become addicted, or that it would eventually drive them to madness.

And it was up to him to keep it that way, not to chase after Laylah like a hound in heat.

So why had he?

His gaze lowered to her slender body barely covered by the shorts that snugly cupped her perfect booty and the muscle shirt that did nothing to disguise the soft mound of her breasts.

The mere thought of having her pressed beneath him, her lips crushed beneath his kiss, and those slender legs wrapped around his waist …

His gut twisted with a ravaging need he hadn’t felt in centuries.

Shit.

He didn’t know why this particular woman stirred his darkest passions, or how she managed to bewitch him to the point of reckless stupidity.

All he truly knew was that he’d let his cock do the thinking instead of his brain and it had led him straight to disaster.

Angered more with himself than the woman who had slowed, as if they were nearing their destination, Tane moved to her side, his fingers clutching his dagger as if it could stem his rising dread.

“And how do you get out?”

Laylah halted, turning to meet his wary gaze with a lift of her brows.

“Obviously, the same way I got in.”

“We barely survived the entry,” he gritted. “Are you certain the exit won’t be worse?”

“We barely survived because I had an unwelcomed passenger,” she tartly reminded him. “A passenger I don’t intend to have on my way out.”

He stilled, his eyes narrowing to dangerous slits. “You can’t abandon me here.”

“Why not?” she challenged, her chin tilted to a defiant angle. As if she weren’t facing down one of the most lethal demons in the entire world. “I certainly didn’t invite you to come along for the trip. You can find your own way home.”

“That’s not amusing.”

The chin went up another inch. “It wasn’t meant to be.” He reached to grasp that stubborn chin, ignoring the gargoyle sleeping in her arms. “I would be trapped.”

“So what?” The dark eyes smoldered with a direct challenge. “You intend to have me executed. Why the hell shouldn’t I leave you here to rot?”

His brooding gaze swept over her fragile features and the weariness she couldn’t entirely disguise. He wasn’t about to confess that he’d followed her for far more personal reasons than turning her over to the Oracles.

She had enough weapons to wield against him.

Dangerous, potent weapons, he grimly conceded, a fiery awareness sizzling through his body.

“The Commission has commanded that Jinn mongrels be brought to them,” he said with a shrug. “There’s nothing to say that they won’t decide you’re not a danger and release you.”

“Yeah right.” Her sharp laugh was oddly muffled by the surrounding fog. “I suppose you also have some Bernie Madoff stock you want me to buy?”

His brows drew together. “What?”

“I’m not stupid,” she clarified. “As soon as they get their nasty hands on me I’ll be sacrificed for the greater good.”

“Very dramatic, but I can promise you that the Commission has far more important matters to concentrate on than a stray half-breed.”

His thumb absently stroked over the lush fullness of her lower lip, his body throbbing in tempo with her rapid heartbeat.

“What matters?”

He grimaced. He left demon politics to Styx. Why stab someone in the back when it was far more satisfying to stab them in the heart? But not even a complete hermit could have ignored the gathering tension.

Something big was coming and the Commission was bracing to head it off.

“The private discussions are above my pay grade, but there’s no secret that the Oracles have been gathered in Styx’s former lair south of Chicago for weeks,” he said.

“And what does that prove?” She jerked away from his touch, as if he’d scalded her. “That they’re a bunch of freeloaders who overstay their welcome?”

Tane shook his head, caught between the urge to wrap her into his arms and drink deeply of her passionate nature or to shake some sense into her thick skull.

As fascinating as he might find her fire and brimstone the Commission wouldn’t be even a little amused by her lack of respect.

“They’re not a fraternity who like to hang out and play Wii together,” he said, saving his lecture on treating the Commission with the proper reverence for later. Did he really want to point out just how dangerous the temperamental demons could be when he needed Laylah to get out of the damned fog? “Each of the Oracles are powerful demons of different species, some of them mortal enemies who are forced to play nice when they must meet to resolve conflicts or offer rulings. But they never linger a second longer than necessary.”

“Which only means that they are conveniently gathered for a lynching.”

Unable to deny her accusation, he smoothly slid into diversion mode.

Any warrior knew that a timely distraction was as effective as a full out attack.

“If they didn’t lynch Cezar then you should be safe enough,” he said with a shrug.

She awkwardly shifted the sleeping gargoyle still clutched in her arms.

“Who is Cezar?”

“A brother of mine who was reckless enough to mate the newest Oracle.”

“There’s another one? Perfect.” She glared at him as if it were entirely his fault that Anna had been revealed as the latest Oracle a few weeks before. “You’re just overflowing with good news.”

“A new Oracle is always a sign of coming trouble.”

“Like a mule-headed Charon?”

“Like a bad omen.” He grimaced. He wasn’t an adrenaline junkie who liked playing hero, nor did he subscribe to the theory it was thrilling to “live in interesting times.” He did his duty and returned to the privacy of his lair where he could indulge his various hungers and forget his past. The sense of looming danger was something that he had done his best to ignore, preferring the ostrich approach. But now … now he couldn’t entirely shake the disturbing premonition that this Jinn was somehow involved in the big bad future. And that an unseen hunter was stalking her. A thought that sent a shocking bolt of fury through him. “Believe me, if they didn’t consider the pleasure of continuing their torment of Cezar worthy of their attention, then you’re nothing more than a blip on the radar.”

She regarded him with blatant suspicion. “If I’m so unimportant, then why were you bothering to chase me at all?”

Wicked heat curled through his gut as he slid a lingering glance down her slender body.

“Do I need to remind you?” he husked. “Because I’m ready, willing, and eager to do so.”

The pulse at the base of her throat fluttered in response.

“I don’t doubt you’re always eager.”

He smiled, his gaze deliberately lingering on that revealing pulse.

“There are times when I’m more eager than others.”

She stepped back, the mists swirling around her slender body.

“You must think I’m a moron,” she accused.

“I think you’re feeling cornered and making hasty decisions that might get us all killed,” he soothed, his voice laced with enough compulsion to send a grown Ungmas demon to its knees. “Let me help you.”

Predictably she shrugged off his coercion. The woman was too damned obstinate to be compelled, no matter how powerful he might be.

“I don’t need your help.” Her jaw tightened, a bleak darkness flashing through her eyes. “I don’t need anyone’s help.”

Tane fought back the fierce urge to crush her in his arms and banish her shadows. The same shadows that haunted him. Alone.

Always and forever alone.

“Think, Laylah,” he urged. “You’re no longer protected by whatever spell Caine used to keep you hidden. As soon as you arrive in London you will be vulnerable.” He folded his arms over his chest. “And trust me, a bounty hunter won’t care if they capture you dead or alive.”

“Yeah, like you do?”

“We both know you would be dead if that’s what I wanted.” Her lips thinned at his blunt honesty. “If you’re trying to barter with me I have to tell you that you suck at it.” “It’s never been one of my finer talents.” “Then just spit it out.”

His brows lifted at her imperious tone, even as he hid a smile. Why the hell would he be amused by a creature half his size trying to boss him around?

“If you hope to survive, you’ll need my help.”

She bit her bottom lip, smart enough to know she was going to be a sitting duck, or rather a sitting Jinn, the moment she arrived in London.

“And what would your help consist of?”

He held her wary gaze. “I would do my best to protect you.”

“I could hire bodyguards.”

Was she deliberately trying to offend him?

“You keep reminding me that you’re not an idiot,” he drawled. “There’s no bodyguard you could hire for any amount of money who could match my strength or skill in battle.”

“And so modest.”

“I’m the best. No amount of modesty can change that.”

She paused, continuing to gnaw on her lip. “Do you promise not to try and force me to the Commission?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You know I can’t make that promise.”

“Then stay here,” she snapped.

“Damn you, Laylah.” With a blinding speed, he reached out to grasp her arm, sensing she was a breath from disappearing and leaving him stranded. “You want my promise? You have it.”

“You’d say anything to get out of here.” She held his gaze, refusing to back down. Dammit. That insane courage was going to put her in her grave. “You’re going to have to do better than a promise that isn’t worth jack squat.”

“What do you want?”

There was the briefest hesitation. “I want you to make a wish.”

Laylah was prepared for Tane’s foul curse.

Jinn were universally disliked for their cunning guile, their unpredictable natures, and merciless power that few demons could match. And of course, there was always their charming lust for violence.

But while most creatures wouldn’t admit the truth, it was the Jinn’s ability to enslave others that truly made them itchy.

It wasn’t the pansy ass version the water sprites could conjure.

The fey magic could capture humans, and only if the mortals were foolish enough to accept three wishes.

There was nothing pansy ass about the Jinn.

They only needed a victim to willingly fall into their debt, no matter how slight an IOU, to make a claim on their soul. And it didn’t matter if they were mortals or dew fairies or vampires. They all fell beneath the Jinn’s spell of enchantment.

When Laylah was barely more than a child she had accidentally enslaved an imp she’d found caught in an iron trap used by a poacher. It was her nature to heal those in need and she hadn’t realized the danger until the imp refused to leave her foster mother’s farm, his desperate attempts to please her causing complete chaos until she’d finally figured out how to release him.

She’d done her best over the years to keep the talent locked deep inside her. It seemed immoral to claim another’s soul. Even worse than killing them.

And it was only when the mage had taken her captive that she’d deliberately tried to bind another to her will. Unfortunately the bastard had kept her so weak she hadn’t been able to use any of her powers.

Now she was left flying with a wing and a prayer.

Her usual state of affairs.

Tane narrowed his eyes, looking at her as if she’d sprouted horns.

“You have the power to bind a vampire?”

Well, that was the question wasn’t it?

She had no way to calculate how much strength it would take to enslave a vampire, but she was fairly certain it was waaaay more than she could claim. Her only hope was being able to … prompt him to do her bidding.

“I can’t turn you into my private puppet, if that’s what you’re worried about, but it does give me the upper hand in our negotiations,” she smoothly said, pretending she wasn’t completely clueless.

His hand lifted to cup her cheek as he easily sensed her shaky confidence.

“You’re lying.”

“Whatever.” She shrugged. “Are you coming with me or not?”

“Maybe I want to wish for something beyond …”

“I’m counting to three, you can come or stay, I don’t give a crap,” she hastily interrupted.

“Oh, I intend to come,” he assured her with a sinful smile. “In more ways than you can imagine.”

“One,” she gritted.

“And you’re coming with me.”

“Two.”

He brushed his lips softly over her mouth. “You got it, sweet Laylah?” “Three.”

As the word tumbled from her lips the fog began to swirl, twirling ever faster as she thinned the veil between worlds. Dammit. She’d made her decision and no arrogant bloodsucker was going to stand in her way.

“I wish to remain at your side,” he muttered, grabbing her arm just as she began to step through the veil.

There was the sensation of clinging spider webs and the prickles of electricity that became stabs of lightning as she pressed through the veil. And pain. Enough pain to send her to her knees as they tumbled through the fog and into a chilled darkness.

The combination of pain from the entry and the shock at being wrenched from the ephemeral mists to the very real world of hard stone and damp air briefly disoriented her. She sucked in a shaky breath.

This was the very last time she was taking passengers along for the ride.

Slowly working through the pain, Laylah became aware of her surroundings.

The dark tunnels that ran beneath the outskirts of London. The faint scent of rain from overhead. The sound of Tane’s curses as he struggled to his feet. And …

Awareness.

Awareness of Tane that tingled deep inside her. Holy crap, had it actually worked? Had she actually leashed a powerful vampire? And if she had, was it a good thing or the worst mistake in the history of the world?

Fairly certain it was the mistake thing, Laylah was distracted by the sight of Levet lying like a frozen statue on the smoothly worn floor of the tunnel.

“Shit.” She scrambled forward, touching the tiny demon who was now as hard as granite. “Levet?”

“It’s daylight,” Tane said, his dagger clutched in his hands as he tested the air for danger. “He won’t awaken until dusk.”

Thank God. With her current streak of piss-poor luck, she’d feared she managed to kill the poor thing.

Scooping the gargoyle into her arms, she straightened with a groan. The creature weighed a ton. Then, deciding there was no time like the present to test her hold on Tane, she nervously cleared her throat.

“You need to find us someplace safe to rest.”

There was a brief, dangerous hesitation, and Laylah tensed, her mouth dry with fear. She was too weakened by the shadow walk to battle Tane if he remained unrestrained.

In fact, until she rested and fed she was entirely at his mercy.

Not the most comforting thought.

Braced for the worst, Laylah nearly fell to her knees in relief as Tane offered a mocking bow.

“Your wish is my command, mistress. This way.”

He turned to flow through a side tunnel, not bothering to see if she were following or not. She hoped it was a sign his powers were at least muted.

In silence they moved through the cramped passageways. Laylah knew she was taking a desperate risk. If she hadn’t gone skitzo with the need to track down information of the Jinn she might already be back under the protection of Caine with the child safely in her care.

Instead she was risking all for what?

Information? Affirmation?

Lost in her broodings, Laylah allowed herself to be led through the maze of tunnels, only vaguely aware they were headed away from London.

Nearly half an hour later, however, she was jerked out of her dangerous distraction. She came to a sharp halt, her eyes narrowed with suspicion.

“Stop,” she commanded.

With a low growl, Tane spun around to stab her with an impatient frown.

“Laylah, we don’t have long until your scent begins to stir unwanted attention.”

She matched him glare for glare. If she’d managed to bind him, he was already proving to be the worst slave ever.

“I’m more interested in the scent that’s already here,” she snarled. “You’ve brought me to a vampire lair.”

He shrugged, completely unrepentant. “What place could offer you more protection?”

“Yeah, and when they learn your companion is a half Jinn they’ll serve me up for dinner.”

Without warning he was standing directly before her, his eyes glowing with a frightening intensity.

“There’s not a chance in hell another vampire is going to sink his fangs into you,” he swore, his voice harsh with male possession. “Not as long as I’m alive.”

She ignored the strange excitement that arrowed in the direction of her pelvis. She wasn’t going to be distracted again.

“I’m not walking into a trap.” “Trust me, my sweet, if I decide to lead you into a trap you’ll never see it coming.”

She ground her teeth. “Not helping.”

He made a resigned bid for patience. “Victor is clan chief of London. We will need his permission if you intend to remain more than a few hours.”

She grimaced. The last thing she wanted was more vampires. One was enough, thank you very much.

“What we need is a witch who is willing to sell us an amulet to hide our scents,” she countered.

Expecting an argument, she was caught off guard when he shrugged.

“Yet another reason to approach Victor.”

“He has a witch on the payroll?”

“Actually he mated one.”

“Seriously?” She gave a disbelieving shake of her head. Magic was the one power a vampire had no defense against. They couldn’t even sense a spell until too late. As a result they possessed a pathological hatred for both witches and mages. “A witch and a vampire? Isn’t that illegal or something?”

“Or something,” he said dryly, his own thoughts of a vampire taking a witch as a mate carefully hidden. No doubt a wise precaution. “Actually, Juliet is half witch and half imp, with a rare talent that allows her to sense magical artifacts. If anyone has a spare disguise amulet lying around it will be her.”

“And that’s the only reason you brought me here?” she demanded, concentrating on her tenuous awareness of Tane in an attempt to impose her will. “The truth.”

“I’ve heard rumors that Victor had a brief encounter with a Jinn.”

His brooding expression made it impossible to know if he was being coerced to speak the truth or merely playing along.

“Recently?”

“I suppose that’s a matter of perspective.”

Her brows snapped together. “Tane.” “A few hundred years ago.” “What happened?”

He folded his arms over his bare chest, making his muscles ripple beneath his golden skin. “That’s his story to tell.”

She turned away from his compelling beauty as she considered her options. Or lack of options.

If Victor had the information she desired, what choice did she have but to approach him? Even if it meant bearding the lion in his den, so to speak.

Besides, Tane was right, may his aggravating soul rot in hell.

Without protection she would soon be at the mercy of every demon in London who wanted to make brownie points with the Commission by turning over a rogue mongrel.

“And you swear you aren’t using the vampires to break my binding?” she demanded.

“I swear.” He pressed a hand to that gorgeous chest. Laylah swallowed a groan. She was terrified and weary and covered in filth, but a liquid heat raced through her at the thought of kissing and nibbling and licking her way down the smooth golden skin until she reached the waistband of his khakis and the … “Laylah.”

Tane’s rough growl jerked her head up to meet his smoldering gaze, a blush staining her cheeks at the sight of his extended fangs and rigid expression as he battled his savage reaction to her arousal.

“Fine, let’s go,” she muttered.

His jaw clenched, his urge to go caveman a tangible force in the air. Then, with grim effort he whirled around and led her through the darkness.

Laylah followed in silence, pissed off by her lingering awareness. Not that her panting eagerness was a shocker. She’d spent the majority of her life on a small farm in the remote outback of Australia before being captured by the mage and hidden in Siberia. After Caine had rescued her, she had the baby to consider, which meant she remained all but a hermit, no matter where they traveled.

Male demons had been few and far between. And those of the tall, dark, and orgasmic sort had been all but nonexistent.

Was it any wonder her hormones were charged into hyperdrive?

They had traveled only a few miles when Tane slowed to a mere crawl, glancing over his shoulder. “Wait here,” he commanded.

“No …”

Without giving her the opportunity to command that he explain what was going on, Tane disappeared down a side tunnel, leaving Laylah alone to stew in frustration.

He really truly was the worst slave ever.

Tane’s instincts were on full alert as he came to a halt and waited for the lurking vampire to make his appearance. He was taking a risk.

Not only by entering another vampire’s territory unannounced, but by bringing Laylah among his brothers.

Victor’s clan had no reason to protect a mongrel Jinn and every reason to turn her over to the Oracles with all possible speed. No one wanted to be on the wrong side of an argument when it came to the Commission.

But he didn’t have much choice. Already Laylah’s scent was spreading through the tunnels. He needed to get her into the protection of Victor’s lair. The sooner, the better.

Why?

His lips twisted with a rueful smile.

He wanted to claim it was because she’d bound him with her magic. After all, it was far less disturbing to believe the constant awareness that was nagging at him was a spell rather than something far more dangerous.

Instead he blamed his refusal to do his duty on the growing suspicion that there were forces swirling around Laylah and her mysterious baby that might directly impact the future.

There was a frigid breeze as a vampire of considerable strength neared and with a deliberate motion he tucked the dagger into the waistband of his khakis and held up his hands in a gesture of peace.

“Uriel?” he called softly, having met Victor’s second in command nearly three centuries before.

On cue a tall vampire with a halo of brown curls and large brown eyes stepped into view.

A cynical smile curved Tane’s lips at the air of guileless youth that shrouded about Uriel in his faded jeans and casual T-shirt. His deceptively angelic appearance had been the downfall of many an enemy. And one that Tane had never been stupid enough to make.

Although …

He frowned, realizing that the younger vampire’s power had increased significantly since their last encounter.

Strange. Usually a vampire developed to their full potential mere years after their turning. He’d never heard of one acquiring more power centuries after maturing from their foundling stage.

A mystery, but not one he had time to dwell upon.

Not when Uriel was fondling a sword that could cut the head off a troll.

“We had no warning the Charon was traveling to London,” Uriel said, his bland tone not disguising his aversion to Tane’s presence.

Tane shrugged, inured to the less than warm greeting.

His brothers either feared him or loathed him.

None of them wanted to be BFFs.

“I’m not here in my official capacity.”

Uriel didn’t look comforted. “You’re here on vacation?”

“Not exactly. I must speak with Victor.” Tane reached out with his senses, his brows pulling together as he belatedly realized that he should have been able to sense Victor’s power signature by now. Unlike Viper, the Chicago clan chief, the big cheese of London was never subtle. His presence was like a sledgehammer. “He’s not in London,” he absently murmured. “He’s traveled north.”