GOE 08 - Bound By Darkness

Chapter 25

Ariyal was going to kill the King of Vampires.

And then he was going to kill Kostas. Slowly and as painfully as possible.

And then he just might kill Salvatore for standing there like a damned mannequin while Jaelyn was being hauled off to her certain death.

Not that he blamed them any more than he blamed himself.

Jaelyn had deftly sidestepped him when he’d tried to question her about the Addonexus and what was going to happen when they discovered she’d taken a mate.

She’d claimed she would find some means to get out of her duty as a Hunter. She’d even assured him that she was certain there was some obscure law that would allow her to escape punishment, but he’d known deep in his heart that she wasn’t being entirely honest.

If Jaelyn died, he would have no one to blame but himself.

Fighting against the arms that held him prisoner, Ariyal nearly missed the sudden appearance of two small female demons. In fact, it wasn’t until he felt the deluge of power that could only belong to an Oracle that he turned his head to catch sight of the intruders.

He stopped his struggles. Gods, was that Yannah? Warily he watched as the elder of the demons stepped toward Jaelyn, her dark gaze keeping track of Kostas as he performed a stiff bow.

“Siljar,” the vampire murmured, obviously familiar with the Oracle.

Ariyal didn’t know if that was a good or bad sign.

“What is going on here?” Siljar demanded, her voice soft but powerful enough to make the conceited jackass pale to a pasty white.

Still, he was nothing if not arrogant, and with a smile he managed to flash his massive fangs.

“Nothing that need concern the Commission, I assure you.”

“I beg to disagree.” Siljar pointed a finger in Jaelyn’s direction. “This Hunter is under contract to me.”

Ah. So this was the Oracle who had put a contract out on him. Not that she seemed particularly interested in him now. Actually, she appeared far more concerned with Kostas than anyone else.

Thank the gods.

“She was,” the Ruah agreed, pressing a hand to his chest in a gesture of regret. “But, I fear that she has betrayed us both.”

Siljar didn’t blink. “Betrayed?”

“She has mated with the Sylvermyst.” The vampire’s voice dripped with disgust. Nasty worm. “Most unfortunate. However, I fully intend to see her punished and your contract completed.”

“By you?”

“Of course.”

The female tilted her head to the side, looking like an inquisitive bird.

If a bird could topple a city with a thought.

“But I don’t want you,” she at last announced. “I want Jaelyn.”

A stunned silence filled the room, and Ariyal’s heart remembered how to beat for the first time since Kostas made his over-the-top appearance.

Was it possible that the Oracle was actually here to help Jaelyn?

Dammit. They were due some luck.

“I ...” Kostas halted to consider his words. “I do not understand.”

Siljar moved forward, her robes brushing the wood floor that he had sanded and polished on Jaelyn’s orders.

“I was the one who insisted that she remain close to the Sylvermyst,” she informed the Ruah, not at all intimated by the vampire’s brutish size or the hint of cruelty etched into his features. “There was a vision that revealed that it would take both of them to prevent the Dark Lord from entering this world.”

Ariyal barely noticed when Styx released his bone-crushing hold and stepped back.

So that was why she’d ordered Jaelyn to remain at his side after she’d escaped from Avalon.

Not that he cared why. Her command had made sure that Jaelyn had stayed with him long enough for his charm to work its magic. In fact, if they survived this latest disaster he intended to send a bouquet of roses and a thank-you card to the magnificent Siljar.

Of course, he was less enthused about the vision of them being responsible for preventing the Dark Lord’s return.

It had been sheer chance that Jaelyn had drained the blood of the Dark Lord’s host body. And that her efforts had prevented him from following.

If the world had truly been depending on them ...

It made him shudder just to think what could have happened.

Across the room Kostas frowned, not at all happy with the direction of the conversation. He had obviously come there to get his ya-yas by condemning Jaelyn to death.

He wasn’t going to be pleased if he was forced to leave without her.

“Even so.”

“Are you having difficulty hearing me, Kostas?”

He shifted beneath that relentless black gaze. “No, of course not.”

“Then perhaps I am simply not making myself clear.” She took another step forward, her head tilted back to reveal her grim expression. “The Hunter is still under contract to me.”

Kostos was nothing if not determined.

“But she is mated.” He shot the silent Jaelyn an accusing gaze.

Siljar shrugged. “So much the better.”

“It is forbidden.”

“By whom?”

“By tradition.”

“Then perhaps you should reconsider your traditions,” the female suggested.

The vampire jerked as if he’d taken a blow. “With all respect ...”

A smile that sent a chill of alarm down Ariyal’s spine curled Siljar’s lips.

There was something unnerving about that sweet smile when it was combined with those razor-sharp teeth.

“Shall I have you brought before the Commission to discuss the issue?”

The air of superior confidence was at last shaken as Kostas took a hasty step back.

“No,” he barked out before he was battling to conceal his rampant fear. “That will not be necessary.”

“Good.” Siljar waved a hand in dismissal. “Now I believe your work here is done.”

“As you wish.”

Walking like he had a stick shoved up his ass, Kostas managed to make it to the door before Siljar halted him.

“Kostas.”

He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes cold with thwarted fury.

“Yes?”

“I will not be pleased if I learn Jaelyn has been harmed,” she warned softly. “Indeed, I shall take it quite personally.”

For a crazed minute, Ariyal thought that the vampire might do something incredibly stupid. Then, gripping his hands into tight fists, he gave a nod of his head.

“I understand.”

The Ruah disappeared from the room, and unable to deny his overwhelming instinct another second, Ariyal crossed the floor to pull Jaelyn into his arms, his gaze never leaving the Oracle.

Siljar might have protected Jaelyn from Kostas and the rest of the Addonexus, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to do something even worse.

If he’d learned nothing else in his long life it was If something seemed too good to be true ...

Wiping her hands down her robe, the Oracle gave a tiny shudder.

“Such a ghastly demon.”

Styx stepped forward, offering her a deep bow. It might have been strange to see the massive vampire showing such respect for the tiny demon. At least until you looked into Siljar’s dark eyes.

Her power simmered like a nuclear explosion just waiting to happen.

“You cut that a little close, Siljar,” he said. Gently.

Ariyal felt Jaelyn stiffen in his arms, her gaze shifting to the Anasso.

“You knew Siljar was coming?” she demanded.

It was the Oracle who answered.

“Styx approached me when he discovered the Ruah intended to seek you out.”

Styx shrugged. “I couldn’t by law keep him from returning you to the Addonexus and putting you to death,” he admitted, his eyes narrowing. “Something that I obviously need to correct in the near future. Only an Oracle could prevent the inevitable.”

“I’m deeply grateful.”

Ariyal frowned, studying his mate’s pale face. He knew that voice. And it usually meant danger.

“We’re both in your debt,” he added.

Without warning, Jaelyn was out of his arms and flying across the room to slam her fist into Styx’s arm with enough force to make him stumble to the side.

“Damn you.”

“Ouch.” Styx grabbed his arm, his expression more bemused than angry. “Is that any way to treat your king? A king, I might remind you, who just saved your pretty neck.”

“I was scared shitless.” Jaelyn planted her fists on her hips. “You could have given me a little heads-up.”

Ariyal folded his arms over his chest, in full agreement with his mate.

Although he wasn’t foolish enough to take a swing at the King of Vampires.

“Kostas has his position as Ruah for a reason,” Styx reminded the glaring Jaelyn. “He would have sensed deceit the moment you entered the room.”

Her jaw remained clenched, but it was obvious from her expression that Styx had a point.

“So is it over?” he demanded, moving to pull Jaelyn back into his arms. He was fairly certain he was never going to let her go again. “Is she free of the Addonexus?”

Siljar turned the dark, disturbing gaze in his direction. “She is still under contract to me.”

His brows snapped together. “What does that mean?”

Jaelyn jabbed him in the side with her elbow, nearly cracking a rib.

“Ariyal.”

“I would prefer to know if someone is going to try and take you away from me,” he growled.

“I have no intention of taking away your mate, Sylvermyst,” Siljar assured him. “But I do reserve the right to call her to service should the need arise.”

“Of course,” Jaelyn hastily answered, as if fearing Ariyal might say something stupid.

Thankfully he was too overwhelmed with relief to say a word.

It was Styx who asked the question running through all their minds.

“Do you see the need arising anytime soon?”

Siljar gave a vague wave of her hands. “Without the prophet it is impossible to say, but we must assume that the Dark Lord will not abandon his attempts to destroy the barriers between worlds.”

With an abrupt motion the King of Weres stepped forward, his expression troubled.

“We can’t forget that in meantime two of my people are being held captive,” he growled.

“Caine and Cassandra have not been forgotten.” Something that might have been frustration touched the Oracle’s face. “Unfortunately we have not yet found a way to reach them.”

Salvatore scowled. “Or anyone willing to try?”

“As you say.” The tiny demon heaved a sigh. “We will not give up.”

Salvatore’s attention shifted from the Oracle to the door, his eyes flashing gold.

“What is that stench?” he muttered; then he growled as he shot Ariyal a disgruntled frown. “You really need to be a bit more discriminating in who you invite into your home.”

Ariyal rolled his eyes as he caught the unmistakable scent of granite. Hell, if he had his way, he wouldn’t let any of them into his house. It was only to please Jaelyn that he’d let the vampire and Were over the threshold.

“My thoughts exactly.”

Grandly indifferent to the fact he was intruding into a private lair, the tiny gargoyle breezed into the room, his wings flapping as he moved to take Jaelyn’s hand and lift it to his lips.

“Bon soir, ma enfant.”

Jaelyn smiled, not nearly as annoyed as she should be by the trespasser.

“Hello, Levet.”

“It was very naughty of you to have a party and not tell me,” he gently chastised, glancing toward Styx and Salvatore, who scowled at him with equal displeasure. “Unless of course my invitation was lost in the mail?”

“Something like that,” Jaelyn hastily assured the ridiculous creature.

“I thought that must be the case. After all ...”

His words trailed away and his tail suddenly stood out straight, making him look as if he’d been hit by lightning. Then slowly he turned, his gaze narrowing at the sight of the tiny demon who had remained in the shadows at the back of the room.

“You,” he breathed, his expression stunned.

Siljar lifted her hand and the demon stepped forward. Ariyal blinked in surprise, belatedly realizing the gargoyle was looking like a lovesick sap at the sight of Yannah.

Jaelyn had mentioned the ridiculous gargoyle was jonesing for the mysterious demon, but this went beyond the hope for a drink at the local bar followed by a quickie.

The poor bastard had it bad.

At any other time he might have been amused.

Now he just wanted them gone.

“Yannah,” Siljar said in the stern voice only a mother could achieve. “Is there something I should know?”

The girl tilted her head in the exactly same manner as her mother.

“Not yet.”

In a besotted daze, Levet moved toward her, his hands held out in pleading.

“Why do you run from me?” Levet demanded, his French accent thicker than usual.

She giggled. “Because I like to be chased.”

“But I have much I want to say to you.”

Yannah leaned forward, landing a kiss squarely on the gargoyle’s mouth, her fingers running a teasing path over his quivering wings. Only when the gargoyle was ready to melt into a puddle at her feet did she pull back, her dark eyes shimmering with amusement.

“Then catch me.”

With a pat on Levet’s cheek the demon disappeared.

Really and truly disappeared.

Like there one second and gone the next.

Blistering French curses filled the air as Levet stomped his way to the door, his wings fluttering in a blur of shimmering color.

“Leaving so soon?” Ariyal demanded.

“Do not fear, I will return,” the gargoyle promised, leaving the house in obvious pursuit of Yannah.

Ariyal wrinkled his nose. “That’s my fear.”

Seemingly indifferent to her daughter’s peculiar taste in demons, Siljar pressed her hands together.

“I must leave as well.” She allowed her gaze to sweep the room. “But know this. The days of evil are not ended. The Dark Lord remains a constant threat, as well as his minions, who grow in number with every passing day. We must be prepared.”

Her warning was still echoing through the air when she vanished into thin air.

“Cheery,” Salvatore said with a shiver.

Ariyal didn’t blame him.

He felt like doing a little shivering of his own.

“And right,” Styx grimly pointed out. “We all know that the Dark Lord is still poised just on the other side of the barrier, waiting for the opportunity to escape.”

“While his minions are infesting the world like a plague,” Salvatore added.

Styx lifted a hand to stroke the tiny amulet hung around his neck.

“You know, I have a sudden need to be with my mate.”

Salvatore abruptly grimaced. “Oh ... there’s something I forgot to mention.”

Styx narrowed his eyes. “Why do I suspect I’m not going to like what you have to mention?”

“Because it has to do with our dearly beloved mother-in-law.”

“Sophia?”

Ariyal lifted his brows at the edge of fear in the massive vampire’s voice.

Or was it horror?

Salvatore looked equally disturbed by the talk of their mutual mother-in-law.

“Yeah,” the King of Weres muttered. “Harley talked with her yesterday and it seems the bitch from hell, I mean ... Sophia, has decided she wants to spend more time with her daughters.”

“What do you mean, more time?”

A sudden smile curled Salvatore’s lips. “She bought a new home just a few blocks from you.”

Styx shuddered. “Oh no. Hell, no.”

“Oh wait, it gets better,” Salvatore promised. “She’s opening a new strip club featuring vampires and pureblooded Weres.”

“A strip club.” Styx threw his hands in the air. “I need something to drink. Preferably something that fights back.”

Salvatore slapped the huge vampire on the back. “Me too.”

“Then by all means, don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” Ariyal urged, more than eager to have some alone time with his mate.

Styx pulled back his lips to reveal his humongous fangs, going eyeball to eyeball with Ariyal before he gave a sharp laugh and glanced toward Salvatore.

“He’s going to fit in just fine.”

Salvatore smoothed a hand down his silk tie. “Always assuming we don’t kill him.”

“True enough.”

“Out,” Jaelyn snapped, pointing her finger toward the door.

Still smiling, the two most powerful demons in the world strolled out of the room, putting aside the heavy burden of their leadership to enjoy their fleeting moment of camaraderie.

Ariyal understood.

Completely.

The day of reckoning hadn’t been avoided, merely postponed, and soon he might very well have to lead his people into war. For now he intended to grasp at any happiness the fates were willing to offer.

In fact, he intended to grasp a whole lot of happiness.

With a wicked smile he scooped his mate off her feet, his blood heating as her arms instinctively looped around his neck and her indigo eyes darkened with arousal.

“I thought they would never leave,” he growled.

Running her tongue along her fully exposed fang, she snuggled against him.

“Now that we have this big old house all to ourselves, what on earth are we going to do?”

The mere thought of those fangs sinking into his throat had Ariyal rock hard and moving toward the sofa.

There was no way in hell he was making it to the bedroom.

And if that gargoyle waltzed through the door he was going to mount him over the mantle.

“Allow me to demonstrate, poppet,” he murmured, laying her on the cushions. He forgot how to breathe as he took in the pale beauty of her perfect features and the river of raven hair that spilled free of her braid.

His exquisite Hunter.

His mate.

“You know, Sylvermyst, if you play your cards right I might allow you to demonstrate more than once,” she promised, reaching up to rip open his shirt.

He chuckled as he tossed aside the hideous garment, leaning down until their lips were pressed together.

“I never could resist a challenge.”