Beyond the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #6)(71)

“I at least deserve to know what you intend to do with it.”

The air thickened until Salvatore could barely breathe. “Deserve?”

“I assume I won’t be around to appreciate the sacrifice.”

“No, that much is guaranteed.”

“Then what’s the harm in sharing?”

There was a long pause, as if Balam was momentarily distracted, then his low chuckle swirled through the cave. Salvatore shuddered in revulsion.

“Very well,” the demon lord agreed. “I intend to use your blood to create a portal and enter your world.”

“Why not use Briggs’s? He would no doubt be thrilled to donate to the cause.”

“His blood will never possess the potency of yours. A knowledge that has plagued him for centuries.”

Balam sounded as if he enjoyed Briggs’s frustration at his potency shortfall. So much for honor among thieves.

“But he’s good enough to be your stooge?”

“For now. Once I’ve passed through the portal, his services will no longer be required. I’ll be able to take personal command of the Weres.”

Fury blasted through Salvatore. Not for Briggs’s inevitable death at the hands of the demon lord. Good riddance. But the threat that his Weres might become mere fodder for the demon lord was enough to make him howl in anguish.

He had to find some means of stopping his blood from draining into the brazier. Unfortunately, at the moment his only hope was baiting Briggs into killing him before the portal could be opened.

“Have you shared that bit of info with Briggs?”

“I prefer to keep it a surprise.”

“No shit. Where is the idiot?”

“He’s gone to greet our uninvited guests.”

Salvatore stiffened, a bad feeling inching down his spine. “Guests?”

“Your potential mate has arrived with several nasty leeches. She obviously needs to learn what happens to naughty Weres who intrude where they don’t belong.”

Harley.

How had she followed him? And more importantly, why?

Dio. He was going to kill Styx for letting her put herself in danger.

Indifferent to the excruciating pain, he jerked against the binding chains, desperate to get to his mate.

“You bastard.”

“Forgive me, did you desire a tearful good-bye with your beloved?”

“I’m going to kill you.”

“No, Giuliani, what you’re going to do is set me free.”

Tilting back his head, Salvatore screamed in terrified fury.

“Harley.”

Harley’s nerves were near the breaking point by the time they pulled to a halt at the long forgotten church.

It could have been the result of being squashed into the Hummer with several very large, very lethal vampires, a full-fledged goddess, and her twin sister. Or even the lightning speed with which they had made the trip.

But Harley was honest enough to admit that her stomach-clenching stress was entirely due to Salvatore Giuliani.

She could feel him, deep inside.

Like a nagging awareness that refused to leave her in peace.

Snarling with impatience by the time the vampires had thoroughly scouted the area and at last allowed her to enter the caves, her temper wasn’t improved when she realized there was something suppressing her ability to follow Salvatore’s scent.

Dammit.

When she wanted to be alone, she couldn’t get rid of Salvatore.

Now it seemed as if the entire world was determined to put obstacles in her path.

Prowling through the upper caverns, Harley waited for Dante to return from his search and rescue mission. As much as it might irritate her, she had been forced to give her word to Styx that she wouldn’t take off on her own.

On the point of telling Styx he could take her promise and shove it up his ass, her restless pacing was brought to an abrupt halt as Dante silently slid from one of the numerous tunnels and crossed toward Styx and the rest of the motley crew. Harley remained standing several feet away as the sensation of Salvatore continued to pull at her.

“Well?” Styx demanded, appearing even more ferocious with the large sword he clutched in his hand. Talk about overkill.

Dante shook his head, frustration etched on his too-beautiful face.

“It will be impossible to track him.”

“I can find him,” Harley said, squaring her shoulders as all eyes turned in her direction.

Darcy lifted her brows in surprise. “How?”

“I…feel him.”

Styx scowled. “This could be a trick.”

Harley wasn’t stupid. She’d already considered the possibility that someone or something was messing with her. And a part of her wasn’t entirely adverse to the thought that this was a devious spell. Otherwise she’d have to accept that she had a connection to Salvatore that went way beyond a casual lover.

“It doesn’t matter,” she muttered, wrapping her arms around her waist as a cold chill raced over her. Damn, it felt as if the temperature had dropped by a dozen degrees. “I have to do this.”

Styx shifted his attention to the goddess at his side. “Abby, do you sense anything?”

“Evil.” Abby shuddered, her face paling to an unhealthy shade of gray. “God, it’s so thick I can almost taste it.”