Bound By Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #8)(8)

“What?”

“Time moves differently within the mists.”

She frowned, easily sensing the truth of his warning. “How differently?”

“It’s never constant,” he admitted. It was his theory that the mists that Morgana had created were similar to the mists that ran between dimensions that the Jinn used to travel. It would explain why time ran differently from the outside world. “A few hours might have passed since we arrived on Avalon or it could be several weeks.”

“Then why did you bring us here?” she demanded in frustration. “For all you know Sergei has already resurrected the Dark Lord.”

He shuddered. This female was too young to have any memory of the Dark Lord or his loathsome hordes of minions. Otherwise she would never speak of his return as if it were nothing more than an inconvenience.

“We would know if the gates of hell had been opened,” he assured her dryly. “And it was the one place I could keep you hidden from your fellow leeches.”

Too late he realized just what he’d revealed.

“You risked the end of the world just to take me hostage?”

Abruptly turning to hide his discomfort, he paced to stare out the door that opened to the attached baths. He grimaced as he realized the shallow pools were still filled with the scented waters that Morgana had demanded her sex slaves use to wash in before coming to her bed.

“I told you, I need someone to watch my back,” he snapped, his voice suddenly harsh.

“Don’t you have a tribe roaming around nearby?”

“They attract precisely the sort of attention I’m hoping to avoid.”

“And?”

He turned to meet her disbelieving gaze. “There is no ‘ and. ’”

The chain rattled as she took an impatient step forward, clearly sensing he was not being entirely honest.

“Yes, there is.”

“Damn, that’s annoying,” he muttered.

“Then release me.”

Not a chance in hell.

His gaze skimmed over the hard lines of her body. She was like a sleek greyhound. All muscle and grace.

And his.

He shook off the disturbing thought, concentrating on a half-truth that would satisfy her freakish, insanely annoying talent.

“I’m not entirely certain that Tearloch’s madness is an isolated incident.”

She was thankfully distracted. “You think it’s infectious?”

“No, but the veils between the worlds are thinning, increasing the opportunity for the Dark Lord to touch the minds of others.” Regret that he hadn’t prevented the darkness attacking Tearloch sliced through his heart. Yeah, he was quite the prince, wasn’t he? “And unfortunately it’s impossible to detect his influence until too late.”

A strange emotion rippled over her exquisite face before she was abruptly turning to stare at the far tapestry.

Sympathy?

Not bloody likely.

Not from his cold-hearted Hunter.

“How do you know that I’m not under some Jedi mind control?” she mocked, proving her indifference.

“Vampires are impervious to such tricks,” he growled. “Not to mention the fact you’re too irritatingly stubborn for the Dark Lord to bother with.”

Her lips thinned. “No.”

“No, you’re not stubborn?”

“No, I don’t accept your bargain.”

He surged forward, ignoring the danger as he grasped her shoulders and forced her to meet his fierce glower.

“You’re willing to remain trapped here as my prisoner?”

Her chin tilted. “Yes.”

“Why?” He searched the indigo eyes. “Because I’m an evil Sylvermyst?”

“That’s one of many reasons.”

“And the others?”

“I refuse to stand aside while you slaughter an innocent child.”

His fingers dug into her flesh before he forced himself to ease his grip. Logically he understood she was an immortal vampire who could kick his ass given a chance, but towering above her slender form, he couldn’t ignore how fragile her bones felt beneath his hands.

And how screwed up was that?

“Not a child,” he gritted. “A vessel created by the Dark Lord.”

“That has yet to be determined.”

He growled. What did he have to do to convince the demon world that the babe had one purpose and one purpose only? Let Tearloch and Sergei destroy this dimension?

“Fine,” he rasped. “What if I promise merely to capture the babe and return it here where I can protect it?”

She refused to back down. Predictable.

“Even if I was foolish enough to trust you, which I’m not, I’m still bound by my contract with the Oracles.”

His hands traced the line of her shoulders and down the sleek muscles of her arms. His gut clenched at the cool slide of her creamy skin beneath his palm.

“I don’t believe you’ll turn me over to the Commission,” he said, his voice thickening.

She stiffened, but oddly she didn’t pull away from his lingering touch.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because you couldn’t bear to have me destroyed.”

She made a sound of disgust. “I can’t decide whether you’re just arrogant or suicidal.”