Darkness Eternal (Guardians of Eternity #7.5)(13)

She clenched her hands. Beautiful or not, she wanted to punch him in the nose.

She was trying to do this for him, the jerk.

“Yes, this is all some elaborate trap that I invented with Yannah just on the off chance an annoying vampire was forced to come to my rescue,” she mocked. “Ingenious, is it not?”

“The trap wasn’t meant for me, it was meant for Laylah.”

Kata sucked in a shocked breath, raw fury racing through her at the unjust accusation.

She’d endured endless years of being held captive and unbearable torture to protect her daughter. And she would endure centuries more if necessary.

“You bastard.” Without thought she launched herself toward the aggravating vampire, wildly pounding her fists on his solid chest. “I have sacrificed everything to keep my daughter safe. Everything.”

Uriel hastily sheathed his sword, wrapping his arms around her trembling body and pulling her close.

“Easy, Kata.”

She tilted back her head to stab him with a warning glare. “Don’t ever say I would try to harm her again.”

“Fine.” He lifted a hand to gently smooth her hair from her face, his expression guarded. “If this isn’t a trap, then why are you trying to get rid of me?”

“Maybe I don’t like you,” she muttered.

His eyes flared with a heat that could rival the lava that spilled over the cliff just a few feet away.

“I could change that if I wanted to,” he husked.

And he could.

She might not want to acknowledge the poignant awareness that swirled between them. Or the peculiar sense that she’d been waiting for this particular man to crash into her life since she’d been a simple gypsy maiden. But ignoring the dangerous sensations didn’t make them go away.

“Please, Uriel . . .” she whispered, acutely aware of the soft stroke of his thumb over her cheek.

“Tell me why you’re trying to get rid of me.”

She heaved a resigned sigh. Stubborn demon.

“It was my demented sister who is responsible for sending us here and there’s no reason for both of us to suffer.”

His lips twisted. “And you think splitting up will end my suffering?”

“We both know you’re much more likely to escape without me slowing you down.” She shivered as his thumb shifted to stroke her lower lip. “So go.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

He frowned, as if annoyed he might be forced to actually consider his motives.

“I always finish what I start,” he at last said.

Always finish what he started?

Lame. Truly lame.

He better hope that he didn’t need a reference if he intended to make a career out of rescuing maidens in distress, because as far as she was concerned, he sucked at it.

“I’m not your obligation,” she snapped.

“You are for now.”

“Because my daughter sent you?”

“Because my clan chief sent me.”

Kata rolled her eyes. She loved Laylah, but why on earth would the girl get involved with vampires?

“Fine, you came, you saw, you conquered. Now go away.”

“I’m not leaving without you.” He folded his arms over his chest. “Get over it.”

Okay, that was it.

She’d tried to be nice. To put his welfare above her own. Now she just wanted to kick him in the nuts.

“Look here, you arrogant ass, I’ve . . .”

“There’s no use in arguing with a vampire, my dear,” a soft, melodic voice interrupted her tirade.

Whirling around in shock, Kata pressed a hand to her heart as she caught sight of the tiny demon she’d thought lost forever.

“Yannah, thank goodness,” she breathed, barely noticing that the demon’s white robe was perfectly pristine and her hair smoothed into a tidy braid. Unlike Kata who looked like she’d been to hell and back. Literally. “I feared . . .”

“I was dead?” Yannah helpfully supplied.

“Yes.”

“Silly girl.” Yannah waved a hand toward the far side of the cavern. “My house is just on the other side of the lava pit.”

Kata shook her head in confusion. Over the years she’d accepted Yannah’s habit of popping in and out of her cell without giving any actual thought to where she came from.

But even if she had, her first thought wouldn’t have been the underworld.

“You live here?”

Yannah sniffed, unexpectedly offended by Kata’s blatant disbelief.

“I’m not sure I like your tone. My neighborhood happens to be quite nice, and for your information I have a very lovely flat in Mayfair for when I’m on the other side.”

Kata parted her lips to apologize, only to be cut off as Uriel stepped directly between her and the female demon.

“You can travel between worlds?” he growled.

“No time for questions.” Yannah said as she turned to the side.

Waving her hands over the edge of the cliff in intricate motions, Yannah ignored Uriel’s impatient demand for explanations.

Kata frowned. Was the demon pretending to conduct an orchestra? Calling for reinforcements? Totally losing her mind?

The answer was far more unexpected.