Darkness Eternal (Guardians of Eternity #7.5)(29)

“Damn,” he muttered, his heart clenching with fear that she’d perilously drained herself as he gazed down at her too-pale face. “You’re a dangerous woman.”

A weary smile touched her lips. “Don’t you forget it.”

“Never,” he swore, tucking her tightly against his chest as he followed Yannah’s fading scent down the pathway.

Bloody hell, he had to get her out of here.

So far shit-ass luck had kept them alive.

It was bound to run out eventually.

On perfect cue a wave of Marika’s frigid power stirred the toxic air.

“Oh Kata, I smell you,” she cooed.

Crazy bitch.

In his arms Kata giggled, her eyes half-closed as if she weren’t entirely with the program.

“Fee, fie, fo, fum,” she sang.

“Stay with me, Kata,” he muttered, charging down the center of the pathway with reckless speed.

On each side of him the rivers of fire offered liquid death and behind him was a psychotic vampire he couldn’t destroy. If there was another danger looming in front of them then they were screwed.

“I’m never going to leave you,” she softly murmured.

“No.” He bent his head to press his lips to the top of her head, accepting that whatever the future held, Kata would always be in his heart. “You’re never going to leave me.”

Running through the crimson shadows, Uriel could feel his strength waning. Since leaving Victor’s lair he’d spent a large chunk of time in one battle after another. He needed to rest.

And more importantly he needed to feed.

A damned shame he wasn’t going to get either of those things any time soon.

He kept up his punishing pace until it became obvious that he wasn’t going to outrun Marika and that a magical door wasn’t going to open to lead them to safety.

Soon he would be too weak to offer Kata any protection. It was obviously now or never.

Bending downward, he gently settled Kata on the ground, arranging her so as to lean her back against a rock that jutted from the pathway.

She frowned, clutching at his arm in confusion. “Uriel?”

“I love you,” he husked, brushing a tender kiss over her lips.

“Such a smart vampire.”

“It might take me awhile, but you’ll discover I’m trainable.”

Her wicked smile pierced his heart. “Which is why I adore you.”

With a groan, he forced himself to straighten. Then turning, he moved down the path to block the approaching vampire.

Unable to pass, Marika was forced to come to a halt directly before him, a mocking smile curving her lips.

“Get out of my way and I might let you live long enough to pleasure me,” she drawled.

Uriel didn’t bother to hide his shudder as his gaze skimmed her from head to toe.

Christ, she was once again perfect.

Even her gown was spotless.

As if she’d never had her head chopped off her body.

It was creepy as hell.

“I’d rather die, you nasty freak,” he rasped with an unmistakable sincerity.

Marika hissed, exposing her fangs in female fury. “That can be arranged.”

With one fluid motion, Uriel had his sword pointed toward the bitch and was braced for yet another skirmish.

One he couldn’t win.

He grimly dismissed the voice of doom.

If he was going out, he was going out fighting. Dammit.

Preparing to attack, Marika stroked her tongue down the length of her fang.

“So pretty, it’s a shame you won’t be a good boy for me,” she drawled. “Still, there’s always Kata to keep me entertained.”

Uriel didn’t have the opportunity to answer her taunt.

Even as he lifted his sword there was an odd sensation in the small space between them. As if the air pressure had suddenly changed.

Then, with a dramatic motion, the very fabric of the world was ripped open and a man stepped onto the path.

No, not a man, Uriel silently corrected himself, an icy dread forming in the pit of his stomach at the sight of the delicately carved features, the thick mane of golden blond hair, and the luminous lavender eyes.

The Jinn might pass as human, but the cruelty that was etched on the pretty face proved he was very much a monster.

Ignoring Uriel, the demon reached to grab Marika by the throat and lifted her off the ground.

“You need not worry about entertainment, leech,” his voice filled the air with a power that nearly drove Uriel to his knees. “I intend to keep you fully occupied.”

“You.” Marika’s eyes widened in horror. The Jinn laughed and Marika tilted back her head with a scream. “No!”

Chapter 11

Uriel’s hand lifted to press against the scar on his chest, the dull throb becoming a jagged pain that radiated through his entire body.

He recognized the bastard, of course.

The memory of their encounter under the docks of London was seared into the very fiber of his being.

But of all the strange, bizarre, or downright dangerous creatures that Uriel might have expected to make a magical appearance, the Jinn was at the very bottom of his list.

Instinctively his hand reached into the pocket of his jeans, only to curse when he recalled he’d wasted the death spell on his futile attempt to escape from Marika.