Darkness Unleashed (Guardians of Eternity #5)(41)

She held herself stiffly, vividly aware of the cool power washing over her skin. Dammit, she wanted to be furious, not…aroused.

“And if the curs are out there?” she snapped. “Won’t they sense us?”

He shrugged, the long hair he’d left free to frame the haunting beauty of his lean face flowing down his back like liquid gold.

“Salvatore was mocking, but Caine has reason to resent the Weres,” he said softly. “Unless a cur has fully shifted, their senses are not equal to most demons. Our scents are already spread through the area, so unless they actually see us leave the cave they won’t know we’ve slipped beneath their noses.”

“Oh.” She abruptly felt like an idiot. “That’s why you made me leave the clothes behind.”

“They should keep your scent lingering for days.”

“Fine, Mr. Smarty Pants…”

“Mr. Smarty Pants?”

She ignored his interruption. “If they’re actually watching the cave, then how are we supposed to leave without being seen? Unlike you, I can’t wrap myself in shadows.”

He paused at the entrance of the cave, an almost smile hovering around his lips.

“You can as long as you stay close to me. Hold still.”

Regan frowned.

Well, hell.

Was there anything vampires couldn’t do?

Walk on water? Unlock the secret of cold fusion?

Create world peace?

Her annoyance at the injustice of vampires’ position at the top of the demon-world was forgotten as she suddenly felt like she’d been dipped in an icy pool of water.

She sucked in a sharp breath.

This wasn’t the cool surge of Jagr’s power.

“Holy crap, what are you doing?” she demanded with a shiver. “I’m freezing.”

“I’ve wrapped you in my shadows. They will hide us from prying eyes, but not from prying ears.” Before she could guess his intention, he bent downward to place his lips against hers. “Not a word, little one.”

Sadie smiled as she watched the expensive Humvee being consumed by flames. Standing several blocks away on the roof of a restaurant that had once been a bordello, she had a perfect view to watch Salvatore leave the cave with his neutered curs scurrying behind him.

Sniffling, spineless dogs.

Their blind subservience to the self-proclaimed King of Weres sickened her. Why didn’t they just put a leash around their neck, and be done with it?

Of course, they had managed to lead her to where Regan was hidden with the vamp, so perhaps they weren’t entirely useless.

Her smile widened as she leaned against the decorative brick wall that lined the rooftop.

“I do love a roaring bonfire. A pity I forgot to bring the marshmallows.”

Standing at her side, Duncan growled with impatience. “Did you also forget to bring a point for this little exercise in futility?”

“Careful, Duncan.” Sophie slid her companion a warning frown. “So far you’ve proven to be as incompetent as you are spineless. Twice now you’ve allowed our quarry to slip through your fingers.”

Duncan’s jaw tightened, his pride obviously still pricked at having been bested by the young, untrained woman.

Again.

“At least I’ve had her in my fingers. Which is more than you can say.”

“Only because I was stupid enough to assume my merry band of morons could manage to capture one little Were.” Sadie shrugged. “I won’t make that mistake again.”

An ugly smile twisted his lips. “Oh, no, you’ve done much better. Now we not only have the most dangerous vampire in the entire world hunting our sorry hides, but you’ve managed to piss off the King of Weres. A real bang-up job.”

Sadie bit back her snarl. It had been an unpleasant shock when the unmistakable scent of Salvatore had invaded her territory. Caine had sworn that the king had no interest in Regan, and wouldn’t so much as lift a finger to help her.

Easy for him to say when he was safely hidden miles away.

Bastard.

And to top it off, she’d followed the scent of the curs to the cave, only to discover that not only was Regan being guarded by a vampire, the King of Weres, and his curs, but there was a damned gargoyle in residence.

A lesser woman would have thrown in the towel. Sadie, however, had always been able to think on her feet, and it had taken only a moment to devise yet another brilliant plan.

“Pissed off or not, I’ve managed to separate Regan from the Weres, as well as the gargoyle,” she pointed out, her annoyance easing as she smugly turned her attention back to the fire below.

Duncan snorted. “That still leaves the vampire.”

Fear skittered down her spine. God, she hated vampires. Bloodthirsty beasts.

“He can be dealt with,” she muttered.

Duncan’s short, ugly laugh set her teeth on edge. “So you’re not only arrogant, you’re delusional?”

“What I am is smart enough to have a plan.”

“So did the wolf in the Three Little Pigs, and you know how that worked out.”

Sophie curled her lips. “What are you, twelve?”

“Just tell me this brilliant plan.”

Reaching into the pocket of her leather duster, Sophie pulled out a small flask and screwed off the lid.