Devoured by Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #7)(14)

It was bad enough she’d brought Levet through the barrier, but to add a huge, freaking vampire who had been clinging like a barnacle to her ass …

She shuddered.

Wasn’t that how black holes were created? As if sensing her feral glare, Tane struggled to lift his head, obviously as battered by the trip as she was. Good. He deserved to suffer.

“Damn you,” he rasped, his gaze darting about the silver mists that swirled around them. “What have you done?”

“Me?” Her mouth dropped in sheer disbelief. “You nearly killed me you oversized, troll-brained brute.” She slowly pushed herself to her feet, unwilling to remain in the corridor any longer than necessary. Not only did she fear that the doorways to other dimensions might open and suck her from the mist, but time tended to move oddly. When she emerged it could be a few minutes had passed, or it could be days. Once she’d even come out to discover that it was two days before she’d ever entered. Talk about screwing with the whole space/time continuum. She turned her attention to the tiny gray bundle that was nearly hidden in the fog. Her heart gave a tiny leap of alarm. “Is Levet hurt?”

With a loud hiss, Tane rose to his feet, absently brushing the dried blood from his chest as he moved to stand beside her.

“Just unconscious.”

“Thank God.” She lifted a hand to rub her aching neck as the relief poured through her.

He frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“I feel like I was hit by a semi.”

He brushed aside her hand and replaced it with his own, his touch firm, but insanely talented as he worked the knots from her muscles.

Mmmm. Her muscles slowly uncoiled as he moved down her spine, a delectable warmth easing the persistent ache in her joints.

Whatever his faults, and they were numerous, this vampire did have talented hands.

Clever, wicked, powerful hands.

Hands that could send a woman to heaven or condemn her to hell, a voice whispered in the back of her mind.

It was the whole hell part that had her spinning away from his mesmerizing massage before she could melt into a puddle at his feet.

“Don’t touch me.”

His lips twisted, revealing he was all too aware of her rampant awareness.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“Don’t try to bully me, He-Man,” she muttered. “This is my domain.”

“Your domain?” He lifted a brow. “And that would make you Skeletor?” “Ha, ha. Hysterical.”

He stepped closer, his expression hardening with an unmistakable warning. “Tell me where we are.”

“I don’t know if it has a name or not.” She shrugged. “I stumbled into it by accident.”

He glanced around, an odd fire burning in the honey eyes. “It’s another dimension?”

“No, it’s more a corridor that runs between them. I use it when I need to travel in a hurry.” She flicked a deliberate glance down his half naked body. “Or when I’m trying to escape from a demented vampire.”

He turned a complete circle, his hand clutching his dagger as he studied the seemingly solid mist that surrounded them.

“How do we get out?”

Laylah frowned. Tane was acting … peculiar. Which in itself was peculiar.

Vamps were nothing if not predictable.

Arrogant, dangerous, and sickeningly aware of their superiority.

Could it be that the mighty Tane was actually anxious to find himself in the mists?

Swift to take advantage, Laylah headed toward the unconscious gargoyle.

“The same way we got in,” she said.

“Then do it.”

“No.”

“Laylah.”

She scooped Levet into her arms, swallowing a groan. Gods. What did the creature eat? Lead?

“I’m taking the gargoyle to London and you can’t stop me,” she grunted, headed through the mists.

Swearing, Tane followed in her wake. “Why is it so important that you go to London?”

“I have to find the Jinn.”

“Is it a relative of yours?” he snapped.

“That’s what I intend to discover. I never …” she bit off her revealing words.

Naturally he couldn’t let well enough alone.

“What?”

She flashed him an annoyed frown. “I thought I was the only one. Okay?”

He abruptly stiffened, as if bothered by her stark honesty. Then with a curse, he glanced toward the fog, his expression shuttered.

“Get us out of here and I will see that you get to London.”

Did she have stupid tattooed on her forehead?

“Liar.”

“What did you call me?” he snapped.

“I called you a liar.” She turned her head to meet the smoldering honey gaze. “We both know if I was idiotic enough to return us to the barn there’s no way in hell you would let me go to London.”

Chapter 4

The eighteenth century terrace house near Green Park in London was considered a fine example of Robert Adam’s architecture. It was, in fact, a great pride of the historical society, although the neighbors weren’t nearly so enthused.

Certainly there was a classical beauty in the aging bricks and simple portico. The windows were tall with carved stone swags set above them. And it was rumored the interior was even more stunning. Carved marble staircases and grand rooms with painted ceilings, Chippendale furniture, and priceless works of art.