Devoured by Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #7)(3)

“Most lesser demons have the sense to show respect when in the presence of a vampire.”

“You’ve already let the cat out of the bag that you intend to haul me to the Commission to be put down like a rabid dog, so what the hell?” She shrugged. “I might as well have a bit of fun before I go out.”

His slender fingers stroked the hilt of his knife. His big-enough-to-slice-off-her-head knife.

“I can promise you that trying to provoke me is not the sort of fun you want.”

She curled her lips in what she hoped was a sneer, but might very well have been a grimace of terror.

“True, the sort of fun I want involves a piece of wood with a very pointy end decorating the center of your chest, but for the moment I’ll take what I can get.”

Braced for his punishment, Laylah swore when he did precisely what she didn’t want.

Instead of striking out in fury, he stilled, his expression intent. Just like a predator about to pounce.

“Intriguing,” he murmured.

“What?”

“Your desperation to keep me from discovering your secret.” He reached to trace a finger down the line of her stubborn jaw. “I should warn you that your games only make me more determined to find out what you’re hiding.”

Laylah spun away from his piercing gaze. What the hell did she have to do to get this vampire off her back?

“There’s nothing.”

There was an icy chill as he moved to stand directly behind her.

“Let’s start at the beginning. Why did you kill Duncan?”

“I …” She licked her lips, her hands pressing to her stomach at the familiar sickness that rolled through her. She didn’t want to remember Caine leading her through the secret tunnel and into the small cabin next to the Mississippi River. They’d expected to find Duncan hidden there. The cur, after all, was intending to save his own hide by selling out Caine to the King of Weres. But neither had expected the less dominant cur to try and attack. Or for Laylah’s powers to strike out with such force. It was yet another regret, in a very long line of regrets, that Laylah would have to live with. “That was an accident.”

“You fried a cur,” Tane pointed out dryly, “which doesn’t make my heart bleed, but those little accidents are exactly why mongrel Jinn have been banned.”

She shuddered. Did he think that she didn’t try and control her powers? That she wouldn’t give anything to stop another senseless death staining her conscience?

“Shut up.”

“What happened?”

She sucked in the cool, damp air that filled the cave. She had been running blindly the past few days, backtracking and taking side tunnels until she had no idea where they were, but there was no missing the unmistakable scent of a nearby river, which meant they still must be near the Mississippi.

“Caine learned where Duncan was to meet with Salvatore. When we startled him the cur went nuts and attacked.” Her jaw clenched. She had done her best to stay out of Caine’s crazy ass scheme to change curs into purebloods. Why not decide to sprout wings and become a dew fairy? But, Caine had been adamant that he’d been given a vision that revealed he was to become an immortal Were. Personally she’d thought the vision was more likely an overdose of the pharmaceuticals he mass-produced. “I merely protected myself. Or are mongrels supposed to let themselves be mauled to death? Would that make everyone happy? The disgusting half-breed ripped to shreds?”

“A touch bitter?” Tane murmured, but his hands were oddly tender as he stroked a path over her shoulders and down her arms.

Tender, but capable of sending a rash of fire over her bare skin.

“Go to hell.”

“I’ve already visited, sweet Laylah, and I have no intention of returning anytime soon.” He leaned down to press his lips to the curve of her neck. “I’ll accept that the death of the cur was an accident.”

If she hadn’t been near the point of collapse she might have gone completely mental and thrown herself on the beautiful brute. Her body felt as if it were on fire.

Damned vamp pheromones.

Instead she forced herself to step away from his destructive touch, turning to glare into his too-handsome face. “Patronizing ass.”

“Why didn’t you return to Caine’s lair instead of taking off on your own?”

She unconsciously rubbed her arms that still tingled from his touch.

“I knew we were being tracked and I assumed that you would follow Caine. I took off to save my own skin.”

“No, you took off to try and lead us away from Caine’s estate.” He deliberately paused. “And the child you are protecting.”

“If you already have it all figured out then why are you pestering me with your questions?” she gritted.

“Because I want to know why you would be willing to sacrifice your life for a child that isn’t yours.”

Tane watched the emotions ripple over the Jinn’s expressive face, annoyed by his unfamiliar fascination. Granted Laylah was a beautiful creature. Stunningly beautiful.

And she stirred his lust to a fever pitch he hadn’t enjoyed for centuries.

But, he had one purpose in following this female.

When he’d first entered the tunnels, he’d been chasing after Salvatore, King of Weres, and the aggravating gargoyle, Levet. They’d gone missing from a cabin in Hannibal and while he would be pleased-as-f*cking-punch to let both of them die a miserable death, Styx had been clear he wanted a better relationship between Weres and vampires. And what the Anasso (leader of all vampires) wanted, he got.