Devoured by Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #7)(31)

“A local vampire with a nasty temper and dislike for Victor.” Juliet grimaced, clearly not a huge fan of Lady Havassy. “Thankfully she rarely leaves her house near Buckingham Palace.”

“Vampire.” Laylah frowned in confusion. “They can’t reproduce, can they?”

“No, but they’re human before they’re turned,” Juliet pointed out. “Obviously they would have families.”

“But then I would be mortal.”

“Yes. If she mated with a Jinn and had you, then became a vampire.”

“Oh.”

Laylah had never considered the possibility that one of her parents could be mortal. After all, she had talents that had nothing to do with Jinn magic.

She shoved her hand through her still damp hair. She’d come to London for answers, but so far all she’d discovered was more questions.

As if sensing Laylah’s frustration, Juliet gave a hasty wave of her hand, her fey blood evident in her expressive movements.

“It could also be a mere fluke,” she assured Laylah. “We’re all supposed to have a twin out there somewhere, right?”

Laylah nodded, not at all convinced. “I suppose.”

The door flew open, banging against the wall with enough force to make both women turn in surprise. At the same moment, the small gargoyle waddled into the room, his ugly face twisted into an expression of disgust.

“Fog, fog, fog. Who does a gargoyle have to sleep with to get off this soggy island?” he complained, his eyes abruptly widening as he caught sight of Laylah standing near the window. “Ma cherie, you are well?”

“I’m more worried about you,” Laylah said, guilt tugging at her heart as the miniature demon hurried toward her. She’d simply forced the gargoyle to come with her to London. How selfish could she possibly be? “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize the shadow walk would knock you out.”

“Knock me out?” Levet sniffed, his wings twitching in outrage. “Absurd. I was merely resting my eyes. Being a Knight in Shining Armor is a tiresome business.”

“Of course,” Laylah instantly soothed.

Levet tilted back his head, sniffing the air. “Cake. I smell cake.”

Hurrying past the women, the gargoyle set about demolishing the large amount of food left on the tray, ignoring Juliet’s futile attempt to rescue a piece of cake for Laylah.

Grateful for the distraction, Laylah wandered across the room, absently halting at the marble mantel that was lined with priceless Faberge eggs.

She was seemingly at a dead end when it came to the Jinn. At least she was until she could find someone in London who had managed to have an actual conversation with the volatile creature two hundred years ago.

But the vampire …

Juliet had said the similarity between them was remarkable. Surely there must be some family connection? Laylah didn’t believe in coincidences.

There was a light touch on her arm as Juliet joined her, a concerned expression on her pretty face.

“Laylah?” “Yes?”

“Is everything okay?”

Laylah hesitated. She already liked Juliet. In fact, she already considered her a friend. Her only friend. And how pathetic was that?

But the desperation to discover where she’d come from, who her parents were, and why she’d been abandoned was an overwhelming compulsion.

“Actually I have a headache,” she said with a stiff smile, hating herself for the lie. “Do you happen to have any aspirin?”

Juliet couldn’t entirely hide her surprise at the hasty excuse. Demons, even of the mongrel variety, tended to be impervious to the usual human ailments. But, swiftly hiding her confusion, she gave Laylah a comforting pat.

“I have a healing crystal that should do the trick much quicker.”

“That would be fantastic.”

“I’ll be back in a sec.”

Laylah watched Juliet hurry from the room before she jogged into the bathroom where she’d left the oversized sweatshirt. Gods, she felt like a jerk. Juliet had every reason to treat her as a dangerous, unstable beast who should be locked away.

It was how most people reacted once they discovered she was half Jinn.

Instead she’d been kind and welcoming and …

“Um, Laylah?”

She turned her head to discover Levet standing in the door to the bathroom. “Where are you going?”

She shoved up the overlong sleeves before hurrying toward the window. “To see if I can find Mommie Dearest.”

“You’re leaving?”

“I know … I feel terrible.” She threw open the window, climbing onto the stool to sling her leg over the sill. “Please tell Juliet I’m sorry.”

Levet hurried forward, halting only long enough to grab one of the disguise amulets that Juliet had left on a table.

“Mon Dieu. Wait for me.”

Laylah was a little touched. And a lot embarrassed.

As nice as it was to have the demon offer his companionship, she couldn’t afford to have him tagging along, drawing unwanted attention.

“I appreciate your concern, but there’s no need for you to go with me.”

“Do you have pigeons in your belfry?” Levet demanded, climbing onto the sill next to her.

“I beg your pardon?”