Devoured by Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #7)(41)

Savoring Laylah’s rasping attempts to regain her breath, he waited for her tiny shudders to ease before rolling to the side, gathering her tightly in his arms.

He wasn’t cuddling.

Unmated vampires didn’t do cuddling.

They had sex. Period. End of story.

But, Laylah was not like his usual lovers and he wouldn’t put it past her to try and bolt despite the staggering pleasure they’d just shared. He didn’t have the time or energy to chase her down.

Satisfied with the dubious explanation, Tane pressed her head into the curve of his shoulder, once again ruing the amulet that disguised her sweet scent.

“Now, tell me why you want to speak with Victor,” he commanded.

She stiffened, but astonishingly she didn’t try to struggle out of his possessive grip.

Not that he was stupid enough to believe she’d conceded defeat. No. This was merely a temporary reprieve. One that would last only as long as she believed she needed him.

Tilting back her head, she met his searching gaze.

“My …” She halted, considering her words. “A woman claiming to be my mother is being held captive. She must be found and released.”

“I know.” He cupped her cheek in his hand. “Victor has promised to send Uriel in search of the female.”

He didn’t add that it would be several days before Victor could negotiate with the local coven to cast a spell to find where the female was hidden.

Her brows snapped together. “Without even asking if I might want to join in the hunt? Typical.” Her expression made Tane glad there wasn’t a sharpened stake handy. “She’s my mother.”

He met her accusing glare without flinching, refusing to apologize. She could have her pride, but he’d learned a brutal lesson in allowing emotions to overcome common sense. Until Laylah had the opportunity to calm down and fully investigate what she’d discovered in the cellar of the London town house she wasn’t going to be making the decisions.

“No, you had it right the first time,” he said. “She’s a strange female who claims to be your mother.”

Her lips thinned. “Do you have a point?”

“There’s a good chance the woman is nothing more than clever bait.”

“Bait for what?”

“You.”

She shook her head. “That’s impossible.”

“Why? Boris and Natasha made it clear they were willing to go to any lengths to get their grubby hands on the child.” He smiled at the surprise etched on her face at his reference to Bullwinkle. No doubt she assumed he spent his leisure hours sharpening swords and eating children for breakfast. She wouldn’t be alone. “How better than to blackmail you into simply handing the babe over in exchange for your long lost mother?”

“Maybe, but unless they’re prophets, they couldn’t have known I would be coming to the town house,” she countered. “Let alone hiding in their cellar so they could spring the trap.”

“The gargoyle admitted that the mage sensed your presence.”

“Only after we were there. They didn’t know we were coming,” she stubbornly insisted, a part of her obviously wanting to believe in the vision of her mother. “There was no way they could have set up such an elaborate hoax.”

His thumb brushed her cheek. Eventually they would have to discuss the child she was protecting. And of course, the Oracles who were still a threat (and who might very well castrate him when they discovered he’d kept a Jinn mongrel hidden), but one problem at a time.

For now he had to make certain she didn’t slip away on some wild goose chase for the promise of a mother, who more than likely was a trap waiting to happen.

“A powerful mage can create any number of illusions with a wave of his hand. It would be easy to fool you.”

Her hand landed against his chest with enough force to have broken a rib if he weren’t a vampire.

“So now I’m stupid as well as impulsive?”

He scrambled for damage control.

Dammit. For centuries he’d chosen women who wanted one thing from him. And it didn’t include charm.

He shifted his hand to cup her chin, holding her gaze as he leaned down to brush his lips over her mouth.

“You haven’t learned not to care,” he husked. “A dangerous weakness that others will eagerly exploit.”

She shivered, her lips melting in ready response, but she firmly pushed against his chest, her eyes dark with a concern he sensed she didn’t want to feel.

“How does Uriel intend to discover if she’s real or not?”

Happy to offer a distraction from her troubles, Tane stroked his lips down the line of her jaw.

“Juliet cast some sort of spell over the scrying bowl that allowed Uriel to catch the female’s scent. Once he’s close enough, he’ll find her.”

The hand that pressed against his chest softened, exploring the rigid line of his muscles as his tongue discovered the sensitive spot at the base of her throat.

“And what of Marika and the mage?” she managed to husk.

“Victor has his finest warriors searching for them, but I doubt they’ll find more than smoke and mirrors. The damned mage will be able to cover his escape with magic.” He lifted his head, studying her pale face with a brooding gaze. “They’ll be looking for you.”