Devoured by Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #7)(60)

The female never slowed. “I suspect the Jinn will offer a greater torture than I could ever devise.” Well, wasn’t that the god-awful truth? “Amen,” he muttered.

“Of course if you do intend to stand as her protector I would suggest that you hurry.” “Hurry?”

“She and her tiny companion left the estate just after we began our conversation.”

“Shit.” Tane charged toward the door, yanking his dagger from the leather sheath at his lower back. “I’m going to kill that damned gargoyle.”

Chapter 14

“I’m going to kill that damned vampire,” Laylah muttered, jogging along the dirt path that was leading her away from Chicago.

And Tane.

The rat bastard.

Gods. She had believed him. He’d assured her that she wasn’t in danger and like a gullible idiot she’d accepted his word.

If it hadn’t been for Levet she would still be sitting in Styx’s office, meekly waiting to be handed over to the Oracle.

Half an hour ago the tiny gargoyle had rushed into the room, his wings flapping and his tail twitching. A sure sign he was in a mood.

But even prepared for some new disaster, Laylah was shaken when he’d started babbling about an Oracle and danger and shoving her disguise amulet into her hand as he told her to run.

Laylah hadn’t hesitated. A good thing considering the moment she’d left Styx’s highly protected office she’d been nearly squashed by the thick power pulsing through the air. The Oracle was indeed there and no doubt waiting for her to be turned over.

Putting her trust in Levet, she’d allowed the gargoyle to lead her out a hidden tunnel that had opened into the open fields behind the froufrou neighborhood. And since then she’d set a blistering pace, unable to do anything more than run and hope she could escape.

Levet struggled to keep pace at her side. “Not that I do not fully share the need to exterminate the vampire race with extreme … what is the word?”

“Prejudice?”

“Oui, prejudice, but I thought you were fond of the cold-hearted leech?”

Her gaze skimmed over the passing fields and distant farm homes that slumbered beneath the moonlight. It wasn’t yet midnight but the locals were already safely tucked in their beds.

They were hardworking humans who believed in the theory that the “early bird” got the worm.

“I suppose he’s proved himself useful on occasion,” she muttered.

“Useful?” Levet waggled his thick brow. “Ooh la la, I wish I had such a useful companion.”

Heat stained her cheeks at the vivid image of Tane poised above her as he thrust deep inside her. It had been ooh la la and then some.

“Yeah, it’s all fun and games until they betray you,” she said, not bothering to hide her bitterness.

Levet sent her a startled glance. “You believe he sent for the Oracle?”

“I don’t know if he did it personally, but someone in the vampire lair must have contacted the Commission.” She tried and failed to smother the sharp jab of disappointment. “How else would they know I was here?”

“I doubt a mere amulet would hide you from the Commission, ma petite,” Levet said, seeming oblivious to Laylah’s shock. “Their powers are formidable.”

Laylah stumbled to an abrupt halt, her hand lifting to the small medallion hung about her neck. She’d been waltzing around with the assumption that the disguise amulet was keeping her hidden from all the nasties that prowled through the dark.

Now Levet was revealing she wasn’t nearly as protected as she had assumed.

“Are you saying that I’m out here hanging in the breeze?” she demanded, watching as Levet came to a reluctant halt and turned to meet her worried gaze.

“It would depend upon the magical abilities of the one casting the spell,” he hedged. “Some are more powerful than others.”

She shook her head. She would have to worry about the amulet later. For now she wanted to be pissed off at Tane.

“Even if he didn’t call for the Oracle he should have done something to warn me I was in danger.”

There was a rustle from a nearby tree and then a black shadow dropped into the center of the path. Laylah instinctively jerked backward, her power gathering as she prepared to strike out at the unexpected threat.

Before she could launch her attack, however, the shadows dropped to reveal her personal pain-in-the-ass.

“I clearly remember being told that I was an unnecessary interference in your life and that you were quite capable of taking care of yourself,” Tane drawled, twirling a large dagger in his hands.

“Sacrebleu. I nearly turned you into a newt,” Levet snapped, waving a clenched fist in Tane’s direction. “A neutered newt.”

Muttering a number of inventive names for vampires who rudely dropped into private conversations, Laylah’s powers dissipated as abruptly as they had arrived, leaving her with nothing more dangerous than a petulant scowl.

“Laylah?” he prompted, looking decidedly edible in nothing more than his khaki shorts with a massive sword strapped across his back.

She forced herself to meet the honey gaze, not bothering to ask how he managed to be waiting for her. She might be fast, but she was no match for vampire speed. And with his ability to wrap himself in shadows, she had no warning he was lurking like a damned vulture.