Devoured by Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #7)(72)

“He’s not alone,” Cassie said, thankfully diverting Laylah from the need of explaining her complicated relationship with Tane.

“That damned gargoyle,” Caine muttered, his head tilted back as he sniffed the air. “And … what?”

“Darkness,” Cassie breathed.

Caine swore. “We’re out of here.”

Cassie lifted a restraining hand as Caine reached to toss her over his shoulder.

“No, Caine. I must speak with the vampire.”

Laylah might have admired the tiny woman’s ability to tame the once rebellious cur if she hadn’t been consumed with the sight of the infuriated vampire who was barreling toward her with a strange fey tossed over his shoulder and a gargoyle on his heels.

It wasn’t a sight you ran across every day.

“Damn you, Laylah, you’re supposed to be …”

“Don’t start with me, He-man,” she warned, wisely shifting backward as Tane tossed aside the unconscious fey and glared toward Caine. Two alphas in the same space was never, ever a good thing. “It wasn’t my choice to be here.”

Tane moved to stand directly between Laylah and Caine, his frigid power lashing through the air.

“I thought I caught the stench of dog.”

Caine’s eyes glowed with the inner light of a pureblood. “You want a piece of me, bloodsucker?”

Laylah grabbed Tane’s arm. “No, Tane. We don’t have time for a pissing contest.”

With a blithe disregard for life and limb, Levet waddled between the two predators, studying Caine with a puzzled expression.

“Hey, I know you.” He rubbed his stub of a nose. “Mon Dieu, what have you done to yourself?”

Tane scowled. “What’s going on?”

Laylah and Cassie shared a glance of mutual female exasperation.

“Long story short, this is Caine who had a run-in with a demon lord who transformed him into a pureblood,” Laylah said.

Tane stiffened. “The cur who held you captive?”

“She was never my prisoner,” Caine snapped, as if offended by the accusation.

“Please, we have little time.” Cassie stepped forward, belatedly capturing Tane’s attention.

“God … damn,” he muttered in shock.

Levet was equally astonished. “The last of Darcy’s sisters.”

Tane nodded. “Styx must be told.”

“No f**king way …”

“Caine.” Cassie hastily halted Caine with a hand to his chest. She glanced toward Laylah, as if hoping for a little “women versus men” cooperation. “I am only here to deliver a warning.”

Tane predictably ignored what he didn’t want to hear. “I’ll take you to your sister and you can deliver all the warnings you want.”

Caine’s scent was musky as his wolf prowled to the surface.

“Touch her and die, vampire.”

“Tane, you must listen to her,” Laylah commanded. “She’s a prophet.”

Dead silence greeted her little announcement.

Even Levet was speechless.

Nothing less than a miracle.

At last, Tane shook his head. “Impossible.”

“Cassie, you’re wasting your time,” Caine snapped, firmly scooping her into his arms and heading for the Jeep. “A vampire’s ego is too bloated to listen to advice, no matter who’s offering it.”

Cassie didn’t struggle, but she did pop her head over Caine’s shoulder.

“Vampire, you must not kill your prisoner.”

Tane glanced toward the forgotten fey lying on the ground. “Why not?”

“You will have need of him.”

“I will have need of him? Wait.” Tane clenched his hands as Caine settled Cassie in the passenger seat and then leaped behind the wheel, taking off in a cloud of dust. “This mystical future shit is pissing me off, “ he muttered.

Laylah parted her lips to demand an explanation of why Tane was carrying around an unconscious Sylvermyst, when all three of them froze in alarm.

The scent of herbs carried on the breeze, and something much worse.

A deranged vampire.

“Umm …” Levet cleared his throat. “Can you be pissed off somewhere far away from here?”

Tane glanced toward the horizon. “Damn. It’s too close to dawn to make it to my lair.”

“Hand over the Sylvermyst and I will consider offering you shelter.”

The female voice came without warning, nearly making Laylah jump out of her shoes. Tane, on the other hand, had his dagger flying toward the gas station and the sword pulled from the scabbard he’d strapped to his back.

With the calm arrogance only a vampire could claim, the woman snatched the dagger from midair and stepped out of the decrepit building.

“Hunter,” Tane rasped in a low tone.

“Hunter?” Laylah questioned, not sure whether she should be relieved or screaming in horror.

“They’re vampires who are born with the rare ability to wrap themselves in such deep shadows that no one can detect their presence,” he explained. “Traditionally they hire themselves out to hunt down demons who don’t want to be found. Very exclusive and very expensive.”

Laylah wondered if Tane was mistaken.