Devoured by Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #7)(73)

The female looked like a fashion model with the exotic beauty that only a mixture of races could achieve.

Tall and slender, her glossy black hair that hinted at her Asian ancestry was contained in a tight braid that hung down her back. There was also a touch of the East in her faintly slanted eyes, although they were a dark shade of blue that revealed a European heritage. Her skin was as pale as alabaster and her lips a lush shade of pink.

She was drop-dead gorgeous.

Of course, she was dressed in black spandex from head to foot that gave off a whole Mission Impossible vibe and the sawed-off shotgun holstered at her side did warn she might not be just another pretty face.

Twirling the dagger, she approached with a bold nonchalance that Laylah could only envy.

“You must be Jaelyn,” Tane said.

“And you must be Tane, the Charon,” the female drawled.

Laylah frowned. “Are the two of you acquainted?”

“No, but I recognize her skills. What do you want with the Sylvermyst?”

The vampire glanced toward the unconscious fey. “I’ve been tracking him for days.”

“Why?”

She smiled, flashing her fangs. Nope, no fashion model. “Not your biz.”

Tane narrowed his gaze. “Considering he’s currently my prisoner, I’d say it’s very much my biz.”

“Ah, but I’m the one with the solarproof digs.”

Laylah reluctantly stepped into the fray. What choice did she have? Tane was just stubborn enough to ignore the offer of shelter because he was annoyed by the vampire’s attitude.

“Tane, we don’t have much time to debate the issue.”

He slid a smoldering glance in her direction, his expression softening as he took in the weariness she couldn’t hide.

She was discovering that being pulled out of the mists, no matter what the cause, was more draining than actually walking through them.

He returned his attention to Jaelyn.

“Your lair is secure?”

The indigo eyes narrowed. “I’m the wrong vampire to insult, Charon.”

Laylah swallowed a sigh. Did all vampires have anger management issues?

Levet tugged on her pant leg. “I assume that means it’s secure?”

Laylah grimaced. “I’m thinking we want to stay out of the family squabble.”

Levet shuddered with ready revulsion. “Oui, there is nothing more dangerous than families.”

Laylah glanced toward the distant fields where her aunt had brought an evil army to search for her.

“No shit.”

Tane didn’t like putting his trust in a vampire he knew only for her reputation of being overly aggressive with a short fuse.

Especially not when Laylah was with him.

But with the sun less than a half an hour from rising and Marika and her Sylvermysts on their trail, he didn’t have a lot of choice.

Allowing Jaelyn to lead them to a small town settled between a patchwork of farms, Tane wrapped himself in shadows as they moved across the small park in the center of town. Country folk tended to be up early and the last thing he needed was someone to spot him carrying the still unconscious Sylvermyst.

The hunter at last waved them into a crumbling brick building on the corner of the downtown square. Entering, Tane realized that it had once been a local bank, but now the teller windows were shuttered and the tile floor was covered in dust.

They passed through the narrow lobby and moved down a short flight of stairs that led to the bank vault below.

Laylah briefly faltered, perhaps fearing they were all expected to squeeze into the small space for the next twelve hours.

He didn’t blame her.

Two vampires, a Sylvermyst, a gargoyle, and a half-breed Jinn shoved in a tiny, steel-lined vault … yeah, bad idea all the way around.

With a gentle pressure he urged her inside. No vampire had a lair without a few hidden doors.

To prove his point, Jaelyn brushed past them, shoving aside the shelves of safety deposit boxes to reveal a door cut into the steel. She paused, whispering soft words that released the hexes that guarded the entrance and the door sprung open, revealing a wooden staircase that led to the underground tunnels.

In silence they moved into the darkness below. Tane could feel the heavy weight of the approaching dawn, but it was his concern for Laylah that made him urge Jaelyn to a faster pace. The stubborn Jinn would rather collapse than ask for help, but he could sense she was barely able to put one foot in front of the other.

The short tunnel ended at another door that opened into a large room. Tane studied the leather seats scattered across the crimson carpet and the tools of S & M hung on the walls. Not that he gave a crap about the décor. His only interest was in potential dangers and, of course, the nearest exits.

Laylah, however, grimaced, seemingly relieved when Jaelyn led her into a private bedroom with a simple bed and armoire with an attached room she could use to lay the child.

Grudgingly handing the Sylvermyst over to his hostess, Tane shooed Levet away and, waiting for Laylah to make the babe comfortable in the attached room, he at last settled her on the wide bed and tugged the covers over her.

Then, leaning against the headboard, he made himself comfortable and closed his eyes.

He was old enough that he could rest and regain his strength while still remaining on full-alert.

Several hours passed before the sound of approaching footsteps had him off the bed and wrenching open the door.