Devoured by Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #7)(79)

Her expression hardened. “That’s still under investigation.”

Tane’s brows snapped together. Was she evading his question?

“Did you let him out of the cell?”

She growled, her eyes glowing with fury. “Stupid questions piss me off.”

Moving a speed only an ancient vampire could follow, Tane had a dagger pressed beneath her chin, his expression grim.

“And petulant foundlings who have to constantly prove how tough they are piss me off.”

Jaelyn trembled, battling not to be stupid enough to provoke a vampire bigger, badder, and older than herself.

“I’m not a foundling,” she gritted.

Tane narrowed his eyes. “You’re barely out of the nursery and if you think …”

“Yeah, yeah,” Laylah abruptly interrupted, moving to stand at his side. “You’re both super scary.” She turned her attention to Jaelyn. “How did he escape?”

Something that might have been embarrassment rippled over the young vampire’s face before she was stepping away from Tane’s dagger and gathering her composure.

“The surveillance camera caught him just …” She grimaced. “Disappearing.” Laylah frowned. “A portal?”

“It shouldn’t be possible,” Jaelyn muttered. “The cell was lined with lead.”

Tane shrugged. “We don’t know what magic the Sylvermyst possess. Especially Ariyal.”

Jaelyn’s eyes flashed with blue fire. “He won’t get far.”

Tane lifted his brows. It was a Hunter’s cardinal rule to remain impervious to their prey. Any emotion, whether it was anger or hatred or attraction, would only cloud their considerable skills.

The Sylvermyst had clearly gotten under her skin.

“It doesn’t matter, the damage has been done,” he said.

Laylah sent him a startled glance. “What damage?”

“He knows where we are.”

She shivered. “Which means he’s going to tell my aunt.”

Tane wasn’t nearly so certain, but now wasn’t the time to discuss his suspicions of the Sylvermyst. Not when it was nothing more than a gut feeling.

“That’s certainly a risk,” he said.

Jaelyn stepped back, her shotgun resting against her shoulder.

“I’ll do my best to keep them off your trail.”

Tane dipped his head. “We’re in your debt.”

“Don’t worry, I have every intention of collecting.”

With a taunting smile, Jaelyn turned on her heel and jogged down the hall, swiftly disappearing from view.

Tane shook his head. How did so much bitch get into such a small package?

At his side, Laylah heaved a sigh. “Now that is a woman who can take care of herself.”

Tane glanced at her in shock. “You can’t be envious.”

“I am,” she said, her lips twisted in a wistful smile. “I’ve depended on others to protect me my entire life.”

He framed her face in his hands. “There are times when we all depend on others. That’s why there are clans and families and packs.” His thumb brushed the sensuous curve of her lower lip. “And mates.”

“But…”

“Laylah, you not only survived despite being hunted from the day you were born, but you’ve protected the world from a potential Armageddon.” He studied her beautiful face, wondering how she couldn’t realize just how astonishing she truly was. “Not bad.”

Her lips twitched into a rueful smile. “I suppose when you put it that way.”

He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Of course, I wouldn’t mind seeing you in that spandex.”

“Hmmm.” She nipped his throat, sending jolts of white-hot desire directly to his cock. “Only if you’re very, very good.”

“I prefer to be very, very bad,” he growled, barely resisting the urge to topple her back onto the bed. Oh, for another hour. Or ten. “Unfortunately we don’t have time. We have to get out of here.”

“My thoughts exactly,” an aggravatingly familiar voice said from behind. “Where are we going?”

He turned, regarding the tiny gargoyle with a steady gaze. “Levet, we need a distraction.”

Laylah grabbed his arm. “Why do we need a distraction?”

“If Ariyal is capable of forming portals then it won’t take him long to collect your aunt and return.”

She shook her head. “There’s something you’re not telling me.”

Tane sighed. He’d forgotten the side effects of the mating. He’d never be able to lie to Laylah again. Not always a good thing.

“I have a feeling that Ariyal was willing to use your aunt to track the child,” he confessed, “but now that he’s found you, he plans to take matters into his own hands.”

“What matters?”

“I don’t intend to find out.” He glanced toward the gargoyle. “But I need your help.”

Levet folded his arms over his narrow chest. “Ah, so I am to remain behind and become a martyr?”

“That’s what heroes do.”

The gargoyle hesitated, no doubt debating between his desire to remain with Laylah and his oddly quixotic nature.