Devoured by Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #7)(82)

Marika was no happier when Sergei’s spell finally picked up Laylah’s trail only to discover it led her straight back to the lair of the Anasso.

The one place certain Marika couldn’t follow.

Aggravating little bitch.

But whatever her annoyance, she was too wise to reveal any lack of confidence in her ultimate glory in front of the Sylvermyst that she’d commanded to surround and keep watch on the Chicago estate.

It was bad enough that their leader, Ariyal, had disappeared during their battle with the wood sprites. The ridiculous fey had been convinced that it was a bad omen. She wasn’t going to have Sergei’s petulant behavior further undermine their belief in her leadership.

A pity she still had need of the idiot.

She would take great pleasure in offering him as a public sacrifice.

“Shut up, you moron,” she hissed, standing near the edge of the tree line, trusting that Sergei’s cloak of concealment would keep them hidden from the Anasso’s Ravens. “You have done nothing but complain since leaving London.”

His lips thinned with childish resentment. “I possess a fragile constitution.”

“You are an embarrassment to mages everywhere,” Marika mocked. “Even the fey consider you a spineless fool.”

“Ah yes, your precious Sylvermyst.” He glanced toward the slender warriors who were nearly impossible to see among the dark shadows of the trees. “Tell me, Marika, just where is Ariyal?”

Her expression revealed none of her fury at Ariyal’s vanishing act.

Or the suspicion he wasn’t as dedicated to the cause as he pretended to be.

“He was obviously captured or killed.”

“Or he switched sides.”

Her tongue toyed with the tip of her fang. A reminder that for all of Sergei’s magical abilities, she could kill him with one strike.

“Jealous, Sergei?”

“Jealous of a fey who spent endless centuries playing whore to Morgana le Fey?” His disdainful tone didn’t entirely hide his edge of envy. Ariyal hadn’t bothered to conceal his amusement at the mage’s superior attitude. The fey was a natural leader of his people who had no need of magical tricks to gain respect. “Not hardly.”

Marika laughed with cruel enjoyment. “He’s more of a man than you’ll ever be.”

“He’s a demon whose loyalty is for sale to the highest bidder,” the mage snapped. “Be careful, my dear. He might be using your own army to betray you.”

The fact that the fear had crossed her mind more than once infuriated Marika.

She regarded him with a cold glare. “The only traitor in my employ is you, mage.”

Sergei was an arrogant ass, but he wasn’t suicidal. Dropping the subject he instead glanced toward the house that was guarded by a dozen vampires.

“How long do you intend to wait here?”

“As long as Laylah and the babe remain.”

“They could stay in the Anasso’s lair for the rest of eternity.”

“Then we wait.”

Biting back his angry words, Sergei turned to pace through the thick undergrowth, his hands clenched at his side.

Marika left him to his pouting, returning her attention to the Anasso’s lair. If Laylah had any sense she would remain in the protection of the King of Vampires, but she’d already proven she was willing to take ridiculous risks when it came to protecting the child.

Eventually she would find some need to leave.

And when she did, Marika would be prepared.

She wouldn’t escape again.

It was nearing midnight when Sergei abruptly fell to his knees, shaking his head as if trying to clear it. “Bloody hell,” he gritted.

Marika whirled to study him with displeasure. “What is it now?”

“Someone just entered the cave in Siberia.” “What cave?”

Slowly he lifted his head. “The one where I found the child.”

Marika watched the mage climb to his feet, unease stirring in her heart.

“How do you know?”

“I set alarms in case there was any unwanted interest.”

“It could be an animal or an overly curious human.”

He shook his head. “No, the spell was cast to ignore the mundane intruders, even if they could penetrate the natural barriers.”

“So it’s a demon?”

She paced across the uneven ground, the sense of foreboding knotting her stomach.

There was no reason for a demon to be roaming in such a frozen, desolate cave. Even those who preferred the cold avoided the area that was riddled with active volcanoes and a barren lack of prey.

“Or a magic user,” Sergei added.

She halted, a dark suspicion spreading through her like poison.

“Laylah,” she breathed.

Sergei frowned. “I have no way of knowing for sure.” Marika had no doubts.

The worthless bit of baggage was just like her mother.

Stubborn, rebellious, and refusing to concede gracefully to her inevitable fate.

Thankfully, Marika would soon have the mongrel in her hands. Then she would teach the child how to obey her betters. No matter how much pain it took.

A smile of anticipation curled her lips.

She liked teaching people to obey her.

“It’s her,” she said with absolute confidence.