Devoured by Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #7)(84)

Much like him. She didn’t have to say the words out loud.

“And you’re an expert at finding beauty in the most unlikely places, are you not, my sweet?”

She flashed a smug smile. “I know a good thing when I see it.”

“Only after I held you captive and forced you to accept that I was destined to be yours.”

Her magnificent eyes sparkled with a teasing glow. “How do you know I wasn’t playing hard to get?”

A poignant warmth tugged at his heart. When he’d first encountered Laylah she’d been filled with a bitter resentment and a fear that was grinding her into a mere shell of herself.

A portion of the fear remained, of course. It wouldn’t go away until the child was safe.

But the bitterness had faded, replaced with a contentment that made Tane preen with a smug pleasure.

He was willing to take full credit for her budding happiness.

“Because what I admire most about you is your refusal to be anything or anyone but who you are. Your honesty is…” He shuddered at the endless years of lies and deceptions that had marked his relationship with Sung Li. “A blessing.”

“Really?” Her expression was wicked. “I have other blessings to offer.”

He growled low in his throat. “Haven’t you learned that it’s dangerous to tease a vampire?”

“But it’s so much fun.”

He captured her lips in a fierce, painfully brief kiss before pulling back and glancing toward the narrow opening of the cave.

Beyond the entrance, he could sense several tunnels that zigzagged down into the depths of the mountain.

“We have to do this?”

“Yes.”

“There’s nothing for miles not even a frost fairy.” With a grimace she headed toward the cave, slipping through the entrance. “This is where I’m supposed to be.”

Staying close to her side, Tane pulled his sword free, prepared for the inevitable attack. “I don’t like it.”

“I can’t say I’m crazy to be back here either, but I have to find the truth of Maluhia.” “And then what?”

She headed straight for the nearest tunnel, leading him down the roughly carved steps.

“If it’s safe I intend to find someone to release him from the stasis spell.”

Tane stumbled to a halt as they entered another small cavern. This one just as bleak and frigidly unwelcoming as the one above.

“Hell,” he muttered.

Laylah turned to regard him with concern. “What’s wrong?”

“I just realized I’m going to be a …” His tongue faltered over the unfamiliar word. “Dad.” He scowled as her laughter broke the ominous atmosphere that shrouded the long forgotten caves. “What’s so funny?”

“I’m trying to imagine you coaching the T-ball team.”

He smiled, tugging open Laylah’s cloak to reveal the child she held in her arms.

Vampires could procreate in their own way. Some even felt a parent/child bond with the “offspring” they created, but Tane had never considered creating a foundling.

Hell, he hadn’t wanted a mate.

He’d already royally screwed up one relationship; he didn’t feel the need for a repeat performance.

Until Laylah.

And now Maluhia.

They were a family.

His family.

And he would die to protect them.

“Perhaps not T-ball,” he grudgingly admitted. What was T-ball? “But, I can teach him to hide his presence when he’s stalking his prey and how to kill with his bare hands and …”

“Enough,” she laughingly protested, shaking her head.

“What?”

She glanced down at the child. “We might have to seek assistance in our parenting skills.”

He moved to gently press his lips to her forehead. “So long as we love and protect the child, what else matters?”

Laylah lifted her head, her eyes shimmering with the warm affection that he could feel flowing between them.

“Nothing at all,” she said softly. Then, visibly squaring her shoulders, she headed toward the small antechamber at the back of the cavern. “Let’s do this.”

She’d taken only a few steps when she came to an abrupt halt. “What happened?”

She shivered. “I felt …”

“What?”

“I think we tripped a spell.”

“Damn.” Holding his sword ready, Tane turned in a slow circle, scanning the cavern. When nothing happened he muttered a curse. He’d rather battle a rabid Were during a full moon than walk into a magical trap. How do you kill something you can’t see? “Why isn’t something happening?”

“It doesn’t necessarily have to be an offensive spell.” She grimaced. “It could be an alarm.” “Sergei,” he growled.

“Probably,” she admitted. “He always was a paranoid ass.”

“If he knows we’re here then it won’t be long before he makes an unwanted appearance with your aunt.” He glanced in her direction. “We must leave.”

“He can’t know who or what tripped his spell. Besides it will take them hours, if not days, to travel here.”

“Not with the Sylvermyst.”