Devoured by Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #7)(90)

“A fey does not put himself in the hands of Morgana le Fay just to avoid banishment.” An ancient, unimaginable pain twisted his features. “Trust me.”

Against her will, Laylah found herself wondering if he could be speaking the truth.

Not that she trusted him. A man like Ariyal would always have his own agenda.

But, it wouldn’t hurt to hear him out.

After all, the longer she could keep him occupied, the better chance that Tane would come riding to the rescue.

And she didn’t doubt for a minute that her mate was already on the hunt.

“Fine, I’ll play,” she said. “If you don’t plan to use Maluhia to return the Dark Lord, then what do you intend to do with him.”

He pulled a large, indecently sharp sword from the scabbard strapped to his back.

“I intend to kill him.”

Tane flowed with silent speed through the tunnels, only distantly aware of the tiny gargoyle struggling to keep pace.

His mating bond with Laylah assured him that she was alive and somewhere in the lower chambers of the mountain, but his vampire senses warned him that the tremors shaking the ground beneath his feet were warming up for something truly catastrophic. Within the next few hours this whole damned mountain was coming down.

Time to pack up and move on.

The sooner the better.

If only he could convince his stubborn mate.

Rounding a sharp curve in the tunnel, Tane and Levet came to a matching halt, both glancing toward the entrance to a nearby opening in the stone wall.

“Why do I smell female vampire?” Levet demanded, a sly smile curving his lips. “And does Laylah know you are keeping a secret stash?”

Tane tested the air, a dagger clenched in his hand. “It isn’t Marika.”

“No.” Levet frowned. “But it is familiar.”

It was familiar. Tane’s brows snapped together as he realized why.

“Jaelyn.”

“Oui.” The gargoyle was equally confused. “I thought she was hunting the Sylvermyst?”

Tane carefully inched forward, peering inside the narrow opening.

“She was.”

“Then what …” Levet squeezed beside Tane to get a glimpse of the female vampire who was bound and gagged in the center of the hard stone floor. “Oh. Kinky, but I like it.”

Tane snorted as Jaelyn glared at the gargoyle with a promise of pain to come.

“Do you have a death wish, gargoyle?” he demanded.

“Non.” Indifferent to the danger, the tiny demon gave a flap of his wings. “But I do have several birthday wishes if you would like to hear them. My party is to be held next month.”

“I can’t think of anything I want less.” “Fine.” Levet gave a wounded sniff. “See if you get an invitation.”

Tane shook his head, turning his attention to the female vampire.

He could make out the cuts and bruises that were visibly healing, but he couldn’t detect any serious wounds. Which meant there was no way she should be held captive by the simple leather straps.

Something else was going on.

“Stay here and keep your mouth shut,” he muttered, stepping through the opening and pressing himself against the jagged wall.

“Hey. I saved your worthless …”

“Do you want to walk into a trap?” Tane hissed.

Levet looked sulky. “Not particularly.”

“Then let me concentrate.”

“Oui, concentrate to your heart’s content.”

Remaining against the wall, Tane caught and held the other vampire’s gaze.

“Jaelyn, do you know what happened to you?” He waited for her nod. “Was it the Sylvermyst?” Her eyes flared with fury. Okay, he was going to take that as a yes. “Bastard,” he muttered, his lips twisting as she gave a fervent nod of agreement. He paused, his gaze skimming around the darkness. “Can I come to you?” He wasn’t surprised when she shook her head. “Is there a spell?” She deliberately tilted back her head, gazing upward. He leaned forward to follow her gaze, his gut twisting at the sight of the black shadow hovering near the ceiling. “Shit. Levet.”

“Oh, now you need me … eek.”

The demon screeched as Tane reached to grab him by the horn and dragged him into the cave.

“Can you control spooks?”

Levet struggled against Tane’s ruthless grip, his wary glance heading upward.

“Only evil dabbles with the dead. Sacrebleu” He shuddered. “Spirits, zombies, vampires. They should stay in their graves where they belong.”

Tane ignored the insult, swinging the gargoyle toward the strange symbols surrounded by a circle that had been burnt into the rock floor.

“What’s that?”

Levet continued to thrash around, his tail twitching in agitation.

“It must be where the Sylvermyst cast the spell that is holding the spirit.”

“What happens if you disturb the symbols?”

“It’s possible that it will release the ghost. Not that pleasant of a thought,” Levet said, his tone sour. “Or it might return it to the Underworld.”

Tane silently debated. He hated specters. How did you kill something that was already technically dead?

Hell, you couldn’t even injure them.