Devoured by Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #7)(97)

“I’m greedy, but I’m not stupid,” the mage rasped. “Right now my only concern is getting off this mountain in one piece.”

Laylah moved to his side, squeezing his arm. “Tane, please.”

He turned to study her pale face, not missing the strain that tightened her expression. She was so exhausted she could barely stand and yet her only concern was for the children that whimpered in Sergei’s rough grip.

Tenderness clutched his heart as he reached to brush a finger down her cheek.

“You’ve been busy, my sweet.”

Her lips twisted as she glanced toward Marika’s corpse that had turned to ash.

“I’m newly mated so I thought I would try a little housecleaning.”

“A fine job, but it’s not fair for you to do all the work. I should at least take out the trash.” He deliberately glanced toward the mage. “First, however, you might explain how you started with one child and now have two.”

“When Sergei removed the spell it revealed there were twins,” she said, clearly as baffled as he was.

“You never sensed the other child?”

“No.”

He shook his head, a chill settling in the pit of his stomach.

“Why am I thinking that’s not a good thing?”

“The alpha and the omega,” a dark, musical voice said from the dark. “The Gemini.”

With a rumble of warning deep in his throat, Tane turned to watch Ariyal stumble into view.

Shit. The Sylvermyst looked like he’d been put through a meat grinder. Compliments of Marika, no doubt. But Tane wasn’t deceived. The fey had already made a fool out of Tane once.

He wasn’t going to get a second chance.

“Wait, Tane,” Laylah pleaded.

“Yeah, wait,” Jaelyn snarled, shoving past them to stand directly in front of her personal nemesis. “I told you he’s mine.”

Ariyal flashed a smile that managed to be goading despite his mangled throat and the deep slashes that marred one side of his face.

“You haven’t earned the right to claim me, vampire,” he taunted. “Although I’ll be happy to give you a taste when we’re alone.”

“You …”

Laylah was moving before the hunter could launch her attack, risking life and limb by grabbing the female vampire’s upper arm.

“Jaelyn, I need answers first.”

Jaelyn whipped her head to stab Laylah with a furious glare, her eyes glowing and her fangs fully extended.

“From him? You can’t trust anything he says.”

Ariyal blew a kiss in her direction. “You know me so well, pet.”

“Don’t call me that,” she snapped.

Tane grit his teeth. The danger was so thick in the air he was chocking on it.

And not just between Ariyal and Jaelyn. Sergei’s panicked fear bled through the tunnel, warning he was on the edge of doing something truly stupid.

With a gentle care, Tane tugged his mate away from Jaelyn, not wanting her in the firing line. In the same motion he managed to tuck her out of sight of the mage.

His little Jinn might be capable of kicking ass, but it would always be his duty to protect her.

“Laylah, what is it?”

She chewed her bottom lip, her brows furrowed. “Cassie called Maluhia the alpha and the omega.” She turned her head back to Ariyal. “What does that mean?”

Tane pointed his stolen sword toward the fey in unspoken warning.

“The truth Sylvermyst.”

Ariyal deliberately paused, as if to ensure Tane understood he was answering because he wanted to and not because he was intimidated.

“It’s a prophecy,” he at last admitted.

“Of course it is,” Tane muttered.

Laylah pressed a hand to her throat. “What does it say?”

The Sylvermyst closed his eyes as he quoted the prophecy he’d obviously memorized:

“Flesh of flesh, blood of blood, bound in darkness. The alpha and omega shall be torn asunder and through the mist reunited. Pathways that have been hidden will be found and the veil parted to the faithful. The Gemini will rise and chaos shall rule for all eternity.”

Tane snorted. Shit. He hated the mumbo-jumbo prophets spouted.

“The usual babble,” he said in disgust. “Why can’t they just say what the hell’s going to happen?”

Ariyal narrowed his gaze. “Chaos ruling for all eternity seems pretty straightforward.”

“Flesh of flesh?” Tane pointed out. “It’s gibberish.”

The fey nodded toward the mage who remained pressed against the far side of the tunnel.

“The Dark Lord created the brats out of his flesh.”

Laylah cursed. “Stop saying that.”

The bronzed gaze swung back to regard Laylah with a bleak gaze.

“Not saying it doesn’t make it any less true.” “The children are innocent,” Laylah insisted. “They’re vessels. With them the Dark Lord will be able to return.”

“No.” Laylah shook her head. “You don’t know that.” “I’m not willing to risk it.” The unnerving bronze gaze shifted to Tane. “Are you, vampire?”

Chapter 23

Laylah glared at the fey, wishing she had enough strength left to break his perfect nose.