Fear the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #9)(51)

“They were unnecessary baggage once the Weres had been incapacitated.”

The power pulsing in the air altered, the pressure easing to become a sharp-edged punishment that threatened to flay the skin from his body.

“And you hoped to be granted the full reward for their capture?”

Hell, yes.

Why would he share the rewards with the damned curs and witch if he could claim full benefits? Honor was the first thing he’d sacrificed after the death of his mate.

Unfortunately, the Dark Lord didn’t seem to be as pleased by his surprise appearance as Gaius had hoped. Perhaps it was time for some damage control.

“I only seek to be given what I was promised,” he carefully admitted.

“I have not forgotten our bargain.” The fog stirred, as if reacting to the Dark Lord’s flare of impatience. “Nor the fact that you pledged fealty to me until I deemed you had earned the return of your mate.”

“The prophet . . .”

“Is a mere down payment on the debt owed.”

The razor-sharp words sent a shiver of anxiety down Gaius’s spine. Cautiously he lifted his head, unable to see anything beyond the choking fog.

“Down payment?”

There was a sneering laugh. “Surely you don’t hold the value of your beloved mate so cheap as to think you could earn her return so easily?”

Easily?

Cristo. He’d betrayed his son, his clan, and his own soul to become a servant of darkness.

A spike of loss pierced his heart, giving him the foolish courage to slowly rise to his feet. “I have served you loyally for centuries, my lord.”

“And what have I asked of you?” The force of the angry question sent Gaius reeling backward. “To acquire skills that have only made you more formidable? To be prepared for the day of my return? Hardly onerous tasks.”

Gaius bowed his head, but his growing desperation overcame his claim to sanity. “Perhaps not, but I have missed Dara so badly that each day is a torture,” he confessed, unashamed of the edge of pleading in his voice. “I ache to hold her in my arms again.”

“While I have been trapped in this hell between worlds, stripped of my form and all but my most primitive powers.” The fog suddenly boiled with a searing heat, threatening to toast Gaius into a tiny pile of ash. “Do not speak to me of torture.”

Gaius fell to his knees, his head bowed. “Forgive me, Master.”

“I don’t want your pathetic apologies.”

“Then what do you want?”

“Your obedience.”

“I am your servant, as always.”

“Then prove your loyalty.”

Gaius didn’t dare to so much as twitch as the blast of heat slowly began to dissipate. Inwardly, he fiercely struggled to obliterate the niggle of suspicion that was beginning to worm its way through his mind.

He couldn’t allow himself to question whether or not the Dark Lord intended to fulfill his end of the bargain.

The doubt would destroy him.

“What do you want from me?” he instead asked.

“Return to the servants I have given you.”

Gaius glanced toward the Weres nearly hidden in the fog. “What of the prophet and her companion?”

“She’s now mine.” The voice purred with satisfaction. “Which means her gift is mine. At last.”

Gaius struggled to disguise his impatience. If the Dark Lord was so pleased, why wasn’t he showing a little more gratitude?

“So I just return and await my reward?”

“No.” The Dark Lord crushed his brief hope and Gaius struggled to rise to his feet. “You will lead your allies to protect my disciple, Rafael.”

Yet another disciple?

Merda. Was he expected to babysit every damned demon who claimed allegiance to the Dark Lord?

“I am, of course, anxious to do as you command.”

There was a chuckle that made Gaius’s flesh crawl. “You don’t sound anxious.”

“I’m not sure I have the necessary strength to use the medallion to transport two curs and a witch without an opportunity to rest and feed,” he improvised.

Although he had no memory of his years as a Roman general, he retained all the cunning that had led him to such a position of power.

“There will be no need to shadow-walk,” the voice informed him. “It’s a short distance from Caine’s lair to where Rafael is hidden.”

Before Gaius could contrive another excuse there was a sudden explosion in his head. With a sharp cry, he pressed his hands to his temples, unprepared for the vision—a gaunt spirit with crimson fire burning in his sunken eyes—that was branded into his brain. As the Dark Lord had promised, the creature was hidden in a spiderweb of tunnels only miles away from Caine’s farmhouse. That didn’t, however, make him any happier.

“You want me to protect a dead wizard?” he hissed, shaking his head in an effort to ease the pain of his brain being used as the Dark Lord’s personal GPS.

“You’ll do as I command,” the master snapped. “I have no interest in your prejudice toward magic-users.”

“Of course,” Gaius readily agreed, dropping his hands. “I just wonder why such a powerful spirit can’t protect himself.”

“Not that I need to explain my orders to you, Gaius, but the wizard is currently protecting my child.”