Fear the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #9)(8)

So, she was sent by the Dark Lord.

Not that it made her presence any more welcome.

“You are a housekeeper?”

“Housekeeper?” The female straightened, her hands slapping on her hips in outrage. “Do I look like a freaking housekeeper?”

His jaw tightened at her shrill tone. “Do not test me, female.”

She gave a toss of her head. “I happen to be a very powerful witch. One who is favored above all of the Dark Lord’s disciples . ..”

“A witch.” His power blasted through the air, sending the female slamming into the wall of the attached dining room. He stalked forward, his fangs exposed as he prepared to put an end to the bitch. It had been a witch who had held him powerless as his beloved mate was burned at the stake. “I detest witches.”

Reaching the female, he wrapped his fingers around her throat and began to squeeze. He sure as hell wasn’t going to soil his tongue with her tainted blood.

Intent on choking the life from his companion, Gaius was unprepared when her dark eyes abruptly flashed with a crimson fire.

“Stop,” she commanded, her voice low and filled with a power that made Gaius pause in astonishment.

Staring at her suddenly blank face, Gaius felt alarm flicker down his spine. “What’s wrong with your eyes?”

Sally’s lips parted, but it wasn’t her voice coming out of her mouth. “Gaius.”

He frowned, realizing that the power choking the air had nothing to do with the witch and everything to do with the strange being invading her body.

“Who is here?”

“It is your master, my beloved son.”

Gaius narrowed his gaze, his fingers maintaining their tight grip on Sally’s neck. “Is this a trick?”

“No trick,” the deep voice assured him. “Sally is a conduit.”

“Conduit?”

“Through her I am capable of speaking directly with my servants.”

Was that supposed to be reassuring?

Gaius grimaced. It’d been bad enough to have the Dark Lord whispering in his mind when he was meditating. To have his voice coming out of the witch’s lips was . . . what were the words used today?

Freaking him out?

Yeah, that was it.

Totally freaking him out.

Not that he was about to reveal his weakness. The Dark Lord was a pitiless monster who would destroy him the moment he suspected Gaius might not be of use to him.

“I have no love for magic,” he rasped.

The black lips twisted in a mocking smile. “Then we will make this swift.”

“Very well.” Grudgingly loosening his grip on the witch, he hid his shaking hands in the folds of his black robe. “I am here as you wished.”

“You have acquired the skills that I requested?”

Gaius gave a dip of his head. “I am capable of altering my shape, although only for short periods of time.”

“And the other?”

“I was able to travel through the Veil with the medallion you left hidden on the other side.”

“Good.” The crimson fire flickered in the female’s dark eyes. “The medallion will also allow you to enter the mists where I am trapped.”

“Is that what you desire of me?” Gaius demanded, hoping his bland tone disguised his reluctance.

He was willing to do whatever necessary to bring back his dearest Dara, but the thought of joining the Dark Lord in his hell dimension was enough to give anyone the shudders.

“Not yet. I have a duty for you to perform before joining me.”

He offered a bow. “I am yours to command.”

“Yes, you are,” the dark voice purred.

Gaius wisely ignored the taunt. “What would you have of me?”

“A prophet has been discovered.”

Gaius widened his eyes in shock. He’d heard the rumors, of course, but he’d dismissed them. It had been centuries since the last prophet had walked the earth.

“A true seer?”

“I want her brought to me,” the Dark Lord commanded. “Alive.”

“Of course. Is she a human?”

“A Were.”

Gaius considered the logistics. He didn’t remember his life as a Roman general, but he maintained a rare talent for strategy.

Which, unfortunately, was precisely the reason his clan had been attacked . . .

No. He wrenched his mind from the painful memories. He couldn’t go there. Guilt, no matter how well deserved, was a distraction he couldn’t afford.

“That will make her capture a trifle more difficult, but I am confident I will be capable of bringing her to you with minimal injury.”

“She is being protected by a male Were,” the Dark Lord continued. “I want him brought as well.”

“Why?” Even as the word left his lips, Gaius knew he’d made a mistake.

On cue, an agonizing pain drilled through his head, sending him to his knees.

“It is not your place to question me.”

“No, Master.”

“I will provide you with the necessary companions to assist you in your task.”

Companions? That was the last thing he needed, or wanted.

“That’s not necessary . . .” Once again the pain shot through his brain, briefly blinding him with the sheer anguish. “Gods.”