Hunt the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #11)(94)

“But he changed the rules?”

The demon curled his lips in a sneer. “He wanted the magic for himself.”

And speaking of magic . . .

The glow abruptly became a flood of light that could no longer be hidden.

“If he wanted the magic, then why take it directly from the source?” Roke asked, not surprised when the demon jerked toward the prison holding the Chatri.

“Sariel is mine,” the Nebule growled.

“And Sally?” Roke taunted, angling himself to attack the demon, while keeping an eye on Sally as the magic spilled from her skin and surrounded her with a blinding aura.

Beyond her, he could see a more muted glow that had to be coming from her trapped father.

“She’s a witch,” the male muttered. “Just a witch.”

Roke snorted. His mate had never been just a witch.

She’d always been a rare, dangerously enticing female with powers far beyond a mere mortal.

“You’re not any smarter than your friend,” he taunted.

“No.” A murderous fury twisted the Adonis features.

“He’s mine.”

Sally’s mouth went dry as Roke move toward the Nebule demon.

This wasn’t how she envisioned this moment.

She was supposed to have hunted down the prison, rescued her father, and swooped away like Wonder Woman. Only with smaller boobs.

And in the end she would have . . . what?

Proven she was worthy?

To whom?

Herself? Her father? Roke?

Not that it mattered.

She wasn’t Wonder Woman.

She was a terrified witch who couldn’t control her own magic and she’d managed to put Roke smack-dab in the path of a demon who could kill him before they could get out of the portal.

Trying to ignore the fear that raged through her, Sally instead concentrated on the powers that remained locked deep inside her.

“It’s not working,” she muttered from between clenched teeth.

“Patience, child,” her father’s voice echoed through her head.

“We don’t have time for patience,” she snapped. “Roke can’t hold off the Nebule forever.”

She sensed her father’s confusion that Sally would even consider Roke’s welfare.

“Your vampire is capable of taking care of himself.”

“He’s vulnerable to the demon’s powers.”

“This is our only opportunity,” her father chided. “You must free me.”

She grimaced at the man’s self-absorption.

Okay, he’d been imprisoned for a very long time. She got that.

But, so far he hadn’t revealed even a hint of concern for her or her mate’s danger.

She gave a shake of her head, resisting the urge to glance in Roke’s direction. She had to concentrate on freeing her father so they could all get the hell out of there.

“That’s what I’m trying to do,” she said, pressing against the invisible wall as she tried to tap into seething powers that just waited to be released. “The barrier won’t let me through.”

“It was specifically designed to repel my magic, which is why I’ve been unable to escape.”

She frowned at the explanation. “Then why did you think I could help if my magic is the same as yours?”

A faint glow became visible around her father’s prone body and Sally felt an answering heat begin to spread through her veins.

“Because they will cancel one another out,” Sariel assured her.

As if that answered everything.

Her frown deepened. “I don’t understand.”

“Once we synchronize our powers they will work as one.”

She could almost feel the pulse of his magic as it struggled to align with her own. A faint glow beginning to spill from beneath her skin.

“But it will still be the same power,” she said, needing to understand what was expected of her. How else could she use her powers to help?

“Exactly.” There was a patronizing edge to her father’s voice. “While it is forced to keep you from passing through, it will not be able to sense as I slip out.”

Sally briefly hesitated before giving a nod. “I suppose that makes a weird sort of sense.”

The glow around her father brightened, his power battering into her.

“You must trust me.”

A laugh of disbelief was wrenched from her throat. From what she knew of this man he’d deliberately seduced her mother, allowing her to leave with her mind stripped of memories so she could have a child whose only purpose was to return and save him.

It was hardly the reunion story designed to give her a case of the warm fuzzies.

“Trust you?” She gave a shake of her head. “I have no reason to trust you.”

“I am your father.”

“No. You were a sperm donor.”

She sensed his astonishment at her blunt accusation. “You are blood of my blood.”

“Sally, you’ve been recognized,” Roke’s fierce voice sliced into her dark thoughts and she glanced to the side to see the Nebule was staring at her in horror.

Oh hell. How could she have allowed herself to be distracted for even a nanosecond?

Watching Roke move to stand between her and the demon, Sally turned back to her father, desperation clawing through her.