Hunt the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #11)(95)

“Tell me what to do,” she hissed.

Sariel’s frustration sizzled through the air. “I cannot synchronize our magic if you will not allow me in.”

“I’m trying.”

“There is a wall you keep around you.”

Sally clenched her hands. Of course she had a wall. She’d been trying to protect herself for as long as she could remember.

How else did she survive a childhood of neglect followed by years of being hunted like an animal?

Trust was the enemy.

Now she bit her bottom lip until the blood flowed as she struggled against her most deeply ingrained instincts. She’d kept herself cut off for so long it was no simple matter to simply lay herself open.

There were no tangible walls. Nothing she could physically get ahold of and tear down. Instead she had to mentally will herself to stop fighting against the press of her father’s magic.

Something that she discovered was much easier said than done.

Sweat dripped down her spine, her heart racing with fear. Blessed goddess, she felt like she was being smothered.

This was never going to work, she realized with a stab of dread. She couldn’t do it.

It was at last the sound of Roke’s grunt of pain as he was attacked by the Nebule that shook her out of her swelling panic.

She could do it, because she had to do it.

If not for her father, then for Roke.

The same surge of adrenaline that had released her powers against Brandel pumped through her blood, allowing the magic to expand through her.

“That’s all I can do,” she managed from between clenched teeth.

Her father’s magic began to weave through her, intruding in a way that made her stiffen before he gave a startled hiss.

“You’ve actually mated with the vampire?” he demanded. “Unacceptable.”

Her teeth were gritted against the need to shove out the unfamiliar invasion.

“Is it really important right now?”

“His claim on you is interfering,” Sariel complained, his tone almost . . . peevish. “Can you convince him to release you?”

She grimaced.

Not only was it an impossible request, but she was fairly certain in Roke’s current mood he’d kill her father before he’d release his claim on her.

“No.”

The magic continued to weave with hers, a slow and surprisingly painful process.

“You are making this more difficult than it needs be,” her father accused.

There was another groan from Roke and Sally banged her hand against the invisible barrier.

“I’m going to make it impossible if you don’t hurry up,” she warned.

The glow around her father spread outward, his hair floating as if on a breeze she couldn’t feel.

“You lived too long as a mortal.” The disgust in Sariel’s tone assured Sally that wasn’t a compliment. “It is why I discouraged our people to mate with lesser beings.”

Anger exploded through her.

Was he kidding? She’d risked Roke’s life, not to mention her own, to try to rescue him. A man who was nothing more than a stranger. And all he could do was complain?

Jackass.

“And yet you were quick enough to mate with a mere human when it suited your purpose,” she rasped.

“My other children are not nearly so quarrelsome,” Sariel complained. “They understand that I am to be given the proper respect.”

All thoughts halted as her world tilted to an unexpected angle.

His words shouldn’t have been unexpected.

The fey had the same low birthrate of most demons, but when you had an eternity of sex, there were bound to be a few children.

But after a lifetime alone, the casual mention that she had brothers and sisters had thrown her seriously off-balance.

“I have siblings?” she asked, hating the yearning she couldn’t keep from her voice.

“Of course.”

There was a grunt as Roke landed only inches from her feet, his face covered with blood and his skin ashen.

“Sally, I’m running out of tricks,” he growled, flowing back to his feet and launching himself back at the Nebule who was desperately trying to get his hands on her.

Dammit, dammit, dammit.

She was going to get Roke killed if she didn’t get Sariel out of his prison.

“Father, finish this,” she hissed.

“Press your hands against the barrier,” he commanded, the glow around him becoming a blinding light as he slowly began to levitate off the ground.

Sally pushed her palms flat against the invisible wall, silently urging Sariel to hurry.

It was taking too long. Too long.

The vibrations that seemed to be the Nebule’s most lethal weapon was filling the portal, sending Roke to his knees and making Sally cry out as the destructive jolts of pain slammed into her.

Feeling blood trickle down her cheeks, she grimly kept her hands pressed to the barrier, averting her face against the brilliant light that threatened to sear her eyeballs.

The scent of fermenting wine filled the air as the barrier trembled beneath her hands. Then, with a blast that sent her tumbling backward, the wall shattered and the light blasted through the tunnel.

“At last,” her father said aloud, his voice triumphant as he allowed the light to fade and he revealed his physical form.