My Lord Immortality (Immortal Rogues #3)(28)

Holding himself steady, he watched the fog thicken and swirl beneath the door, shimmering in the darkness with an evil glow of its own.

"At last..." he began to complain, only to have his words roughly choked off as the fog reached out to wrap about his neck. For long, agonizing moments he was held in its ruthless grip, his feet actually leaving the dusty floor before at last he was tossed disdainfully against a wall.

"Never," the fog rasped, "never summon me in such a manner again."

With painful movements, Drake forced himself back to his feet, his fury now mixed with fear.

How he longed to put an end to this vampire, he seethed with black hatred. A slow, torturous end.

"I had to speak with you," he said in a tone roughened by his aching throat.

The fog stirred the dust restlessly upon the floor. "You risked exposing my presence to Nefri, you dolt. Not to mention alerting the Great Council that I have discovered a means of traveling through the Veil undetected."

Drake clenched his hands at his side. Dolt? No one called him a dolt.

"It would not have been necessary had you not lied to me."

The words seemed to ring in the air for a nerve-wracking moment before the fog shifted in a foreboding manner.

"Lied? You have become overly bold, Drake. Take care I am not forced to teach you a rather unpleasant lesson in humility."

In spite of himself, Drake felt himself pressing closer to the moldy wall.

"Did you attempt to destroy Sebastian?"

"You must be confused. I do not answer to you."

"I believe I have earned the right to some explanation. You requested that I leave the Veil to retrieve the Medallion. You also specifically warned me that it would be my duty to ensure that Sebastian did not pose a problem. Have you altered your plans?"

The low laugh sent a chill down Drake's spine. "Do you mean, have I chosen to retrieve the Medallion without your incompetent assistance?"

Drake silently added the insult to the list of others, reassuring himself that his sweet revenge would come the moment he held the Medallion.

As long as he gained command of the artifact. At the moment that was all that was important.

"Yes."

"It is a temptation, I must admit," the vampire drawled. "I chose what I thought to be three ruthless hunters and was rewarded with cowardly fools."

"I am no coward," Drake snapped.

"Ah, then you have retrieved the amulet?"

"Not as yet, but I will have it in my hands within a few days."

The vampire gave a disgusted grunt. "The same promise made by both Amadeus and Tristan before they were destroyed."

Drake shrugged off the words. He did not desire to be compared with such fools.

"I will not fail."

"That remains to be seen."

He hardened his features in grim determination, "You have not answered my question. Do you seek to retrieve the Medallion for yourself?"

The fog shifted, but even as Drake stiffened in fear, it deliberately settled in the center of the room.

"If that was my desire, then the Medallion would be mine."

Drake cautiously released the breath he had unconsciously sucked in. "Then why did you attack Sebastian?"

"You try your luck, Drake. My actions are not your concern."

"I have put myself at considerable risk for you."

"With the promise of great power as a reward," the fog hissed in return.

Drake tilted his chin, although he was careful to keep himself firmly against the wall.

"Only if you do not decide to withhold the rewards."

That horrid, rasping laugh once again echoed through the cottage, sending the few remaining rats scurrying into the night.

"Do not fear, Drake. You shall be suitably rewarded for your efforts. My only interest in Sebastian was to lure Nefri from her lair. A scheme that worked to perfection, I might add."

Drake frowned. He did not like to recall that Nefri might be near. He could not possibly hope to match the ancient vampire's powers. Perhaps not even with the Medallion in hand.

"Nefri?" he muttered.

"Yes. Surely you have not forgotten that she continues to lurk near the maidens who hold the Medallion?"

He shifted uneasily. "Of course I have not forgotten. You promised she would not interfere."

"And she will not, as long as you do not ruin all with your childish fits of hysteria."

Hysteria? The vampire went too far. Drake narrowed his gaze. "Perhaps if you would warn me of your intentions ..."

In the blink of an eye the fog was once again striking out, clenching about Drake's throat until it threatened to crush it.

"Enough." The voice was frozen steel. "I will decide what you will or will not be told. Do not make the mistake of questioning me again."

Drake struggled to remain conscious, well aware that he had pressed the vampire too far.

Damn. He did not doubt the elder would dispose of him without a flicker of remorse.

"No, I understand. I will not question you again," he choked out in desperation.

The crushing grip remained. "And Drake, my patience wears thin. Retrieve the Medallion or you will wish that you could be simply destroyed."

"I... I will have it."