When Darkness Ends (Guardians of Eternity #12)(66)

He hadn’t actually considered how difficult it might be for demons, including his fellow vampires, to make casual chitchat with Abby. As the vessel for the Goddess of Light, she could fry them all to a smudge of ash without breaking a sweat.

“Styx isn’t here?” Cyn asked, knowing that the Anasso would never allow Abby to feel unwelcomed.

“No, he just left for St. Louis to retrieve his mate.” The wicked humor returned to sparkle in Dante’s silver eyes. “He was muttering something about cold beds and mangy werewolves who lure females from their mates with a litter of babies.”

“Poor bloke.” Cyn gave a shake of his head. There weren’t many things worse than having Weres as in-laws . . . Wait. He grimaced, suddenly recalling his own potential in-laws. He didn’t doubt for a minute that the King of Chatri would do everything in his power to take Fallon away. Including trying to kill him. He squared his shoulders. A worry for another day. “Ready?” he asked Dante.

“Yes.”

Grabbing his friend’s arm, he reached for Fallon’s hand, shivering as they were instantly surrounded in the electric darkness of her portal.

Seconds later they were once again standing in his foyer.

Cyn shook off the momentary disorientation at being yanked through dimensions, and glanced toward Fallon who was calmly studying Dante as if she hauled vampires around on a regular basis.

Cyn, on the other hand, was already growing twitchy at having Dante so close to his potential mate.

It didn’t matter that his friend was already bound to another female. Or that Fallon wasn’t the sort of female to give herself to more than one man.

Until he completed the mating, his instincts were set on “kill now, ask questions later” mode.

Cursing at the unwelcome violence that trembled through his body, Cyn swiftly headed toward his library. Behind him, he could sense Dante and Fallon trying to keep pace with his long strides, but they thankfully didn’t demand to know why he was doing the speed-walking routine.

At last they entered the library, and Cyn moved to the desk where he’d left the scroll given to him by Siljar.

“Damn,” Dante muttered behind him, turning in a slow circle as he inspected the shelves that towered two stories and the ceiling that had been painted with a Greek fresco. “Why the hell did you keep this such a secret?”

“Did you think I was going to allow a bunch of demons who were barely housebroken to trash my books?”

“Hey, I was housebroken.”

Cyn snorted. “Which is why you destroyed my favorite tapestry when you used it for target practice?”

Dante sent Fallon a sorrowful glance. “How do you endure living with him?”

A flustered heat stained her cheeks. “Oh, I don’t . . . I mean—”

“This is the spell,” Cyn interrupted her embarrassed stutter, moving to hand the scroll to his friend.

Dante glanced down, a frown tugging his brows together. “I can’t read hieroglyphs,” he at last muttered, lifting his head to meet Cyn’s steady gaze. “That’s Roke’s expertise. And you know more about the fey than any other vampire I’ve met. I’m not sure how I can help.”

“I’m hoping you can give me information on another spell.”

Dante handed the rolled-up parchment back to Cyn. “I’m listening.”

“You battled witches who tried to destroy demons.”

A chill entered the air as Dante’s expression became stony. “I did, along with Abby.”

“They used magic?”

“Yes.”

“How did they cast it?”

Dante moved to pour himself a glass of whiskey, still clearly raw from the battle. It didn’t matter if it was hours, months, or centuries ago, a male didn’t get over seeing his mate in danger.

“They captured Abby, intending to use the power of the Phoenix.”

Cyn watched his friend toss back the drink, regretting the need to bring up such difficult memories. It was only because he couldn’t shake the suspicion that this was somehow connected that he was forcing the issue.

“Why did they need the Goddess of Light?”

Dante shrugged. “Not even an entire coven of witches working together could achieve the power needed to cast that particular spell.” A cold smile twisted his lips. “Unfortunately for them the Phoenix was in no mood to cooperate. She zapped the bitches.”

Cyn had heard the basic story of Abby’s ability to destroy the witches, but he needed a firsthand account of the details.

“What was involved in casting the spell?”

“I wasn’t there for all of it.” The temperature plunged another twenty degrees and Cyn could see Fallon shiver, a golden glow surrounding her as she used her natural powers to warm herself. Cyn felt a ridiculous prick of annoyance. It wasn’t that he wanted her to be cold, but he’d taken pride in making sure his lair was always warm enough for her to be comfortable. Dante set aside his empty glass, unaware he was causing Fallon discomfort. “According to Abby, the Queen Bee of the coven, Edra, strapped her to an altar and put a small amulet on her chest,” he grimly explained. “The witch said it would draw on the power of the Phoenix.”

Cyn arched a brow.

That sounded way too easy.

“That was all there was to casting the spell?”