When Darkness Ends (Guardians of Eternity #12)(69)

“Is everyone ready?”

“Non,” Levet said with a heavy sigh. “But I do not suppose my opinion matters.”

“Go,” Cyn growled, shoving the gargoyle into the waiting portal.

Magnus couldn’t deny a grudging respect for Tonya as they walked the pathway that meandered through moonlit fields, a large forest, along the edge of a loch and up and over the series of low, rolling hills.

She made no complaints despite the fact that she was hardly dressed to be trudging for miles. And more importantly, she didn’t badger him with questions even knowing that their surroundings were an illusion.

But at last she’d had enough, coming to a halt so she could kick off her ridiculous high-heeled shoes.

“Stop,” she muttered. “I’m exhausted.”

“Fine.” He stood beside her, grudgingly accepting that it wasn’t going to be as easy as he hoped to break free of their prison. “We will rest for a short time.”

“Will you tell me what the hell is going on?”

He paused. If she were a Chatri female, he would have told her not to worry her pretty head and offered a vague assurance that everything would be well.

But Tonya was nothing at all like the women he was accustomed to.

She was stubborn, and independent, and she would be completely pissed if he tried to lie to her just to make her feel better.

Ridiculous female.

“When we stepped out of the portal we were caught in a Labyrinth spell,” he said.

“Labyrinth?” She shook her head. “I’ve never heard of it.”

“The ancient druids used to cast them to trap unwary fey.”

She looked puzzled. “Why?”

“They could force them to share their potions that magnified the druid magic.”

“Oh.” She cast a glance around the empty landscape, almost as if she expected a cloaked druid to appear from the shadows. “I knew that sorcerers were rumored to force the fey to prolong their lives with potions, but I always thought druids were peaceful.”

“Sariel discovered what they were doing and threatened to slaughter every one of them if they used fey magic again,” Magnus said.

“He did?” The emerald eyes widened in surprise. Magnus grimaced. Why did she assume that the Chatri males were ineffectual wimps? Sariel had enough power to make most vampires quake in fear. “Well, I suppose the threat of complete genocide would make a druid think twice about disobeying the royal command.”

“It should have.” Magnus waved a disgusted hand toward the fields. “Clearly our time away from this world has emboldened the magic-user.”

“Why would a druid want to trap us?”

It was a question that had been nagging at Magnus since he’d realized they’d triggered the spell.

“It could be nothing more than a precaution used by the druid to ensure he wasn’t followed,” he said, choosing the most logical explanation.

“Or?” Tonya prompted.

“Or he learned a Chatri had returned and was afraid I might punish him for breaking our law,” Magnus said, knowing he couldn’t overlook that this might be more personal. “The death of the imp could have been used as a way to lure me here with the intent to kill me.”

Tonya shivered, but she didn’t panic. Magnus gave a faint shake of his head. Why did he feel a stupid prick of pride at her composure? Dammit. Her foolish courage might very well lead her into danger.

“Tell me about the spell,” she demanded. “What does it do?”

“It works like a maze,” he grudgingly revealed. “The magic has us locked in a bubble where we can move forward but we can’t leave.”

“Holy shit,” she muttered. “It’s Hotel California.”

He frowned. Hadn’t he told her they were in Ireland?

“What?”

“Never mind.” She waved a hand toward the distant loch. “If this is a maze, then why does the scenery keep changing?”

“I have been using my power to alter our perception,” he said.

“Why?”

“Because the spell shouldn’t be capable of holding a Chatri,” he said, his voice edged with frustration. “And certainly not a prince.”

“Of course not.” Tonya rolled her eyes.

“I am a prince because my bloodline possesses superior powers.”

“Arrogant ass.”

Magnus scowled. Annoying female. Did she think he was bragging?

He had been born with a power that was second only to the king. Which was precisely why Sariel had chosen him to wed his daughter.

“It’s truth, not arrogance,” he snapped.

She folded her arms under her breasts, emphasizing their lush beauty.

Not that he actually noticed, he hastily assured himself, wrenching his appreciative gaze from the decadent swell of her bust that was showcased by the low scoop of her neckline.

“If you’re so freaking powerful, then why are we still stuck?” she taunted.

“The spell has been modified.” He used his senses to touch the illusion surrounding them. As soon as he brushed against the magic it instantly shifted, the hills replaced by a barren tundra. He made a sound of disgust. “I should be able to break the illusion and find our way out. Instead, a new illusion simply replaces the old.”