Revealed in Fire (Demon Days & Vampire Nights #9)(70)

Cahal moved quickly, pausing beside a stone column as an elf flounced by, an absurd waste of movement for any creature, but ridiculous in a guard. It was no wonder he’d infiltrated the dungeons with very little effort. The elves had been mighty at one point. Fearsome but fair. He’d snuck into this place plenty, but it had never been this easy. No one had sensed his magic or his presence. Not one guard had so much as stiffened in unease.

Sheer numbers were the only reason they’d been able to capture a woman as promising as the heir, especially with those natural dual-mages at her back. It was the only explanation. The elves were ill-prepared for what they’d set in motion.

He slipped over to a shadowed doorway as his senses went on high alert. A smell reached his nose, coming from the way he was traveling—ancient but familiar, although he couldn’t exactly place it. His small hairs stood on end, and he knew it was someone with power. Someone dangerous.

Using his tools, he quickly and silently unlocked the nearest door and slipped through, leaving it open a crack so he could peer out. He wanted to see who haunted these halls.

Magic swirling, blocking his presence, he waited patiently. Reagan had been locked up for nearly four days. If she was going to crack, she would have done so already. She could handle a bit more pain so that Cahal could do the smart thing and see who or what was dogging her heels before he showed himself.

The being’s shadow announced it before a shape filled the archway leading to the cells within the bowels of the castle. It stalled, as though it sensed him.

He waited. It waited.

Finally, a shoe slid across the ground, a foot pivoting, grinding straw into stone. Light steps announced the being was moving forward, but it quickly stalled again. Flickering fire from a nearby iron torch holder illuminated a slight frame. Short, thin, petite—the woman stayed still again, unbothered by the patrol that should’ve been walking through about now. The elves were ineffective, but at least they were punctual. It was nearly all they seemed to get right.

Cahal recognized her about the same time as she clearly recognized the presence she felt.

“She has mighty friends, it seems.”

He remembered that silky voice, dripping lust and passion and things humans could not resist. Thankfully, he was not human.

“Ja.” He didn’t bother moving from behind the door, and she didn’t turn in his direction. There was no need. “You are not someone I would’ve expected to see down here.”

“Nor I you. You must have a fascination with the heirs of the Underworld.”

“For the magic.” Specifically, he liked watching the heirs learn to use the full range of their magic, but she didn’t need to know that. Knowing her, she’d somehow figure out a way to make that work against him.

“Yes. It is magnificent,” she replied. “As is its origin.”

“Is that your play in all this, then? You hope to regain access to one of your homes?”

“We all long for our homes in the end, do we not? Except for those of us without homes, of course.”

It was a dig at him. This vampire had always been one of the most cunning power players in her species. She’d navigated times that had made a quick end of other strong people, magical or otherwise, a journey made harder by being female. Sometimes the social realities of that had slowed her, but they’d never stopped her.

“And what is your play, Mr. Shadow?” she asked. “Or do they call you Eliminator now?”

“I have many names.”

“So you do. As do I.”

He paused for a moment, carefully collecting his thoughts. “You have set me on this journey, by contracting me to her friend, and allowing me to witness, firsthand, her power,” he finally said. “The power of Lucifer’s heir. I am bored with my long years. I might as well walk the path for a while.”

“The path of the righteous?”

“The path of the forsaken. It’s more interesting than that of the righteous.”

She laughed. It was an answer she might’ve given herself. When Ja had approached him, he hadn’t needed to do his homework on her. Before she’d semi-retired, he’d watched her maneuverings, surprised when she’d taken a step back, not at all surprised when she’d burst back onto the scene.

“Why are you here?” he asked her. “She is not with you, so clearly it is not to let her out.”

“Oh my, no. If I did, how would she learn?” She laughed again and continued forward. “Good luck, Mr. Shadow. I’m sure I will see you again.”

He rather hoped not.

He shut and locked the door behind him and then hastened down the hall, flitting through the shadows. A guard lay dead in the center of the floor behind two cells, the prisoners within long since dead, nothing but bones now. The neck of the guard had been torn out. Ja had wanted to make a show, ensure the elves knew a vampire had been down there.

He slowed for a moment.

Had Ja known he would be coming to rescue Reagan? If so, she might be trying to set the stage to make it look like the vampires were the ones who’d broken in, killed everyone, and then rescued the prize.

No, that couldn’t be it. She hadn’t known right away who was waiting in the shadows. If she’d been expecting him, she wouldn’t have paused for so long. She was not a showy vampire, like Vlad, but all vampires liked to play with their food. It was in their nature. She would’ve made a quip or two about being way ahead of him.