The Vampire's Bride (Atlantis #4)(46)

"I accept your offer," she whispered up to him. She didn't trust him, but she didn't mind using him. You should, Layel had said, as though he didn't care that she would forge an alliance with his enemy.

They would soon learn the truth of that.

Layel's obvious dislike of the dragons was the only reason she had hesitated before, she realized now. Subconsciously, she'd allowed him to begin affecting her decisions. No more.

Slowly Tagart's lips curled into a satisfied smile. "I knew you'd see reason." He reached for her, meaning to pull her into his embrace for a dance.

She backed up a step, not willing to take their alliance that far. Good or bad for her, Layel was the only man she wanted touching her. "Just tell me one thing."

Tagart's golden dragon eyes glinted like polished coins. "And what is that? You wish me to tell you the other team's nymph is out there right now, searching for your vampire, determined to have him?"

What? Why, that bitch! She had no right. He's mine. No, no, she immediately chastised herself. Do not think that way. "What did your brethren take from Layel to cause a war with the vampires?" The stories she'd heard of Layel's prowess had never said.

The glint in his eyes died. "He did not tell you?"

"No."

Guilt flashed, but he said starkly, "We took...his mate."

LAYEL BATTLED with himself for the entire hour Delilah had given him. He knew what he should do, knew what was wise. He could not go to her. Absolutely not. No. But she was slowly stripping him of his sanity.

Every minute he spent with her, he desired more.

Every minute he thought of her, he desired more.

Every minute he was without her, he desired more.

She drew him. If she had looked like Susan or acted like Susan, he would have understood her strange pull on him. But she didn't, so he didn't.

"I'm glad to see you survived," Zane said from behind him.

Layel had been expecting the warrior, and was only surprised he had not arrived sooner. What had he been doing? "I have a mission for you," he said, turning.

Zane floated in front of him. Layel could smell the sweet scent of fresh blood on the soldier. Female blood. His stomach knotted, for it was widely known the vampire only took from the dying. "Who did you feed from?"

Zane blinked at the fury in his tone. "That hardly matters."

"Tell me!" Layel was in his face a moment later. There were not that many females on the island. If he had sunk those fangs into Delilah...

"You had better back away, king. I serve you because I wish to, but that can change at any moment."

He'd heard similar words a thousand times before from the warrior. "Delilah is not - "

"The one I tasted, no."

Instantly Layel relaxed. Hatred - for himself, for Delilah - sprang free, never far from the surface. Always waiting to pounce. He shouldn't have cared who Zane drank from.

Zane shook his dark head. "So that is the way of things, I see."

"You see nothing," he growled.

"I see that you have staked a claim on her. Well, guess what? She is at camp right now, joining forces with that bastard, Tagart."

So. She had allied with the dragon. When she had told him of Tagart's offer, he had wanted to scream, I will protect you. Me. Not him. But he had held his tongue, knowing that was the wisest course. If he allowed it, Delilah would be his downfall. He would long to live with her, rather than join Susan in the hereafter. Unacceptable!

He studied Zane's sated expression. A single thought filled his head, overshadowing everything else. I could have Delilah's blood in my veins right now. She would let me. I would not have to take her body, would not have to pleasure her or take pleasure for myself. He gulped against a sudden onslaught of blistering lust. Oh, the temptation..."I have a mission for you," he repeated past an aching throat. Resist.

"Let me guess. I am to protect the girl."

Yes. But..."Your arrogance displeases me."

"I am a warrior, not a bodyguard," Zane spit.

"You are whatever I tell you to be. I do not trust Tagart. If he aids her, fine. But if it appears he is going to betray her..."

A muscle ticked in Zane's jaw. "Is that all? King," he added after a tense pause.

"No. You will return to your team, and you will listen to what they plan. I will do the same. Tomorrow we will share what we have learned and decide our course of action. The gods think to divide us, but we will not allow them to succeed. Will we?"

A slight hesitation before Zane gave a stiff nod.

When the vampire stalked away, Layel glanced in the direction of the waterfall. His hour had passed. Was Delilah waiting for him? Perhaps she frolicked in the lapping water even now, naked and glistening. The stray thought arose, an image of exactly that forming, and he was halfway there before he realized what he was doing.

ALYSSA HAD SPENT the night searching both the Inner and Outer cities with Shivawn, flying from one to the other - or galloping atop a centaur, in Shivawn's case. Not once had he spoken a single word to her. Not in all their hours together.

Frustration rode her hard, sinking sharp claws into every part of her body. They were now on their way back to Valerian's palace. She could see it on the horizon, a towering stone and crystal monstrosity atop a steep cliff. Shivawn was still perched on a centaur and she kept pace beside him, floating rather than walking or riding. There were three benefits to this: he was always within her view. If she walked, she would have stumbled. And no centaur would have allowed her on his back without a fierce argument she didn't have the fortitude for.