GOE 08 - Bound By Darkness [calibre 0.9.30]

Ariyal slammed the treacherous mage into the wall of the abandoned warehouse. At the same time, his power filled the late-night air with enough heat to make the candle sitting on a broken crate melt into a puddle of wax.

“You son of a bitch, I’m going to kill you,” he growled.

“No ...” Sergei struggled to breathe. “Wait.”

“For what?” Ariyal demanded. “More lies?”

He had no doubt been a fool to trust the mage. But he hadn’t had much choice.

Not if he wanted to get out of the lead-lined cavern.

And more importantly, to gain the information the magic-user had dangled like the proverbial carrot.

Predictably Sergei hadn’t been satisfied when Ariyal’s initial portal had taken them just a few feet from the caves. He’d been convinced that the shadows were crawling with the Dark Lord’s minions. And since he refused to reveal his information until they were on the outskirts of Chicago, Ariyal had little choice but to bring them to this empty warehouse.

Now, however, he was done. The bastard was going to be very, very sorry if he had tried to play games with a Sylvermyst.

The mage turned a pasty shade of gray. “I didn’t lie.”

“You told me you had information about Jaelyn.”

“And I do.”

Ariyal’s fingers tightened around the neck he could crush with pathetic ease.

“Telling me she can cloak herself in shadows is not information,” he hissed.

“If you would allow me to finish?”

There was a tug on his jeans, and he impatiently glanced down at the gargoyle standing beside him.

“What?”

“I think we should hear what he has to say.”

“Fine,” Ariyal rasped, returning his attention to Sergei. “But I warn you, mage, don’t screw with me.”

“Release me and I’ll ... arrg.” The mage’s eyes nearly popped from their sockets as Ariyal tightened his grip. “Okay. From what I managed to learn from Marika, a Hunter’s primary skill is the ability to shroud themselves in shadows so thick they’re virtually invisible.” Sergei held up a pleading hand as Ariyal’s fingers threatened to finish the job of crushing his throat. “Those same shadows also protect them from the sun for short periods of time.”

Her shadows ...

Of course.

“How short?” he breathed.

“A few minutes.”

“Long enough for her to have escaped,” Levet said, a grin spreading over his ugly face. “I told you she was still alive. Ariyal?”

Ariyal was already at the door, hesitating only long enough to point a finger at the mage, who was now crumpled on the floor, gasping like a fish out of water.

“Keep an eye on Sergei.”

“But ...”

He vaguely heard the gargoyle call out, but Ariyal was already crossing the crumbling parking lot and headed back toward the caves.

Jaelyn.

The desperate hope that had kept him from raving insanity became a raw, throbbing need.

He had to find her.

He had to hold her in his arms until there was no doubt left inside him that she was alive and well.

And then he was going shake her until her fangs rattled for putting him through hell.

Intent on returning to the caves, Ariyal very nearly missed the sharp chill that edged the breeze. It was only when the familiar scent of power and pure woman teased at his senses that he came to an abrupt halt.

There was no mistaking the approaching vampire was Jaelyn.

But why was she coming from behind him?

Had she been near the warehouse? Or farther into the city?

And if so, why?

His confusion was forgotten as he turned to watch the shadows melt away and the female who had somehow become an essential part of his life was revealed in the moonlight.

An explosion of emotions nearly brought him to his knees as he greedily drank in the beauty of her pale face and the elegant strength of her body.

If he had lost her ...

She took a step forward, and with a low growl he was reaching to yank her against his body, his arms wrapping around her so tightly it was a good thing she didn’t need to breathe.

“Jaelyn,” he murmured, reveling in the feel of her slender body pressed against him. “Gods. I thought ...”

She framed his face in her hands, her eyes flashing with an indigo fire.