Bound By Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #8)(10)
Author: Alexandra Ivy

“How can the future change?”

There was a long silence. As if the Oracle was debating the wisdom of sharing insider info. Then she gave a small shrug.

“There is always a certain measure of fluidity in matters of time, but it is more chaotic than usual.”

“Do I want to know why, or is that one of those ‘curiosity kills the cat’ things?”

“It indicates that there will soon be a powerful flux in the universe.”

Jaelyn grimaced, wishing that she hadn’t asked. Or that the demon hadn’t answered.

Or…

Hell. She scrubbed a hand over her weary face. She was tired, hungry, and wishing she could get a hold of Ariyal and kick his ass. This might not be entirely his responsibility, but she was willing to blame him.

“The return of the Dark Lord?” she hazarded.

Siljar considered before giving a shrug. “It is impossible to say.”

Yeah, sooooo not helping.

She shifted her concern from the looming end of the world to her own looming end.

“Well, if the future is in flux then maybe my elevation to being some mystical thread is nothing more than a cosmic glitch that will soon be forgotten.”

Siljar cocked her head to the side, her expression curious. “I thought Hunters were fearless?”

Jaelyn snorted. “Facing death is one thing; knowing I’m a part of destiny is quite another.”

“Is it destiny that troubles you?” She flashed her pointed teeth. “Or Ariyal?”

Was the woman trying to piss her off?

“It would seem they’re one and the same,” she muttered.

“Very true,” the demon agreed with a shrug of indifference. Then she gave a lift of her tiny hands. “Well, I must go.”

“Go?” Jaelyn took a hasty step forward. “Wait.”

“Yes?”

“Do you intend to leave me here?”

Siljar slowly blinked, like a lizard.

“Oh, did I not say?”

“Say what?”

“The terms of our contract have been altered.”

Oh … crap.

Why did she suspect that the alteration didn’t include a one-way ticket to Maui to hunt fire pixies?

“You no longer want me to capture the Sylvermyst?” she asked, ever the optimist.

Or maybe it was sheer desperation.

“No.”

“Oh.” She didn’t bother to hide her relief. “Thank the gods.”

“I want you to remain with him and keep the Commission informed of his movements.”

Remain with him? Her brief moment of hope was crushed beneath a tidal wave of horrified disbelief.

It was bad enough to hunt down the damned Sylvermyst and haul him to the Commission. But to become Hutch to his Starsky?

Oh hell, no.

“Why?”

Pinpricks of pain stabbed deep into Jaelyn’s flesh, effective reminders that nasty rumors whispered about the Oracles were well earned.

“I have no need to explain.”

“Forgive me. I will, of course, do everything in my power to fulfill our contract.” She returned to her knees, bowing her head as she waited for the brutal pain to dissipate. “How much of a head start does he have on me?”

“Three days.”

Jaelyn grimaced. For her it had only been two hours since Ariyal had disappeared.

Damned mists.

“Do you know …” She swallowed her question, and almost her tongue, as there was a loud pop and a small demon who looked nearly identical to Siljar made a sudden appearance, standing at the side of the older woman. “Holy crap!”

Siljar motioned to the familiar woman with the heart-shaped face and long gold hair that was pulled into a braid.

“This is Yannah, my daughter.”

“Yeah, we’ve met.” Jaelyn returned to her feet, her gaze never leaving the tiny demon who had helped Ariyal hold Jaelyn captive while they were in the Russian caves. “But at the time I thought she was a spirit that Ariyal conjured.”

“Such a yummy fairy.” Yannah heaved a dreamy sigh. “How could I resist?”

Jaelyn blinked. Good … God.

Did Ariyal have this sort of effect on every female he met?

No wonder he was such an arrogant SOB.

“Yes, she can be quite naughty,” Siljar gently chided. “But she will be able to assist you.”

Naughty? That wasn’t the word Jaelyn would have used. But then again, she’d already pissed off Siljar more than was healthy. She wasn’t about to insult her daughter.

“I welcome any assistance she can offer,” she instead muttered.

Yep. Just call her Queen of Diplomats.

“She will take you to Ariyal,” Siljar informed her. “She will also be the one who will be responsible for contacting you to retrieve the information you have gathered.”

Jaelyn made one last bid for escape. “There are others who are trained in the arts of espionage… .”

“You have been chosen, Jaelyn,” Siljar pronounced, her expression unyielding.

If Jaelyn could have sighed, she would have. Instead she gave a grudging nod.

“So, I’m to spy on Ariyal and report my findings to Yannah?”

“It is more than keeping track of his movements,” Siljar corrected.

“More?”

“We must know the contents of his heart.”

Jaelyn frowned. “I can sense the souls of humans, but I’m not an empath who is capable of reading demons.”

Siljar shrugged. “Remain close enough and you’ll be capable of detecting the taint of the Dark Lord.”

For no logical reason, Jaelyn found herself annoyed by the Oracle’s words.

“I don’t like the bastard, but I can assure you that he hasn’t been infected,” she growled. “He’s determined to sacrifice the missing child rather than allow his evil master to be reborn.”

“That is his plan for the moment,” Siljar agreed. “It is vital that he is not swayed into …”

“Switching teams,” Yannah finished for her.

Siljar smiled and patted her daughter on the head. As if she’d just performed a remarkable trick.

“Yes. Switching teams.”

Jaelyn understood their concern. Ariyal had admitted that he feared the Sylvermyst might be susceptible to the Dark Lord’s influence. And obviously Tearloch had already fallen victim to the madness.

But that didn’t make her the best choice to fulfill the contract.

In fact, she was fairly certain she was the last person who should be taking on the delicate task.