Bound By Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #8)(37)
Author: Alexandra Ivy

Something that bothered her almost as much as a magic-using cur.

Mysteries in the demon world were never good things. He started to shake his head, but before she could probe into the members of his crew, a gunshot echoed through the air.

With a speed that defied physics, Jaelyn was able to dodge the projectile that was aimed at the center of her chest. Still, it managed to graze her shoulder with a searing pain that warned the bullet was made of silver.

Shit.

She could catch the scent of a nearby cur, no doubt the shooter, and moving closer was that oddly muted scent.

For a second she debated taking the wounded cur as a hostage. She didn’t doubt with the proper encouragement, and perhaps a few more missing body parts, she could get all the information she needed out of him.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t be certain what was lurking in the dark. It could be a mere witch with an amulet, or something recently coughed out of the bowels of hell. And with Ariyal possibly injured … well, she couldn’t take the risk.

Time to get the hell outta Dodge.

Tearloch felt the prickle of magic before he entered the cavern to discover Rafael standing over a shallow pool of water in the center of the floor.

“Fools,” the spirit was muttering in disgust. “Why must they always call upon zombies?”

Tearloch crossed to peer suspiciously at the images reflected in the water. So the wizard possessed enough power to scry. A handy trick, but one a mere spirit shouldn’t be able to manage.

“What the hell is going on?” he rasped.

Rafael pointed a skeletal finger toward the floor. “We have been followed.”

Putting aside his unease at Rafael’s powers, Tearloch leaned forward to study the scene that was unfolding in the water like a soggy movie.

“Ariyal,” he muttered, easily recognizing his prince, as well as the fact that he was currently standing less than five miles from the entrance to the hidden caves.

“Yes,” Rafael hissed. “Your prince is annoyingly persistent.”

Tearloch abruptly leaned closer to the water, realizing that Ariyal wasn’t battling a group of humans as he’d first assumed. Or at least they weren’t human any longer.

With a shudder he stepped away from the water, glaring at the spirit, who was watching the fight with a faint sneer.

“Zombies are forbidden.”

“Surely you must realize that we are now above the tedious laws of this world?” Rafael questioned before giving a dismissive wave of his hand. “Still, I do agree that such abominations are regrettable. They are far too unpredictable and attract precisely the sort of attention we had hoped to avoid.”

“Then why did you call them?”

“This is not of my doing.”

Tearloch clenched his teeth. Was it possible for the spirit to lie to him?

Just a few days ago he would have laughed at the mere possibility. A spirit was bound by the will of the summoner and utterly at his mercy.

Now he wasn’t nearly so convinced.

“They didn’t crawl out of their graves by themselves,” he accused in harsh tones.

The spirit’s smug expression faltered as he belatedly sensed Tearloch’s annoyance.

“No, this is the work of your new allies.”

“Allies?” Tearloch growled in outrage. “What allies?”

“Our master comprehends how truly important the child is to his future.” Rafael spoke slowly, as if considering his words with care. “He has called his followers to assist us in protecting the babe.”

Tearloch felt his throat tighten and his head throb at the smooth explanation. Was it possible the Dark Lord now talked directly to the wizard? Or was this a trick?

Either possibility was enough to make his stomach cramp with dread.

“And so you plotted behind my back?”

Rafael attempted to appear properly shocked at the allegation. “Certainly not.”

“Then how did you know of these so-called allies while I was left in the dark?”

“His Lordship finds it easier to communicate with those of us who have a direct connection to the underworld. He assured me that he would call upon his disciples to offer us whatever we might need to succeed.”

Tearloch pressed his palms to his aching temples, pacing across the cavern.

The fog in his mind made it difficult to think, but he knew he didn’t like the threat of unknown demons becoming involved in his business.

Disciples of the Dark Lord were by nature untrustworthy creatures who had traded their souls to evil. They would betray and destroy Tearloch at the first opportunity.

He turned back to glare at Rafael. “And you didn’t think it was necessary to share that information with me?”

“There seemed no purpose in bothering you with the small details.”

Tearloch lifted his hand, pointing it toward the spirit. Plainly, Rafael needed a reminder of who was in charge.

“No purpose?”

“You have more important matters to occupy your mind.” A smarmy smile curved the wizard’s lips. “It is best that you allow me to—”

Tearloch clenched his hand and jerked it downward, the motion helping him focus on his intangible connection to the spirit.

On cue Rafael was jerked to his knees, a satisfying fear twisting his too-thin face.

“I will decide what’s best,” he snarled. “Or have you forgotten who is in command here, Rafael?”

“No, Master.”

He gave another twist of his hand, and the arrogant ass was pressing his forehead against the stone floor.

“I think maybe you have. Which would be a lethal mistake.”

“I merely wish to be of service.”

Tearloch hissed in disgust. Gods, he hated the wizard. Almost as much as he hated the knowledge that he couldn’t return the sleazy worm back to hell where he belonged, no matter how much he might want to.

Why had he ever started this madness?

“You’re an arrogant prick who would betray me in a heartbeat if I was stupid enough to give you the opportunity,” he said between gritted teeth. “Which I thankfully am not.”

Rafael’s fingers dug into the stone floor, but he was not stupid enough to make the move for an open revolt.

At least not yet.

“What do you want of me?”

“Tell me of our new allies.”

“I can show you.”

Tearloch childishly continued to squash Rafael’s face into the floor. The spirit couldn’t be physically hurt, but he could be humiliated. Something far worse for a man with Rafael’s swollen pride.