Bound By Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #8)(71)
Author: Alexandra Ivy

Chapter 21

Jaelyn bit back her protests as Ariyal led them through the increasingly narrow tunnels that reeked of ambush.

A fighter never allowed herself to be cornered in cramped spaces. It was too difficult to maneuver for even the best trained warrior.

Unfortunately, while she couldn’t sense the magical battle that must be happening ahead of them, she could feel Ariyal’s pulsing urgency, which meant that haste had to overcome caution for now.

Not that it had to make her happy.

Concentrating on her duty to make certain nothing approached them from behind, Jaelyn was unprepared for Ariyal’s abrupt halt.

Ramming into his hard back, she swiftly regained her balance, rubbing her nose as he turned to face her with a tense frown.

“What’s wrong?”

“Listen,” he said softly.

Distantly she could hear the sound of Sergei and Rafael in a heated argument, the occasional shake of the tunnel warning her that they were doing far worse than merely throwing punches at one another.

If they weren’t careful they would bring several tons of rock plummeting onto their heads.

Not the most pleasant thought.

But even as the image of being buried alive flashed through her mind, Ariyal’s eyes were widening with a fear that had nothing to do with a cave-in.

“Ariyal?”

“The wizard,” he managed to rasp between clenched teeth.

“What about him?”

“He’s started the ceremony.”

“Shit. We have to stop him.”

Ariyal shook his head. “It’s too late.”

“No, it can’t be.”

She moved to dart around him, only to be stymied as he caught her in his arms and began pushing her back down the tunnel.

“We have to get the hell out of here.”

“But …”

“Dammit, Jaelyn, those idiots have created a rift between dimensions.”

“What does that mean?”

The question had barely tumbled from her lips when she caught sight of the white mist that was boiling through the tunnel, heading directly toward them.

“Hold on,” Ariyal commanded, pressing her head against his chest as the mist surrounded them, seeming to suck them forward with a ruthless force.

She focused on the feel of her mate’s hard body pressed against her as the world melted away. It would be terrifyingly easy to become lost and disoriented in the thick fog.

After what might have been a few minutes or an eternity, the sense of movement came to a halt. Tentatively, Jaelyn pushed away from Ariyal, studying the walls of mist that appeared to go on forever.

“This isn’t good.” She pointed out the obvious.

“No.”

Ariyal pulled his sword as Jaelyn sent out her senses to probe the fog.

She wasn’t an expert on alien dimensions. Her varied training had included many things, but vampires weren’t intended to travel from world to world. Not unless they happened to be ancient Immortal Ones.

But she did know enough to realize that this wasn’t typical.

In fact, she would guess that they were standing in the strange place between dimensions, not actually in one or the other.

Not the most comforting thought.

And it was becoming even less comforting as she caught the distinct scent of the wizard in the distance.

“We aren’t alone,” she breathed softly, uncertain how sound would travel in the mists.

Everything seemed … muffled, but she wasn’t going to take unnecessary risks.

“Where?” Ariyal demanded, his voice equally low.

She hesitated, struggling to get her bearings before at last pointing to a spot over his shoulder.

“That way.”

Ariyal didn’t hesitate, turning to flow through the mists in the direction she’d indicated. Following in his wake, Jaelyn felt warmth spread through her heart at his absolute faith in her abilities.

That trust was as precious to her as his unconditional love.

They moved in silence, the strange mist swirling around them.

Or at least she assumed they were moving, she acknowledged with a grimace.

Their feet were stepping forward.

And there was a faint breeze she could see stirring the loose fabric of Ariyal’s shirt.

But the landscape remained shrouded behind a fog that made it impossible to determine if they were making progress or running in place.

Refusing to consider the horrifying thought that they might be eternally trapped in the smothering mist, Jaelyn forced herself to latch on to her strengthening awareness of Rafael. Moving or not, they were growing ever closer to the wizard.

Which had to be a good sign, didn’t it?

“He’s near,” she warned softly.

Ariyal slowed, his sword held ready. “Can you tell if he has the child?”

She shook her head. “No. If the babe is here it’s still wrapped in the spell that prevents me from being able to track it.”

Ariyal’s lips parted, but before he could speak, a form abruptly appeared out of the fog, standing directly in their path.

Tearloch.

No, not Tearloch, she silently corrected, catching sight of the Sylvermyst’s eyes.

The beautiful silver had been consumed by a crimson that smoldered like the fiery pits of hell. A sure sign that he had become a mere puppet to a powerful being.

Her nose wrinkled. Even his scent had been overwhelmed by the acrid stench of brimstone that made Jaelyn’s stomach churn in revulsion.

Without expression he held up his hand in warning. “Stop.”

Ariyal studied his tribesman with a wary frown. “Tearloch ?”

“You may go no farther.”

“Tearloch, can you hear me?” Ariyal took a step forward. “Brother?”

The Sylvermyst didn’t respond. Hell, he might as well have been a lamppost for all the reaction he gave to Ariyal’s plea.

Not that he it made him any less dangerous.

Jaelyn reached to lightly touch her mate’s arm. “He’s completely enthralled. Could the wizard do this?”

“Not without help. Only the Dark Lord could so completely crush his mind.”

It was the answer she’d expected, but that didn’t prevent the sharp stab of unease.

Who wouldn’t be a little antsy at the thought of the ultimate evil creeping around in the fog?

“Great.” She swallowed a curse as she sensed the wizard moving deeper into the mists. She couldn’t allow him to escape. Who knew if she’d ever be able to track him in the damned fog if she lost his scent? “Can you keep him distracted ?”

The bronzed eyes shimmered with frustration as he glanced in her direction.