Bound By Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #8)(82)
Author: Alexandra Ivy

“Are you insane?” Sergei shrilly demanded, futilely attempting to break free of Dante’s grip. “I’m going to bleed to death.”

Styx shrugged. “Then I suggest that you work quickly.”

“I can’t.”

Styx had his sword out of its scabbard and pointed at the mage’s throat in one graceful motion.

“You have until the count of ten.”

The mage made one last attempt to avoid his inevitable fate.

“No. please.”

“One. Two. Three …”

Chapter 24

Jaelyn decided she hated white.

And fog.

And the constantly shifting landscape that made it impossible to know if they were traveling in circles.

At the point of concentrating on simply putting one foot in front of the other, Jaelyn nearly moaned in relief when she felt Ariyal slide an arm around her waist, tugging her to a halt.

“Stop, poppet,” he commanded softly. “You’re about to collapse.”

She didn’t try to argue.

Not only could Ariyal tangibly feel her weariness, but she was beyond trying to put on a brave face.

They were lost, alone, with no way of escaping the mists.

Turning, she pressed herself against Ariyal’s welcome warmth, laying her head over the steady beat of his heart.

“We failed.”

His hands ran a comforting path down the curve of her spine.

“Not yet.”

She made a sound of resignation at his determined optimism. “In case you missed the memo, the Dark Lord has already used the child to resurrect himself. Or herself.”

“Yes, but he … I mean she, isn’t at her full strength.”

Jaelyn shuddered. Considering the power of the Dark Lord was one thing. Actually being close enough to feel the grinding pain was another.

“God help us when she is.”

“I don’t think we can count on any celestial help.” Ariyal’s arms tightened around her. “We’re on our own.”

Jaelyn stilled, concentrating on her bond with Ariyal.

She could sense his stark fear for her safety, his regret that he hadn’t found a way to escape from the fog, and a growing determination that made her heart twist with dread.

Tilting back her head, she made no effort to hide her suspicious frown.

“Ariyal, what are you scheming?”

He lifted one shoulder. “This is the last chance to stop the Dark Lord from entering our dimension.”

She should have been prepared for the blunt confession.

Hadn’t Ariyal been trying to halt the Dark Lord’s return from the moment they’d crossed paths?

He had been willing to sacrifice everything, including his own life, to protect his people from the fury of their former master.

Nothing had changed except the fact they were now mated.

“And you want to play hero?” she snapped, infuriated by the thought of him putting himself in danger.

He gave a slow shake of his head, his expression somber. “It’s not a matter of what I want.”

She grimaced.

It wasn’t, of course.

They might not have asked to be put into the position of being the last thing standing between the Dark Lord and the world, but fate had chosen for them.

Now there was nothing left to do, but try and do their best.

“I know. I just …”

“What?”

She returned her head to his chest, savoring the scent of herbs.

“Wish that things could have been different.”

He gave a light tug on her ponytail. “The future isn’t written yet.”

“True.” Her lips twisted in a humorless smile. “Of course, if we do survive I want your promise that this is the very last time we have to save the world.”

She felt his muscles clench at her teasing words. “Jaelyn.”

Already sensing his protest, Jaelyn abruptly shoved her way out of his embrace, her chin jutted to a stubborn angle.

This was one argument he wasn’t going to win.

Not ever.

“Don’t even go there,” she warned.

He held up his hands, no doubt shifting through his mind for the best way to pacify the little woman and keep her out of danger.

“I need you to find a way out of here.” He at last hit on inspiration. “There’s no point in defeating the Dark Lord if we’re stuck here.”

She planted her fists on her hips. “What you need and what you get are obviously two different things, Sylvermyst.”

The gazes clashed as the heat of his frustration brushed over her with a physical force.

“Does it have to be a fight every time?”

“I’m not the one who is fighting.”

“Jaelyn.”

Whatever he was about to say was lost as Ariyal went rigid in shock, his attention turning to a point just beyond her shoulder.

She spun around, not sure what to expect.

Vampires, magical curs, resurrected Dark Lords.

What she found was more of the damned fog.

“Do you sense something coming?” she whispered softly.

He frowned. “Didn’t you feel that?”

“Feel what?”

He took a minute to answer. “Magic.”

Okay, that was nice and vague.

“The Dark Lord?”

“ No.”

“The cur?”

“ No.”

She threw her hands up in defeat. It was annoying as hell she couldn’t feel whatever magic was in the air.

It was like stumbling around blind.

“We’re running out of options,” she muttered, then gave a shiver as she considered the various possibilities. “Or at least I hope we are. I don’t want to think about what else might be lurking in the fog.”

He moved past her, holding out his hand as if searching for a precise point.

“It’s coming from the other side.”

The other side?

She frowned. It seemed remarkably convenient that he would sense the magic just when he was losing their argument.

“You’re just saying that to try and distract me,” she accused.

He glanced over his shoulder. “Jaelyn, you would know if I was lying to you, wouldn’t you?”

Oh. He had a point.

She certainly didn’t sense any deceit. In fact, there was a growing sense of relief that was flooding through their bond.

“That doesn’t necessarily mean good news,” she warned, not wanting him to get his hopes up too high. Prepare for the worst, and expect the worst. That was her motto. And it had stood her in good stead over the past decades. “There are thousands of the Dark Lord’s minions,” she reminded him. “It could be one of them trying to break through.”