Bound By Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #8)(87)
Author: Alexandra Ivy

“And what purpose will my death serve?” she demanded.

“It will remind other Hunters that our laws are meant to be obeyed.”

“So you’ll kill me just to make an example of me?”

The empty gaze moved slowly down her rigid body before returning to her face.

“You’re like a cancer that must be destroyed for the good of the Addonexus.”

He truly believed what he was saying. She could feel it to the very depths of her soul.

So this was the end.

No chance of escape, no last-minute pardon.

Squaring her shoulders, she held her chin high.

“You can do whatever you want to me, but I will never regret loving Ariyal,” she announced loud enough that her voice bounced off the walls. “Never.”

Kostas reached to grasp her chin in a brutal grip. “Such a pity,” he murmured, studying her with a faux expression of regret.

She yanked away from his touch. “Don’t pretend you’re not getting off on this. You love when you get the opportunity to flex your muscles.”

His jaw tightened, clearly annoyed. Not that she gave a shit.

He was going to kill her.

Who cared if she offended him?

“Come along, Jaelyn,” he ordered in frigid tones. “The sooner we’re done with this unpleasant business the sooner I can return to my duties.”

She thought she heard Styx mutter a low curse, but before she could glance in his direction there was the sensation of the air pressure abruptly changing. Spinning around she watched as Siljar popped into view, along with her daughter, Yannah.

As always, the two tiny demons looked nearly identical, dressed in long white robes that were pristine despite the faint whiff of brimstone, with their black, oblong eyes and razor-sharp teeth.

Only a closer inspection revealed that Yannah’s hair was fair rather than silver and her eyes lacking the ancient wisdom of her mother.

Seemingly unaware of the shock her abrupt entrance had created, Siljar held up a tiny hand, her attention focused on Kostas.

“Wait.”

Chapter 25

Ariyal was going to kill the King of Vampires.

And then he was going to kill Kostas. Slowly and as painfully as possible.

And then he just might kill Salvatore for standing there like a damned mannequin while Jaelyn was being hauled off to her certain death.

Not that he blamed them any more than he blamed himself.

Jaelyn had deftly sidestepped him when he’d tried to question her about the Addonexus and what was going to happen when they discovered she’d taken a mate.

She’d claimed she would find some means to get out of her duty as a Hunter. She’d even assured him that she was certain there was some obscure law that would allow her to escape punishment, but he’d known deep in his heart that she wasn’t being entirely honest.

If Jaelyn died, he would have no one to blame but himself.

Fighting against the arms that held him prisoner, Ariyal nearly missed the sudden appearance of two small female demons. In fact, it wasn’t until he felt the deluge of power that could only belong to an Oracle that he turned his head to catch sight of the intruders.

He stopped his struggles. Gods, was that Yannah? Warily he watched as the elder of the demons stepped toward Jaelyn, her dark gaze keeping track of Kostas as he performed a stiff bow.

“Siljar,” the vampire murmured, obviously familiar with the Oracle.

Ariyal didn’t know if that was a good or bad sign.

“What is going on here?” Siljar demanded, her voice soft but powerful enough to make the conceited jackass pale to a pasty white.

Still, he was nothing if not arrogant, and with a smile he managed to flash his massive fangs.

“Nothing that need concern the Commission, I assure you.”

“I beg to disagree.” Siljar pointed a finger in Jaelyn’s direction. “This Hunter is under contract to me.”

Ah. So this was the Oracle who had put a contract out on him. Not that she seemed particularly interested in him now. Actually, she appeared far more concerned with Kostas than anyone else.

Thank the gods.

“She was,” the Ruah agreed, pressing a hand to his chest in a gesture of regret. “But, I fear that she has betrayed us both.”

Siljar didn’t blink. “Betrayed?”

“She has mated with the Sylvermyst.” The vampire’s voice dripped with disgust. Nasty worm. “Most unfortunate. However, I fully intend to see her punished and your contract completed.”

“By you?”

“Of course.”

The female tilted her head to the side, looking like an inquisitive bird.

If a bird could topple a city with a thought.

“But I don’t want you,” she at last announced. “I want Jaelyn.”

A stunned silence filled the room, and Ariyal’s heart remembered how to beat for the first time since Kostas made his over-the-top appearance.

Was it possible that the Oracle was actually here to help Jaelyn?

Dammit. They were due some luck.

“I …” Kostas halted to consider his words. “I do not understand.”

Siljar moved forward, her robes brushing the wood floor that he had sanded and polished on Jaelyn’s orders.

“I was the one who insisted that she remain close to the Sylvermyst,” she informed the Ruah, not at all intimated by the vampire’s brutish size or the hint of cruelty etched into his features. “There was a vision that revealed that it would take both of them to prevent the Dark Lord from entering this world.”

Ariyal barely noticed when Styx released his bone-crushing hold and stepped back.

So that was why she’d ordered Jaelyn to remain at his side after she’d escaped from Avalon.

Not that he cared why. Her command had made sure that Jaelyn had stayed with him long enough for his charm to work its magic. In fact, if they survived this latest disaster he intended to send a bouquet of roses and a thank-you card to the magnificent Siljar.

Of course, he was less enthused about the vision of them being responsible for preventing the Dark Lord’s return.

It had been sheer chance that Jaelyn had drained the blood of the Dark Lord’s host body. And that her efforts had prevented him from following.

If the world had truly been depending on them …

It made him shudder just to think what could have happened.

Across the room Kostas frowned, not at all happy with the direction of the conversation. He had obviously come there to get his ya-yas by condemning Jaelyn to death.

He wasn’t going to be pleased if he was forced to leave without her.