Bound By Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #8)(88)
Author: Alexandra Ivy

“Even so.”

“Are you having difficulty hearing me, Kostas?”

He shifted beneath that relentless black gaze. “No, of course not.”

“Then perhaps I am simply not making myself clear.” She took another step forward, her head tilted back to reveal her grim expression. “The Hunter is still under contract to me.”

Kostos was nothing if not determined.

“But she is mated.” He shot the silent Jaelyn an accusing gaze.

Siljar shrugged. “So much the better.”

“It is forbidden.”

“By whom?”

“By tradition.”

“Then perhaps you should reconsider your traditions,” the female suggested.

The vampire jerked as if he’d taken a blow. “With all respect …”

A smile that sent a chill of alarm down Ariyal’s spine curled Siljar’s lips.

There was something unnerving about that sweet smile when it was combined with those razor-sharp teeth.

“Shall I have you brought before the Commission to discuss the issue?”

The air of superior confidence was at last shaken as Kostas took a hasty step back.

“No,” he barked out before he was battling to conceal his rampant fear. “That will not be necessary.”

“Good.” Siljar waved a hand in dismissal. “Now I believe your work here is done.”

“As you wish.”

Walking like he had a stick shoved up his ass, Kostas managed to make it to the door before Siljar halted him.

“Kostas.”

He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes cold with thwarted fury.

“Yes?”

“I will not be pleased if I learn Jaelyn has been harmed,” she warned softly. “Indeed, I shall take it quite personally.”

For a crazed minute, Ariyal thought that the vampire might do something incredibly stupid. Then, gripping his hands into tight fists, he gave a nod of his head.

“I understand.”

The Ruah disappeared from the room, and unable to deny his overwhelming instinct another second, Ariyal crossed the floor to pull Jaelyn into his arms, his gaze never leaving the Oracle.

Siljar might have protected Jaelyn from Kostas and the rest of the Addonexus, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to do something even worse.

If he’d learned nothing else in his long life it was If something seemed too good to be true …

Wiping her hands down her robe, the Oracle gave a tiny shudder.

“Such a ghastly demon.”

Styx stepped forward, offering her a deep bow. It might have been strange to see the massive vampire showing such respect for the tiny demon. At least until you looked into Siljar’s dark eyes.

Her power simmered like a nuclear explosion just waiting to happen.

“You cut that a little close, Siljar,” he said. Gently.

Ariyal felt Jaelyn stiffen in his arms, her gaze shifting to the Anasso.

“You knew Siljar was coming?” she demanded.

It was the Oracle who answered.

“Styx approached me when he discovered the Ruah intended to seek you out.”

Styx shrugged. “I couldn’t by law keep him from returning you to the Addonexus and putting you to death,” he admitted, his eyes narrowing. “Something that I obviously need to correct in the near future. Only an Oracle could prevent the inevitable.”

“I’m deeply grateful.”

Ariyal frowned, studying his mate’s pale face. He knew that voice. And it usually meant danger.

“We’re both in your debt,” he added.

Without warning, Jaelyn was out of his arms and flying across the room to slam her fist into Styx’s arm with enough force to make him stumble to the side.

“Damn you.”

“Ouch.” Styx grabbed his arm, his expression more bemused than angry. “Is that any way to treat your king? A king, I might remind you, who just saved your pretty neck.”

“I was scared shitless.” Jaelyn planted her fists on her hips. “You could have given me a little heads-up.”

Ariyal folded his arms over his chest, in full agreement with his mate.

Although he wasn’t foolish enough to take a swing at the King of Vampires.

“Kostas has his position as Ruah for a reason,” Styx reminded the glaring Jaelyn. “He would have sensed deceit the moment you entered the room.”

Her jaw remained clenched, but it was obvious from her expression that Styx had a point.

“So is it over?” he demanded, moving to pull Jaelyn back into his arms. He was fairly certain he was never going to let her go again. “Is she free of the Addonexus?”

Siljar turned the dark, disturbing gaze in his direction. “She is still under contract to me.”

His brows snapped together. “What does that mean?”

Jaelyn jabbed him in the side with her elbow, nearly cracking a rib.

“Ariyal.”

“I would prefer to know if someone is going to try and take you away from me,” he growled.

“I have no intention of taking away your mate, Sylvermyst,” Siljar assured him. “But I do reserve the right to call her to service should the need arise.”

“Of course,” Jaelyn hastily answered, as if fearing Ariyal might say something stupid.

Thankfully he was too overwhelmed with relief to say a word.

It was Styx who asked the question running through all their minds.

“Do you see the need arising anytime soon?”

Siljar gave a vague wave of her hands. “Without the prophet it is impossible to say, but we must assume that the Dark Lord will not abandon his attempts to destroy the barriers between worlds.”

With an abrupt motion the King of Weres stepped forward, his expression troubled.

“We can’t forget that in meantime two of my people are being held captive,” he growled.

“Caine and Cassandra have not been forgotten.” Something that might have been frustration touched the Oracle’s face. “Unfortunately we have not yet found a way to reach them.”

Salvatore scowled. “Or anyone willing to try?”

“As you say.” The tiny demon heaved a sigh. “We will not give up.”

Salvatore’s attention shifted from the Oracle to the door, his eyes flashing gold.

“What is that stench?” he muttered; then he growled as he shot Ariyal a disgruntled frown. “You really need to be a bit more discriminating in who you invite into your home.”

Ariyal rolled his eyes as he caught the unmistakable scent of granite. Hell, if he had his way, he wouldn’t let any of them into his house. It was only to please Jaelyn that he’d let the vampire and Were over the threshold.