“I can’t.”
Levet clicked his tongue. Why was the female being so difficult? “Why not?”
“It’s mine to protect.” Her eyes flashed red. “And I will do whatever is necessary to keep it safe.”
Levet shivered. Whatever was necessary? That couldn’t be good.
“What does that mean?” he pressed.
“You shouldn’t have come here,” she said, tossing him across the cell with a flick of her wrist.
Levet squealed as he hit the ground with a painful thump. Mon Dieu. One day he was going to show the ogress she was messing with the wrong gargoyle.
Perhaps he would put a very large boil on the tip of her nose. One that could never be cured.
With a sniff, Levet forced himself to his feet and glared at the female as she used her massive foot to collapse the tunnel he’d spent the past hour digging. Then, stomping across the floor and stepping out of the cell, she slammed the heavy steel door behind her.
For a moment, Levet studied the pile of rubble that had been his escape tunnel. It was possible he could dig through the debris. But not before daylight.
Was Inga headed back to the hotel at this moment to crush Chiron? Did he care? Hmm. Not particularly, but Styx was certain to be all pussy—no wait, pissy—if he allowed the vampire to be killed on his watch.
Perhaps he should at least attempt to save him.
It was, after all, what he did best.
Heaving a sigh, Levet turned to make his way to where Ulric was snoring loud enough to wake the dead.
“Get up,” he commanded.
More snoring. Levet leaned over the male, slapping his swollen and bloody face. It looked like he’d run into a brick wall.
Or Inga’s fist.
He slapped the male’s face again. And again. And again.
He’d just fallen into a nice rhythm when Ulric’s hand shot up to grab Levet’s fingers in a punishing grip.
“Stop that.”
Levet scowled, pulling his fingers free as he took a step back. “Hey, no need to be a jack butt,” he said.
Ulric slowly sat up, giving a shake of his head, as if he was trying to clear his thoughts.
“Jackass,” he snapped. “Not jack butt.”
“Whatever.” Levet waved his hand toward the crumbled wall across the cell. “Because of you, my escape attempt has been ruined.”
The Were scowled, clearly trying to figure out where he was and how he’d gotten there. “What happened?”
“Inga,” Levet said.
Ulric looked momentarily confused, then his eyes smoldered with the golden heat of his inner wolf.
“She hit me in the face,” he growled, reaching up his hand to gingerly touch his cheek. “I think she broke my jaw.”
Levet shrugged his indifference. The dog deserved everything that had happened to him.
“Oui. And then she brought you down here and discovered me in the tunnel I had dug. Just look at what she did to it.” He turned back to glare at his companion. “And it is all your fault.”
Ulric muttered a curse as he forced himself to his feet. He wobbled, as if he was about to collapse, and Levet scrambled backward. The Were was large enough to squash him. Then, with a visible effort, Ulric managed to remain upright.
“How have you survived so long?” he groused.
Levet blinked. Was that a joke?
“I may be small, but my powers are as fearsome as they are wondrous,” he informed his companion. “And my charm is—”
“Shut up,” Ulric interrupted, glancing around the dungeon with an impatient expression.
Levet folded his arms over his chest. “Typical dog. Always growling and snapping.”
Ulric pretended he didn’t hear the insult, his hands balling into tight fists. “The ogress must be working with the witches.”
Levet wrinkled his snout. “If she is, they are no longer in the area. I have not sensed a human since we arrived.”
Ulric considered for a moment. “So either they don’t care about the key, or they assume Inga is an adequate guard.”
Levet shrugged. Neither explanation fully satisfied him. Vampires hated witches. Why would the Anasso work with the humans to create the spell if they were going to walk away? Why not work with Inga directly?
It was all very confusing.
“I suppose you can ask her when she comes back to kill us,” Levet suggested.
Ulric jerked his head around, his eyes narrowed. “Did she say anything?”
Levet’s wings twitched. Weres didn’t produce the same heat as a dragon, but they did amp up the temperature when they were in a mood. Which was always.
“Only that we were interfering in matters we know nothing about, and that she will do whatever is necessary to protect the key.”
Ulric peeled back his lips, his teeth lengthening as the smell of wolf filled the cavern. “Chiron is in danger.”
Levet parted his lips, about to point out that it was more important that he was in danger than the stupid vampire. Then he swallowed his words. The Were was far more likely to get them out of there if he was anxious about his friend’s safety.
“Oui.”
On cue, Ulric swiveled toward the door. “We have to get out of here.”
Levet made a sound of impatience. “What do you think I have been saying?”
“Yap. Yap. Yap,” Ulric said, his tone distracted. “At least that’s what it sounded like to me.”
Of all the conceited, ill-mannered mutts…
Levet raised his hand and extended one claw. “Dogs.” He extended a second claw. “Ogres.” Third claw. “Family.” Fourth claw. “Vampires and dragons.”
Ulric glanced over his shoulder with an annoyed expression. “Now what are you babbling about?”
“It is my most-disliked list,” Levet informed him. “You are first.”
Ulric didn’t appear nearly as crushed as he should have been. Indeed, he gave a dismissive lift of his shoulder.
“Good. I like to be first.”
Levet blew a raspberry in his direction. “How do you expect to get out of here?” he demanded.
Ulric halted in front of the only exit. “Like this.”
Without warning, the large male began smashing his fists against the door, driving huge dents into the steel.
“Yikes.” Levet scurried backward, his eyes wide.
Perhaps he should not be quite so quick to annoy the Were. He was clearly filled with all sorts of pent-up aggression.
Chapter 15
Lilah led Chiron into the hallway, attempting to squash the strange premonition that sent a rash of goose bumps over her skin. As much as she might want to remain wrapped in Chiron’s arms, she couldn’t pretend the outside world didn’t exist.
Not only did Chiron need to return to the vampire wing of the hotel before dawn, but she wanted to help him release Tarak from the witches’ prison. When they eventually completed the mating, she wanted to ensure he wasn’t distracted by his gnawing need to rescue his master.
She wanted his full attention.
Telling herself the shiver snaking down her spine was one of excitement, she continued to the end of the hallway.
“This is her room,” she said, reaching up to knock on the door. She frowned as it swung inward. Poking her head into the room, she tried to see through the gloom. Unlike most demons, she didn’t have the ability to see at night. “Inga?” she at last called out. There was no answer and she straightened, turning back to meet Chiron’s steady gaze. “Strange. She’s usually preparing for bed at this hour.”
Expecting him to shrug and turn away, Lilah watched in confusion as he brushed past her and pushed the door wider. Then, without hesitation, he stepped into the room and glanced around.
“Salt,” he muttered.
She frowned in confusion before forcing her feet to carry her forward. She rarely entered Inga’s private space, and never when the older female wasn’t there. “What about salt?”
&
nbsp; “I keep smelling it.” He turned in a circle, as if trying to pinpoint the source. “I assumed it must have something to do with the witch’s spell, but it’s much stronger here.”
“Oh.” She gave a wave of her hand toward the walls. Each of them was painted with a dazzling display of an underwater scene. “It’s the murals.”
He remained confused as he moved toward the nearest wall and studied the fish that appeared to be swimming through the lacy coral. The colors were so vivid, so enchanting, they never failed to take Lilah’s breath away when she saw them.
Chiron straightened. “Why would the murals smell like salt?”
“She told me it makes them more realistic.”
He walked to the center of the room. Beyond the murals, it was remarkably barren, with one cushy chair that was large enough to fit Inga’s oversize body, and a long cedar chest that had the top open to reveal neat stacks of leather-bound books.
Chiron shook his head and crossed the floor to shove open the wooden door set in the far wall. “No. This isn’t from the murals.”
“Chiron.” Lilah hurried toward the male, cringing at the thought of Inga’s horror if she discovered them. Never in all the years they’d lived together had Lilah dared to trespass beyond the front room. “What are you doing?”
“I think your manager knows more about the key and my missing master than she’s willing to admit,” he said, as if that explained everything.
“We can’t just barge through her rooms,” she protested, trying to grab his arm.
As if she’d ever be able to prevent a vampire from doing whatever he wanted to do. She’d have more luck stopping a freight train.
He easily shook off her hand. “You can’t, but I can.”
“No.”
He shoved open the door and entered the attached bedroom. Instantly, fairy lights sparked to life, dancing across the ceiling to spread a soft golden glow through the small space.
In silence, they both glanced around the stark space. A large bed consumed most of the floor and a wood armoire was lovingly polished. That was it. There were no knickknacks, or pictures, or personal items. It looked like a cell rather than a bedroom.
Chiron circled the room. “She has a very austere style.”
“She’s also very large and very mean when someone invades her privacy,” Lilah warned.
“I’m not invading.”
She frowned as he circled the bed, then headed toward the armoire. “Then what are you doing?”
“Glancing.”
“Is there a difference?”
“Of course there is.” He stopped in front of the armoire and pulled open one of the doors. Lilah’s mouth dropped open. It was bad enough to trespass into Inga’s rooms, but to actually paw through her belongings was unforgivable.
Lilah stepped toward him. Enough was enough. They needed to get out of there before Inga returned and decided to twist Chiron’s head off his body.
“Chiron, you can’t—”
“Shit,” Chiron interrupted, reaching into the armoire to pull out an object that had been hidden inside. “Did you know Inga owned this?”
Lilah’s eyes widened as Chiron pulled out a bow and arrow. Of all the things she’d expected him to find in the armoire, a weapon was at the bottom of the list.
After all, Inga was big and strong enough to kill most things with her bare hands. Why would she need to shoot something?
“I don’t ever remember seeing her with one,” she said, her brain trying to land on a reason for the older female to have the strange object. “She might use it for protection when she goes into the swamps.”
“Or to kill vampires.”
Her gaze jerked up to search his tightly clenched features. She’d been surprised by the weapon, but it hadn’t occurred to her that it might have been the one used to shoot at Chiron.
“No way.” She gave an emphatic shake of her head.
He held out the arrow, pointing at the distinctive red fletching. “This is a replica of the one that nearly turned me into a pile of ash.”
Lilah couldn’t deny his accusation. The arrow did look the same. But Inga? Okay, the female might hate vampires. And she might have an extra dose of dislike for Chiron. But Lilah simply couldn’t imagine the large ogress creeping onto the roof and waiting for the vague opportunity to shoot one of their guests through the heart.
Of course, there had to be some reason the weapon was in her armoire.
“Someone could have taken it from here.” She grasped at the only straw that wiggled its way through the dazed fog in her brain. “We just proved she rarely locks the door.”
He arched a brow. “It would have to be someone who knew she had the weapon in here. Who’s closer to her than you are?”
There was no one. Inga didn’t have friends. Not among the staff or any of the guests. And as far as Lilah knew, the older woman had never taken a lover.
Lilah wrapped her arms around her waist. That terrible sense of premonition wasn’t just a tingle. It was thundering through her with unnerving force.
“It’s impossible,” she breathed.
“Why?”
“Because she has no reason to want you dead,” Lilah desperately pointed out.
“Are you sure?”
The question was obviously rhetorical as Chiron turned away and tossed the bow and arrow onto the bed. Then, with long strides, he was across the room and placing his hand on the narrow door to the closet.
She pressed a hand to her churning stomach. “Now what are you doing?”
He continued to stroke the wood, as if he was capable of sensing what was on the other side. And maybe he was.
“Don’t you think it’s curious she doesn’t lock the outside door, but she has this one double bolted?”
Lilah had been too distracted by the discovery of the weapon to pay much attention to the closet. Now she could see the heavy locks drilled into the door.
Odd.
“Perhaps she keeps her valuables in there,” she suggested.
Chiron glanced over his shoulder. “Let’s find out.”
Lilah hurried forward. Did the male have no sense of boundaries at all? Clearly, the answer was no. “Please, let me just ask her.”
He turned to face her, his expression grim. “Do you think she would be honest? Has she never lied to you?”
The questions slammed into Lilah with a physical force. Against her will, she recalled her earlier frustration with Inga. Not only because she was so reluctant to allow Lilah to travel beyond the barrier, but her insistence that she knew nothing about Lilah’s parents. There was a mystery surrounding her past. She’d known it in her gut, even before Chiron had arrived and stirred up her suspicions. Still, she refused to think Inga was somehow evil. “She only wants to protect me,” she said, speaking more to herself than to Chiron.
“From what?”
“I…” She gave a helpless shake of her head. “I don’t know.”
He reached to grasp her hands, clearly sensing her distress. “Lilah, I’ve seen you with Inga. Whatever she might be hiding, there’s no doubt she’s utterly devoted to you.”
She released a shaky sigh. Could he sense how desperately she needed to trust in her former nanny? Inga had been the bedrock of her life. “She’s all I’ve ever had.”
“I understand.” He squeezed her finger. “I truly do.”
There was a fieriness in his voice that puzzled her. Then her breath caught in her throat. He was remembering Tarak, and how the older vampire refused to accept the truth that his beloved Anasso was addling his mind with tainted blood. Even when the truth was no doubt staring him straight in the face.
“I suppose you do.” She heaved a small sigh. “I’m just like your master, attempting to convince myself that nothing is wrong.”
He grimaced, as if he was suddenly regretting his words. “And I’m the same impatient fool who pushes without considering who I’m hurting.” He lifted her hands to press her fingers agains
t his lips. “I’m sorry, Lilah. Why don’t you go back to bed? We can speak later.”
Lilah hesitated. She wanted to obey his soft command. Why not crawl into her bed and pull the covers over her head? She didn’t want to pry into Inga’s privacy. And she didn’t want to have her heart broken by the knowledge that the older female didn’t deserve her trust.
Then she gave a sharp shake of her head. Wasn’t she just whining to Inga that she wanted the fuzz cleared from her mind? Now that she had the opportunity, she wasn’t going to run and hide. Even if it broke her heart.
“No.” She stiffened her spine. “Denying the truth won’t make it go away. I can only hope Inga will forgive me.”
He continued to study her with obvious concern. “I don’t want you hurt.”
She nodded toward the door. “Right now, all we have is a suspicion that my friend might know more about the key than she’s willing to admit. It’s quite likely there’s nothing behind the closed door beyond her stash of muumuus.”
His brows arched. “Is that what you call those dresses she wears?”
“She does have a unique style,” Lilah agreed, rushing to the defense of her friend. “As I recall, you said you liked unique.”
He shrugged. “No doubt Levet is unique as well, but I don’t want to think about him in a muumuu.”
Lilah chuckled at the thought of the gargoyle in a muumuu, at the same time struck by a sudden thought.
“They both appear to be misfits among the demon world. Perhaps the two of them—”
“Stop.” Chiron held up a hand. “I beg of you.”
Lilah’s brief amusement faded as she glanced toward the closet. She didn’t know where Inga was, but the ogress would soon be returning. The last thing Lilah wanted was a physical confrontation between her onetime nanny and her soon-to-be mate.
“Let’s get this over with.”
He nodded, turning back to the door. “I’ll try the easy way first,” he told her.
He reached out to grasp the doorknob. Lilah took an instinctive step backward as she heard the screech of metal on metal. Vampires didn’t have to be as large as trolls to have extraordinary strength. But surprisingly, the locks held. They were either reinforced or magically enhanced.
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