Devoured By Darkness

by Alexandra Ivy

  “You created nothing,” she charged, discreetly leaning against the wall of the tunnel. Marika could no doubt sense her weakness, but pride demanded she at least make the attempt to disguise it. Besides, she was tired of getting smacked against the rocks. She had a vague hope if she were already pressed to the wall she could avoid a repeat performance. “Locking a lusty demon in the same room with a helpless female doesn’t really justify your god complex. But then, you’re desperate to use others to give you the power that you were denied.” Her lips curled in disgust. “Your sister. Sergei. The Dark Lord. Pathetic really.”

  “Shut up.”

  “Why?” Laylah prodded. She wasn’t overly excited about another round with the female, but stalling wasn’t an option. She had to provoke the vampire into a reckless attack soon or it would be too late. Either she would pass out or Sergei would complete his spell. “Does the truth hurt?”

  “You …”

  Clearly preparing to rip out Laylah’s throat, Marika was distracted when Sergei shouted in sudden alarm.

  “Marika. Dear God.” His voice was barely recognizable. “Two.”

  Compelled by the urgent fear in his words, both Marika and Laylah turned to where Sergei stood, one hand pressed to his chest and the other pointing at the child lying on the ground at his feet.

  No.

  Not a child. Children.

  As in more than one.

  Laylah made a sound of choked disbelief. For years she had treated the babe as if it were her own. She had held him in her arms and slept with him in her bed.

  Granted, the stasis spell made it impossible to truly touch Maluhia, but she had sensed him deep in her heart. Hadn’t she?

  She shook her head, refusing to believe that it had been part of the spell to compel her to care for the child. The stasis was broken after all, and she could still feel the connection to Maluhia. It was in every beat of his tiny heart.

  Her baffled gaze shifted over two babies lying side by side.

  They were both the size of a three-month-old human child and both naked to reveal that while one was male the other was undoubtedly female.

  The alpha and the omega.

  Cassie’s words echoed through her head as the male, who she was convinced was Maluhia, turned as if sensing she was near. He had a bit of blond fuzz on his head and his blue eyes were filled with trust as they locked on her, a smile curving his lips.

  The female lay still, although Laylah could see her chest move as she breathed. Her eyes were closed and her downy hair the same shade as her twin’s, but she appeared unaware of the world around her.

  As if she was still locked in the spell.

  Laylah was jerked out of her fog of astonishment as Marika stepped toward the babies, a scowl marring her brow.

  “What have you done?”

  The mage took a step backward, bafflement etched on his lean face.

  Yeah, bafflement seemed to be the word of the day.

  At least she wasn’t alone in feeling like an idiot that she had never suspected there was more than one child.

  “There’s two of them,” Sergei stated the obvious.

  Marika inched forward, her gaze locked on the babies. “How is that possible?”

  Sergei shrugged, licking his dry lips. “I don’t know. There’s a boy and a girl.”

  Belatedly realizing she was wasting a perfect opportunity, Laylah cursed her stupidity and edged backward. What was wrong with her? The two were completely obsessed with the children. It was now or never.

  Keeping her gaze trained on the vampire, Laylah bent downward, blindly searching for the large sword that Ariyal had been carrying before being tossed down the tunnel like a broken doll.

  It took several swipes before her fingers brushed over the hilt. She swallowed her premature moan of relief. For the moment Marika was distracted. The last thing Laylah wanted was to remind the female vampire that she’d left unfinished business lurking behind her.

  Clenching her hand around the leather-bound hilt, Laylah hefted the sword off the ground, nearly tumbling onto her face at the unexpected weight of the thing.

  Gods.

  Obviously size really did matter to the Sylvermyst. Shifting to hold the sword with both hands, Laylah straightened and with a slow, steady pace moved back down the tunnel.

  Oblivious to the approaching danger, Marika imperiously held out her hands.

  “Pick up the children and give them to me.”

  Sergei dutifully bent, but Laylah didn’t give him the opportunity to present his mistress with her long awaited trophies.

  With the last of her strength she managed to lift the sword and with one smooth motion she was swinging it through the air, hitting Marika on the side of her neck.

  She was braced for the impact. She didn’t have a lot of experience in decapitating vampires, but she assumed it would take considerable effort.

  Instead the magnificent blade slid through the muscle and tendons and bone as if they were butter.

  Laylah blinked in shock as Marika’s head tumbled from her body.

  It was … astonishing.

  One minute it had been sitting on her neck, and the next it was rolling across the dirt ground. A part of her was horrified.

  Before that moment she’d only killed to protect herself or her child. It had never been a premeditated decision.

  But a larger part of her was drowning in fierce relief.

  The female had deliberately arranged for her own sister to be raped and tortured for the sole purpose of returning the Dark Lord to the world. She had hunted Laylah as if she were an animal. And she’d used her pet mage to try and kill Tane.

  Unforgivable.

  Dropping the too heavy sword, Laylah met her aunt’s dead eyes. “Go to hell you evil bitch.”

  Tane rounded the corner of the tunnel just in time to witness Laylah slicing off Marika’s head.

  He skidded to a halt, his shock being quickly replaced by sheer pride.

  That He-man part of him that drove Laylah crazy might regret not being the one to slay his mate’s dragon, but damn if there wasn’t something intensely exciting about a woman who could take care of business.

  Stepping to his side, Jaelyn gave a low whistle, her gaze on the rapidly disintegrating vampire.

  “You’d better watch yourself, Charon,” she drawled. “Your mate’s not a woman to screw with.”

  “No, she’s not,” he murmured in agreement, his hand absently rubbing the spot over his unbeating heart.

  He was still adjusting to the intensity of his feelings for the tiny Jinn mongrel.

  It was more than the mating bond, more than sexual attraction.

  It was an all-consuming love for the one woman who completed his soul.

  Lifting a hand, Jaelyn pointed down the tunnel. “The Sylvermyst is near.”

  With an effort, Tane turned his focus from his mate and allowed his senses to flow through the frozen darkness, ignoring the mage who had his back turned toward him. He could deal with the more obvious threats. For the moment, he was more interested in making certain nothing was trying to creep up on them.

  “He lives,” Tane concluded, picking up the faint hint of herbs.

  “Good.” The kind of smile that made wise men run in terror curled Jaelyn’s lips. “No one kills him, but me.”

  Personal, much?

  Tane shrugged. “So long as he stays out of my way.”

  Keeping a close eye on the mage, Tane began to step toward Laylah, his sword held at the ready as Sergei belatedly sensed their presence and turned with a small cry of alarm.

  Tane froze, his gaze lowering to the two naked babies that were squirming in the mage’s hands.

  “What the hell?” he breathed.

  Jaelyn made a sound of astonishment. “Does your mate have a whole collection of babies?”

  Stark fear was etched on Sergei’s narrow face as he pressed his back to the side of the tunnel, dangling each of the children by one of their chubb
y arms.

  “Stay back or I’ll kill them,” he rasped.

  “No, you won’t,” Tane growled. “They’re worth too much.”

  “I’m greedy, but I’m not stupid,” the mage rasped. “Right now my only concern is getting off this mountain in one piece.”

  Laylah moved to his side, squeezing his arm. “Tane, please.”

  He turned to study her pale face, not missing the strain that tightened her expression. She was so exhausted she could barely stand and yet her only concern was for the children that whimpered in Sergei’s rough grip.

  Tenderness clutched his heart as he reached to brush a finger down her cheek.

  “You’ve been busy, my sweet.”

  Her lips twisted as she glanced toward Marika’s corpse that had turned to ash.

  “I’m newly mated so I thought I would try a little housecleaning.”

  “A fine job, but it’s not fair for you to do all the work. I should at least take out the trash.” He deliberately glanced toward the mage. “First, however, you might explain how you started with one child and now have two.”

  “When Sergei removed the spell it revealed there were twins,” she said, clearly as baffled as he was.

  “You never sensed the other child?”

  “No.”

  He shook his head, a chill settling in the pit of his stomach.

  “Why am I thinking that’s not a good thing?”

  “The alpha and the omega,” a dark, musical voice said from the dark. “The Gemini.”

  With a rumble of warning deep in his throat, Tane turned to watch Ariyal stumble into view.

  Shit. The Sylvermyst looked like he’d been put through a meat grinder. Compliments of Marika, no doubt. But Tane wasn’t deceived. The fey had already made a fool out of Tane once.

  He wasn’t going to get a second chance.

  “Wait, Tane,” Laylah pleaded.

  “Yeah, wait,” Jaelyn snarled, shoving past them to stand directly in front of her personal nemesis. “I told you he’s mine.”

  Ariyal flashed a smile that managed to be goading despite his mangled throat and the deep slashes that marred one side of his face.

  “You haven’t earned the right to claim me, vampire,” he taunted. “Although I’ll be happy to give you a taste when we’re alone.”

  “You …”

  Laylah was moving before the hunter could launch her attack, risking life and limb by grabbing the female vampire’s upper arm.

  “Jaelyn, I need answers first.”

  Jaelyn whipped her head to stab Laylah with a furious glare, her eyes glowing and her fangs fully extended.

  “From him? You can’t trust anything he says.”

  Ariyal blew a kiss in her direction. “You know me so well, pet.”

  “Don’t call me that,” she snapped.

  Tane grit his teeth. The danger was so thick in the air he was chocking on it.

  And not just between Ariyal and Jaelyn. Sergei’s panicked fear bled through the tunnel, warning he was on the edge of doing something truly stupid.

  With a gentle care, Tane tugged his mate away from Jaelyn, not wanting her in the firing line. In the same motion he managed to tuck her out of sight of the mage.

  His little Jinn might be capable of kicking ass, but it would always be his duty to protect her.

  “Laylah, what is it?”

  She chewed her bottom lip, her brows furrowed. “Cassie called Maluhia the alpha and the omega.” She turned her head back to Ariyal. “What does that mean?”

  Tane pointed his stolen sword toward the fey in unspoken warning.

  “The truth Sylvermyst.”

  Ariyal deliberately paused, as if to ensure Tane understood he was answering because he wanted to and not because he was intimidated.

  “It’s a prophecy,” he at last admitted.

  “Of course it is,” Tane muttered.

  Laylah pressed a hand to her throat. “What does it say?”

  The Sylvermyst closed his eyes as he quoted the prophecy he’d obviously memorized:

  “Flesh of flesh, blood of blood, bound in darkness. The alpha and omega shall be torn asunder and through the mist reunited. Pathways that have been hidden will be found and the veil parted to the faithful. The Gemini will rise and chaos shall rule for all eternity.”

  Tane snorted. Shit. He hated the mumbo-jumbo prophets spouted.

  “The usual babble,” he said in disgust. “Why can’t they just say what the hell’s going to happen?”

  Ariyal narrowed his gaze. “Chaos ruling for all eternity seems pretty straightforward.”

  “Flesh of flesh?” Tane pointed out. “It’s gibberish.”

  The fey nodded toward the mage who remained pressed against the far side of the tunnel.

  “The Dark Lord created the brats out of his flesh.”

  Laylah cursed. “Stop saying that.”

  The bronzed gaze swung back to regard Laylah with a bleak gaze.

  “Not saying it doesn’t make it any less true.” “The children are innocent,” Laylah insisted. “They’re vessels. With them the Dark Lord will be able to return.”

  “No.” Laylah shook her head. “You don’t know that.” “I’m not willing to risk it.” The unnerving bronze gaze shifted to Tane. “Are you, vampire?”

  Chapter 23

  Laylah glared at the fey, wishing she had enough strength left to break his perfect nose.

  What would it solve? Nothing. But it damned well would feel fantastic.

  Instead she reached down to grab the sword she was too weary to lift and pretended that she wasn’t about to fall flat on her face.

  “Don’t be looking to me for support, fey,” Tane growled at her side. “You try to hurt my children and I’ll cut your fucking head off.”

  Ariyal hissed in frustration. “You will sacrifice the world for them?”

  “The world is already damned if it demands the blood of innocents,” Laylah said. “You can’t fight evil with evil.”

  “Are you bloody kidding me?” The Sylvermyst studied her as if she’d grown a second head. “No one is that naïve.”

  There was a low cry from one of the babies as Sergei stepped forward, sweat coating his forehead despite the brutal chill in the air.

  “If you want the brats I’ll give them to you.” He looked directly at the fey. “Once I’m out of here.”

  Tane swung his sword in Sergei’s direction, his low growl stopping the mage in his tracks.

  “Take one more step and you’re dead, mage.”

  Licking his lips, Sergei briefly glanced toward the lethal vampire before grimly turning his attention back to Ariyal.

  “I’m not without power. If you’ll join with me we can escape.” He shook the babies dangling in his hands and it was only Tane’s hand landing on her shoulder that kept Laylah from launching herself at the bastard. “Once we’re away from here you can do whatever the hell you want with the babes.”

  “You wouldn’t,” Jaelyn muttered, studying Ariyal with an odd mixture of fury and … confusion. As if unable to accept the Sylvermyst could truly harm an innocent child.

  The fey’s beautiful features tightened, his gaze refusing to stray toward the female vampire.

  “Someone has to stop the looming apocalypse. And if this Scooby-Doo gang doesn’t have the stomach to make the tough choices then I’ll do it for them.”

  “Don’t pretend you have some altruistic motive for slaughtering children,” Laylah snapped. “All you care about is saving your own worthless hide.”

  “Are you deaf?” The Sylvermyst pointed a finger toward the squirming babies. “They are not children, they’re the spawn of the Dark Lord.”

  “He’s right,” Sergei parroted.

  Laylah managed to force a small rock to drop onto his head. “Shut up, mage.”

  Sergei hissed, stabbing her with a furious glare. “They’re creatures of dark magic, created by evil.”

  Laylah ignored the thick tension that
blanketed the tunnel.

  She wasn’t stupid. She knew that the others suspected her overwhelming maternal instincts were blinding her to the truth of the babies. And in one sense they were right.

  She refused to consider who or what had created the babies. Or what they intended to do with them. So far as she was concerned, they had been born the moment she’d taken them from the mist.

  But it wasn’t just blind hope.

  To the very depths of her soul she believed the children were innocent.

  After all, she was a creation of evil.

  What else could you call the brutal rape of a helpless woman that had been orchestrated by her own sister?

  She had to believe that it was possible for good to come out of such wickedness.

  “It doesn’t matter how they were created,” she said, her voice thick.

  Ariyal swore, the aroma of herbs so strong it overwhelmed every other scent. Not entirely a bad thing considering Marika had left behind the stench of burning flesh.

  Nasty.

  “Don’t be a fool.” The fey stabbed a finger toward the babies. “They are destined to open the path to the Dark Lord and his minions.”

  “Cousins of yours?” Jaelyn abruptly mocked.

  “Yes.” The furious bronze gaze swung toward the female vampire. “And trust me, they don’t have my exquisite charm.”

  Jaelyn snorted. “Hard to believe they could be worse.”

  “You have no idea.” Ariyal turned back to Laylah. “And they wouldn’t even be the worst of what would crawl out of hell.”

  She believed him.

  She truly did.

  Whatever his selfish motive in wanting to prevent the return of the Dark Lord, he wasn’t lying when he spoke of the horrors that would engulf the world if the veil between worlds was ripped open.

  That didn’t mean, however, he wasn’t a big fat liar when it came to the supposed fate of her beautiful children.

  “Where did you hear this prophecy?” she demanded between clenched teeth.

  He waved a slender hand. “It’s taught to all Sylvermyst before they ever leave the cradle.”

  “Convenient.” Ariyal intended to commit murder because of a vague bedtime story? She stuck out her chin. “Did you ever think it might have been a lie that was invented by the Dark Lord?”