When Darkness Ends

  Coward.

  Cyn crouched, but even as he prepared himself for the coming attack, Fallon was abruptly surging toward the druid.

  There was a rattle of chains, then an ungodly scream from the druid as Fallon grabbed his lower leg.

  Cyn hesitated.

  It didn’t look as if she was doing anything more than holding on to him, but there was no mistaking the smoke that was boiling beneath his robe as she released her considerable power. There was another shriek, and Cyn winced as the stench of charred flesh assaulted his senses.

  Accepting that his beautiful princess had quite literally taken matters into her own hands, Cyn took a step backward, already prepared for the sudden explosion of light that rocked the cave.

  It was never wise to piss off a Chatri, he wryly conceded, not surprised to discover there was no sign of the druid as the smoke finally cleared.

  Behind him he sensed Styx and Viper cautiously moving forward.

  “Holy shit,” Viper breathed, coming to a halt beside Cyn as he studied the delicate female who’d just turned the druid into a small mound of sizzling tar. “That was—”

  “Awesome,” Cyn breathed. “Fucking awesome.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Fallon couldn’t halt a small smile as she rose shakily to her feet, her hands still tingling from the massive release of power.

  She’d felt sick to her stomach as she’d sensed the druid melting beneath her touch. It was, after all, one thing to possess the power to kill, and quite another to actually take the life of another.

  Even an evil despot like the druid.

  But while she struggled to overcome her moral qualms at killing, she couldn’t deny a stab of pleasure as Cyn regarded her with blatant pride.

  He wasn’t horrified by what she’d done. Or chastising her for taking a risk.

  He thought she was fucking awesome.

  Holding her vampire’s gaze, she waited for him to gently twist off the iron shackles as if they were made of clay. She grimaced, belatedly realizing just how much damage the iron had done to her.

  Tenderly Cyn lifted her arms so he could kiss the three-inch band of seared flesh.

  It would eventually heal, but until then it was going to drain her strength.

  Not to mention, hurt like a bitch.

  Feeling a cold chill wrap around her, Fallon instinctively pressed against Cyn’s large body as the other two vampires moved to stare down at what was left of the druid.

  “That was a hell of a trick,” a silver-haired vampire with the face of an angel drawled. “But the question is . . . did it stop the spell?”

  Ignoring the voice of warning that urged her to remain close to Cyn, Fallon forced her shaky legs to carry her to the altar so she could peer into the blue flames.

  She easily sensed the magic that was connected to the druid pulsing in the fire. Unfortunately she didn’t possess the ability to actually manipulate the spell, let alone stop it.

  “No.” She lifted her gaze to discover the three vampires regarding her with unwavering attention. Unlike her own people, it was obvious the vampires had no problem expecting her to pull her own weight. “The spell is still active.”

  “Damn.” Styx scowled. “What about the portals?”

  Fallon lifted her hand, releasing a small burst of power.

  Even knowing the spell had already started, she still expected a portal to form. It seemed incomprehensible that the dimensions had been blocked.

  Like a human might feel to open their front door only to discover there was a brick wall standing in their way.

  “They’ve been closed,” she said with a shudder.

  Cyn released a low hiss. “So what now?”

  Styx grimaced. “We can’t fight the entire Commission.”

  The silver-haired vampire gave a shrug. “The Compulsion spell will have to wear off eventually, won’t it?”

  “Perhaps, but will it be in time?” Cyn demanded.

  “He’s right,” Styx said. “We have to do something.”

  Fallon stepped away from the altar, only vaguely aware of the vampires as they continued to squabble over what should be done next.

  There was a strange buzzing inside her skull that had gone from mildly confusing to downright annoying.

  What the hell was it?

  She pressed her fingers to her temple, concentrating on the strange sensation.

  It wasn’t until she felt Cyn slide a protective arm around her shoulder that she realized her distraction had been noticed.

  “Fallon.” He grasped her chin to tilt back her head, studying her pale face with open concern. “What’s going on?”

  “There’s some strange—”

  “What?”

  Her brows furrowed as she filtered through the buzz to make out actual words.

  “A voice in my head,” she said.

  The jade eyes darkened as he cupped her cheek. “Careful, princess,” he said softly. “The death of the druid might have triggered some new spell.”

  She shook her head. This wasn’t magic.

  Besides, she’d heard the voice before.

  “No, this one is familiar,” she said.

  He arched a brow. “A Chatri?”

  “Gargoyle.”

  There was a sound from the Anasso who suddenly looked as if he’d bit into a lemon.

  “Levet,” he growled.

  Cyn’s arm tightened around her shoulders. “Why is he in her head?”

  “He’s capable of speaking mind to mind from great distances,” the king said.

  Cyn pulled back his lips to reveal his fully extended fangs.

  “I don’t like it.”

  “Neither do I, amigo.” Styx gave a lift of one massive shoulder. “But his words might be important.”

  Cyn grimaced, meeting Fallon’s steady gaze. “Can you understand what he’s trying to say?”

  “I’ll try.”

  She gently pulled away from his arm. There was no way she could think clearly when he had her pressed against his large body. And, in truth, she wanted some space between herself and the two vampires who were watching her with cold expectation.

  Okay. She’d wanted to be treated as a competent female with skills to offer, but it was more than a little unnerving to have the powerful vampires expecting her to come up with some sort of miracle.

  Standing in a corner with her back turned toward her companions, she closed her eyes and forced herself to focus on the weird chatter inside her head.

  “Levet?” she said, speaking out loud since she didn’t really know how the whole mind to mind contact worked.

  “Ah, thank the gods,” the lightly French-accented voice said. “Are you well, ma belle?”

  With her eyes closed, it was easy for Fallon to imagine the tiny gargoyle with his brilliant wings and stunted horns.

  “For now,” she reassured him, then gave a sudden shiver. It felt as if an eternity had passed since she’d first awoken in Cyn’s caves. Not surprising. In a few short days she’d become a pawn for the Oracles, had her engagement broken, taken a vampire lover, battled a hellhound, killed a druid, and now had a gargoyle speaking in her head. Yep. A pretty eventful few days. “The spell has started.”

  “Oui, I know,” Levet said.

  Fallon felt a surge of hope. If the gargoyle knew about the spell, he had to be near.

  Surely he could help end the magic.

  “Where are you?” she demanded.

  “At the druid’s lair in Ireland.”

  “Oh.” She sighed in disappointment. With the portals closed he was too far away to be of any assistance. “The druid is dead.” She felt her stomach clench, the memory of feeling the human disintegrate beneath her fingertips something she was never going to forget. “I killed him.”

  “Bon,” Levet said with fierce satisfaction. “He was an evil man.”

  He had been.

  And while Fallon would always feel guilty for killing a human, she wasn’t sorry he
was dead.

  She was, however, growingly terrified that his untimely demise might have made it impossible to halt the magic that would soon kill off the demons.

  “But now we have no way to stop the spell,” she said.

  “The druids here believe—”

  “Druids?” she interrupted. Oh God. The last thing they needed were more enemies.

  “They are the brothers of Anthony, but nothing at all like him,” Levet hastily assured her. “They have been imprisoned since they refused to participate in his crazy scheme.”

  “Oh.” She ignored the sensation of Cyn moving to stand directly behind her. “Can they help?”

  “They say that the magic can be halted if you destroy the focus he used to cast the spell.”

  “Of course,” she breathed, feeling like an idiot for not having thought of such a simple solution.

  Cyn’s hand touched her shoulder, his patience clearly at an end.

  “Fallon?”

  Opening her eyes, she turned to meet his searching gaze. “We need to destroy the object that is the focus of the spell.”

  He arched a brow. “Like an amulet?”

  “Yes.”

  “Damn.” Cyn gave an exasperated shake of his head.

  “That’s what Phyla was trying to tell me.”

  Without hesitation the vampires were moving through the cave, turning over every stone in the search for an amulet.

  “I don’t see anything,” the silver-haired vampire at last muttered.

  Cyn turned to glance at Fallon. “Do you know how we can find it?”

  She closed her eyes, repeating the question to Levet.

  There was an unexpected pause before Levet was clearing his throat, as if embarrassed.

  “The druids will cast a spell that will make any druid object hum,” he at last said.

  “Hum?”

  “Oui, you should be able to follow the sound.”

  “Okay.” She grimaced. The thought of trying to find one small humming object in the miles of tunnels and caverns was more than a little daunting. Still, it was better than nothing. “Anything else?”

  “Hurry, ma belle.” Levet’s voice was suddenly filled with a tangible urgency. “The lesser demons will begin to die within an hour.”

  Fallon snapped open her eyes, a shudder wracking her body.

  She didn’t need the reminder that the demons would soon run out of magic.

  It was a sick ball of dread in the pit of her stomach.

  Cyn moved to stand directly in front of her, brushing the back of his fingers over her cheek in a gesture of sweet affection.

  She briefly studied his strong, beautiful face and clear jade eyes. Her heart slammed against her ribs.

  She didn’t know when or how this man had become the most important thing in her life, but the thought that she might lose him . . .

  No. She fiercely squashed the surge of terror.

  Time was running out, but it wasn’t over.

  As if sensing her grim resolve, he leaned down to brush a light kiss over her lips before straightening.

  “What did the gargoyle say?” he demanded in gentle tones.

  “We have to follow the hum.”

  He blinked. “Hum?”

  Fallon shrugged. “That’s what he said.”

  The Anasso reached over his shoulder to pull the big sword free of its scabbard.

  “We should spread out and—”

  “I hear it,” the silver-haired vampire abruptly interrupted, headed toward the edge of the cave. “This way.”

  Fallon moved to follow, only to be halted as Cyn wrapped an arm around her waist and regarded her with a somber expression.

  “Fallon—”

  She reached up to press a finger to his lips. “We’re in this together, vampire.”

  “You’ve done enough,” he growled. “It’s time for you to leave the caves.”

  “And go where?” she demanded softly, reaching up to run one thin braid through her fingers. “Unless we find the amulet nowhere will be safe.”

  He nipped the tip of her nose. “Fine. But no more playing Wonder Woman.”

  Her lips twitched at his disgruntled tone. “Wonder Woman?”

  “It’s my turn to be a hero.”

  He gave her a slow, lingering kiss before reluctantly leading her out of the cave and down the stairs. Then, keeping her fingers grasped in a tight grip, he tugged her down the tunnel, chasing after the silver-haired vampire.

  A wry smile curved her lips.

  She was quite happy to hang up her Wonder Woman cape.

  All she wanted was to find a way to destroy the amulet.

  Then they could return to Cyn’s lair where the only danger they would ever have to face again was when she informed the superbitch Lise she was no longer welcomed to waltz in and out of the castle unless she was specifically invited.

  Oh yes.

  That was the first thing on her agenda.

  Well, after they saved the world.

  Cyn forced himself to concentrate on their surroundings, even as he kept Fallon’s fingers firmly grasped in his hand.

  She was right.

  They were in this together.

  But that didn’t mean he was going to allow her to take any foolish risks.

  Within a few minutes they’d managed to catch up with Viper and Styx who were traveling at a blinding speed through the tunnels that were gradually widening.

  Cyn sensed the hum that was growing progressively louder, but he allowed Viper to take the lead, instead focusing on making sure there were no hidden surprises ready to leap out and attack.

  The druid hadn’t seemed particularly intelligent, but even an idiot could leave behind a few traps for the unwary.

  They wound their way from tunnel to tunnel. A fact that seemed to bother Styx whose lean face was downright bleak as Viper slowed to a mere crawl, as if sensing danger ahead.

  “We’re headed toward the Council Room,” Styx muttered.

  “The Oracles?” Cyn demanded.

  The Anasso grimaced. “They’re all gathered there.”

  Cyn shook his head. Of course the amulet was in the one place where they couldn’t get to it.

  “Awesome.”

  Without warning a dark shape dropped from a ledge above.

  “About time you all joined the party,” Dante murmured, seemingly indifferent to the three swords that had nearly chopped off his head. “Where’s the druid?”

  Cyn glanced toward Fallon who went pale at the question. “Fallon killed him,” he said with open pride, not about to allow his princess to regret what she’d been forced to do.

  “Damn. Good job,” Dante said with an admiring glance. Fallon blushed, and Cyn tucked her close to his side, his gaze narrowing. Hey, he was still a vampire who hadn’t yet been able to claim his mate. Taking the hint, Dante swiftly turned his attention back to Styx. “Now what?”

  “We’re searching for the focus of his spell,” Styx said.

  “I hear it,” Viper murmured softly, peering around the edge of an opening.

  Cyn joined Viper, angling his large body so he could peer into the massive Council Room.

  His brows lifted at the sight of the long table set in the center of the floor where the dozen Oracles were seated.

  They were all different. Different ages, different genders, and different species. But there was no mistaking that these demons were the most lethal creatures on Earth.

  It was obvious in the arrogance etched onto their various faces and the thunderous power that was making the floor tremble.

  Currently they had their hands and tentacles connected as they continued to perform the spell that was killing them all.

  He felt a light touch on his arm as Viper directed his attention toward the center of the table where a small amulet was glowing with a blue light.

  “Shit,” he muttered. “It would have to be in the middle of the Oracles.”

  Viper grimaced. “We need a plan—
”

  “I’ll get it,” Cyn said, yanking his dagger from the holster at his lower back and heading forward.

  They could spend the next half hour debating and arguing and planning how best to get their hands on the amulet. But in the end, there was only one solution.

  Someone was going to have to go in and get it.

  “Wait, Cyn,” Viper rasped, the icy chill of his power swirling through the air. “Dammit.”

  Cyn ignored his companion’s muttered opinion of thick-skulled berserkers as he slid along the edge of the cavern, seeking the most direct route to the table.

  There was no possibility of being able to sneak past the entire Commission and destroy the amulet.

  He would have to try a snatch and smash before they realized what he was doing.

  Not a bad plan.

  But as fast as he was, he was still several feet from the table when the nearest Oracle slowly rose from his chair and turned to face Cyn.

  The demon had a tall, gaunt body with an overlarge head and tilted, almond-shaped eyes. Then, even as Cyn watched, the creature shifted into a human form, choosing to become a delicate female fairy with a cloud of golden hair and wide emerald eyes.

  Recise was a Zalez demon who was part incubus. He was capable of becoming whatever form their companion most desired as well as releasing a sexual pheromone that threatened to cloud Cyn’s mind.

  Dammit.

  Cyn gave a shake of his head, slashing out with his dagger as he tried to dart past the slender form.

  The demon, however, wasn’t an Oracle just because he could seduce the unwary. He lifted his hand, shooting out a fireball that hit Cyn in the middle of the chest.

  Cyn grunted as he flew in a backward arc, slamming into the wall of the cavern with enough force to break a rib.

  “I told you to wait,” Viper muttered, swiftly at his side. “Damn berserker.”

  Cyn grimaced, forcing himself back to his feet. His gaze remained locked on Recise who remained standing by the table while the other Oracles continued with the spell. The demon’s face was blank, his eyes burning with a strange inner glow.

  “The damned druid must have cast a secondary spell to make sure the Oracles protected the amulet,” he ground out, his hand pressed against his rapidly healing wound.