Uriel tested the air. He could vaguely sense Yannah in the distance, but closer at hand there was . . .
Danger.
He didn’t recognize the strange scent, but it was making his instincts bristle.
Reaching behind his back, he slid his dagger from the sheath attached to his jeans.
“Here,” he said, pressing the finely crafted weapon into Kata’s hand.
She frowned, awkwardly clutching the leather-bound hilt. “I don’t know how to use it.”
“Stick the pointy end into something.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t tempt me.”
They both froze as the sound of Marika’s maniacal laugh abruptly echoed through the stagnant air.
“Bloody hell,” Uriel breathed.
“For god’s sake, you cut off her head,” Kata rasped. “What else can we do?”
“Run,” he said without apology.
Any good warrior understood the importance of a strategic retreat.
Grabbing her arm, he urged her down the path, his sword held at the ready. He knew what was coming from behind, but there was no guarantee there wasn’t something worse waiting for them ahead.
Hell, it was almost a given.
It didn’t take long to fulfill his pessimistic theory.
They had just reached a crossroad in the path when the ground beneath their feet split and a nightmarish creature surged out of the opening.
Kata screamed, stumbling backward. Uriel didn’t blame her. He wanted to do a little screaming of his own.
Even by demon standards the thing was gruesome.
Shaped like a worm, it rose up to nearly eight feet in height. He couldn’t see any eyes, but its mouth gaped open to reveal several rows of razor sharp teeth. There were large barbs on top of its head and its skin was a pasty white and covered with a thick slime that dripped onto the stone with an audible hiss. Acid.
Like the nasty thing needed added ammunition.
Gripping his sword in both hands, he stepped between the beast and Kata.
“I’ll keep it distracted. Follow the other path . . .”
“No,” she sharply cut off his words.
He growled in frustration. “If you don’t go now we’ll be fighting Marika along with this . . .” He had no idea what the thing was. “Oversized worm.”
She grabbed his arm. “I’m not leaving you again.”
“Dammit, Kata.”
“Look, you may not want me as a mate, but as far as I’m concerned you’re stuck with me.” The words rang through the air with the clarity of a bell. “Forever.”
Uriel yanked his head around, unnerved by the serene expression on her beautiful face. As if she hadn’t just proclaimed herself as his mate.
Meeting her steady gaze, his heart squeezed with a painful need he could no longer deny.
Oh . . . Christ.
What did it matter how many times he had warned himself it was too dangerous to have Kata as his mate? That he had to keep her at a distance?
The simple truth was that he was irrevocably bound to this woman whether they ever completed the mating ceremony or not.
“You’re mine,” he softly declared.
“Yes.”
His hand lifted to cup her cheek. “Which is why I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.”
“Then don’t send me away,” she said, her pleading gaze a weapon of mass destruction on his heart. “Who will protect me if you’re not beside me?”
“Kata . . .” he groaned.
Sensing that victory was in her grasp, Kata turned her head to press her lips to the center of his palm.
“We’ve both been alone too long. Together we can face anything.”
He was whipped, he wryly acknowledged.
A pleading glance, a soft word and he was a lost cause.
But, he didn’t care.
If a miracle occurred and they managed to get out of the underworld, he would happily devote himself to Kata’s pleasure.
It was surely the reason he was created?
“I can’t say no to you, even when I know I should,” he admitted.
She flashed a smile. “That’s promising.”
“Only if we get out of here alive.”
“Good point.”
They turned to the worm-like creature who continued to snake its way out of the rock. Uriel grimaced. No doubt the moment it was free all hell was going to break loose, but how did he kill the damned thing?
In the end, the monster took the decision out of his hands.
With a high-pitched cry, the worm swooped downward, aiming his massive teeth directly at Uriel’s head. Uriel held his ground, stabbing the sword upward to pierce the tender skin of the worm’s mouth.
The thing screamed and jerked backward, nearly snatching the sword out of Uriel’s grip. At the same time a shower of acid sprayed over his skin, burning deep into his flesh.
Bastard.
Gritting his teeth against the pain, Uriel shifted to make certain he stood between the creature and Kata, swinging his sword before the beast could repeat his attack.
The blade slid through glutinous hide with sickening ease. Like a knife through pudding. Worse, a disgusting flood of acid belched from the wound, forcing Uriel to back away.
Dammit. He needed to be rid of the thing before Marika could catch up with them.
He was busy debating whether he could lure the creature toward the nearby river of fire when Kata moved to stand at his side, her brow furrowed with concentration and her arm lifted to point the dagger at the worm’s head.
Uriel swore. Did she think that tiny dagger was going to cause any damage?
About to tug her back behind him, Uriel was halted as she muttered a harsh word and her curse blasted through the air, hitting the worm with shocking force.
There was a spine chilling cry from the worm, then it suddenly froze, as if it had been incased in ice.
“You might want to step back,” Kata warned, easing away from the towering beast.
Uriel was swift to obey her warning.
He didn’t understand magic, but he was smart enough to stay out of its path.
For long minutes nothing happened. Shifting uneasily, he was beginning to assume that the show was over when there was an odd sound of a crack echoing through the air. Was the surrounding rock being shattered?
But it wasn’t the rock.
No. Even as Uriel took another step backward the towering worm began to crumble, the once spongy flesh now as brittle as chalk.
Flakes of the creature floated through the air as the heavy body crashed onto the path, causing a mini earthquake. Uriel’s attention, however, had shifted to Kata who was clearly on the brink of collapse.
Angling his sword so the blade was pointed backward, Uriel scooped her into his arms and with one mighty shove was leaping over the decaying body of the worm.
“Damn,” he muttered, his heart clenching with fear that she’d perilously drained herself as he gazed down at her too-pale face. “You’re a dangerous woman.”
A weary smile touched her lips. “Don’t you forget it.”
“Never,” he swore, tucking her tightly against his chest as he followed Yannah’s fading scent down the pathway.
Bloody hell, he had to get her out of here.
So far shit-ass luck had kept them alive.
It was bound to run out eventually.
On perfect cue a wave of Marika’s frigid power stirred the toxic air.
“Oh Kata, I smell you,” she cooed.
Crazy bitch.
In his arms Kata giggled, her eyes half-closed as if she weren’t entirely with the program.
“Fee, fie, fo, fum,” she sang.
“Stay with me, Kata,” he muttered, charging down the center of the pathway with reckless speed.
On each side of him the rivers of fire offered liquid death and behind him was a psychotic vampire he couldn’t destroy. If there was another danger looming in front of them the
n they were screwed.
“I’m never going to leave you,” she softly murmured.
“No.” He bent his head to press his lips to the top of her head, accepting that whatever the future held, Kata would always be in his heart. “You’re never going to leave me.”
Running through the crimson shadows, Uriel could feel his strength waning. Since leaving Victor’s lair he’d spent a large chunk of time in one battle after another. He needed to rest.
And more importantly he needed to feed.
A damned shame he wasn’t going to get either of those things any time soon.
He kept up his punishing pace until it became obvious that he wasn’t going to outrun Marika and that a magical door wasn’t going to open to lead them to safety.
Soon he would be too weak to offer Kata any protection.
It was obviously now or never.
Bending downward, he gently settled Kata on the ground, arranging her so as to lean her back against a rock that jutted from the pathway.
She frowned, clutching at his arm in confusion. “Uriel?”
“I love you,” he husked, brushing a tender kiss over her lips.
“Such a smart vampire.”
“It might take me awhile, but you’ll discover I’m trainable.”
Her wicked smile pierced his heart. “Which is why I adore you.”
With a groan, he forced himself to straighten. Then turning, he moved down the path to block the approaching vampire.
Unable to pass, Marika was forced to come to a halt directly before him, a mocking smile curving her lips.
“Get out of my way and I might let you live long enough to pleasure me,” she drawled.•
Uriel didn’t bother to hide his shudder as his gaze skimmed her from head to toe.
Christ, she was once again perfect.
Even her gown was spotless.
As if she’d never had her head chopped off her body.
It was creepy as hell.
“I’d rather die, you nasty freak,” he rasped with an unmistakable sincerity.
Marika hissed, exposing her fangs in female fury. “That can be arranged.”
With one fluid motion, Uriel had his sword pointed toward the bitch and was braced for yet another skirmish.
One he couldn’t win.
He grimly dismissed the voice of doom.
If he was going out, he was going out fighting.
Dammit.
Preparing to attack, Marika stroked her tongue down the length of her fang.
“So pretty, it’s a shame you won’t be a good boy for me,” she drawled. “Still, there’s always Kata to keep me entertained.”
Uriel didn’t have the opportunity to answer her taunt.
Even as he lifted his sword there was an odd sensation in the small space between them. As if the air pressure had suddenly changed.
Then, with a dramatic motion, the very fabric of the world was ripped open and a man stepped onto the path.
No, not a man, Uriel silently corrected himself, an icy dread forming in the pit of his stomach at the sight of the delicately carved features, the thick mane of golden blond hair, and the luminous lavender eyes.
The Jinn might pass as human, but the cruelty that was etched on the pretty face proved he was very much a monster.
Ignoring Uriel, the demon reached to grab Marika by the throat and lifted her off the ground.
“You need not worry about entertainment, leech,” his voice filled the air with a power that nearly drove Uriel to his knees. “I intend to keep you fully occupied.”
“You.” Marika’s eyes widened in horror. The Jinn laughed and Marika tilted back her head with a scream. “No!”
Chapter 11
Uriel’s hand lifted to press against the scar on his chest, the dull throb becoming a jagged pain that radiated through his entire body.
He recognized the bastard, of course.
The memory of their encounter under the docks of London was seared into the very fiber of his being.
But of all the strange, bizarre, or downright dangerous creatures that Uriel might have expected to make a magical appearance, the Jinn was at the very bottom of his list.
Instinctively his hand reached into the pocket of his jeans, only to curse when he recalled he’d wasted the death spell on his futile attempt to escape from Marika.
Shit.
He wasn’t going to play puppet for the damned Jinn.
He’d throw himself into the nearby fires first.
Prepared for battle, Uriel frowned as the Jinn ignored his presence and instead concentrated on the female vamp who struggled in his grasp.
“Did you truly believe you could abuse my offspring and not pay the consequences?” he roared.
Marika futilely clawed at the Jinn’s arm, her nails unable to penetrate the shimmering silver coat he wore that matched his trousers.
“You’re dead,” she wailed, the stench of her desperate fear filling the air.
A malicious smile curved the Jinn’s lips. “My physical connection to your world was severed, which is the only reason I did not destroy you the moment you threatened Laylah. But now . . .” The lavender eyes glowed with anticipation. “Now you are in a domain where I can easily travel.”
“No, please.” Marika went limp in his ruthless grasp. “This is a mistake. It was Sergei who wanted to hurt Laylah. All I’ve done is try to protect her.”
“You are correct, it was a mistake,” the Jinn readily agreed. “One you shall learn to regret for the rest of eternity.”
“Kata. Help me,” Marika pleaded. “Tell him that I’m innocent.”
Uriel muttered his opinion of females who had more courage than sense as Kata was suddenly standing at his side, her hand clutching his arm in an effort to keep herself upright.
“Innocent?” she hissed in disbelief.
“I’m your sister.”
“You’re an abomination and I hope you spend the rest of your very long life screaming in endless agony,” Kata hissed.
The Jinn glanced toward Kata, an oddly wistful expression softening the venomous beauty of his face.
“Your wish is my command, my lady,” he murmured.
With disgusting ease the Jinn tossed Marika upward, a wave of his slender hand freezing her in midair. The bitch appeared more startled than alarmed at first. Then, murmuring a soft word, the Jinn released his power and the distant lightning was suddenly altering its course to strike her slender body with sickening force.
Over and over the lightning bolts slammed into her and Marika’s shrieks filled the air, along with the horrifying scent of burning flesh.
Scooping Kata off her feet, Uriel turned her away from the hideous sight and darted down the pathway. He didn’t think for a minute they could escape the Jinn, but Kata had endured enough without witnessing Marika’s brutal torture.
Whatever she’d done to Kata, she had once been her sister.
He’d managed to go far enough to mute the vampire’s screams when the pathway before him abruptly crumbled into nothingness. Skidding to a halt, Uriel carefully set Kata on her feet before turning to confront the approaching Jinn.
“That’s close enough,” he warned, his sword eager to draw some Jinn blood.
Perhaps sensing his suicidal thoughts, Kata placed a restraining hand on his arm.
“Uriel,” she pleaded softly.
The Jinn’s attentions shifted in her direction, his expression once again softening.
“Kata.” His voice was low, hypnotizing as his hand stretched out to lightly touch her cheek. “As beautiful as ever.”
Grabbing Kata by the waist, Uriel pulled her away from the beautiful demon, his primal mating instincts overcoming any hope of sanity.
He would kill anything that tried to take away his mate.
“Don’t. Touch. Her.”
Big surprise, the Jinn simply laughed.
“Did you not learn your lesson on the last occasion our paths crossed?”
> Without warning Kata stepped between the bristling males. “Please.”
The Jinn gave an obedient nod of his head, obviously devoted to the beautiful gypsy.
“Regretfully, I don’t intend him harm.” He flicked a disdainful glance in Uriel’s direction. “He has served his purpose.”
Uriel frowned. “My purpose?”
“The most powerful of Jinns are given the talent for premonition. I knew that Kata would need a protector and that it could not be me.” His lips curled into a sneer. “You were chosen.”
“That’s why you bound me?”
“It was the only means to give you the power you needed to keep Kata safe.”
“And?” Uriel prompted, unwilling to believe that the Jinn could be so selfless. Not when he vividly recalled the creatures words of warning during their last encounter.
You shall be ‘the instrument of his revenge . . .’
The lavender eyes warmed with an evil amusement. “And I needed you to live long enough to lure Marika into my lair.”
Uriel shook his head in disgust.
He’d been so determined never to become the Jinn’s puppet, and yet, he’d been dancing to his tune all along.
Far less conflicted by the Jinn’s machinations, Kata stepped forward to lightly touch his cheek.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
Uriel growled deep in his throat, but Kata was swiftly moving back to his side, leaning against him as he placed a possessive arm around her shoulders.
“Now what happens?” he demanded.
“Now you return Kata to the world where she belongs.” The Jinn lifted his hand and Uriel felt a wrenching pain as his connection to the demon was severed. “Treat her well.”
All the fury and frustration and ruthless dread that had plagued him for the past two hundred years was forgotten as Uriel gathered Kata in his arms.
He didn’t care why he’d been chosen to be Kata’s savior. Or what had happened between the two of them in the past.
The future was all that mattered.
“I intend to devote my life to her happiness.”
“If you fail . . .” The lavender eyes glowed with an unmistakable warning. “I will be waiting.”
Seemingly convinced that his commands would be obeyed, the Jinn waved his hand and the air next to Uriel was split open.