“But he’s good enough to be your stooge?”
“For now. Once I’ve passed through the portal, his services will no longer be required. I’ll be able to take personal command of the Weres.”
Fury blasted through Salvatore. Not for Briggs’s inevitable death at the hands of the demon lord. Good riddance. But the threat that his Weres might become mere fodder for the demon lord was enough to make him howl in anguish.
He had to find some means of stopping his blood from draining into the brazier. Unfortunately, at the moment his only hope was baiting Briggs into killing him before the portal could be opened.
“Have you shared that bit of info with Briggs?”
“I prefer to keep it a surprise.”
“No shit. Where is the idiot?”
“He’s gone to greet our uninvited guests.”
Salvatore stiffened, a bad feeling inching down his spine. “Guests?”
“Your potential mate has arrived with several nasty leeches. She obviously needs to learn what happens to naughty Weres who intrude where they don’t belong.”
Harley.
How had she followed him? And more importantly, why?
Dio. He was going to kill Styx for letting her put herself in danger.
Indifferent to the excruciating pain, he jerked against the binding chains, desperate to get to his mate.
“You bastard.”
“Forgive me, did you desire a tearful good-bye with your beloved?”
“I’m going to kill you.”
“No, Giuliani, what you’re going to do is set me free.”
Tilting back his head, Salvatore screamed in terrified fury.
“Harley.”
Harley’s nerves were near the breaking point by the time they pulled to a halt at the long forgotten church.
It could have been the result of being squashed into the Hummer with several very large, very lethal vampires, a full-fledged goddess, and her twin sister. Or even the lightning speed with which they had made the trip.
But Harley was honest enough to admit that her stomach-clenching stress was entirely due to Salvatore Giuliani.
She could feel him, deep inside.
Like a nagging awareness that refused to leave her in peace.
Snarling with impatience by the time the vampires had thoroughly scouted the area and at last allowed her to enter the caves, her temper wasn’t improved when she realized there was something suppressing her ability to follow Salvatore’s scent.
Dammit.
When she wanted to be alone, she couldn’t get rid of Salvatore.
Now it seemed as if the entire world was determined to put obstacles in her path.
Prowling through the upper caverns, Harley waited for Dante to return from his search and rescue mission. As much as it might irritate her, she had been forced to give her word to Styx that she wouldn’t take off on her own.
On the point of telling Styx he could take her promise and shove it up his ass, her restless pacing was brought to an abrupt halt as Dante silently slid from one of the numerous tunnels and crossed toward Styx and the rest of the motley crew. Harley remained standing several feet away as the sensation of Salvatore continued to pull at her.
“Well?” Styx demanded, appearing even more ferocious with the large sword he clutched in his hand. Talk about overkill.
Dante shook his head, frustration etched on his too-beautiful face.
“It will be impossible to track him.”
“I can find him,” Harley said, squaring her shoulders as all eyes turned in her direction.
Darcy lifted her brows in surprise. “How?”
“I…feel him.”
Styx scowled. “This could be a trick.”
Harley wasn’t stupid. She’d already considered the possibility that someone or something was messing with her. And a part of her wasn’t entirely adverse to the thought that this was a devious spell. Otherwise she’d have to accept that she had a connection to Salvatore that went way beyond a casual lover.
“It doesn’t matter,” she muttered, wrapping her arms around her waist as a cold chill raced over her. Damn, it felt as if the temperature had dropped by a dozen degrees. “I have to do this.”Styx shifted his attention to the goddess at his side. “Abby, do you sense anything?”
“Evil.” Abby shuddered, her face paling to an unhealthy shade of gray. “God, it’s so thick I can almost taste it.”
“Take her home, Dante,” Styx growled.
Abby jutted her chin. “No.”
Dante ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “Abby.”
“This is my duty.” Abby pointed a warning finger in her mate’s face. “You know it.”
Dante threw his hands in the air. “That doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
Oddly fascinated by the sight of the mighty vampires bending to the will of the tiny woman, Harley was caught off guard by the faint scent that briefly stirred the air.
Somehow sensing Harley’s sudden surprise, Darcy took a step in her direction.
“Harley, what is it? Salvatore?”
“He’s here.” Harley breathed deeply, shaking her head when the scent evaporated as swiftly as it had appeared. “But I sense another presence.”
“The demon lord?”
“No. It’s familiar.” Harley deliberately paused. “Like you.”
Darcy’s eyes widened at the implication another sister might be near.
“Oh, my God. Are you certain?”
Harley shrugged. The scent had been so fleeting it was impossible to be absolutely certain.
Moving toward the nearest tunnel, she attempted to determine where the smell had come from when she was struck by a sharp wave of panic.
She faltered, glancing around in confusion.
She would swear that Salvatore was attempting to warn her. But of what?
There was a baffled moment as she simply stood at the mouth of the nearest tunnel, wondering what the hell was going on. Then, as she once again shivered at the thickening chill in the air, realization belatedly hit.
Briggs.
Turning her head, she sent her sister a frantic gaze. “Run!”
Chapter Eighteen
Harley was remarkably unfazed as the flash of magic exploded through the cavern and the ceiling promptly collapsed. Of course, she’d endured a number of explosions and cave-ins over the past few days. Maybe she was becoming immune to disasters.
Sending up a quick prayer that the others had managed to escape, she darted into the tunnel and ran from the choking cloud of dust and debris. Only when she was certain that she was beyond the collapsing ceiling did she slow her pace and pay attention to the confusing warren of caves and passageways.
The burning need to find Salvatore continued to plague her, but she wasn’t stupid enough to rush blindly through the dark. Briggs was somewhere crawling through the shadows, not to mention a demon lord, and who knew what other nasties.
Contrary to popular opinion, she didn’t need anyone telling her to be careful.
Pulling the silver knife from the holster her sister had fitted around her ankle before leaving Chicago, Harley allowed the sense of Salvatore that echoed in her blood to lead her through the cold, oddly barren passageways.
She felt like a damned homing pigeon, she ruefully acknowledged, wondering if Salvatore was deliberately doing something to afflict her with this overwhelming need to find him. That suspicion was certainly preferable to the thought that this growingly desperate urge was coming from her.
Coming to a halt as the tunnel branched into three separate directions, she hesitated as she caught the faint whiff of cur. It was muted, but unmistakable.
Alarm raced through her.
She wanted to believe that the curs were Salvatore’s servants who were here to rescue him, but that would be way too convenient for her current streak of luck. Besides, Salvatore had been adamant in not allowing his pack near. Not when they could be used as a weapon against him.
Which could only mean that they were either strange curs, or ones under the control of Briggs. And yet another danger to have to worry about.
Perfect.
Gripping the knife tightly enough to make her knuckles crack, Harley swallowed her reluctance and forced her feet forward. She wasn’t opposed to killing a few curs who got in her way, but she suspected that Salvatore would blame himself if anything happened to them.
And that bothered her, why?
Harley gave a shake of her head. She might as well accept she was currently out of her mind. It would be easier than trying to make sense of her recurring bouts of crazy.
Prepared for an ambush, Harley cautiously followed the sharp curve in the tunnel, halting in surprise when an oversized, bald-headed cur staggered toward her.
Her first thought was that he was stark naked, as if he’d recently shifted. Her second thought was that he was taking up way too much space for one man. His shoulders almost brushed each side of the passageway. And if his head hadn’t been bowed and covered by his hands, she suspected it would have been in danger of bumping the ceiling.
Warily, she watched as he weaved and stumbled toward her, muttering beneath his breath.
Okaaaay. If this was an ambush, it was the strangest one she’d ever heard of.