“Most lesser demons have the sense to show respect when in the presence of a vampire.”
“You’ve already let the cat out of the bag that you intend to haul me to the Commission to be put down like a rabid dog, so what the hell?” She shrugged. “I might as well have a bit of fun before I go out.”
His slender fingers stroked the hilt of his knife. His big-enough-to-slice-off-her-head knife.
“I can promise you that trying to provoke me is not the sort of fun you want.”
She curled her lips in what she hoped was a sneer, but might very well have been a grimace of terror.
“True, the sort of fun I want involves a piece of wood with a very pointy end decorating the center of your chest, but for the moment I’ll take what I can get.”
Braced for his punishment, Laylah swore when he did precisely what she didn’t want.
Instead of striking out in fury, he stilled, his expression intent. Just like a predator about to pounce.
“Intriguing,” he murmured.
“What?”
“Your desperation to keep me from discovering your secret.” He reached to trace a finger down the line of her stubborn jaw. “I should warn you that your games only make me more determined to find out what you’re hiding.”
Laylah spun away from his piercing gaze. What the hell did she have to do to get this vampire off her back?
“There’s nothing.”
There was an icy chill as he moved to stand directly behind her.
“Let’s start at the beginning. Why did you kill Duncan?”
“I …” She licked her lips, her hands pressing to her stomach at the familiar sickness that rolled through her. She didn’t want to remember Caine leading her through the secret tunnel and into the small cabin next to the Mississippi River. They’d expected to find Duncan hidden there. The cur, after all, was intending to save his own hide by selling out Caine to the King of Weres. But neither had expected the less dominant cur to try and attack. Or for Laylah’s powers to strike out with such force. It was yet another regret, in a very long line of regrets, that Laylah would have to live with. “That was an accident.”
“You fried a cur,” Tane pointed out dryly, “which doesn’t make my heart bleed, but those little accidents are exactly why mongrel Jinn have been banned.”
She shuddered. Did he think that she didn’t try and control her powers? That she wouldn’t give anything to stop another senseless death staining her conscience?
“Shut up.”
“What happened?”
She sucked in the cool, damp air that filled the cave. She had been running blindly the past few days, backtracking and taking side tunnels until she had no idea where they were, but there was no missing the unmistakable scent of a nearby river, which meant they still must be near the Mississippi.
“Caine learned where Duncan was to meet with Salvatore. When we startled him the cur went nuts and attacked.” Her jaw clenched. She had done her best to stay out of Caine’s crazy ass scheme to change curs into purebloods. Why not decide to sprout wings and become a dew fairy? But, Caine had been adamant that he’d been given a vision that revealed he was to become an immortal Were. Personally she’d thought the vision was more likely an overdose of the pharmaceuticals he mass-produced. “I merely protected myself. Or are mongrels supposed to let themselves be mauled to death? Would that make everyone happy? The disgusting half-breed ripped to shreds?”
“A touch bitter?” Tane murmured, but his hands were oddly tender as he stroked a path over her shoulders and down her arms.
Tender, but capable of sending a rash of fire over her bare skin.
“Go to hell.”
“I’ve already visited, sweet Laylah, and I have no intention of returning anytime soon.” He leaned down to press his lips to the curve of her neck. “I’ll accept that the death of the cur was an accident.”
If she hadn’t been near the point of collapse she might have gone completely mental and thrown herself on the beautiful brute. Her body felt as if it were on fire.
Damned vamp pheromones.
Instead she forced herself to step away from his destructive touch, turning to glare into his too-handsome face. “Patronizing ass.”
“Why didn’t you return to Caine’s lair instead of taking off on your own?”
She unconsciously rubbed her arms that still tingled from his touch.
“I knew we were being tracked and I assumed that you would follow Caine. I took off to save my own skin.”
“No, you took off to try and lead us away from Caine’s estate.” He deliberately paused. “And the child you are protecting.”
“If you already have it all figured out then why are you pestering me with your questions?” she gritted.
“Because I want to know why you would be willing to sacrifice your life for a child that isn’t yours.”
Tane watched the emotions ripple over the Jinn’s expressive face, annoyed by his unfamiliar fascination. Granted Laylah was a beautiful creature. Stunningly beautiful.
And she stirred his lust to a fever pitch he hadn’t enjoyed for centuries.
But, he had one purpose in following this female.
When he’d first entered the tunnels, he’d been chasing after Salvatore, King of Weres, and the aggravating gargoyle, Levet. They’d gone missing from a cabin in Hannibal and while he would be pleased-as-fucking-punch to let both of them die a miserable death, Styx had been clear he wanted a better relationship between Weres and vampires. And what the Anasso (leader of all vampires) wanted, he got.
So Tane had led Salvatore’s servants in pursuit of Caine and the mysterious demon who had kidnapped them, not surprised when the cur had abandoned his hostages and fled in the futile hope of avoiding his impending death. What had been surprising was the gargoyle’s insistence that the demon he had sensed was a Jinn half-breed.
Suddenly his simple rescue mission had turned into a hunt for the renegade demon. The Commission had a strict policy. Jinn mongrels were to be captured and turned over the moment they were found.
He had been designated to snag and tag the abomination.
Unfortunately, things had gone to hell from the moment he had charged in pursuit.
For two days he’d trailed behind her, ignoring the realization he could put an end to the chase any time he wanted. He told himself it was mere curiosity. Why was the female so determined to lead him away from Caine’s estate? It had to be something worth risking her life for.
But, curiosity couldn’t explain why he had been plagued with fantasies of having the female locked in his lair, sprawled across his bed with her dark eyes glowing with pleasure. Or why even now the thought of hauling her before the mighty Oracles who made up the Commission seemed a sin against nature.
His brooding glance swept over her delicate features. They were frighteningly familiar. As if they’d been seared into his mind.
It made it easy to notice that there was a growing pallor beneath her perfect skin and shadows beneath the midnight beauty of her eyes.
“I don’t have to tell you anything,” she was muttering, as stubborn as ever despite her growing weakness.
“What’s wrong with you?” he abruptly demanded.
“Nothing.”
“Don’t be an idiot,” he snapped, swiftly scooping her into his arms when her knees buckled. He choked back a groan as he was slammed by the delectable feminine heat and the scent of spring rain. Dammit. The female was going to be the death of him. “It’s obvious you’re unwell.”
She trembled, a thin sheen of sweat glistening on her brow. “I haven’t eaten in days.”
Barely aware he was moving, he carried her to the back of the cavern, gently settling her on the dirt floor before kneeling at her side.
Just like a regular Mary Poppins, he thought wryly.
Except he was a cold-hearted Charon. A vampire so ruthless he was feared by his own brothers.
“I thought Jinn absorbed their energy from their surroundings?”
Her eyes fluttered shut, her breathing shallow.
“As you’ve monotonously pointed out I’m a mongrel,” she husked. “I need food and rest.”
Against his will, Tane brushed his fingers over the smooth porcelain of her cheek, savoring the feel of her satin skin.
“Tell me about your parents.”
“No.”
“Laylah.”
She huffed a sigh at the edge of warning in his soft tone. “I can’t tell you what I don’t know. My foster mother found me abandoned in the sewers of London.”
“So you don’t know anything about who they were?”
“It’s obvious one of my parents was a Jinn. The other…” With an effort she opened her eyes, pretending that his probing questions didn’t bother her. “I don’t have a clue.”
“Do you have powers beyond those of a Jinn?”
“Yeah right. As if I’d tell you.” Her eyes closed again, her expression fretful. “Please just go away and let me rest in peace.”
He gazed down at her delicate beauty, his brows drawn together in a scowl.
Why was he hesitating?
All he had to do was toss her over his shoulders and head for the caves the Commission had taken over south of Chicago. It would take him less than a few hours to be done with the task.
Best of all, he could stop by Santiago’s club on his way back to his lair and relieve his stress with a willing imp. Or ten.
The more the merrier.
Besides, he’d learned a brutal lesson in protecting a dangerous, unstable female.
A lesson that had led to his entire clan being slaughtered like helpless cattle.
Walking among their mangled bodies, he had sworn he would never again put his emotions ahead of his duty.
His fingers tightened on her cheek, then he muttered a curse and straightened.
“Do you eat human food?” he demanded.
“Yes.”
“Remain here.”
Without allowing himself the opportunity to consider the depths of his stupidity, Tane flowed through the darkness of the tunnels, swiftly finding an opening that led to the countryside above.
A swift glance revealed the recently planted fields and farmhouses that slumbered beneath the silver moonlight. In the distance he could catch a glimpse of the Mississippi River and even farther the pinpricks of street lights that revealed a small town.
The typical, sleepy landscape of the Midwest.