“It was most annoying.”
“Obviously you underestimated the love of a mother for her child,” Laylah said softly.
“Such a human emotion,” Marika scoffed.
“And yet more powerful than a vampire and her stooge of a mage. Remarkable.”
“She’s a stubborn fool who has sacrificed her life for no reason.”
Laylah lifted her hands, allowing her power to flow through her body. “You don’t get it, do you?”
Suddenly wary, Marika took a step backward. “Get what?”
“A mother will do whatever necessary to protect her children.”
Glancing upward, she concentrated on the fissures that ran through the thick stones.
With Jinn blood running through her veins, she was intimately connected to nature. She could feel the age of the stone, smell the droplets of ice in the air, and sense the raging inferno that was churning deep in the earth.
The entire area was a powder keg waiting to blow and the numerous quakes had left several of the tunnels dangerously unstable.
Which was perfect for her needs.
Releasing her powers, she leaped backward, scrambling toward the small opening hidden behind a stalagmite as the entire cavern began to shake.
Belatedly realizing the danger, Marika tried to follow Laylah, only to be stunned as a large chunk of rock tumbled from the ceiling and struck her with a glancing blow. She fell to her knees, blood streaming down her face as she watched Laylah shoving herself through the narrow opening.
“No,” she screamed, flowing back to her feet, her hand slashing through the air.
Laylah felt a cut slicing through her chest, but she didn’t allow her concentration to falter. Exhausting the last of her powers she widened the fissures, ripping them apart with enough force to send several tons of rubble into the cavern.
The impact of the collapse thankfully tossed her backward rather than tumbling her into the lethal avalanche. She smacked her head against a low-hanging rock, and she choked on the cloud of dust that filled her lungs, but she was able to crawl away from the cave-in.
Which was more than Marika could say.
Or at least, that was the hope.
A grim smile touched her lips at the thought of the vicious bitch squashed beneath half the mountain. It would be a fitting end.
Of course, there was always the less pleasant prospect that the vampire had survived the crush of rocks and was even now clawing her way free to wreck horrible vengeance.
The thought was enough to make her curse the cramped passageway that forced her to squeeze through on her hands and knees.
She traveled several hundred feet before she at last crossed paths with a larger tunnel that led upward.
With a sigh, she straightened, only to lurch to the side, banging her head yet again.
Crap.
She hadn’t realized how much energy she’d drained. Now it was an effort to stand upright. Ignoring her exhaustion, the throbbing cut across her chest, and the various head wounds, Laylah forced her legs to hold her weight. Then, one slow step after another, she moved up the tunnel.
She lost track of time. It felt like an eternity had passed since she’d first fled with Marika hot on her heels, although she suspected that it had been less than a half hour. Funny how time could drag when she was battling a lunatic vampire.
At last she managed to stumble her way back to the original passageway. Then, finding the spot she’d been searching for, she lowered herself to her knees, her head bent as she struggled to dredge up the last of her failing strength.
Distantly she was aware of the mini-tremors that shook the mountain and the fine dust billowing through the air. You couldn’t create a cave-in without repercussions. But, so far the upper chambers hadn’t collapsed.
Which meant that Tane should be fine.
Always assuming the mage hadn’t …
No. She shook her head. She had to trust he could keep himself safe.
For now her duty was to her child.
Scrubbing her fingers through her short strands of hair, Laylah rose to her feet and squared her shoulders. Then, lifting her hand, she carefully searched until she’d found the exact spot where she’d left Maluhia before opening the veil.
She trembled from the effort, sweat dripping down her face as she reached into the mists and wrapped her arms around the baby.
It would, of course, be safest to simply remain in the corridor and travel as far and fast away from the mountain as possible. But, the very fact she could barely hold open the smallest doorway warned she was far too weary to make the attempt.
She would need hours, if not days, of rest before she could shadow walk again.
Allowing her cloak to drape around the babe, Laylah closed the veil and turned to continue her path through the dark tunnels.
For the moment her only thought was finding Tane. And then curling up in the nearest corner to rest.
After that …
Any fuzzy plans beginning to stew in the back of her mind were forgotten as the unmistakable scent of fresh herbs mixed with the thick dust in the air.
A Sylvermyst.
Heading in her direction at a rapid pace.
She glanced over her shoulder, as if she hoped a magic door had suddenly appeared. What she saw instead was a whole lot of nothing.
No magic door, no quick escape route, no fairy godmother.
Just the cramped passageway that led back to the crumbling caves below.
Effectively trapped, she clutched the baby tight against her and watched the Sylvermyst with long chestnut hair and bronze eyes round the corner and step into view.
Ariyal.
“Don’t move, Jinn.”
The fey kept his crossbow at his side, but he didn’t have to wave his weapon around to make his point. He screamed danger from the coiled muscles of his slender body to the lethal intent etched onto his beautiful face.
Laylah tried to swallow the lump in her throat. Judging by the Sylvermyst’s ripped T-shirt and the blood staining his jeans, his past few hours had been about as much fun as hers, but unlike her, he didn’t look like he was running on empty. Just her luck.
“What do you want?” she demanded.
His lips twisted in a parody of a smile. “We have unfinished business.”
Great. She gave a shake of her head.
“Is there a freaking demon who isn’t lurking in this cave?”
The odd, metallic gaze lowered to the child she had tucked beneath her cloak.
“You hold the fate of the world in your arms.”
“And that’s exactly where he’s going to stay.”
He took a step forward. “No, I’m afraid that’s not possible.”
“Stop,” she gritted. “You’d better keep your distance …” She deliberately allowed the threat to dangle. He didn’t look particularly intimidated. Big shocker.
“Or?”
“I’m not helpless.”
He took several more steps toward her. “Neither are you at your full …” He jumped backward as she released a bolt of energy that hit him square in the chest. He glanced down in shock at the singed hole in his T-shirt.
“Shit.”
“I warned you,” she rasped, praying he wouldn’t suspect that she was as astonished as he was. “Next time I won’t be so nice.”
For once her prayer seemed to work.
Or maybe the fey just assumed he could talk her into handing over her baby.
“Easy, female.” He lifted a hand, his tone patronizing.
“There’s no reason we can’t discuss this in a rational manner.”
“My name is Laylah, not female,” she snapped. “And this is Maluhia.”
“Laylah,” he grit between clenched teeth. “This isn’t your battle. Give me the child.”
“You’re wrong. It’s very much my battle.”
“Why?” He appeared genuinely perplexed by her refusal to toss aside Maluhia as if he were no more than some trash she’d found. “That babe has no connection to you. Unless Marika lied and claimed …”
“Maluhia became my child the moment I took him from the mists,” she fiercely interrupted.
“Admirable.” His tone revealed he found her anything but admirable. “But don’t you think it’s unforgivably self-indulgent to condemn the world to hell because you want to play mommy to a creature born of sin?”
Her spine stiffened at his accusation.
Maluhia was an innocent. And there was nothing self-indulgent in her desire to protect him.
Schmuck.
“I’m not the one who wants to return the Dark Lord.” “Neither do I.”
The stark words brought the conversation to a screeching halt.
She blinked, trying to figure out what new game he was playing. Did he really think she was stupid enough to believe he had become her aunt’s henchman, not to mention chased her and the baby halfway around the world, for shits and grins?
“I don’t believe you. You’re …”
“Evil is no doubt the word you’re searching for,” he smoothly completed her sentence.
Her chin tilted. “That’s exactly the word I want. It’s no secret the Sylvermyst willingly worshipped the Dark Lord and were banished from this world.”
“Most were banished, Laylah,” he corrected, anger flaring in his beautiful eyes. “Get your facts straight. Some of us chose to become slaves rather than continue to follow the Dark Lord.”
She frowned at the throbbing sincerity in his voice. “Only because you didn’t want to be cast out.”
“A fey does not put himself in the hands of Morgana le Fay just to avoid banishment.” An ancient, unimaginable pain twisted his features. “Trust me.”
Against her will, Laylah found herself wondering if he could be speaking the truth.
Not that she trusted him. A man like Ariyal would always have his own agenda.