Completing her.
Not that she was about to forget Maluhia’s twin, she fiercely promised herself. Somehow, someway they were going to track her down.
As if reading her mind, Tane gave her a gentle squeeze. “The mage won’t be allowed to escape.”
“He already has, genius,” Ariyal snapped. “And it’s entirely your fault.”
“Watch your tongue, Sylvermyst, or I’ll rip it out.”
Laylah laid a restraining hand on Tane’s arm. Not that she gave a crap if he ripped out the tongue of the Sylvermyst. But for now the most important thing was getting Maluhia to safety.
“Tane, we have to get out of here.”
He returned his attention to the child in her arms. “Yes, you’re right.”
She grimaced. “I don’t have the strength to enter the mists. We’re going to have to walk.”
A weary smile curved his lips as he leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose.
“Styx promised that word would be sent to the local clan chief that we would need a helicopter. It should be waiting nearby.”
She readily leaned against his strength, brushing her lips over the top of Maluhia’s head.
“Then let’s go home.”
“Home,” he repeated softly, his expression remarkably tender. No one would recognize the terrifying Charon in this moment. Then, lifting his head, the lethal predator returned as he studied the Sylvermyst standing with proud dignity down the tunnel, the female vampire a step behind him. “But first we have some unfinished business.”
“No.” Jaelyn stepped to the fey’s side, managing to look insanely beautiful despite her smudged face, her ripped clothing and the faint bruises. Laylah heaved a sigh. It had to be a vampire thing. “It’s my duty.”
Tane shrugged. “You’ll get your bounty, hunter. But only after he’s been questioned. His—” A taunting smile curved his lips. “Clan has obviously turned against him and decided that they want the return of the Dark Lord. They need to be contained before they can do any further damage.”
Jaelyn looked far from satisfied. In fact, she seemed downright pissy.
“The Sylvermyst belongs to me.”
“You say the most charming things, vampire,” Ariyal mocked, his eyes glowing with a sudden burst of power as he reached to clamp a hand around Jaelyn’s arm.
The female vampire hissed in fury, but before any of them could react, the Sylvermyst had formed a portal and with a smooth motion disappeared into the shimmering void, hauling Jaelyn in with him.
And just like that, they were both gone.
Tane and Laylah exchanged shocked glances.
“Gods,” Laylah breathed. “I didn’t know it was possible for a fey to create a portal so quickly.”
The muscle in Tane’s jaw knotted, his body humming with a frustrated fury.
“Ariyal is no common fey,” he bit out, the words clearly not a compliment. “Dammit. That’s the second time I’ve allowed my guard to slip and the second time that Jaelyn has been forced to pay for my stupidity.”
She placed a comforting hand on his cheek. “There was nothing you could have done.”
His lips parted to argue. Alpha males were always eager to take the blame when they failed to protect another. But before he could assure her that he should have done something ridiculously impossible and heroic, the baby in her arms stirred, his plaintive cry warning that he was cold and no doubt hungry.
“Tane, we can’t rescue Jaelyn without help. And we can’t forget that Sergei still has the other child.” she pointed out softly. “The quicker we can get word to start searching for all of them the better.”
His jaw remained clenched, but eventually he gave a grudging nod.
“You’re right.” He briefly laid his cheek on the top of her head, his arm tucking her and the baby close to his chest. “It’s time to call in the cavalry.”
She snuggled closer. “Let’s go home.”
Chapter 24
Two Weeks Later
As it turned out, they didn’t go home. Instead Styx invited them to join him and Darcy in his lair.
Well, invited wasn’t exactly the word she would use. It was more of a polite you-can-stay-here-of-your-own-free-will-or-I’ll-toss-you-in-the-dungeon kind of deal. Understandable, of course.
Not only was her son the supposed creation of the Dark Lord, but half the demon world was hoping to get their greedy hands on him.
And in truth, she didn’t mind.
As much as she would love to have a secluded, private lair with only Tane and Maluhia as company, she’d found comfort in being surrounded by the odd collection of vampires and their mates who filled the elegant mansion.
She’d been isolated for her entire life. Now she had a mate, a son, and countless friends who filled her heart with joy.
It was more than she ever dreamed possible.
Lying in the bed that was as large as a football field, Laylah stretched as she sensed Tane stepping into the private rooms that were nestled deep beneath the estate.
He had left nearly an hour before to meet with Styx and several of his brothers in a private powwow that Laylah was happy to skip. So far there’d been no trace found of Jaelyn and the Sylvermyst. Or of Sergei. Worse, the efforts to discover just how the missing child could be used to open the veil between worlds had turned up jack squat.
Which made for a very grumpy vampire clan.
Being in a closed room for hours on end with the frustrated warriors was enough to give her a headache.