He tugged her around to meet his searching gaze.
“What?”
She blew out a resigned sigh. There was no point in hiding anything now.
Tane knew everything. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
“The Queen was poisoned by a jealous rival,” she confessed. “I was able to save her life.”
Something that might have been respect flared through the honey eyes.
“You’re a healer?”
Gods, was that a blush heating her cheeks?
Next thing she knew she would be batting her lashes and simpering like an idiot.
“I don’t perform miracles, but I can heal most injuries.”
He brushed the back of his hand over that revealing blush. “A rare talent.”
She cleared her throat, trying to sound brisk. “I’ve always assumed it came from my mother’s side of the family since Jinns are a lot happier destroying things than fixing them.”
“Oui,” Levet chimed in, moving to her side. “Gypsies are coveted for their skills in healing.”
Tane scowled at the gargoyle. “We have yet to determine if the vision Laylah was given in London was real.”
Levet sniffed. “Do you think that I would not recognize a faux vision? Moi? The great connoisseur of magic? The …” He came to a sudden halt, a dreamy expression settling on his tiny face. “Mmmmm. Sprites.” With a burst of unexpected speed he was rushing into the trees. “Sorry, ma belle, I will join you later. Much later.”
Laylah rolled her eyes.
So much for the Justice League.
Not that she needed his help …
As if she’d deliberately jinxed herself, the thought had barely whispered through her mind when a dozen sprites stepped out of the shadows.
Her breath snared in her throat, her gaze skimming over the combination of males and females that were attired in the traditional robes that took camo to a whole new level. Even looking at them straight on, the flowing fabric melded perfectly with their background, giving the queasy illusion that they were floating in and out of focus.
She might have been amused if it weren’t for the deadly expressions on the beautiful faces. Oh, and the crossbows that were currently pointed at her heart.
Her gaze never wavered from the line of sprites as Tane cautiously moved to her side. These weren’t the flighty, unpredictable fey that they readily revealed to the demon world. These creatures stood at confident attention with their long hair, that ranged in hues from pure gold to dark red, tightly braided so they could easily reach the swords strapped to their backs.
Warriors.
And prepared to attack.
“I thought they were friends of yours?” Tane muttered.
“Yeah, me too.” She squared her shoulders, meeting the steady gaze of the nearest sprite. “I have been granted safe passage by Eirinn.”
The male sprite shifted his crossbow toward Tane. “The vampire doesn’t have such privileges.”
Tane’s low growl filled the air, sending lesser demons fleeing in fear and causing even the hardened warriors to shudder.
“You really don’t want to play this game.”
“It’s no game, Charon.”
The high, musical voice was the only warning before a tall, slender female stepped into view. Like her warriors, Eirinn, Queen of the Wood Sprites, was attired in a loose robe, although her dark golden hair was left free to cascade down her back and held back with a delicate crown set with an emerald the size of a quail’s egg.
She halted in a pool of moonlight, her beauty so perfect that Laylah would have thrown herself off the cliff if she was stupid enough to consider the numerous ways she failed in comparison.
With a lift of her hand, Eirinn spoke a few words in a foreign tongue. As one the warriors lowered their crossbows. Not that Laylah was reassured.
One wrong twitch and she was fairly certain she would be pinned to the nearest tree with an arrow through her heart.
Tane seemed to come to the same conclusion, and with his typical arrogance shifted until he was standing directly in front of her.
“Is the Welcoming Committee specifically for me or do you share the love with all vampires?” he mocked.
“These are dangerous times,” the Queen said.
“That they are,” Tane agreed, glaring at Laylah as she firmly stepped to his side.
Did he really think she would cower behind him?
Watching them with a narrowed gaze, Eirinn abruptly chuckled, moving forward to link her arm with Laylah’s.
“Come with me, Laylah. Your vampire is distracting my warriors,” she purred, tugging Laylah past her guards with just enough force to warn she wasn’t going to take no for an answer. A faint smile curved her lips. “Unless you’re willing to share?”
Share?
Not even when hell froze over.
“Forget it.”
“A pity.” Eirinn’s perfect smile widened as Tane firmly pulled Laylah from her grip and he tucked a protective arm around her shoulders. “He is a fine specimen.”
“Did you hear, my sweet?” He leaned to speak directly into Laylah’s ear. “I’m a fine specimen.”
She rolled her eyes, but she didn’t pull away from his possessive hold.
Only because it wasn’t worth the struggle, and not because she wanted the damned Queen of Sprites to know the vampire was off limits.
“Don’t let it go to your head,” she sniffed. “Sprites have a notorious appetite for sex.”
She could have kicked herself as he flashed a smug smile.
“Yes, I know,” he said. “Intimately.”
“My point is they would think a drunken cur with the mange a fine specimen.” In the distance the sound of Levet’s laughter filled the air. It was Laylah’s turn to smile. “Or a diminutive gargoyle.”
His lips brushed the curve of her ear. “You, thankfully, have an insatiable appetite for only one male. An appetite I’m more than happy to sate.”
She narrowed her gaze. “And your appetite?”
“Starving for a taste of a Jinn half-breed. The sooner the better.” The force of his desire blasted through her, making them both shudder. His eyes flared with frustrated heat. “Damn.”
They fell silent, both shaken by the brutal need that flared so abruptly between them. It didn’t feel like the natural response of two individuals who were attracted to one another. It felt like …
Destiny.
She shook off the dangerous thought as Eirinn led them between two ancient trees.
Laylah grimaced as they passed through an invisible barrier. It felt like spiders crawling over her skin.
“The glade is my sanctuary and guarded by my personal magic,” the Queen murmured. “We can speak in privacy here.”
Once past the spell of protection, Laylah paused to appreciate the small glade.
It wasn’t the cartoon version of a fey meadow with unicorns and rainbows, but there was a tiny stream that cut through the lush grass and clumps of wild flowers that added splashes of color.
At her side Tane folded his arms over his chest, clearly indifferent to their charming surroundings.
“Who is threatening you?”
“Ah, vampires.” Eirinn slid an appreciative glance over Tane’s body, blithely unaware how close she was to Laylah beating her senseless with her own crown. “Always so deliciously sexy and yet so lacking in manners.”
Tane remained grimly indifferent to the open invitation in the woman’s voice.
“We don’t have the time for proper etiquette.”
“I suppose that’s true.” The Queen tossed Laylah a taunting glance. “And I doubt Laylah would agree to a formal ceremony of greeting. She is astonishingly prudish for a Jinn.”
“She is perfect,” Tane snapped before Laylah could respond.
“So I see.” The Queen chuckled. “And yours?”
“Yes.”
Laylah flashed him a disgruntled frown. She didn’t have a clue what was going on between her and Tane, but she was absolutely certain she didn’t want it discussed with Eirinn the Queen of Tramps. “Do you mind?”
His gaze slid with slow deliberation down her body. “Not at all.”
Eirinn’s eyes sparkled. “If you would prefer privacy…”
Yes, yes, please yes.
“No,” Laylah forced herself to snap.
“Very wise, my dear. Never allow a vampire to believe he has you completely enthralled. They’re so tediously full of themselves.”
“Preaching to the choir,” Laylah muttered.
“Enough.” Tane stepped forward. “Tell me why your warriors are armed and twitchy as hell.”
The Queen’s amusement fled as she reached beneath the neckline of her robe to pull out a crystal that was hung on a golden chain around her neck.
“Because of this.”
Laylah frowned at the oval stone that glowed with a soft, bluish light. “A glowing rock?” “A Ciomach,” the sprite said.
“A what?”
“It’s like an early warning system,” Tane clarified. “Convenient.” Laylah watched as the stone pulsed with the strange blue glow. “What does it warn against?” “Ancient enemies.” Well that was nice and vague. “Can you be more specific?” “The Sylvermyst.” She felt Tane jerk in surprise. “Shit,” he muttered.
Laylah’s heart sank. Her spotty education didn’t include much about the Sylvermyst. Nothing beyond the fact that they were related to the fey and were as notorious for their irresistible beauty as they were for their cruelty.
And of course, the most pertinent fact, that they were supposed to be long gone from the world.
Now she sensed she was about to find out more than she ever wanted.
“Tane, what’s going on?” she demanded.
“When we first arrived in London Uriel mentioned that Victor was meeting with the Prince of Fairies in Dublin.” He shook his head in disgust. “I assumed the Prince had been eating too many funny mushrooms.”
“There is nothing amusing about the Sylvermyst,” Eirinn said, dropping her image of frivolous flirtation to reveal the powerful leader beneath.
