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.
Scooting up to lean against the carved headboard, Laylah smiled as she heard Tane opening the adjoining door to check on the baby.
She hadn’t been surprised to discover Tane was a devoted, overly protective father. It was one of the many reasons she loved him with such ferocity.
But she’d been stunned by the reaction of the various creatures who were constant visitors to the Anasso’s lair.
Perhaps she shouldn’t have been. After all, babies were rare among demons, especially pureblooded Weres. And nonexistent to vampires.
Maluhia was an unexpected treat.
Still, nothing could have prepared her for the sight of massive warriors dressed in leather cradling the baby with exquisite care. Or the buzz of excitement among Darcy and her friends when Laylah brought Maluhia to the public rooms.
He was going to be spoiled rotten if she didn’t take care.
A smile curved her lips as the door was pushed open and Tane crossed the room decorated in shades of green and cream with heavy furniture from the early Colonial period.
As always the sight of him made her heart flutter and her palms sweat.
Mmmm. He was yummy.
Savoring the sight of his broad, bare chest and the khaki shorts that rode low on his slender hips, Laylah was nearly purring by the time he climbed onto the bed with her and tugged her into his arms.
She would never, ever get enough of her beautiful mate.
“Maluhia?” she asked as he nuzzled her temple.
“Sleeping like a baby,” he assured her. “And no wonder. The poor thing has been passed around like a soccer ball in the World Cup.”
She chuckled at his disgruntled tone, planting a kiss on his upper chest.
“You’re just mad because you haven’t got to hold him in the past few nights.”
“He is my son.”
“And you’re a wonderful father, but as we’ve discovered a baby is a beloved treasure to vampires.” She tilted back her head to meet his honey gaze. “Besides, Maluhia is enchanting. Who could resist the temptation to cuddle him?”
“He needs his rest.”
“Don’t worry, once we are in our own lair we’ll have Maluhia to ourselves.”
“Our lair.” His expression softened, the heat of his emotions flowing through her like the finest champagne. “I like the sound of that.”
“Me too.” She wrinkled her nose. “Unfortunately …”
He swooped down to claim a brief, all-consuming kiss. “I know, but as much as I hate to admit it, Styx is right. So long as there are those who believe Maluhia is the key to opening the Dark Lord’s prison we must protect him, and there are few places safer than the Anasso’s lair.”
“Plus he wants to make certain Maluhia isn’t a threat,” she couldn’t resist adding.
Tane snorted. “In the beginning, now I suspect he just wants an excuse to fuss over him.”
Laylah’s brief flare of annoyance swiftly faded. She hadn’t been happy when she’d first arrived in Chicago, knowing that the vampires suspected Maluhia was some sort of Trojan horse.
But it hadn’t taken long for her son to melt the hearts of even the most suspicious demons.
The last time she’d seen Styx he had Maluhia tucked in one arm and was pointing out the various constellations as they strolled through the rose garden.
She smiled. “I have to admit that it’s an amazing sight.”
His eyes darkened as he cupped her face in his hand, his thumb brushing her lower lip.
“Not nearly as amazing as you.”
Ready heat rushed through her. Of course, just the thought of Tane was enough to make her hot and sweaty. But before she allowed him to properly distract her, she pressed a hand to his chest.
“Is there any word of Jaelyn or Ariyal?” she asked.
“None.” His brows drew together in concern. “They have simply vanished.”
“What of the other Sylvermyst?”
“Styx has sent out his Ravens, but they haven’t had any luck.”
Laylah shook her head. “They couldn’t have just disappeared.”
“And yet, that’s exactly what they’ve done.” His frustration was tangible. It was echoed in Laylah.
She’d been so certain that it would be an easy matter for the vampires to hunt down Ariyal. It was a surprisingly small world and there weren’t many places to hide.
“And Sergei?” she pressed, even knowing the answer.
Tane knew she was desperate to know the fate of the baby girl. He would tell her the moment he discovered any clue of her whereabouts.
“Nothing,” he confirmed.
Pain clenched her heart. As well as a healthy dose of guilt.
She’d gone over those last moments in the mountain a hundred times, trying to reassure herself that she’d done everything possible to rescue both babies and never quite convincing herself.
She wouldn’t be at peace until the twins were reunited.
