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"Yes He was hidden within the mists"
Tane stiffened as the air pressure in the cavern changed It was the only warning before a portal was about to open
"Shit"
The instant Tane turned, waving his big sword, Laylah knew there was trouble
A suspicion that iftly confir in the cavern overhead
"Laylah, run," Tane gritted,to place himself between her and the tunnel where they entered
For once, Laylah wasn’t going to argue
As er, he had forced her to realize that the child came first She had taken on the duty to protect Maluhia from his eneht of abandoning Tane was like a dagger through her heart
Unfortunately, she was no match for vampire speed
Even as she sprinted toward the opening, she was stuid air hit her with the force of a blow
Marika
Looking like she’d just stepped off the pages of Vogue, the beautiful va down her back with perfect curls and her slender body attired in black silk slacks andblack heels
"She’s not going anywhere," the vaei and a copper-haired Sylverone to such trouble to arrange this long overdue family reunion" Her eyes narrowed as she studied Laylah, then her gaze snapped toward Laylah’s inner ar with Tane "What have you done, child?"
There was a rush of air as Tane moved to stand directly in Marika’s path
"Laylah, go"
Marika growled, her dark eyes ser toward Laylah
"Take a step and Sergei will destroy your mate"
Laylah snorted At least Marika wasn’t stupid enough to threaten to kill the massive vampire herself Even Laylah could sense Tane would crush her with little effort
"Don’t listen to her" Tane pointed his sword directly at the ray "I intend to cut out the e’s heart and shove it down his throat"
Laylah licked her lips, a crazy idea for in the back of her mind
She didn’t have Tane’s raer, or her aunt’s evil cunning, but she did know all about survival against the odds And sonore her?" she lare Instead she deliberately glanced down at the child in her arms "You sound like a broken record, Auntie Marika First my mother and now et me?"
The dark eyes predictably flared with fury Really, the fely easy to provoke
"Bitch"
Marika flowed forward, but Laylah had already scoped out her escape route
Trusting that Tane would buy her time, Laylah hauled ass toward the s his sword, Tane forced Marika to dance backward as Laylah disappeared down a seway
She hissed in frustration, chopping her hand through the air Tane felt a stinging pain and he glanced down to discover a deep gashhis chest It wasn’t an unusual talent in vampires and, thankfully, Marika’s poasn’t capable of more than flesh wounds, but it briefly weakened his sword arm
He tossed the sword to the other hand, but the va past hirunt in shock when he found hi into the wall of the cave He dropped the sword as he was held with crushing force against the cold rocks
Goddae," he roared, his voice causing the Sylverei to sway in fear "Or I swear you will regret it for all of eternity"
"I regret the e said, his voice thick with sincerity "There’s nothing you could threaten me with that would be worse than what she would do to ain"
Tane bit back the urge to explain in detail just horong the htood cop routine Hey, it worked on CSI Miaotiate what I can offer you"
Sergei nervously glanced around the e," he at last said
"What do you want?" "Marika dead" "Done"
He shifted, a sly glint replacing the terror in his eyes "And the child?"
Tane sed a growl "Out of the question"
"It’s no good to you Withoutainst the invisible bonds that held hi down Marika and chopping off her head
"What do you intend to do with it?"
"Are you kidding?" The enuine shock at the question "That brat would be worth a fortune to me on the black market I could finally retire in the luxury I intend to become accustomed to"
Now that was unexpected
Tane frowned "You don’t intend to resurrect the Dark