The poor bastard had it bad.
At any other time he might have been amused.
Now he just wanted them gone.
“Yannah,” Siljar said in the stern voice only a mother could achieve. “Is there something I should know?”
The girl tilted her head in the exactly same manner as her mother.
“Not yet.”
In a besotted daze, Levet moved toward her, his hands held out in pleading.
“Why do you run from me?” Levet demanded, his French accent thicker than usual.
She giggled. “Because I like to be chased.”
“But I have much I want to say to you.”
Yannah leaned forward, landing a kiss squarely on the gargoyle’s mouth, her fingers running a teasing path over his quivering wings. Only when the gargoyle was ready to melt into a puddle at her feet did she pull back, her dark eyes shimmering with amusement.
“Then catch me.”
With a pat on Levet’s cheek the demon disappeared.
Really and truly disappeared.
Like there one second and gone the next.
Blistering French curses filled the air as Levet stomped his way to the door, his wings fluttering in a blur of shimmering color.
“Leaving so soon?” Ariyal demanded.
“Do not fear, I will return,” the gargoyle promised, leaving the house in obvious pursuit of Yannah.
Ariyal wrinkled his nose. “That’s my fear.”
Seemingly indifferent to her daughter’s peculiar taste in demons, Siljar pressed her hands together.
“I must leave as well.” She allowed her gaze to sweep the room. “But know this. The days of evil are not ended. The Dark Lord remains a constant threat, as well as his minions, who grow in number with every passing day. We must be prepared.”
Her warning was still echoing through the air when she vanished into thin air.
“Cheery,” Salvatore said with a shiver.
Ariyal didn’t blame him.
He felt like doing a little shivering of his own.
“And right,” Styx grimly pointed out. “We all know that the Dark Lord is still poised just on the other side of the barrier, waiting for the opportunity to escape.”
“While his minions are infesting the world like a plague,” Salvatore added.
Styx lifted a hand to stroke the tiny amulet hung around his neck.
“You know, I have a sudden need to be with my mate.”
Salvatore abruptly grimaced. “Oh ... there’s something I forgot to mention.”
Styx narrowed his eyes. “Why do I suspect I’m not going to like what you have to mention?”
“Because it has to do with our dearly beloved mother-in-law.”
“Sophia?”
Ariyal lifted his brows at the edge of fear in the massive vampire’s voice.
Or was it horror?
Salvatore looked equally disturbed by the talk of their mutual mother-in-law.
“Yeah,” the King of Weres muttered. “Harley talked with her yesterday and it seems the bitch from hell, I mean ... Sophia, has decided she wants to spend more time with her daughters.”
“What do you mean,
more
time?”
A sudden smile curled Salvatore’s lips. “She bought a new home just a few blocks from you.”
Styx shuddered. “Oh no. Hell, no.”
“Oh wait, it gets better,” Salvatore promised. “She’s opening a new strip club featuring vampires and pureblooded Weres.”
“A strip club.” Styx threw his hands in the air. “I need something to drink. Preferably something that fights back.”
Salvatore slapped the huge vampire on the back. “Me too.”
“Then by all means, don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” Ariyal urged, more than eager to have some alone time with his mate.
Styx pulled back his lips to reveal his humongous fangs, going eyeball to eyeball with Ariyal before he gave a sharp laugh and glanced toward Salvatore.
“He’s going to fit in just fine.”
Salvatore smoothed a hand down his silk tie. “Always assuming we don’t kill him.”
“True enough.”
“Out,” Jaelyn snapped, pointing her finger toward the door.
Still smiling, the two most powerful demons in the world strolled out of the room, putting aside the heavy burden of their leadership to enjoy their fleeting moment of camaraderie.
Ariyal understood.
Completely.
The day of reckoning hadn’t been avoided, merely postponed, and soon he might very well have to lead his people into war. For now he intended to grasp at any happiness the fates were willing to offer.
In fact, he intended to grasp a whole lot of happiness.
With a wicked smile he scooped his mate off her feet, his blood heating as her arms instinctively looped around his neck and her indigo eyes darkened with arousal.
“I thought they would never leave,” he growled.
Running her tongue along her fully exposed fang, she snuggled against him.
“Now that we have this big old house all to ourselves, what on earth are we going to do?”
The mere thought of those fangs sinking into his throat had Ariyal rock hard and moving toward the sofa.
There was no way in hell he was making it to the bedroom.
And if that gargoyle waltzed through the door he was going to mount him over the mantle.
“Allow me to demonstrate, poppet,” he murmured, laying her on the cushions. He forgot how to breathe as he took in the pale beauty of her perfect features and the river of raven hair that spilled free of her braid.
His exquisite Hunter.
His mate.
“You know, Sylvermyst, if you play your cards right I might allow you to demonstrate more than once,” she promised, reaching up to rip open his shirt.
He chuckled as he tossed aside the hideous garment, leaning down until their lips were pressed together.
“I never could resist a challenge.”
Dear Reader,
I hope you’re enjoying the Guardians of Eternity series. I’ll admit that I fell in love with the characters from the moment I sat down to write Dante’s story in
When Darkness Comes
. And my passion has only deepened with every new installment. It’s been a magical journey as the stories have unfolded and I’ve spent my days surrounded by a clan of beautifully lethal vampires, hot-blooded sexy Weres, and now the lost tribe of Sylvermysts. Oh, and one very charming gargoyle. What could be more fun?
Next up will be Caine and Cassandra’s story, scheduled to be released in September 2012. I know many of you have been anxiously waiting for their book and I assure you that I’m having a fabulous time trying to tame Caine into a reluctant hero. I hope you’ll take as much pleasure in his transformation as I am!
In the meantime I have several novellas that you might want to check out. They’re all a part of the Guardians series with many characters you’ll recognize, along with a few new ones I hope you’ll welcome into your hearts.
In
Yours for Eternity
, coming in September 2011, my novella “Taken by Darkness” introduces Juliet Lawrence, a half witch/half imp who is resigned to being sought after for her ability to detect magical objects. But Victor, the clan chief of London, desires much more than her talent. He wants her in his bed—and the powerful vampire is accustomed to getting what he wants.
In
Supernatural
, also available in September 2011, my novella “Darkness Eternal” follows the vampire Uriel as he goes in search of Laylah’s mother, Kata. He intends it to be a simple “snag and bag,” but after being held captive by one vampire for four centuries, Kata has no intention of trusting a bloodsucking leech, even if he awakens an intoxicating desire.
In
The Real Werewives of Vampire County
, being published in November 2011, my novella “Where Darkness Lives” returns to Sophia, the mother of Darcy, Regan, Harley, and Cassandra as she settles in an elegant gated community in Chicago. Not surprisingly, it doesn’t take long for one of her neighbors to want her dead, but she learns the true meaning of danger when her bodyguard, Luc, the wickedly delectable pureblooded Were, moves in to protect her.
And as a special bonus, Kensington will be repackaging and republishing my Immortal Rogues trilogy. Many of you may not be aware that I began my career writing Regency romances under the pseudonym Debbie Raleigh, or that the trilogy that included
My Lord Vampire
(coming in March 2012),
My Lord Eternity
(coming in December 2012), and
My Lord Immortality
(coming in 2013) were my first paranormals. They tell the stories of three heroic vampires who travel from their home beyond the Veil to Regency London to protect the women they love. You’ll recognize Nefri from
Bound by Darkness
long before she meets the aggravating Santiago!
I also want to take this opportunity to thank all of my wonderful readers who have not only enjoyed the Guardians of Eternity, but also shared word of the series with all of their friends. It’s because of you that I can continue this amazing journey, and I never forget that without you the Guardians would never exist. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart!