Scorched by Darkness (6 page)

It had to be some sort of prison.

“Christ, I must be in the netherworld,” he groused, cautiously rising to his feet.

The gargoyle tilted his head to the side, as if he was actually considering Finn’s words. “
Non
,” he at last concluded with a twitch of his tail. “It is far too cold to be Hades’ domain. The god is old, but he can still put out some heat.” The gargoyle clicked his tongue. “The last time I visited, he singed my pretty wings.”

Finn shoved his fingers through his hair, glaring at his tiny companion. Was the creature deranged? “What did you do?”

Levet blinked. “Do?”

Finn made a sound of impatience. “Where have you brought us?”

“
Moi
?” Levet stiffened, his wings fluttering in outrage. “This is entirely your fault. I was standing next to you when a portal opened and—” He gave a wild wave of his arms. “
Voilà
, we were sucked inside. Since no foe is foolish enough to dare my wrath I must presume they wished to capture you.”

Finn scowled. Okay. It’d been a stupid question. Gargoyles, even miniature ones, didn’t have the skill to make portals. And they most certainly didn’t have the talent of forming ice prisons.

It had to be the work of the mysterious stalker who’d been kidnapping his people. Ironic, really. He’d been doing everything in his power to find his tribe.

Now it turned out he’d managed to fall into the same trap.

Grimly he moved to place his hand against the slick wall that reflected his image. He had the power to endure the most brutal cold. He could also manipulate ice. But even as he released a tentative flare of magic, he knew it would have no effect on the wall.

The ice was…odd. Almost fluid. And heavily spelled by a magic-user that Finn had never sensed before.

“Damn,” he rasped, lowering his hand.

Levet gave a small sniff. “Precisely.”

Accepting he wasn’t going to be able to easily force his way out, Finn turned back to the gargoyle. “Did you see who created the portal?”

“
Non
.” Levet hesitated, as if struck by a sudden thought. “But I smelled rosemary as the portal opened.”

“Rosemary?” Finn clenched his hands. So this was the gargoyle’s fault. “Is she a gargoyle?”

Levet blinked. Then blinked again. “Rosemary is not a person. It is a plant.”

Ah.
Finn shuffled through his considerable knowledge of demons. He’d never heard of any of them smelling like rosemary.

“A witch’s spell?” he at last guessed.

Levet gave a shake of his head. “A Sylvermyst.”

Sylvermyst? Finn knew about the dark fey, although he’d never encountered one. They were distant cousins who had been banished centuries ago.

“I thought they left this world?” he said.

Levet wrinkled his short snout. “A few remained in hiding, and it is possible that there were some who snuck through during the battle with the Dark Lord.”

Finn scowled. Was the tiny demon making shit up to sound important? Or could the outrageous claim be true?

Finn shrugged. He knew the vampires had recently battled the ancient evil. Maybe a few nasty surprises had managed to return to the world during the fight.

It wasn’t like he had a better suggestion.

He folded his arms over his chest. “Why would they capture frost sprites?”

Levet gave a lift of his hands. “That is your duty to discover. Along with the means of getting us out of here.”

“My duty?”

The gargoyle shrugged. “I have done my part.”

“What part?” Finn growled. “Slapping me in the face?”

“Hey.” Levet puffed out his chest. “I used my magic to ensure that the dragon can follow us. Not to mention standing guard while you napped.” He gave a full-body shudder. “I cannot, however, endure such cold. I have to shift before I freeze.”

Realizing the creature was about to turn into his stone form, Finn held out his hand. “Wait.”

Levet clicked his tongue. “What is it now?”

“What do you mean, you used your magic so the dragon could follow us?”

The wings fluttered as Levet smiled with smug satisfaction.

“I used my considerable talents to make sure the portal could not be completely closed,” he said. “Let us hope that Torque has the intelligence to follow.”

Finn grimaced. He didn’t know anything about the half-breed Torque. Well, nothing beyond the fact that he’d felt an instinctive antagonism. A typical response between two alpha males. But he did know Rya. She would most certainly search for him. And once she found the open portal, she would follow.

And no doubt become trapped.

“You have to close it,” he commanded in urgent tones, his words falling on deaf ears as a flurry of sparkles surrounded the small demon.

Finn squeezed shut his eyes, nearly blinded as the light bounced off the ice. When he at last dared to open them again he discovered that Levet was already turned to stone.

“Shit,” he breathed.

Feeling oddly abandoned by his companion, Finn turned to walk back to the wall, placing his hand against the ice. If there was a way into the frozen prison, there had to be a way out.

Right?

Especially if the gargoyle truly had managed to keep the portal open with his magic.

Calling on his powers, he released a series of pulses that made the ice hum at a low frequency. The vibrations would reveal any hidden openings. If nothing else, the pulses might eventually weaken the ice and cause cracks that he could use to bust his way out.

Refusing to consider the knowledge it might take days, if not weeks, to do any true damage to his prison, Finn concentrated on his task.

Over and over he released his magic, moving from one wall to another until he was distracted by the sound of crackling. Like water being poured on water.

Was a portal opening?

Hurrying to stare at the place where the murky density of the wall was beginning to clear, Finn instinctively held out his hand. A cloud of mist swirled around his fingers, the ice droplets hardening until they formed a perfect dagger.

It looked harmless, but his enemies swiftly learned that it was sharper than any metal blade.

Usually when it was slicing through their flesh.

The murkiness continued to dissipate, until it was as clear as glass despite the fact it was several feet thick. Finn frowned. A shadowed form was approaching from the other side of the wall.

A female form.

Fury exploded through him, along with something else. Something that made him gawk at his captor with a fascination that was entirely unacceptable.

She was fey. He could tell that much by the provocative beauty of her heart-shaped face and the delicate lines of her slender body. But he’d never before seen eyes that looked as if they were made from pure platinum, or hair that was threaded with the colors of autumn. The long tresses tumbled over her shoulders in a cascade of gold and red with copper highlights.

She was wearing a white robe that blended into the tunnel of ice behind her, but that did nothing to diminish her stunning beauty.

Trying to banish his odd response to her, he placed his hand against the ice. Her exquisite eyes widened as he unconsciously allowed his magic to continue to pulse, sending vibrations through the air.

“You must stop,” she said, her voice throaty. She glanced over her shoulder before returning her attention to him. “If you keep trying to escape they’ll hurt you.”

Finn lowered his hand, startled by the fact that he could hear her as clearly as if she was standing next to him. It had to be magic. Perhaps a miniscule portal that she could speak through?

The thought sent a jolt of hope through him.

If she could create a small portal to talk through, there was no reason she couldn’t create a bigger one that would allow him to escape.

Hiding the dagger behind his back, he offered her a charming smile. At least he hoped it was charming. It felt remarkably close to a grimace.

“Who are you?” he asked.

“Adair,” she murmured, her husky voice sending zings of pleasure through Finn.

“Adair.” His smile widened. “A fascinating name for a fascinating female.”

She blinked, as if caught off guard by his blatant flirtation.

“It’s very common among my people.”

“You’re a Sylvermyst,” he breathed, his gaze skimming over the pure ivory of her skin before lingering on the lush curve of her lips.

The sort of lips that could send a male to paradise.

Hastily he squashed the renegade thoughts.

She nodded. “Yes.”

“I’ve never met one in person.” He stepped forward, his nose nearly pressed against the ice wall. “Are they all so lovely?”

Her long lashes fluttered, the scent of rosemary filling the air.

“I…I must go.”

“Wait.” He tried to look entreating. It felt weird on his face. He was a male who demanded, not pleaded. “Can you tell me where I am?”

She shook her head. “Don’t ask.”

“Why not?” he pressed. “Is it your secret lair?”

She hesitated, the scent of rosemary deepening. At last her hand fluttered toward her throat, as if she was afraid.

“Dragon dreams,” she whispered.

“Dragon dreams?” Finn stilled, his brows drawing together in confusion. “What does that mean?”

She shook her head. “I’m not sure.”

He bit back his curse. For now it didn’t matter where he was. Or what the hell ‘dragon dreams’ might mean.

“Tell me why I’m here,” he instead demanded.

“My family has need of you,” she said.

“What do they need me for?” he asked.

“I can’t tell you. Just do as they ask. Otherwise…” She allowed her words to trail away, a shudder shaking through her body.

“Otherwise?” he prompted.

“They’ll kill you.” She shuddered. “They’ll kill both of us.”

Finn fought his primal response to the fear that flared through the platinum eyes. This female didn’t need his protection, he fiercely reminded himself. She was the enemy. Which meant she was quite likely trying to earn his trust so she could…

Well, he didn’t know what she wanted, but he wasn’t going to be bewitched into forgetting she was the bad guy. Or bad female.

Bad, sexy, delectable female.

Abruptly as furious with himself as the Sylvermyst who’d taken him captive, he allowed his smile to fade.

“Where are my people?” he snapped.

She flinched. “They’re safe.”

Finn slammed his hand against the ice. “Where?”

“Shh.” She glanced over her shoulder, pretending she was terrified of some unseen enemy lurking behind her. “I told you—”

“Don’t screw with me,” he interrupted, his anger sending plumes of frost through the air. “I want to be taken to them.”

She jerked her head around to send him a horrified glance. “No. That’s impossible.”

Finn narrowed his eyes even as he tried to reassure himself with the knowledge that his people must be near.

“Why?”

She reached out to lightly touch the wall that stood between them.

“The labyrinth is preparing to change. It won’t be safe to try and open a portal until after it settles.”

Finn made a sound of impatience. What labyrinth? And why would it change?

Giving a shake of his head, he glared at the female who regarded him with a tragic expression. As if he was stupid enough to believe she was actually disturbed by his fury. “I’m willing to take the risk.”

She shook her head, taking a step backward. “They’re calling for me.” She sent him a warning frown. “You must be quiet. The next time, it will be one of my siblings who will come.” She bit her bottom lip. “Trust me. You don’t want them angry.”

Panic flared through him as she continued to back away. “Will you return?” he demanded.

She shook her head. “I don’t dare.”

“Please.”

“I have to go.” The ice began to cloud, turning her slender form into a shadowed silhouette.

“Adair.” He pounded his hand against the wall. “Don’t go.”

She disappeared as the scent of rosemary began to fade. Finn clenched his jaw, refusing to give in to defeat.

His position as prince wasn’t an honorary title. He had actual royal blood running through his veins. Which gave him gifts few other fey could claim.

The only problem was that using them meant he would be dangerously weakened.

At the moment, however, it didn’t seem he had much choice. He couldn’t wait in the cell. Not when his people needed him.

Laying his hands flat on the wall, Finn emptied his mind of everything but the ice beneath his palms.

His magic shimmered around him. It didn’t try to bang against the barrier. He’d already discovered that was a losing battle. Instead, he called his most ancient powers to alter his body, allowing him to change his very cellular structure.

Slowly and surely, he sank into the wall, becoming one with the ice.

***

Torque ignored the painful cold as he sat on the floor of their frozen prison.

Any other time he would be furious.

Not only had they walked directly into a trap, but his most powerful weapons were ineffective in breaking through the thick ice walls that surrounded him.

But at the moment nothing mattered but the slender woman he had cradled in his lap.

Gently his fingers slid over her cheek, testing the warmth of her golden skin.

She’d been struck unconscious only seconds after entering the portal behind him. He’d assumed it was caused by the sudden wrench as they’d stepped between dimensions. With a low hiss, he’d managed to turn and scoop her in his arms before she could fall and hurt herself.

As a guard for Baine, he’d trained to endure the backlash of magic that could happen when forced through a portal. Finn and Levet had clearly been sucked inside by an unknown enemy and the potent vacuum had remained when they’d entered.

Thankfully he’d recognized the familiar dizziness as they were jerked through the void and he’d managed to brace himself. Rya, however, hadn’t been expecting the recoil. Which meant she was susceptible to the disorienting sensations.

But even knowing why she was lying unconscious in his lap didn’t ease the fear that was twisting his stomach into a tight knot.