Bound By Darkness Read Online Free Page A

female child and disappear with him through a portal before he could be stopped.
    â€œYou mean his companion?” she asked with a curl of her lip. She hated mages. Nasty vermin. “Vampires are incapable of sensing magic. If Sergei is hiding your tribesman I would be worse than useless in trying to track him.”
    Ariyal waved a dismissive hand. “If they’re still together I know precisely where to find Sergei. I was with Marika long enough to become familiar with her devoted mage. He’s nothing if not predictable.”
    Annoyance pricked her heart at the reminder that Ariyal had once offered his loyalty to the beautiful vampire who was infamous for her insatiable lust.
    Had he offered anything beyond his loyalty?
    And why the hell did it matter?
    â€œThen what do you need from me?” she snapped.
    â€œI’m a Sylvermyst.”
    â€œYeah, I got the memo.”
    His brow arched at her foul temper. “Did the memo also include the fact that I’m not the most popular demon on the block?”
    â€œI figured that out all on my own.” She bared her fangs. “Did you want me to kill you and put you out of your misery?”
    He prowled back toward her, halting just out of reach.
    Clever fairy.
    â€œActually, poppet, I want you to keep me alive.”
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    Ariyal watched as Jaelyn narrowed her eyes in genuine confusion.
    â€œYou said nothing could find us here,” she reminded him, her eyes closing as she no doubt used her Hunter senses to search through the vast, broken palace and across the large island. She muttered a curse, wrenching open her eyes, and Ariyal easily guessed that the swirling mists were screwing with her powers. They were a genuine pain in the ass. “Is there an enemy on the island?”
    He sucked in a deep breath, his body instantly hardening at the biting scent of female power. A shudder raced through him. What was it about this female?
    She had the tongue of a viper, the temper of a pregnant harpy, and worst of all, she was a damned leech.
    But there was no denying that she set him on fire.
    â€œNo, we’re completely alone,” he said, reluctantly shoving aside the vivid fantasies that threatened to derail his plans for the day. “But as much as I might like to stay here and play, I have to find Tearloch before he can resurrect the Dark Lord. Once I leave the mists I’m going to be the target of every damned demon who wants to mount my head on their trophy wall.”
    â€œI’m a Hunter, not a magician,” she mocked. “I can’t perform miracles.”
    He heaved a sigh. Hell, he should have bargained for the sex.
    â€œThere’s only a handful of demons who would dare to try and challenge me, and most I can defeat even if I’m outnumbered.”
    She made a sound of disgust. “Arrogant.”
    â€œNo, it’s the simple truth.” He met her gaze squarely. “And I’m willing to admit that I’m not invulnerable. I won’t allow pride to stop me from bartering for someone to guard my back while I’m busy stopping the apocalypse.”
    â€œWhat makes you think I won’t plant a knife in your back instead of protecting it?”
    Excellent question.
    Not quite as excellent as questioning why the hell he had offered the dumb-ass bargain to begin with.
    Granted, he was the equivalent of Kim Jong-il among the demon world, but he possessed the skill to travel without attracting unwanted attention. And he hadn’t boasted of his power to overcome all but a rare few enemies. With any luck at all he could retrieve Tearloch and the babe before anyone realized what was happening.
    The last thing he needed was to drag along a feral vampire who distracted him on a cellular level.
    But the thought of leaving without her, or worse, allowing her to simply walk away, was unacceptable.
    â€œBecause the good guys are so disgustingly concerned with their honor.” A