“Are you going to stand here boring me?” she demanded. “Or do you actually want to get your stupid sword?”

  Lynx pressed a hand to the center of his chest, as if she’d hurt his heart. “A direct hit.” He smiled. “Although, I very much doubt you’re bored. Still, it’s time for us to go.” As if flipping a switch, the smile disappeared and Lynx reached into the pocket of his jeans to pull out a small device. He held it toward Micha. “Nothing stupid, leech. Yugan, keep an eye on the seer.”

  Taking the lead, Lynx crossed the cavern and went into a wide tunnel that burrowed through the depths of the mountain. The construction felt relatively new, and there was a jagged lack of polish, as if it’d been dug with speed rather than care.

  Was this a new stronghold? Had Lynx recently relocated? Or maybe the revolution wasn’t as old as he was trying to pretend.

  Skye shrugged away the suspicion, concentrating on the small hum of power beneath her feet. It wasn’t the magic of a Gyre, but this spot had a trace of lingering enchantment. She assumed that was the reason Lynx had chosen the mountain to create his lair.

  Eventually the tunnel angled upward and they stepped out of a cave onto an empty field that stretched for acres.

  Night had settled in and there was a stiff breeze that cut through the thin material of Skye’s dress. If she’d known she was going to be kidnapped, she would have worn something more suitable.

  There was a soft tread of footsteps and suddenly Micha was standing next to her. He didn’t touch her, but he was close enough that he was able to use his unique talents to wrap her in an invisible cloak of warmth. A dangerous pleasure swirled through her along with the welcome heat.

  A silly woman might think that Micha was bothered by her discomfort...

  Belatedly noticing Lynx studying them with blatant curiosity, Skye sent him an impatient glare.

  “Are we going to wait here for the sword to appear?”

  Lynx snapped his fingers, thankfully distracted. On cue, a blinding light flooded the field. “I might not have the casual luxury of a leech, but my horde has acquired enough wealth to provide a few modern-day conveniences, including a private airport.”

  Skye blinked, struggling to see through the blinding brightness. Eventually she managed to make out the shapes of several demons clustered around a sleek private jet parked at the beginning of a long runway. In the distance she could see the outline of a metal hangar that gleamed in the industrial-grade spotlights.

  Wow.

  Too stunned to speak, Skye watched in silence as a uniformed goblin approached them and performed a deep bow.

  “Master, we’re ready to take off when you give the signal.”

  “Master?” Micha drawled, his voice thick with disdain.

  “Better than Your Excellency,” Lynx countered.

  “If you say so.”

  With a deliberate motion, Lynx stepped next to Skye and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her tightly to his side.

  “This tempting creature, however, can call me whatever her little heart desires.”

  Skye started to struggle, only to freeze when the smell of death spiked the air. Not the death of a rotting corpse. This was a cold, steel-edged promise of a swift end to existence. Lynx dropped his arm and stepped back, but a pleased smile touched his lips. He’d gotten the response he wanted. He glanced at the waiting servant.

  “We’ll board now.”

  The servant nodded and turned to scurry toward the plane to pull down the stairs. Lynx followed behind at a slower pace with Skye behind him and Micha bringing up the rear. Yugan had disappeared, but she assumed he was like a bad penny, showing up when he was least wanted.

  In silence they walked to the runway, climbing the narrow steps and entering the cabin. Predictably, the interior was sleek and modern with a table in the center of the small space with a U-shaped couch surrounding it.

  The door closed and the engines revved as they moved to take their seats on the couch. Skye swallowed a sigh as she was sandwiched between the two males. Lynx on one side, who was manspreading as if trying to consume more than his fair share of space, and Micha as cold and rigid as a marble statue on the other side.

  Great. She didn’t know where they were headed, but it promised to be an uncomfortable flight.

  There was a small jerk before the jet was rolling down the runway, picking up speed before they hurtled upward with enough force to press Skye into the soft cushions. She hastily grabbed her seat belt and wrapped it around her waist.

  Once strapped in, she turned her head to study Lynx’s profile. He was staring out the porthole across the cabin, his expression brooding. Not as brooding as Micha’s on the other side. But close.

  “How long have you been following me around?” she asked, needing to shatter the tense silence.

  Lynx shrugged. “A few days.”

  She gave a dramatic shudder. “Creepy.”

  “Practical,” he corrected. “Your father was confident you would do whatever was necessary to protect him, but I’m a demon who always has a backup plan. Usually more than one.”

  His boast reminded her of a far more important question. “How did you get the key to the lower floor of Valen’s lair?”

  His jaw tightened, but he answered with a well-rehearsed ease. “Not all his staff are as loyal as he assumes.”

  Skye snorted. “Valen isn’t careless. Even Peri says that he’s a pain in the ass when it comes to protecting his lair. He would never hand out keys to his staff willy-nilly.”

  Lynx arched a taunting brow. “Willy-nilly?”

  She ignored him. “The only ones who would have access to keys would be his guests. So who gave it to you?”

  “Valen is arrogant. Like all leeches, he doesn’t believe anyone could outsmart his security. It makes it much easier to do whatever the hell I want without getting caught.”

  He was being deliberately provoking. A sure sign he didn’t want to answer her questions. All the more reason to keep pressure on him.

  “Did the traitor also tell you which room Micha was using?” she demanded. “You went directly to his door despite the fact it was at the back of the building.”

  “You’re a seer. You of all people should understand the past is meaningless. Only the future matters.” He abruptly shoved himself to his feet, his expression hard with warning. “Behave yourselves.”

  In two long steps he disappeared into a room at the back of the cabin. A bedroom? Or maybe an office. A second later a door snapped shut.

  Skye pursed her lips, considering the exchange. She hadn’t pried out the name of a coconspirator, but she was convinced that they were currently staying at Valen’s lair. Either one of the visiting Cabal or a servant who he trusted without reservation.

  That should narrow down the list of suspects. If only she could get word to Peri...

  Her thoughts were disrupted as her lips parted in a wide yawn. She was too exhausted to think clearly. After a couple of days of constant tension and restless nights, she could barely keep her eyes open. If she was going to find a way to prevent the world being burned to the ground, she needed to replenish her strength.

  Snuggling into the soft cushions, she cast a quick glance toward the vampire seated next to her. He was once again in his statue form, no doubt contemplating the various forms of revenge he intended to enact on Lynx and his pals. Including her.

  With a sigh of regret, Skye allowed the weariness to swallow her. Micha was a worry for another time and place.

  Two hours later she woke as the jet made a sharp descent and hit the runway at a speed that made the aircraft shudder in protest. Skye was jerked awake, but thankfully she wasn’t tossed from her seat. Not because her seat belt protected her. That had mysteriously disappeared while she was asleep. But because she was wrapped tightly in Micha’s arms.

  A heat touched her cheeks as she tilted back her head to meet his unreadable gaze. She wanted to believe that he’d pulled her close to protect her. Or even because he was overcome with the desire to feel her pressed against him. Unfortunately, she had a memory of her vivid dreams that’d included unhooking her seat belt so she could cuddle against the sexy vampire. Her only comfort was that she hadn’t actually tried to strip off his clothes. At least she hoped not.

  Pulling out of his arms, Skye shoved her riotous curls away from her face and futilely attempted to smooth the wrinkles from her dress. A lost cause, of course, but it gave her something to do as Lynx reappeared to shove open the door of the cabin and lead them onto yet another secluded airfield.

  She had a brief glimpse of a narrow runway hidden by tall rows of cypress trees before she was bundled into a van that pulled next to the jet. Micha crawled in behind her and they were driven a short distance before they were unloaded and forced onto an airboat waiting at the edge of a swampy canal.

  There were two other boats waiting in the thick weeds, loaded with a variety of demons, including Yugan still wearing his big gun.

  They all had grim expressions that matched Micha’s bleak mood, and the air was so thick it was hard to breathe. To be fair, she was almost certain they were in the bayous of south Louisiana. The air was always hard to breathe. But the sullen atmosphere didn’t help.

  Wrapping her arms around her waist, Skye concentrated on blocking out the varied emotions that battered at her. Fear, greed, anticipation, and a barely leashed hunger for violence.

  These males were ready for battle. And she wasn’t sure they cared who they killed.

  The humid wind tugged at her curls as they skimmed and skipped their way out of the canal and into the open water of the gulf, headed directly for a nearby island. The area was shrouded in a darkness so intense that it was obvious no one lived there. Skye felt a stab of relief. She didn’t doubt that Micha was simply biding his time until he decided it was time to end his captivity. And when that happened, things were going to get very bad.

  Probably best to keep the humans out of the looming carnage.

  The boats navigated onto a crescent-shaped beach and Skye climbed out. Beneath her feet was hard-packed sand covered with driftwood and rotting vegetation. Ahead of her was a line of thick trees draped in Spanish moss that gave the impression of an impenetrable barrier.

  She glanced toward Micha, who was standing a few feet away. A dozen demons were spread around them, but none were brave enough to get close to the vampire, leaving him standing alone in a pool of moonlight.

  “Where are we?” she asked him.

  “My private island,” Micha said, his gaze locked on Lynx, who was strolling toward them. “I keep it protected for the local wildlife.”

  Lynx clicked his tongue as he halted next to Micha. “Lies. It’s a baited trap created to punish any demon who wants to challenge the Cabal.”

  Micha looked bored. “Are you always so dramatic?”

  “It’s part of my charm.” Lynx winked at Skye. “Isn’t it, sweetness?”

  Sweetness? Gag.

  “It’s part of something,” Skye muttered.

  Lynx’s mocking expression faded, leaving behind the ruthless determination etched on the overly handsome features.

  “Lead us to the temple,” he commanded.

  Micha folded his arms over his chest. “Lead yourself.”

  Yugan aimed his gun at the stubborn vampire. It wouldn’t kill Micha, but it could weaken him.

  “No, Yugan.” Lynx held up his hand. “I have a better way to encourage our companion’s cooperation.”

  Micha parted his lips to expose his lethal fangs. As if anyone might have forgotten about them.

  “Doubtful.”

  Without warning, Lynx lunged toward Skye, wrapping his hand around her throat as he pressed his chest against her back.

  “Hey,” Skye protested, exaggerating her annoyance as she reached up to try to pry his fingers loose. At the same time, she breathed a soft chant, releasing one of the curses stored on her charm bracelet.

  She felt the magic sink into his skin as he tightened his grip, threatening to snap her neck.

  “I don’t want to hurt her, but I will,” Lynx warned.

  “Nice,” Skye chided, dropping her hand. She wanted the fairy to think she’d conceded defeat.

  Micha’s response was a little more dramatic. With a low hiss, he pointed toward the nearby trees, a thunderous pressure filling the air and bending the foliage until it revealed a narrow pathway.

  “You want to prove you’re some magical leader and not another idiot with a death wish, knock yourself out,” he growled.

  Skye felt Lynx’s muscles clench. He hadn’t expected Micha to give in so quickly. Now he obviously suspected a trap.

  “You go first,” he commanded.

  Micha sent the fairy a mocking glance as he headed toward the pathway. “Coward.”

  Releasing his hold on Skye’s throat, Lynx poked her in the center of the back, obviously wanting her to go ahead of him. Skye snorted. He really was a coward.

  Not that her nerves weren’t affected by the darkness that slithered over her as she stepped onto the pathway winding through the trees. This wasn’t natural. The shadows were alive with magic. As if it was a living creature that hungered for blood. Or maybe flesh.

  Skye reached out with her senses, absorbing the power that pulsed in the air. It came from the Gyre, but it wasn’t like the one in New York City. This one was deep and primitive and wild. It was as if someone had tapped into the most ancient well of magic and allowed it to spill across the island.

  Had it been Micha?

  Lost in her musings, Skye barely noticed the vines that glided next to the path, occasionally striking out as if trying to capture the intruders and drag them into the tangled undergrowth. They didn’t appear to have any interest in her. Either because Micha was in control of them, or more likely, they assumed she was a creature like them. Created out of magic.

  Behind her, however, Lynx was forced to dart and dodge the vegetation that lashed out, muttering a string of expletives in a language that Skye didn’t recognize. The fairy was more unnerved than he wanted to admit.

  Slowly they neared the center of the island and Skye shivered as she was bathed in a pulsing enchantment. The lush power called to her like a siren’s song, beckoning her to sink into green depths and forget the world. It was tempting. Too tempting. If she hadn’t been a mage, she would never have sensed the venomous undertones if imbibed too freely.

  Malice dipped in honey.

  Behind her a scream abruptly pierced the heavy silence. Skye didn’t have to look back to know that one of the demons had fallen victim to the vines. By the time they reached the clearing, three more demons had screamed.

  Unfortunately, Lynx wasn’t one of them. He remained inches behind her as Micha crossed the soggy ground to lay his hand against the rusty door set in a square building made of cinder blocks.

  It looked like a bomb shelter, not a setting for a mystical sword.

  Curious, Skye readily followed Micha through the opening, her breath catching in her throat.

  The outer shell was constructed with a spell that disguised the lavish beauty of the true temple. Once inside, her wide gaze skimmed over the pure black marble floor. The walls were covered with rich tapestries stitched with silver thread, and overhead the ceiling was painted a dark blue and splattered with silver stars.

  There was a light, ethereal quality to the space that should have been a relief after the oppressive atmosphere they’d just left, but Skye wasn’t fooled. The barriers that protected the island were woven out of nature. This was something different. It was almost metallic, but not human technology. It was...

  She didn’t know.

  She’d never sensed anything like it.

  Instinctively she halted near the door as Lynx swept past her with an avid anticipation. Behind him, Yugan forced his feet forward, looking as if he’d bitten into a lemon. They were headed toward the center of the space where a large sword was stuck into the marble floor.

  Skye narrowed her gaze, finally able to pinpoint the source of her unease.

  The weapon looked like something out of a fable. It was big with a shiny blade. At least what she could see of the blade was shiny. The rest was hidden by the marble. The only thing unusual was the large chunk of red glass that was inlaid in the pommel and the weird aura that surrounded it.

  It wasn’t the aura of a demon. It was more like the blurred shadow around a mirage. As if it was an illusion, not a real sword.

  Skye inched to the side, moving until she was standing next to the grim-faced vampire.

  “What is this place?” Her voice was barely a whisper. She didn’t want to attract the attention of Lynx, who was slowly circling the sword.

  Micha glanced toward her, his expression impossible to read. “This was the temple created by the mage. It’s a monument to the demon she loved.”

  Skye scrunched her nose. It wasn’t that she’d forgotten the details of the ill-fated love story, but she was suddenly certain that there were a few important details missing.

  “You’re sure?” she pressed.

  “That’s the legend the demons have passed through the generations.” He turned until he was facing her. “Why?”

  “I don’t know what hexed the sword or built this temple, but it wasn’t a mage.”

  Micha flicked a glance toward Lynx, who was slowly reaching toward the sword, his expression triumphant.

  “At last,” the fairy breathed.

  “Wait, Master!” Yugan abruptly pleaded, rushing toward Lynx. “Don’t touch it. This could be a trick. Allow me to try first.”

  “Stop,” Lynx snarled, halting his servant before he could interfere. “This is my duty. You wait outside.”