Bound by Darkness - Alexandra Ivy [17]
“Spirit or not, why would Yannah follow us to Avalon and then conveniently be around to help you escape?”
There was a barely perceptible pause. “She owed me for releasing her from your bondage. I called in my debt.”
“I don’t believe you.”
She struggled, the sensation of her hard muscles squirming against him nearly sending him up in flames. Holy shit. If only he could turn all that pent-up aggression to passion she’d be naked and riding him like a bucking bronco.
The image burned into his brain, making him so hard and ready he feared he might explode.
“Tough,” she growled.
He ground his teeth. Dammit, he wouldn’t let himself be distracted.
At least, not without the promise of satisfaction.
“Why did you follow me here?”
“You know why.”
He smiled without humor, pressing his aching arousal against her hip.
“Tempting, but I’m afraid you’ll have to wait to have your wicked way with my body,” he mocked. “At least until I’ve halted Armageddon.”
Her eyes flashed with indigo fire, her struggles becoming serious.
“My only interest in your body is hauling it to the Commission.”
He pressed the knife against her throat, refusing to regret the smell of burning flesh.
If she tried to take him to the Commission then he’d have to do a hell of a lot worse than singe a bit of skin.
“Wrong answer.”
“Shit, that burns.”
“Hold still and you won’t be hurt,” he informed her, lifting his free hand to form a portal.
Instantly the familiar shimmer floated beside him. No other fairy could match his speed in forming a portal. Or his tolerance to iron.
Which were only two of many reasons he’d been chosen to lead his people.
Jaelyn froze, her gaze trained on the magical opening that hung near her head.
“What are you doing?”
“Returning you to Avalon.” His gaze narrowed. “And this time I will make certain no one will be coming to your rescue.”
She cursed, grudgingly turning her head to meet his ruthless gaze.
“Wait.”
“Why should I?”
“We ...” She looked like she’d swallowed a lemon. “... might be able to negotiate.”
Instinctively he lifted the dagger from her neck, absently watching her skin heal the small burn.
He should return her to Avalon. No ifs, ands, or freaking buts. The odds were that she was either there to haul his ass to the Commission.
Or kill him.
Neither possibility was particularly pleasant.
Still, he hesitated.
Wasn’t there some human saying about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer?
It was surely wiser to have her in sight until he discovered how she truly had escaped from Avalon?
Dubious logic, but he was going with it.
“Another bargain, poppet?”
“Something like that.”
His gaze lowered to the small breasts perfectly outlined by the black spandex.
“What do you intend to offer?”
She growled, but amazingly she made no effort to sink her pearly fangs into his arm. In fact, her mouth curled into what he assumed was intended to be a smile, although it was remarkably closer to the onset of rigor mortis.
“I’m willing to give you a few days to track down Tearloch,” she managed to choke out. “If you swear you will only capture the child and not sacrifice her.”
Curiouser and curiouser.
“Why?”
“I won’t help you kill an innocent.”
He pressed the blade back to her neck. “Don’t play stupid.”
She snapped her fangs, barely missing his fingers. “Careful, fey.”
“Earlier you refused to even discuss my need to stop Tearloch and Sergei,” he reminded her. “What changed?”
She shifted until the blade was no longer burning her skin, her raven braid spilling across the damp pavement.
“I’m no more anxious than you for the world to end. Especially if it means becoming enslaved by the minions of hell.”
Ariyal shook his head. “You really are a terrible liar, poppet.”
She made a sound of impatience. “Look, I’ve offered to give you the time you need to track down your tribesman. What does it matter why?”
“Because I don’t trust you.”
She met him glare for glare. “Believe me, the feeling is entirely mutual.”
“I should return you to Avalon.”
Something that might have been panic flared through her eyes