Tane wasn’t nearly so dismissive. A wooden arrow through the heart would make for a very bad night. Besides, they hurt like a bitch coming out.
“Hard to beat the classics,” he said, halting a step behind the gargoyle as the tiny demon lifted his hands to launch a fireball at the encroaching enemy.
“True.” Levet glanced over his shoulder with a smirk. “And they are most effective against vampires. Always the mark of a fine weapon.”
“Not only vampires.” He bared his fangs. “The Sylvermyst are rumored to hex their arrows with spells that make demons impotent.”
The gray eyes widened in pure male horror. “That is not a matter to jest about.”
Tane gave a twirl of his Sylvermyst sword, knocking aside a flurry of arrows.
“Who says I’m jesting?”
“You are truly a wicked man,” Levet muttered.
“So I’ve been told.”
With a flick of his tail, Levet turned back toward their attackers, lobbing another fireball among the trees. The sudden light revealed a tall form standing in the shadows, watching the battle in silence.
The leader.
Tane was certain of it.
Not that he had much opportunity to assess the danger. Dodging the flames, two of the Sylvermyst leapt directly at him, their swords slashing toward his head.
With a speed that no fey could follow, Tane spun to the side, striking out with his sword.
His blow was blocked by a matching sword, the sparks flying through the air. Sensing movement behind him, Tane used his superior strength to shove the fey off balance, turning to meet the second sword thrust.
The blade moved smoothly through the air, speaking of the craftsmanship of the sword. Obviously the Sylvermyst were well armed.
And well trained …
He growled as the opponent behind him jabbed his sword through the fleshy part of his shoulder, obviously hoping to disable him long enough to strike a killing blow. A wise strategy if he was battling anything but a vampire.
Gritting his teeth, Tane grasped the end of the sword sticking out of his shoulder, pulling it deeper into his body.
The Sylvermyst breathed a sound of shock, but grimly held onto his weapon. A lethal mistake. With a last yank, Tane had the warrior close enough to his back that he could reach over his wounded shoulder and grab him by his long braid.
A cry was ripped from the fey’s throat as he found himself flying over Tane’s head and landing on his partner had grimly been attempting to get past Tane’s sword.
The two went down in a pile of flailing limbs and curses, and Tane didn’t hesitate as he sliced off the head of one Sylvermyst and then the other.
A potent scent of herbs filled the air as the blood of the fey soaked into the mossy ground, but Tane didn’t pause to admire the gory victory. Spinning the sword, he turned, not at all surprised to discover yet another fey barreling through the trees in his direction.
Dammit. Enough was enough. He was tired of playing pincushion for the bastards. Yanking his dagger from its sheath he sent it sailing in one smooth motion.
The fey tried to dodge to the side, but the blade sank deep in his throat, slicing through a major artery. For a minute the warrior remained indifferent to the blood pouring down his chest. It wasn’t until his knees buckled and he fell forward that he realized the danger of the gaping wound.
Tane was on him before he could try to stem the flow, sinking his fangs into his flesh and draining the last of the blood from his limp body.
The power of the fey flowed through his veins, helping to heal his wounds.
Straightening, he was prepared for the next attack.
An attack that never came.
Instead the remaining fey sank back into the shadows. All but the tall warrior that Tane had already tagged as the leader.
He reached down to pull the dagger from the fallen warrior as the Sylvermyst strolled through the underbrush, a large crossbow pointed at Tane’s chest.
He was taller than the others and built with more bulk than most fey, but he had the same oddly metallic eyes of the other Sylvermyst that shimmered with a pure bronze in the moonlight. His long hair was a dark shade of chestnut and his delicate features held an arrogant sneer.
Tane narrowed his gaze. Ah, the pleasure of knocking that sneer from the too-pretty face.
A pity he needed answers more than he needed the pleasure of slicing and dicing another fey.
Obviously the Sylvermyst came to the same conclusion as he stepped into the small clearing, his crossbow aimed, but his finger off the trigger.
“Where is the child?” the Sylvermyst demanded, his voice holding a power that filled the air.
Tane’s fingers tightened on the sword. Damn. This Sylvermyst was different.
Dangerous.
“Why don’t you come and find out?” he invited, wanting the creature close enough he could rip out his heart if necessary.
There was a rustle in the undergrowth as Levet sidled to stand at his side.
“Tane, do you truly think it wise to taunt the Sylvermyst with the hexed arrows?”
The bronze gaze dipped to the tiny gargoyle, his lips pulling into a mocking smile.
“Is that your wingman?” He shifted his attention back to Tane. “Pathetic even for a leech.”
“Hey!” Levet protested.
Tane, on the other hand, couldn’t argue.
It really was pathetic.
Instead he narrowed his gaze. “Wingman? You don’t speak like a fairy who has been banished from this world for centuries.”
“I’ll admit my cable service was shitty in hell, but…”
“No,” Tane growled. “You’re lying.”
“Probably. I’m evil, after all,” the fey taunted. “It’s what we do.”
“I don’t need an owner’s manual for evil.” The fey’s smile widened. “No, I don’t suppose you do, vampire.”
Tane paused. Did the bastard have a sense of humor or a death wish?
Either way he was setting off alarms that Tane wasn’t willing to ignore.
“Who are you?”
“Isn’t it enough to know I’m the man who is going to kill you?”
Tane lifted a brow. “Are you scared to give me your name or embarrassed?”
There was a moment of hesitation before the creature shrugged.
“Ariyal,” he revealed, his gaze flicking dismissively over Tane. “And you are the infamous Tane. Scourge of rogue vampires around the world. Now that we have the introductions out of the way, tell me where the child is.”
Tane’s question was answered.
A death wish.