Even as the black mist receded, Styx caught a glimpse of a crimson-tinted landscape with black, razor-sharp rocks that were dissected by rivers of flowing lava. The opening had shifted from the Dark Lord’s prison to a hell dimension—whether by accident or intent, he didn’t know. All he was certain of was that a creature that looked something like a troll with a large, muscular body covered in a thick, hairless hide and a large head with beady crimson eyes and a snout with protruding fangs was crawling through the opening.
The creature smashed the table, his clenched fists the size of a sledgehammer. And no doubt they would cause as much damage if they happened to be aimed at Styx’s face.
Something he didn’t intend to find out.
“Jagr,” he roared, his feet spread wide and his sword lifted to strike. “Jaelyn.”
Chapter 18
Cassie cursed as the portal that Gaius had created abruptly collapsed, leaving them trapped in the white mist.
Although . . . She frowned, scanning the swirling fog. It didn’t feel as if it were the same white mist. She couldn’t see more than a few inches in front of her face, but the scalding pain from the Dark Lord had faded and the sense of endless space had narrowed to the sensation they were in a long corridor.
Odd.
Equally confused by their surroundings, Caine released his bruising hold on Cassie to rise to his feet with a low growl.
Swift to take advantage of his momentary distraction, Cassie scooted away, warily straightening as she considered her extremely limited options.
She could run, but Caine would swiftly catch her. And rousing his predator instincts seemed like a bad thing right now.
She could try to overpower him, but it would be a wasted effort. His strength had been increasing at an accelerated pace since he’d been turned into a Were. She would be no match for him now.
And in his current state he was beyond trying to reason with. Which left what?
She didn’t have an answer, but even as Caine started to turn back toward her, the unmistakable scent of vampire filled the air.
Cassie froze, scanning the thick mist. Could it be Gaius? No. Not Gaius. But the scent was familiar.
Caine growled, preparing to attack as the mists stirred to reveal a large vampire with a black mohawk and honey brown eyes. Tane. The vampire Charon that she’d met a few weeks before. And behind him was his mate, Laylah, the tiny half-Jinn with short, spiky red hair and black eyes.
“Stop,” she warned, knowing that Caine was on a razor edge. The least provocation and he would strike. “Don’t come any closer.”
“Harley?” Laylah asked in shock, then her eyes widened with comprehension. “No. Cassandra. And . . .” The female grimaced as she caught sight of the hulking beast nearly hidden by the fog. “Caine?”
Cassie nodded, not entirely certain whether to be relieved or concerned. The Dark Lord had already implied that there was more than one vampire willing to betray their people.
“How did you get here?”
“I’m half-Jinn. I can shadow-walk,” Laylah explained. “How did you . . .”
Her words broke off in a scream as Caine suddenly charged toward Cassie, perhaps fearing that the two intruders were about to steal away his prize.
Cassie braced herself as Caine grabbed her in a punishing grip, yanking her against his chest as he howled in warning. At the same time, Cassie heard Laylah commanding her mate.
“Tane, do something.”
Cassie hissed as she felt her ribs crack beneath Caine’s tight grasp, but she held up a hand as Tane moved to rescue her. “Don’t hurt him.”
The vampire faltered in confusion. “Are you kidding me?”
She struggled to breathe. “Don’t. Hurt. Him.”
“Dammit.” Tane stalked forward, and then with shocking speed he lifted his arm and slammed his fist into Caine’s elongated jaw. The crazed Were gave a grunt of pain, and then tumbled backward as he was knocked senseless.
Cassie was thrown from Caine’s arms, but swallowing her groan of pain, she crawled back to his side, her hand reaching to wipe the blood from his mutated face. “What have you done?” she breathed.
Tane folded his arms over his bare chest. He was wearing nothing more than a loose pair of khaki shorts. Well, unless you counted the humongous sword strapped to his back.
“It was that or kill him.”
Logically, Cassie knew he was right. Caine might very well have squeezed her to death if the vampire hadn’t interfered. But that didn’t make it any easier to see Caine lying injured on the ground.
She felt a hand lightly touch her shoulder and she glanced up to discover Laylah standing next to her, an aching loss in the black eyes.
“Cassandra.”
“What?”
The half-Jinn hesitated, as if afraid to ask the question hovering on her lips. “My baby,” she at last breathed.
“Maluhia.”
Laylah pressed a hand to her heart as her mate moved to wrap a protective arm around her shoulders. “Have you seen him?” she asked.
Cassie gave a reluctant nod. “Yes.”
“Where?” Laylah’s eyes filled with tears as she read the regret that was etched on Cassie’s face. “The Dark Lord has him?”
“I’m afraid so.”
Laylah leaned heavily against her mate, but her face hardened with a grim determination that only a mother could claim. It warned she would move heaven and earth to get her child. And kill anything that stood in her way. “I have to get to him.”
Cassie bit her lip as she debated the wisdom of concealing the brutal truth from the poor woman. Then accepting it would be worse to give false hope, she slowly straightened. “The mists are impossible to penetrate without Gaius’s magic necklace.”
“Gaius.” Tane muttered the name as if it were a curse. “Where is he?”
“The Dark Lord has him.” Cassie frowned, thinking back to the vampire who had opened the portal. “He sacrificed himself so we could escape.”
Tane scowled at the confession. “Why would he do that?”
“I don’t know. I doubt we’ll ever know.” Cassie shrugged, not prepared to care what had prompted the vampire to help them. Gaius may have opened the portal, but he was responsible for Caine’s hideous transformation. Not to mention, forcing them to the Dark Lord’s prison. No. She didn’t give a damn why he’d helped or what he might be suffering for his betrayal. “We have to get Caine to Salvatore.”
Tane gave a sharp nod, turning to glance at his mate. “Laylah?”