Page 69 of Kiss of Light

Still nothing.

Slowly, she straightened. Maybe she was mistaken. Maybe Ravij was still trying to track them on route. Maybe he hadn’t known exactly where the Gate entrance was and was out there somewhere looking for it.

Without his army of vampires, he had no chance. All she and Lemar had to do was hold out for a while longer and they’d be home and dry.

Assuming they survived the jump.

She repeated her mantra under her breath. One problem at a time. She walked silently to the edge of the plateau and looked down.

Anyone stepping off without a Gate mark on their bodies would end up smushed on the rocks below. But those carrying the magical sigil could see and enter the doorway to the other realm. She peered through into Nush’aldaam.

It was still daylight on the other side but her view was obscured with what looked like white smoke drifting across the opening. It didn’t surprise her. She wondered if she should have told Lemar the truth about this Gate. Then again, he might have refused to come.

She hoped fervently her plan was going to work. She’d feel a whole lot better about things if she knew where Ravij was.

She sensed the movement behind her a split second before she heard the soft twang of the bow. Instinctively she started to shimmer away. She was too late.

Something slammed into her calf and she collapsed to the floor, clutching her leg in agony.

An arrow had smashed straight through her tibia. It had been fired with such force, the tip was protruding from her shin. Blood poured from her leg and shards of bone poked through the ragged edges of the wound.

The pain made it hard to focus but she knew the arrow was silver. She even knew who’d fired it. She’d seen the crossbow it had come from many times.

A shape stepped from the ruined tower behind her.

“Sorry to shoot from behind, Blondie,” said a familiar voice. “No hard feelings.”

Twenty Eight

Lemar turned. He moved jerkily, slowly, as if he was in a nightmare and his feet were stuck in treacle. Ravij was behind him.

Tall. Cadaverous. Thin cheekbones and chin jutting from a skull-like head. And the eyes. Liquid black from edge to edge. Lemar flinched. Not even his own eyes when he was feeding looked that hellish.

This was the true face of Ravij, not some host body. If he needed further proof, the shaitun’s ankh marking was visible on the pallid skin of his neck.

Lemar gathered himself.

“You made a mistake, demon,” he snarled. “Sneaking around on your own. Your arrogance is your downfall. I’m going to rip your throat out.”

Ravij didn’t answer. He stood stock still. Lemar frowned.

“Are you listening to me?”

The demon was motionless. Lemar let his canines lengthen. Fuck this. No more games.

He lunged for the demon, intending to slit his throat with his claws. Maybe he’d rip his arms off first before taking his head. Payback for what he’d done a century before. And payback for what he’d made Tala suffer. He was going to enjoy this.

His claws stopped an inch from the demon’s neck.

“Apologies, Count. I can’t allow you to do that.”

The voice wasn’t coming from the demon. Lemar whipped round but there was no-one behind him.

“What is this shit? Where are you?”

“Don’t you know?” The hateful voice chuckled and the hair rose on Lemar’s neck.

Few things frightened a Vetali. They were apex predators. But something was wrong here.

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