a grunt before he flew back into the fray.
At Gray's left, a vampire spied him and attacked. They clashed and tumbled to the ground. The vampire was about to bite him, about to sink his teeth into Gray's neck, when he paused.
'Dunamis?' the bloodsucker said, shocked and reverent. He released Gray as if he were poison and backed away.
They smelled Jewel on him, he realized.
Someone handed him another extinguisher, and Gray popped to his feet. The rest of the dragons descended from the sky and attacked the remaining army on foot. Their steady steam of fire never slowed. Staying low, Gray crept through the rest of the camp, searching through the shadows. Over and over, he repeated the same action: spray the extinguisher, slit demon throat. Sweat dripped from him and soaked his clothing.
He could smell the blood around him, and it made his mouth water. However, he kept a tight rein on his impulse to drink, concentrating instead on the task he'd been given. Eleven times he was forced to exchange one extinguisher for another.
'Damn you, Darius,' he heard a male voice lash out.
Gray spotted the speaker immediately. Layel. The vampire king who had saved Jewel's life, as well as his own. Darius suddenly materialized and swooped in. The two men grappled. Gray hated to admit it, but he was torn. He was here to help the dragons, was indebted to Darius, but was also indebted to this particular vampire.
He heard a growl behind him and spun around, spraying foam. The demon hissed and tore at his skin. Wincing, he shouted, 'Darius, let him go,' then quickly dispatched his attacker.
Darius shot another round of fire, but the vampire king quickly dodged it.
'Do your job, human,' Darius gritted as Layel snarled, 'I need no help from you, human.' 'This is an old war,' someone said beside him. Brand, he realized. 'Do not get in the middle.'
The two men continued to fight, and Gray watched helplessly, killing any creatures who came along to interfere. Neither man was winning, for they were equally matched.
'You!' a female screeched.
Gray pivoted, his eyes narrowing. Marina, Demon Queen, hovered in front of him, her red gaze slitted and glowing. She bared her teeth at him.
'You stole Dunamis from me.
She slammed into him, tossing him like a doll. In the next instant, she was on top of him, pounding a fist into his nose. He heard the cartilage snap, felt the sharp sting and the warm trickle of blood onto his Up. Her claws ripped into his shoulder.
Unfucking believable. His ass was being kicked by a girl. Still, he felt the cartilage in his nose move back into place, felt the claw marks closing. One of the perks of belonging to the dark side, he supposed.
He shoved her off him, but she flew at him again. He'd never hit a woman in his life but he was drawing back his fist to do just that when she was ripped off him. Layel sank his teeth into her neck, the action fierce, lethal, and as wild as any animal.
Marina's body jerked and spasmed once, twice, then stilled completely. Her head fell lifelessly to the side. When Layel finished feeding, he rose and faced Darius with quiet fury. Blood trickled from his mouth. He looked around, seeing the many men he'd lost, seeing the dragon army now surrounding him.
'I concede this victory to you, but things are not finished between us.'
'They never are,' Darius said. 'Take the rest of your men and go. And know that I allowed you to leave only because you saved the human.'
Layel grinned, the action devoid of humor. 'We've done this before. I save one of your humans, and you send me on my way. That will not always be the case. One day, I
'You lie. My men guard it well.'
'Go and see for yourself. We meant to take it, too, Marina and I, but they beat us there. Our battle was with you, so we left them to it.'
A low growl emerged from Darius's throat, and he took a menacing step forward.
'Tell your woman I said hello. I still remember the taste of her,' Layel said, his humorless grin growing wider. 'Until next time.'
The vampire king vanished.
All around him lay demon, dragon, and vampire bodies. The living dragons gathered around Darius. 'You,' Darius said, pointing to a group of them. Fury darkened his features. 'Go to Javar's palace and find Kendrick. Do not let yourselves be seen. I want to know if the nymphs are truly there.'
Gray's shoulders slumped wearily, and he blocked out the rest of Darius's instructions. With this battle finished, his time with Jewel ended.
He wasn't even close to being ready to let her go.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
As always, Jewel's visions never told of her own danger.
Jewel and Grace had sneaked atop the palace parapet, hoping to catch a glance of the battle. Jewel paced. Her nerves refused to settle, and she couldn't rid herself of a sense of apprehension. Was Gray all right? Had he been hurt?
She couldn't see the battle in her mind. What good were her gifts if she could not help the man she loved? Constantly her fingers rubbed the armband Gray had given her, trying to take strength from it.
'Tell me again that they will return to us unharmed,' Grace said, her nervousness as great as Jewel's. 'This is what I hate most about being a warrior's wife. I love Darius with my whole heart. He's a part of me, but he fights these wars and I almost die of worry every time.'
Jewel paused and gave her a half smile. 'Your husband will live a long and healthy life. As will you and your children.'
Grace studied her for several minutes, then breathed a sigh of relief. 'I'd rather die myself than have anything happen to him.'
'I understand. I love Gray with all my heart.' She sighed. A gentle night breeze danced around her, tangling her robe and hair. 'But I am destined to lose him, it seems.'
'Why? There's no reason for two people in love not to stay together.'
'I would die on the surface, and if he stays here, humans will continually come through the portals, plaguing our land in an attempt to steal or destroy me.'
'Okay, that's a reason. I'm so sorry.' Grace gave her a quick hug before Jewel continued her pacing. 'Distract me. Tell me of you and Darius.'
'My favorite subject,' she said with a grin. 'I remember when he and I were first dating.' She laughed. 'I call it dating, he calls it duty.'
Somehow, Jewel couldn't picture the fierce dragon courting anyone. Demand she wed him, yes. Bring her flowers and ask her on dates, no.
'He was determined to kill me, you see.'
'What!' Jewel stopped midstep and faced the delicate-looking woman. 'He wanted to kill you?' She paused. 'I don't know why I'm surprised. That is Darius for you, a man who does his duty no matter the circumstances.'
'Darius even had his sword raised, ready to strike. I had just passed through the portal, and it was his sworn duty to silence me permanently. But he didn't. He couldn't. He helped me find my brother instead, and in return, I like to think I've filled his life with emotions and love.' Her head canted to the side thoughtfully. 'Gray needs that, too, I think. He's got that same hard look Darius sometimes wears.'
'What am I going to do?' Jewel asked dejectedly. Neither of them had an answer.
'Do you think the battle is over yet,' Grace asked, her hands wringing together. 'I won't be able to rest until
