sword pointed toward the bitch and was braced for yet another skirmish.
He grimly dismissed the voice of doom.
If he was going out, he was going out fighting. Dammit.
Preparing to attack, Marika stroked her tongue down the length of her fang.
“So pretty, it’s a shame you won’t be a good boy for me,” she drawled. “Still, there’s always Kata to keep me entertained.” Uriel didn’t have the opportunity to answer her taunt.
Even as he lifted his sword there was an odd sensation in the small space between them. As if the air pressure had suddenly changed.
Then, with a dramatic motion, the very fabric of the world was ripped open and a man stepped onto the path.
No, not a man, Uriel silently corrected himself, an icy dread forming in the pit of his stomach at the sight of the delicately carved features, the thick mane of golden blond hair, and the luminous lavender eyes.
The Jinn might pass as human, but the cruelty that was etched on the pretty face proved he was very much a monster.
Ignoring Uriel, the demon reached to grab Marika by the throat and lifted her off the ground.
“You need not worry about entertainment, leech,” his voice filled the air with a power that nearly drove Uriel to his knees. “I intend to keep you fully occupied.” “You.” Marika’s eyes widened in horror. The Jinn laughed and Marika tilted back her head with a scream. “No!”
Chapter 11
Uriel’s hand lifted to press against the scar on his chest, the dull throb becoming a jagged pain that radiated through his entire body.
He recognized the bastard, of course.
The memory of their encounter under the docks of London was seared into the very fiber of his being.
But of all the strange, bizarre, or downright dangerous creatures that Uriel might have expected to make a magical appearance, the Jinn was at the very bottom of his list.
Instinctively his hand reached into the pocket of his jeans, only to curse when he recalled he’d wasted the death spell on his futile attempt to escape from Marika.
Shit.
He wasn’t going to play puppet for the damned Jinn.
He’d throw himself into the nearby fires first.
Prepared for battle, Uriel frowned as the Jinn ignored his presence and instead concentrated on the female vamp who struggled in his grasp.
“Did you truly believe you could abuse my offspring and not pay the consequences?” he roared.
Marika futilely clawed at the Jinn’s arm, her nails unable to penetrate the shimmering silver coat he wore that matched his trousers.
“You’re dead,” she wailed, the stench of her desperate fear filling the air.
A malicious smile curved the Jinn’s lips. “My physical connection to your world was severed, which is the only reason I did not destroy you the moment you threatened Laylah. But now. .” The lavender eyes glowed with anticipation. “Now you are in a domain where I can easily travel.”
“No, please.” Marika went limp in his ruthless grasp. “This is a mistake. It was Sergei who wanted to hurt Laylah. All I’ve done is try to protect her.”
“You are correct, it was a mistake,” the Jinn readily agreed. “One you shall learn to regret for the rest of eternity.”
“Kata. Help me,” Marika pleaded. “Tell him that I’m innocent.”
Uriel muttered his opinion of females who had more courage than sense as Kata was suddenly standing at his side, her hand clutching his arm in an effort to keep herself upright.
“Innocent?” she hissed in disbelief.
“I’m your sister.”
“You’re an abomination and I hope you spend the rest of your very long life screaming in endless agony,” Kata hissed.
The Jinn glanced toward Kata, an oddly wistful expression softening the venomous beauty of his face.
“Your wish is my command, my lady,” he murmured.
With disgusting ease the Jinn tossed Marika upward, a wave of his slender hand freezing her in midair. The bitch appeared more startled than alarmed at first. Then, murmuring a soft word, the Jinn released his power and the distant lightning was suddenly altering its course to strike her slender body with sickening force.
Over and over the lightning bolts slammed into her and Marika’s shrieks filled the air, along with the horrifying scent of burning flesh.
Scooping Kata off her feet, Uriel turned her away from the hideous sight and darted down the pathway. He didn’t think for a minute they could escape the Jinn, but Kata had endured enough without witnessing Marika’s brutal torture.
Whatever she’d done to Kata, she had once been her sister.
He’d managed to go far enough to mute the vampire’s screams when the pathway before him abruptly crumbled into nothingness. Skidding to a halt, Uriel carefully set Kata on her feet before turning to confront the approaching Jinn.
“That’s close enough,” he warned, his sword eager to draw some Jinn blood.
Perhaps sensing his suicidal thoughts, Kata placed a restraining hand on his arm.
“Uriel,” she pleaded softly.
The Jinn’s attentions shifted in her direction, his expression once again softening.
“Kata.” His voice was low, hypnotizing as his hand stretched out to lightly touch her cheek. “As beautiful as ever.”
Grabbing Kata by the waist, Uriel pulled her away from the beautiful demon, his primal mating instincts overcoming any hope of sanity.
He would kill anything that tried to take away his mate.
“Don’t. Touch. Her.”
Big surprise, the Jinn simply laughed.
“Did you not learn your lesson on the last occasion our paths crossed?”
Without warning Kata stepped between the bristling males. “Please.”
The Jinn gave an obedient nod of his head, obviously devoted to the beautiful gypsy.
“Regretfully, I don’t intend him harm.” He flicked a disdainful glance in Uriel’s direction. “He has served his purpose.”
Uriel frowned. “My purpose?”
“The most powerful of Jinns are given the talent for premonition. I knew that Kata would need a protector and that it could not be me.” His lips curled into a sneer. “You were chosen.”
“That’s why you bound me?”
“It was the only means to give you the power you needed to keep Kata safe.”
“And?” Uriel prompted, unwilling to believe that the Jinn could be so selfless. Not when he vividly recalled the creatures words of warning during their last encounter.
You shall be
The lavender eyes warmed with an evil amusement. “And I needed you to live long enough to lure Marika into my lair.”
Uriel shook his head in disgust.
He’d been so determined never to become the Jinn’s puppet, and yet, he’d been dancing to his tune all along.
