Clearly thinking it had to be a trap, the tiny witch backed her way out of the door, never taking her gaze off the massive Aztec warrior.

Roke watched her wary departure with gritted teeth, telling himself to let her go. The more space between them the better.

But the instant she was out of sight, his good intentions shattered. With a muttered curse he was heading out of the room, catching his fleeing prey just as she was turning the corner.

“Sally.”

Coming to a grudging halt, the witch turned to send him a sullen frown. “What do you want? I already gave my word I wouldn’t escape.”

“You don’t have to,” he said, grabbing her wrist to study the delicate tattoo with a brooding gaze. Mate. “There’s nowhere in the world you could go where I wouldn’t find you.”

It took a minute for her to realize that their connection meant he would always know where she was. Hell, he would know what she was feeling, and if he truly concentrated, he would know what she was doing.

The blush faded to a sickly white, her eyes velvet dark. “Then what do you want?”

Want? His fangs lengthened. What he wanted was to yank her into his arms and sink his aching fangs deep into her throat. His body wasn’t conflicted. It accepted this woman was now his and it wanted to indulge in all the benefits of a mate.

But, Styx was right, as much as he hated to agree with the oversized mother hen.

Besides, he had a more pressing reason for charging after her.

“Is this spell dangerous?”

“It can be if I make a mistake in mixing the ingredients or when I cast the actual spell.” She frowned, clearly baffled by his question. “But you don’t have to worry, I’ll create a protective circle before I begin. You won’t be in any danger.”

He took a step forward, standing close enough to be drenched in her peach-scented warmth. “And you?”

She licked her dry lips. “I don’t understand.”

“It’s simple. Will you be at risk?”

“The caster is always at risk. Why?”

His thumb rubbed her inner wrist, lingering on the feel of her racing pulse as his gaze rested on her damp lips.

Oh . . . hell.

He was in trouble.

Ass-deep, never-be-the-same-again trouble.

“For better or worse you’re my mate,” he rasped.

“So . . .” Her eyes widened in sudden horror. “Oh. Do vampires die if something happens to their mates?”

He shuddered, unable to even imagine the devastating sense of loss.

“No, but I’ll wish I was dead.”

Chapter 20

Outside the dragon lair

Nefri ignored Santiago’s bristling annoyance as she stepped toward the small female demon.

“Yannah. Did your mother send you?”

Yannah gave a sniff, waving her hand toward the scowling vampire and sulking gargoyle. “I’m not allowed to say in front of them.”

“Ah.” Nefri wisely hid her smile as she pointed toward the small copse of trees. “Perhaps we can step over here?”

Santiago made a strangled sound. “Nefri, we don’t have time for this.”

Yannah widened her black eyes, the heavy pressure of her magic beginning to swirl through the air. “I’m a messenger from the Commission,” she announced. “Everyone has time for me.”

Without warning Levet tossed his hands in the air. “There. You see? How is a man supposed to live with such a bossy creature?”

Nefri sent a warning glance toward Santiago, who had a sudden glint of amusement in his eyes. “Careful.”

“Hey, I’m not saying a word,” he said, an exaggerated expression of innocence on his handsome face.

“Good choice,” she murmured, turning back to the female demon. “Shall we, Yannah?”

Together they moved over the uneven ground, not halting until they were far enough away to avoid being overheard by even a vampire.

“Why must men be so difficult?” Yannah abruptly burst out.

“I have come to the conclusion it’s a genetic defect of males,” Nefri consoled her companion. “That would explain why their numerous faults appear to include all species.”

Yannah gave a slow nod. “That makes sense.”

There was a moment of silence as they pondered the oddity of the male gender, and then Nefri was giving a shake of her head. “I believe you have a message for me.”

“Oh. Yes.” Yannah smoothed tiny hands down her white robe. “My mother says ‘That which was lost is found again.’”

Nefri remained silent, waiting for the rest of the message. At least until she realized that Yannah was staring at her with an expectant expression.

“That’s it?”

“Yes.”

“But . . .” Nefri frowned. “I don’t understand. What was lost?”

“How should I know?” Yannah gave an impatient wave of her hand. “I’m just the messenger.”

Nefri was careful to keep her expression devoid of her stab of frustration. Yannah might appear to be a child, but she had enough power to destroy them all.

“Very well. Thank you, Yannah.” She offered a small bow. “I will be sure to tell Siljar that you performed your task with honor.”

“I must return.” Yannah glanced toward the two men who stood in stiff silence. “You’ll keep him safe?”

Nefri nodded, sensing Yannah’s concern was genuine, despite her enjoyment in nagging the small gargoyle. “I will do everything in my power to make certain he isn’t harmed,” she promised softly.

“Thank you.”

With a last, longing glance at Levet, the small demon abruptly disappeared, leaving behind the scent of brimstone.

Nefri gave a faint shake of her head and slowly returned to her companions.

Why on earth had Siljar sent her daughter to share such a vague message? It wasn’t as if she could actually use it to her advantage. Not when she didn’t have a clue what it meant.

Instinctively moving to stand beside Santiago, Nefri was prepared for Levet’s scowl as he realized she was alone.

“Where did Yannah go?”

“She had to return to the Commission,” Nefri said in distracted tones.

“Hmmph. Typical,” the gargoyle muttered, his wings drooping in the moonlight. “She comes here to pick a fight and then just disappears when she realizes I’m winning.”

Ignoring the grouchy Levet, Santiago reached to tuck Nefri’s hair behind her ear as he studied her with a worried gaze. “What did she say?”

“She said, ‘That which was lost is found again.’”

Santiago was predictably unimpressed. “What was found?”

Nefri grimaced. “That was the message.”

“The entire message?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know what it means?”

Nefri shrugged. “I don’t have a clue.”

“Fantastic,” Santiago growled. “So are we supposed to wait around for the Oracles?”

Nefri didn’t hesitate. With every passing minute the danger to the world increased. “No. We need to find Gaius.”

Santiago studied her with a searching gaze. “And then?”

“I’m not entirely sure,” she admitted. Siljar had demanded that Gaius be captured, but Nefri wasn’t going to sacrifice Santiago. If push came to shove she would kill her former clansman, and she would do it without hesitation. “But he has to be stopped.”

Santiago nodded. “Yes.”

Their gazes held as they silently shared their growing concern, then the moment was interrupted as Levet pressed his face against her leg to sniff her jeans.

“Why do you smell like dragon?”

With a low growl, Santiago leaned down to grab the gargoyle by his stunted horn, pulling him away from Nefri as if he was jealous of the tiny creature. “Does he have to come?” he demanded.

She gave a firm nod. “Yes.”

Levet yanked free of Santiago’s grasp, glaring at the male vampire. “What is the matter with you?”

Santiago scowled. “Do you have to ask?”

“Hey.” Levet gave a sharp flap of his wings. “It is supposed to be farts before tarts.”

“What the—” Santiago made a sound of disgust. “Oh, for god’s sake, it’s ‘bros before hos.’”

“That is not very polite,” Levet protested in shocked tones, his gaze moving to Nefri. “Forgive his crassness, ma belle.”

“I do my best,” she assured the gargoyle.

“I need to call Styx and update him,” Santiago muttered, digging his phone out of his front pocket. “I’ll meet you at the truck.”

She sent him an overly innocent smile. “If you insist.”

“Oh, I insist.”

With a light touch on Levet’s wing, she steered him toward the rugged path that eventually would lead to the truck parked in the foothills. As much as she enjoyed watching the tiny gargoyle drive Santiago nuts, she didn’t want him pressing his luck.