Darkblood Prison - G.K. DeRosa Page 0,52

had vanished. I didn’t have a map, but I did have a veritable internal homing device in Talon. I focused on our bond and let the blood lead me straight to him.

When I reached a barred door, I leaned my ear against the thick timber. Muffled sounds of battle seeped through the cracks. I drew in a breath and tried to channel my inner Talon. I couldn’t go in there half-cocked. I had to have a plan, but without knowing what exactly was going on in there, it would be tough.

I searched my mind for the litany of incantations in GG’s spellbook. Yes, got it. I waved my hand across the door, whispering the words, and a mystical window appeared.

My breath hitched as my eyes landed on the scene on the other side of the door. Four females in what I could only describe as Xena: The Warrior Princess attire, dark leather and chainmail, were battling the Triad. No sign of Logan or Thax. I squinted to make out more, but I could only get a small glimpse of the massive chamber. Hayden was limping as he parried with one of the warrior females, and one of the she-devils tossed Dallas across the room with her manly muscles. He smacked into the wall, and his head lolled to the side.

I’d never seen demons like these. I drew in a deep breath to slow my racing heart. I could do this. I just had to come up with a plan. Again, I cursed the one-way connection Talon and I shared. If he knew I was coming, he could get ready.

I scanned the room one more time for Thax but still came up empty. It didn’t mean much though because my magical window left a few blind spots. Talon was in the middle of the room, battling two of the fearsome females, while Hayden took on a third. Now the fourth one vanished from view. Had she gone to finish off Dallas?

Ugh! I couldn’t wait any longer. I ran my hand down my pantlegs, confirming both daggers were still in place, then summoned a ball of witchfire in each hand. Here goes nothing.

Chapter Nineteen

I whipped the door open with magic and flung each fiery orb at the two females surrounding Talon. One was a direct hit, and the girl went down. The other hissed and ran as blue flames licked up her arm. Talon’s eyes widened as he spun toward me, his hard gaze locking on mine. Oh yeah, he was pissed. It wouldn’t matter though—not if I saved his life and the others.

“Azara, no!” Logan’s voice rang out, and I spun around as an arm locked across my neck. The bite of a sharp blade nicked my skin, and I gritted my teeth to keep from wincing.

I struggled against the iron grip as hot breath warmed the shell of my ear. “How nice of you to finally arrive, dear Azara.”

“Release her!” Talon shouted from across the room, his thundering voice echoing through my insides.

My captor clucked his teeth without even flinching.

The hair on the back of my neck rose as I squirmed beneath the man’s hold. I’d never met Thax, but I knew without a doubt, it was his hard body I was crushed against. It was as if my blood recognized the familial tie.

“Let go of me,” I growled.

He pressed his cheek against mine, squishing our heads together. “And risk losing the chance to finally meet my infamous cousin?”

“Me, infamous?”

“Yes,” he hissed in my ear. “I wasn’t even sure you existed until a few months ago. Your parents did an excellent job hiding you. I imagine it has something to do with that sigil imprinted on your arm.”

From the corner of my eye, I caught Talon’s murderous glare. He leapt toward us, his immense wings on full display, his raging dragon lurking just below his skin. I could feel him clawing his way to the surface.

“Stop right there, dragon.” Thax spun me to the side as his hand shot out toward Talon. “I’ll cut off her head if you so much as twitch.”

Talon froze a few yards from us. The swell of fear and panic leeching through the bond nearly stole my breath. “If you touch her, I’ll kill you myself. You won’t need some fancy oracle to predict your demise.”

A wicked laugh burst from Thax’s lips, whipping his hot breath across my face. “Ah, now I know who you are. Remy saw you too.”

Talon’s eyes widened for a fraction