cutting into their conversation. "See," Layel muttered. "Now we are communicating."
Marina opened her mouth to reply, but Layel silenced her by strengthening his hold on her thigh. Painfully. Her lips pursed.
"We thought to take the palace, but as you arrived first we will leave it to you. However, now that we are here, I wish to inquire about a human man." As he spoke, hundreds of nymphs lined up beside their king, showing their great numbers. They were all tall and strong with a beauty that surpassed that of any other creature or object. Such exquisite magnificence hurt his eyes, nearly forcing him to shield them.
"Did you also come hoping to find the Jewel of Dunamis?"
Layel shrugged. Valerian knew him very well.
"It's mine," Marina screeched. "Do not think you can keep it for yourself."
"I think I'll do whatever I wish," Valerian said, his sensual timbre laced with amusement.
Marina's hands tightened on her horse's reins, and her green scales drained of color. "Let's destroy him," she whispered. "Let's send these creatures to Hades."
Stupid woman. "We do not have the time nor the resources to war with both the nymphs and the dragons. You may take comfort in the fact that once Darius is defeated, we can do what we will with the nymphs." Not that he'd allow her to attack Valerian, or even mat she'd still be alive at that point.
"I do not want to wait."
"But you will." He cast a glance at the armies behind him. His vampires stood completely still, halving their attention between the demons and him, not paying heed to the spectacle above. They awaited his signal.
The demons, however, continued to shift restlessly on their feet, licking their lips in hungry anticipation. That was the difference between trained warriors and slovenly idiots.
"You know the dragons will attack you for taking this palace," Layel told his friend.
"Of course. We look forward to their visit. If you've disposed of the demon by that time, you may come and aid us." Valerian spoke as calmly as if they were discussing the weather, not a prophecy of war and death. "Now, if you have nothing more to say - "
"Have you seen the human and the girl?" Layel called for Marina's benefit. "They have not passed through this land today or any day we have been here."
"You're lying," Marina hissed, and Layel saw her claws elongate, preparing to attack. "We'll fight our way inside, if we must, and see for ourselves."
Valerian shook his head. "I bid you goodbye, Layel."
"The portal." Her features were desperate as she turned her attention to Layel. "What of the portal? We cannot leave it in that bastard's care."
Hearing her, Valerian's beautiful face drained of all emotion, all amusement. His perfect lips lifted in a slight scowl. "You can, and you will," he said, his tone dangerous, menacing.
She gasped. "So, there is one inside? You've seen it?" "That is none of your concern."
"All this time." Her snakelike tongue flicked out and moistened her lips. "The portals existed, and I had no idea. Javar's palace - "
"This is Valerian's palace now," the nymph king snapped. "Best you learn the name and use it." "Javar's palace," she continued with a sneer, "Javar's, Javar's, Javar's."
"If the armies come any closer, kill them," Valerian shouted to his men. "All of them."
Layel knew the king, slow to rage, would not hesitate to slaughter them all now that he'd been provoked. Their friendship was the only reason Marina still lived.
"We have the information we need," he told her.
"Let us leave. We will head toward Darius's palace. We must pass through the Inner City to get there and will search for the couple on our way."
"No, we can take Valerian. We can slay him."
"I have already explained to you why we will not."
He spun around and stalked away from her, before he killed her now, all he'd worked for forgotten. She was forced to follow or die. "I hate Darius. I will help you kill him. But I will not hurt Valerian."
She decided to follow. Her horse whined as she turned it around, and she was soon at Layel's side. "And if the human and the girl are not found? What will we do then, mighty vampire king?"
"We will fight Darius as planned."
"Fight him without the slave at my side?"
"You were perfectly willing to fight Valerian without the slave."
"He is a nymph. He knows how to fuck, nothing more."
Layel stopped and glared up at her. Her green scales were vivid and disgusting in the