Burned by Darkness - Alexandra Ivy Page 0,47

bluff. “When the trolls were leaving—”

“No,” Craven sharply interrupted. “Skragg was in the lair when it was discovered you’d escaped. Synge was very vocal in his outrage that you’d manage to create a portal.”

She licked her dry lips. “He was mistaken.”

Without warning the male’s hand shot forward, his fingers wrapping around her throat.

“Don’t lie to me, imp,” he hissed, his eyes glowing crimson in the gloom.

“Leave her alone, you bully.” Levet charged around Tayla, his claws curled as he futilely tried to cast a spell. At the same time, Craven lifted his foot to kick the poor creature down the tunnel. “Eek,” the gargoyle screeched, hitting the wall with a loud thud.

Or maybe it was something else making the thud, she distantly realized as the tunnel shook and dirt fell from the ceiling.

It was difficult to think when her throat was being crushed.

“No more games,” Craven snarled, yanking her off her feet. “You’ll open a portal or I’ll kill your father.”

“Please,” she rasped, knowing she was mere seconds from passing out.

How was she supposed to open a portal if she was unconscious?

And what the heck was that thudding? It kept getting louder. As if the castle above them was being methodically destroyed.

“Now what?” she heard Craven mutter before there was the nasty stench of troll filling the air and Tayla was abruptly released. Dropped to the ground, she sucked in painful gasps as the male turned toward the lumbering demon who was far too large for the tunnel. “Skragg? What the hell is going on up there?”

The troll hunched over, his tusks covered with spittle as he struggled to speak.

“Dragon,” he at last managed to get the word out.

Craven jerked, his expression one of stark horror. “Fuck.”

The troll looked equally alarmed. “F-fire,” he stammered.

Shoving herself to a kneeling position, Tayla felt her heart leaping with hope.

It was Baine.

Now that she wasn’t being choked to death, she could actually sense him. Not as one demon sensing another. But as a female recognizing her mate.

With a grimace, Craven shoved his way past the lurking troll.

“Keep guard. I don’t want them left alone for a second,” he commanded. “Got it?”

The troll made a garbled sound, his large form blocking the tunnel as Craven disappeared into the darkness.

Tayla remained on the ground, trying to clear her foggy brain.

They had to escape. Not only because she wasn’t going to be used as some sort of dragon thief for Craven and the trolls. But also because she didn’t know how much longer the tunnel was going to last.

Larger clumps of dirt and stone were falling from the ceiling as the thudding continued.

What was Baine doing up there?

Once her brain cleared she could create a portal, but she still didn’t know where her father was being held. So how did she locate Odel when there was a very large troll blocking her path?

There was the faint sound of claws scratching against the stone floor as Levet limped to stand beside her.

“I believe they made your dragon angry, ma belle,” he murmured softly.

“He isn’t my dragon,” she instinctively protested, even as a warm glow flared through her heart.

“Try telling him that,” a male voice drawled.

Caught off guard, Tayla lifted her head, watching in shock as Skragg’s head tumbled off his body and bounced down the tunnel.

Okay. She’d hoped that the troll would suffer, but yeesh…

Placing her arms around Levet, she scooted away from the disgusting face that was frozen in shock, barely noticing when Skragg’s body was tossed aside.

Instead her attention was focused on the half-dragon with silver hair and smoke gray eyes.

“Char,” she breathed in surprise.

Levet gave a click of his tongue. “How many dragons do you possess, ma belle?”

Char moved to peer down at the gargoyle who pressed close to her side.

“Do you want me to kill the lump?” he asked.

Tayla gave a sharp shake of her head. She might have assumed he was kidding if she hadn’t just witnessed him lopping off the head of a troll.

“No.”

Levet took a step forward, his wings quivering with outrage.

“Lump?” He thumped his chest with a small fist. “I am Levet, the greatest—”

“Not now, Levet,” Tayla gently interrupted.

She adored the gargoyle, but he could go on for hours about his heroic deeds.

Char gave a shake of his head, as if he couldn’t believe she wouldn’t want her companion dead, then held out a slender hand.

“We need to get out of here. Can you create a portal?”

She slowly straightened, struggling to keep her balance as the shaking continued.

“What about Baine?”