Traian reached behind him, circling her bare wrist with his fingers. Gently. Barely there. Just a whisper of contact, yet it was enough. They were together. It was all that mattered. He would shield her from the warrior, from the vampires.
Can you get out of here by yourself? It suddenly occurred to her that he could shape-shift, perhaps become as insubstantial as the mist. Maybe even burrow through earth and ice as the vampires had done. He had known she would be a hindrance to him. He’d told her to leave with the others. Traian? Can you get out of here without me?
The vampires dissolved, leaving behind a pool of black goo. It bubbled and spat a poisonous brew at the shadow warrior. Joie gasped. There was a strange silence. An icy blast of air cleared the stench from the chamber and pushed the smoky creature away from Traian and Joie.
It matters little if I could. I would never leave you behind. His voice was reassuring. Calm. Steady. Confident.
Joie’s mouth went dry. Jubal and Gabrielle are still in the caves. If the vampires find them . . . my brother and sister can’t protect themselves from the vampires.
Both vampires have remained in this room. They will not leave or move to give away their presence to the warrior. In any case, there is little we can do other than hope they make it out fast. At this moment, both are alive. I would know if your brother perished. You’re doing fine. Stay calm. We will get out of this and your brother is a man of great resources.
Joie let her breath out and worked to control the wild beating of her heart. Why isn’t that thing coming at us? Can’t he see us?
The shadow warrior has not attacked because we haven’t touched anything. If we draw his attention to us, or take something the mages left behind, he will strike.
Joie frowned. My brother took the weapon that came to him. It’s on his wrist. Why didn’t the warrior attack him?
I believe that is a good question. The shadow warrior would not attack a mage.
Joie didn’t like the speculation in his voice or the distrust in his mind. Voices whispered, distracting her. She could hear the continual murmurs filling her mind—filling the chamber with temptation. Before she knew what she was doing, Joie’s fingers were nearly curled around a knife with a wicked-looking curved blade. It called to her. Her palm itched to feel the weapon in her hand. She clenched her fist, resisting the temptation. The voices increased in strength. She glanced toward the spheres, saw them all active, the clear colors swirling with life, with deeper hues and sparkling gems.
Traian caught both of her hands in his. Talk to me. Tell me about yourself. Everything you can think of. Look only at me. Look into my eyes. See me. Only me.
His hands were much larger than hers, enveloping them. When she obediently tore her gaze from the jeweled daggers and knives, she was caught in the black depths of Traian’s gaze. The world narrowed for her.
Around them, smoke and mist drifted upward from the floor, creating a world in the clouds where voices muttered, the words in an ancient tongue, harsh, yet not foul, insistent, yet not commanding. Colors pulsed in the room, bright banners from the spheres, which were alive with heat and energy.
Look only at me, Traian reiterated when she would have turned her head toward the pulsing lights. This is a trap directed at you, at your love of weapons, at your curiosity. Think of me. Let me tell you who I am, what I am. What I need and want. I want to know everything about you and your family. Talk to me. Tell me who you really are, what you stand for. Tell me everything about yourself.
His voice was mesmerizing, tugging at her heart when she thought there should be only physical attraction. He was easily the sexiest man she’d ever encountered. They were in mortal danger. Vampires huddled somewhere in the room, awaiting their moment to strike. A warrior come to life out of the shadows that guarded centuries-old treasures in a world of sorcery, yet Joie was fascinated by the man in front of her.
You don’t make sense.
I make perfect sense. He smiled, a flash of dazzling white teeth. We make perfect sense.
She nearly stopped breathing. You know I work as a bodyguard.
Joie found it difficult to resist the pull of temptation