spent all this time terrified that Javad was still in Vynom’s clutches, enduring one punishing battle after another until he simply couldn’t recover. Then she glanced around, really taking in her surroundings, and a portion of her joy dimmed. She’d initially assumed they were in Javad’s private quarters. A closer inspection revealed the heavy silver door across the cramped space.
A cell.
“This is your territory?”
His lips twisted at her hesitant question. “Not the fighting pits. I manage a demon club in Vegas. We fulfill demon fantasies without violence.”
Ah. Terra nodded. She could easily imagine Javad in command of an elegant establishment like that. He’d always possessed an instinctive sophistication that was out of place in the pits.
“Does it make you happy?”
“I’ve found…” He paused as if searching for the right word. “Peace. Something I never expected.”
“I’m glad.” Unable to resist temptation, she leaned forward and touched his face.
A mistake. Instant, ruthless need sizzled through her. As hot and molten as lava. Which was ironic really, considering his skin felt like cool silk beneath the tips of her fingers. Icy and smooth, and dangerously addictive. A growl was wrenched from her throat. She wanted to run her hands over his entire body. To explore every hard inch…
Javad’s eyes shimmered a stunning bronze, his snowy white fangs lengthening as he reacted to the scent of her desire. Leaning forward, he brushed his lips down the length of her jaw before nuzzling the corner of her mouth.
“You are very distracting,” he murmured.
Terra shuddered, her stomach cramping with intense pleasure. It’d been so long since a male had touched her. Not since Javad had kissed her goodbye in the sewers beneath Athens.
Now, her entire body was going up in flames.
“Am I?”
He scraped the tip of one fang over her lower lip. “Yes.” His arms started to wrap around her, only to freeze when a distant scream of pain sliced through the silence. “Damn. The fall must have cracked my skull,” he muttered in self-disgust, leaning back. “Now isn’t the time to indulge in fantasies.”
Terra wanted to do a little screaming herself. She wanted to indulge in fantasies. After spending endless nights dreaming of being in Javad’s arms, his fangs sinking deep into her throat, she ached for his touch.
Unfortunately, he was right.
She didn’t know why they were there, but it couldn’t be good. Kidnappings didn’t usually involve fun and games. More like pain and torture.
“So, Vynom brought you here?” she asked, once again glancing around the cell.
“Yes. Just as he brought you here.”
She returned her attention to Javad’s grim expression. “I told you, that’s impossible. The medallion is directly bonded to you.”
“Impossible or not, Vynom knew you were about to enter the cell.”
Terra parted her lips to argue, then grimaced. As she’d matured, she no longer assumed that she knew everything. A rare benefit of aging.
“If that’s true, he must have some means of perverting our magic,” she said.
“He’s good at perverting things,” Javad reminded her in dry tones.
Terra tucked the medallion and chain back beneath her gown and rose to her feet. She didn’t have the answers. And for now, she had more pressing matters that needed her attention.
“I’ll have the Matron see if she can determine how he used the medallion.”
Javad straightened, standing next to her. “Can you get us out of here?”
“Of course.” She lifted her hand, intending to form a portal to take them to the temple. From there, she would find a means to return Javad to his home.
The magic tingled through her, but as soon as it hit the heavy air, it sputtered and died. Like a flame being smothered.
What the heck?
She tried again. And again. And again. Her heart sank at the familiar sense of impotence. She’d been caught in this snare before.
Javad lightly touched her shoulder. “Terra?”
She sent him a worried glance. “The portal forms, but it won’t open on the other end. Just like the first time I was trapped by Vynom.”
* * * *
“The bastard,” Javad growled. “He must have a witch who created a mire spell.”
“Is it the same spell he used in Athens?”
“No. That was a dampening spell that prevented any magic inside the lair. Vynom didn’t allow his fighters to use spells or incantations. This is targeted to keep anyone from leaving. It’s easy to get in. Impossible to get out.” Javad clenched his hands at his sides. He’d been infuriated to be led into a trap as easily as a drunken ZuZu demon. But now that Terra was stuck in this