cell—not to mention, in danger–-his rage was incandescent. Only the knowledge that he’d collapse the entire cavern complex if he didn’t keep his emotions in check allowed him to stay in control. “Like a quagmire.”
“So we’re stuck here?”
He grimaced. “Momentarily.”
Terra slowly nodded. Her lavender eyes were dark with concern, but just like in the past, her expression remained calm. He’d always been amazed by her ability to maintain her serenity even when surrounded by chaotic violence.
“Why would he bring us here?”
“He needs money,” Javad said without hesitation. In some ways, Vynom was a simple creature. Nothing mattered but cold hard treasure.
Terra furrowed her brow. “Does he think the temple will pay a ransom for my return?”
“No. He knows he can’t force me to fight. Not without leverage.”
“What leverage?” Terra’s eyes widened with sudden horror. “Me?”
There was no use trying to deny it. “Yes.”
Terra considered his explanation. “That doesn’t make any sense,” she finally announced. “We haven’t seen each other for centuries. Why would he assume you even remember me?”
Javad swallowed the urge to laugh. Not remember her? Each and every second he’s spent with her was seared into his brain. The way the torchlight had danced over her honey hair. The mysterious beauty of her lavender eyes. Her soft, aloe vera scent. The memories had haunted his dreams.
And he didn’t doubt that Vynom had sensed Javad’s fascination with the fragile young Seraf. Perhaps even realized that it was more than just the lust of a male for a beautiful female.
Not something Javad wanted to discuss with Terra when they were stuck in a filthy cell at the bottom of a cavern.
“I finally found the backbone to walk away from Vynom a few decades after you returned to the temple,” he said, knowing exactly how to distract her. “He must realize that you’re the only one I would risk everything for to rescue.”
Instantly concerned, Terra’s hand lifted to touch his chin. “Oh, Javad. Did he punish you?”
He had, of course. When Vynom discovered that he’d lost the rare healer, he’d nailed Javad to the wall with silver spikes. He’d hung there for weeks, the pain so grinding that he’d begged for death.
Javad grabbed her hand and pressed her fingers to his lips, savoring the sweet taste of her skin.
“It doesn’t matter now.”
“Javad—”
“We need to get out of here,” he interrupted.
Her jaw tightened. Terra was kind and gentle and generous. She was also as stubborn as a mule.
Thankfully, she accepted the need to postpone their reminiscences for later. “Do you have a plan?” she asked.
“Does hope and a prayer count as a plan?”
She stepped close enough to wrap him in the soft warmth of her body. “Yeah, they count.”
“Terra.”
An aching need blasted through Javad. He’d spent so long battling the instinct to seek out this female and… And what? This. Leaning down, he claimed her lips in a quick kiss of pure hunger. Yes. Desire churned through him. This was what he desired. This, this, this. He deepened the kiss, the heady taste of her plush lips slamming into him with stunning force, like a bolt of lightning. Javad groaned, and his fangs throbbed. Along with another part of his body.
Instinct took over, shutting down his brain as he wrapped his arms around her. It didn’t matter that they were in a dank cell. Or that Vynom would soon return. Or even that she had never been meant for him. The warmth of her in his embrace eased an ancient pain he’d carried from the moment he smuggled her out of the fighting pits.
“Javad.” She leaned against him, her fingers brushing over his chest before she slowly pushed him away. “We keep getting distracted.”
Javad groaned again. This time, it wasn’t in a good way. It was more an achy-breaky-gut-wrenching kind of way. Still, while his brain might be misfiring, it wasn’t dead.
Terra was right. They had to escape. The sooner, the better.
With effort, he forced himself to move toward the far side of the cell. “I can get us out,” he told her, careful not to touch the silver coating the door. “But there are at least four guards at the opening to this cavern.”
She moved to stand next to him. “Are they vampires?”
“No.” Javad had sensed the demons from the moment he awakened in the cell. “Two trolls. A goblin. And some sort of fey creature.”
“I’ll deal with them.”
Javad blinked. “You?”
“I’m not helpless.”
He didn’t point out that he would hesitate to take on four guards. It didn’t matter that they were