Javad.”
Sparkle tilted her head. “What’s a javad?”
“A friend.” Levet stepped forward and wiggled into the crack. “I hope,” he muttered.
* * * *
Javad knew that he should have some regret.
A mating was one of the most significant events that could happen in a vampire’s life. It was meant to be a glorious celebration enjoyed in as much luxury and decadence as possible. Instead, they were lying on a stone floor, covered in dust, and being hunted by his looney-ass sire.
Regret, however, was the last thing he felt.
Burying his face in Terra’s hair, he shivered as stunned joy blasted through him. He’d spent so many centuries convinced that he would never be reunited with this female. His female. She had her duty as a Seraf, hidden behind the walls of the temple. It would take time for him to accept that she really was his.
He brushed his lips down her cheek, briefly savoring the sweet taste of aloe vera before he forced himself to pull back and study her delicate features.
“As much as I want to pretend that we’re alone in the world, we need to get out of here.”
She nodded, rising to her feet. Javad frowned as he watched her sway. How much blood had he taken? Enough to heal himself, although he remained dangerously weak.
“Are you okay?” he asked as he flowed upright and grasped her arm.
“I’m fine.”
“Not for long,” a male voice drawled as Vynom appeared through the opening on the far side of the cave. “You cost me a lot of money, Seraf.”
Javad wrapped a protective arm around Terra. He was still too weak from his battle with Frack to directly attack his sire, but Vynom couldn’t know that. The older male would have to be cautious until his backup band of mercenaries arrived.
“You had your battle,” he snapped, trying to catch the scent of any nearby demons.
Nothing yet, but it was only a matter of time.
“I want more,” Vynom stepped forward, a sneer twisting his lips even as he kept a wary gaze locked on Javad.
“More what?” Javad demanded.
“He was auctioning off the chance to put a stake through your heart while you were unconscious,” Terra muttered.
Javad curled his lips in disgust. “Classy as always, Vynom.”
The male shrugged. “I’m a survivor.”
“Just another way of saying you’re an immoral, spineless coward who will sacrifice anything and anyone to make a buck,” Javad taunted.
Vynom narrowed his eyes, the air chilling to a temperature expected in the Arctic, not Nevada.
“Did you call me a coward?”
“I’m pointing out the obvious.” Javad covertly glanced toward Terra. She seemed…distracted. Her head was turned toward the far wall, her brow furrowed as if she were concentrating on something that he couldn’t see.
Was she attempting to create a portal? Damn, he hoped so.
Vynom took another cautious step forward. “The only obvious thing is that you chose the wrong path. We could have ruled the world together.”
Javad rolled his eyes. He’d been with Vynom for centuries, and never once had the male treated him as more than an object to bring in the crowds. Certainly, he hadn’t considered him a partner.
“Yeah, thanks, but no thanks. I’m happy with my club in Vegas.”
A layer of ice suddenly coated the ground. “Perhaps you’re right,” Vynom spat. “I tried to believe that you were worthy to stand at my side, but you’re a small, pathetic demon who deserves to die in this barren cave.”
The older male held up his hand to reveal the wooden stake he had clutched in his fist.
Javad muttered a frustrated curse. His strength was returning, but not nearly fast enough.
“Terra, now might be a good time to think about getting out of here.”
She seemed oblivious to the approaching danger as she studied the wall. “Fairies.”
He arched his brows. “What?”
“And…a gargoyle.”
Javad’s confusion abruptly cleared. He didn’t know anything about fairies, but only one gargoyle could possibly be in the caverns.
“Levet.”
The scent of granite drifted through the air, along with shrill voices that sounded as if they were arguing. And was that…singing?
There was a brief second of chaos as the tribe of fairies swarmed out of the crevasse. Javad took swift advantage, unleashing a small burst of power that shook the cavern beneath Vynom’s feet. The male snarled as he leaped back, obviously assuming that the floor was about to crack open. Instead, the ceiling over his head shattered and showered him in jagged boulders.
Vynom crumpled to the ground, covered in stony rubble. He wasn’t dead, but he was knocked out. At least, for the moment.
“Oh,