“Oh, Elijah,” she breathed, tilting back her head as he claimed her lips in a kiss of sheer joy.
Levet tugged on the vampire’s pants as Claudine raised her massive foot, clearly aiming at his head.
“Oui. This is all very touching,” he said. “But we are about to be squashed like bugs.”
Lifting his head, Elijah pointed a hand at the female gargoyle.
“Don’t even think about it.”
Claudine reluctantly lowered her foot, but the ground shook as her power filled the air.
“Give me the gargoyle, vampire, or pay the price.”
A nearby bench crumbled into a pile of marble dust as Claudine released a trickle of her magic. Elijah frowned.
“You’re starting to annoy me.”
Ian puffed out his chest. “Then give us the gargoyle.”
The vampire tucked his golden-haired companion behind him as the temperature dropped by several degrees.
Elijah was clearly done playing.
“No.”
“Why?” Claudine snapped. “He can’t mean anything to you.”
“He made me realize how blind I’ve been.” Elijah smiled. Not the most comforting sight considering his massive fangs that gleamed with a snowy white in the moonlight. “That’s enough for me.”
“Fine.” Claudine lifted her hand. “Then you will feel my wrath.”
“Sacrebleu.” Levet’s wings twitched in annoyance. “What a breeze hard you are.”
The beady gray gaze jerked in his direction. “Breeze hard?” the female rasped.
Valla cleared her throat, still hidden behind Elijah. A wise choice. One tiny mark on her white satin skin and the vampire would go nuclear.
“I believe he means blowhard,” she explained.
“How dare you,” Claudine screeched. “I will turn you into—”
“Oh, shut up.” Levet lifted his hands to send a bolt of magic directly at the bane of his existence, astonished that it didn’t sputter and die.
He was, after all, weary to the bone.
There was the sound of sizzling; then Claudine gave a cry of pain as she went sailing backward, taking out two benches and a lamppost before hitting the building behind her.
“Nice shot,” Elijah murmured, flowing forward to block Ian’s massive fist heading in Levet’s direction.
“Merci,” Levet thanked his companion, shuddering as Elijah squeezed hard enough to crush the bones in Ian’s hand.
“Non . . . please,” Ian panted, his tiny eyes bulging with pain as a layer of ice began to crawl over his scaly skin, turning it from gray to blue.
“Are you done playing?” Elijah murmured softly.
“Oui.”
Elijah dropped the gargoyle’s hand. “Then get your companion and get out of here.”
Edging backward to keep his gaze on the lethal clan chief, Ian grabbed Claudine’s arm and yanked her to her feet.
The female gargoyle gave a groggy shake of her head, her hand pressed over her injured chest as she glared at Levet.
“This isn’t over, brother,” she hissed.
Elijah stepped forward, his power lashing through the air with enough force to make the large gargoyles shiver in pain.
“Not only is it over, I will warn you that if you dare to harm Levet while he is in my territory I will make certain that the entire Guild is punished,” he said, his voice sending a hidden dew fairy fleeing in fear. “Do I make myself clear?”
“But . . .”
“Oui,” Ian interrupted Claudine’s whining, tugging her to the center of the garden. “It is very clear.”
“Bon. Now leave,” Elijah commanded.
With a flap of their leathery wings, the two large demons were in the air and disappearing among the tiled rooftops.
Levet smiled. It had been years since he’d been forced to leave this city he so dearly loved.
Now he realized he’d allowed fear to keep him away. Not fear of his family, although that’s what he’d always told himself, but fear of his own inadequacies.
He wouldn’t allow them to keep him away again.
Realizing that Elijah had returned Valla to his arms and was studying her with blatant lust, Levet hid a smile.
“I believe that is my cue to leave as well,” he murmured.
The two separated so Elijah could give a regal bow of his head.
“I am in your debt, gargoyle.”
Levet gave a lift of his hands. “All in a day’s work for a knight in shining armor.”
Valla stepped forward, the lingering wounds in her blue eyes replaced by a sparkle of hope.
“I hope you find who you’re searching for,” she said softly.
“Sometimes a man simply has to enjoy the chase,” he murmured, offering a low bow. “Au revoir.”
With a smile, Levet spread his wings and flew toward the stars.
Please turn the page for an exciting sneak peek of
DARKNESS AVENGED
the newest installment in Alexandra Ivy’s
Guardians of Eternity series
coming in June 2013!
PROLOGUE
THE LEGEND OF THE VEIL
The myths surrounding the creation of the Veil were a dime a dozen, and worth even less.
Some said it was the work of angels who had become lost in the mists of time.