“Good answer,” Dante murmured.
Fallon sent him a last warning frown before turning toward Styx.
“What do you need from me?”
Styx sent Cyn a rueful smile before concentrating on Fallon.
“I want you to open a portal that will take us to Magnus.”
She paused, her brow wrinkled. “I can’t sense him.”
“What does that mean?” the king rasped.
Fallon gave a small shrug. “He’s either returned to our homeland or there’s some sort of magical barrier that’s interfering.”
Styx looked like he wanted to cut something with his big sword.
Or someone.
“Damn.”
Cyn’s stab of relief lasted less than the time it took Fallon to tilt her chin to a familiar angle.
Stubborn.
“I can follow his portal,” she said, refusing to meet his narrowed glare.
“Thank God,” Styx muttered. “I need you to open a passageway for the gargoyle.”
Levet gave a small squeak. “Moi?”
Styx kept his gaze locked on Fallon. “You’re not to leave the portal. Levet will get out and search for Magnus.”
Levet toddled forward. “Why me?”
“You’re the self-proclaimed Knight in Shining Armor,” Styx reminded the creature. “Aren’t you anxious to make sure that Tonya hasn’t been kidnapped?”
Levet’s wings drooped, cleverly trapped.
“I suppose it is my duty,” he grudgingly conceded. “How will I return home?”
“Trust me. A few hours in your company and the prince will be itching to bring you back,” Styx assured him in dry tones.
With a reckless lack of self-preservation, the gargoyle marched forward and pointed a claw toward the massive Anasso.
“You are fortunate that Darcy has made me promise not to turn you into a newt.”
Styx rolled his eyes before returning his attention to Fallon.
“You understand that you’re not to leave the portal?”
“She won’t,” Cyn said, his expression unyielding. “I’m going with her.”
Fallon glanced at him with a hint of resignation. “Cyn.”
He held up his hands. “I swear I won’t interfere.”
She hesitated, then with a shake of her head she gave a wave of her hand, opening the portal.
“Let’s go.”
Anthony had just returned to the secret chambers beneath his house when he heard the sound of an alarm.
“Now what?” he snarled, heading toward the circle of stones. A few seconds later he was staring into the fire that burned on the altar in time to watch a portal open just a few feet from his front door.
“Goddammit,” he breathed. “How the hell did they find me?” Hissing with exasperation, he sent a pulse of magic through the flames.
Time had just run out.
Chapter Seventeen
Fallon held the portal open, warily glancing at the precisely manicured gardens that surrounded the large mansion. The sun had just set, leaving behind a faint band of violet and orange on the distant horizon, but it was dark enough to be safe for vampires and gargoyles.
“Magnus was here,” she said, baffled by the strange prickle of magic that she could feel even without leaving the protection of the portal. “But I still can’t sense him.”
Cyn studied the mansion before his attention shifted to the placid, bucolic countryside.
“Here?”
“Why do you sound so surprised?” she asked.
“I recognize that scent,” he muttered.
She frowned. “Magnus?”
“No.” He shook his head, his expression distracted as if he was lost in some deep thought. “But there’s no longer any doubt this is connected to the Oracles.”
“Then we should have a look around,” she said. If there was something out there that could help them locate the magic-user then they had to track it down.
Cyn was jerked out of his preoccupation, his brows snapping together.
“Don’t even think about it.”
Her lips parted, but before she could remind him that she didn’t take orders from him, Levet was lightly tugging on her hand.
“He is right, ma belle. We do not know the danger.”
With a sigh of frustration she bent down to speak directly to the demon who looked too small to be a Knight in Shining Armor.
“You’ll be careful?”
“Do not concern yourself.” The gargoyle lightly patted her cheek. “I am quite accustomed to risking my life to—”
“Would you just get on with it?” Cyn snapped.
“Leeches,” Levet muttered, sending a sour glance toward the hovering vampire before planting a kiss on the back of Fallon’s hand. “Au revoir, ma belle. We shall soon be reunited.”
“Just go,” Cyn growled.
“Hey,” Levet squeaked as the ground beneath their feet gave a violent shudder, sending the gargoyle tumbling out of the portal.
“Bloody hell.” Cyn grabbed Fallon as the ground continued to quake. “What did the idiot do?”
Fallon allowed Cyn to hold her upright, her energy entirely focused on keeping them from being squashed.