Within reason.
He turned so he could keep his gaze locked on the small farmhouse that appeared harmless enough. No one passing by would realize that beneath it was a complex layer of caves that were currently home to the most powerful demons in the world.
“Styx and Viper are more familiar with the caves,” he said. “They’re going to track down the druid. Once they’ve found him they’ll contact me.”
“And Dante?”
He nodded toward the pathway that ran parallel to the river.
“He’s going to scout for any unseen enemies.”
“And you?” she pressed.
He shrugged. “I’m going to protect our fastest means of escape if things go to hell.”
He barely heard her soft sigh. “You mean you’ve been put on babysitting duty.”
“No.” He shook his head, his senses on full alert. Everything was eerily still. Understandable, of course. Humans and wildlife might not be aware of the pulses of power that throbbed in the air, but their sixth sense would urge them to leave the area. And no demon was foolish enough to willingly linger so near the Commission. Just because they happened to be the leaders of the demon world didn’t make them nice guys. Hell, just the opposite. Which made it easy to keep watch. If anything moved, he intended to kill it. “If Styx believed my place was in the caves, that’s where I would be,” he assured her. “They hope to locate the druid without alerting him to their presence, so the fewer people with them the better.”
“Hmm.”
Sensing her continued tension, he turned to study her strained features.
“This is where I belong.” His brows snapped together as she gave a violent shiver. “You’re cold.”
“No.” Her hands ran up and down her arms in a convulsive motion. “It’s—”
He knew immediately what was wrong.
“You sense something?”
“Magic,” she whispered.
He grimaced. Of course it had to be magic. It couldn’t be a hellhound. Or even a troll. Anything he could use his big sword to kill.
“The druid?”
She licked her lips. “No. This is demon magic.”
The faint sound of a twig snapping had him turning toward the trees to their left.
“Something’s coming,” he growled, catching the faint scent of lava. A Manasa . . . fire demon. “Fallon, return to Styx’s lair,” he snapped.
She turned, as if preparing to retreat, but before she could disappear into the portal she gave a pained cry and collapsed to the ground.
At the same time he was hit with a spell freezing him in place.
“Shit,” he rasped, watching in helpless horror as the eerily beautiful demon moved into view. “Phyla.”
“You will come with me,” the powerful Oracle commanded, her copper hair floating around the pure oval of her face and her green eyes speckled with silver that glowed in the moonlight.
“Phyla.” Cyn struggled against the invisible bands that held him immobile. “Can you hear me?”
The female drifted past him, her movements oddly sinuous as she leaned down to grab Fallon by the throat. Then, lifting the unconscious Chatri off the ground, she waved a hand toward Cyn, releasing him from her spell.
“This way.”
With a blur of movement, Cyn was standing directly in front of the demon, his sword beneath her chin.
“Wait.”
With an unnerving strength, the demon continued to hold Fallon by the throat, the fingers tightening as if she were prepared to crush the unconscious woman’s throat.
“You will obey or I will kill the female,” she said in a low hiss.
For a crazed second Cyn felt a red mist begin to cloud his mind.
The sight of his female being threatened was enough to tip him into his berserker rage.
It was only the realization that Phyla could destroy Fallon with one blast of her magical fire that forced back the tidal wave of fury so he could think clearly.
Stepping back, he slowly lowered his sword.
It was obvious the demon was under the control of the druid. Which meant he couldn’t physically prevent her from harming Fallon.
He’d have to use his own skills to try and break through the compulsion.
“Fine,” he growled. “I’m coming.”
“This way.”
She headed toward the nearby farmhouse, seemingly indifferent to the massive vampire at her side. Cyn, however, angled himself so he was walking two steps ahead of her and capable of looking her directly in the eye.
“Where are we going?” he demanded, adding a subtle layer of compulsion to his tone.
The damned druid wasn’t the only one who could sway the minds of others.
And luckily, Cyn’s talent was stronger than most vampires.
Her pace never slowed, but something flickered in the silver-flecked eyes.
“To join your brothers.”
Hell. His gut twisted with dread. Styx and Viper must have been caught. He could only hope that Dante hadn’t yet been detected.
“What have you done with them?”
“They are preparing to die.”