Bound By Darkness by Alexandra Ivy Page B

his fingers through his hair.
    “These tunnels are suffocating me,” he rasped. “I need fresh air.”
    “You cannot leave the caves. Do not forget you are being hunted.”
    Tearloch jerked back toward the wizard with a fierce glare. At the moment he was hot, frustrated, and in the mood to blame the damned wizard for all his troubles.
    “I’m not likely to forget. Not when I’m being buried alive like I’m a damned rock troll.” He shuddered. “Why did you insist we come here?”
    “These caves were my home for centuries.” Rafael’s own expression was ... loving, as he glanced around the smoothly carved room. Of course, he’d spent the past months in hell. Anything was bound to seem like the Ritz. “My power is greatest here as well as my ability to protect you.”
    “It reeks of blood.”
    “You know as well as I that the Dark Lord demands a sacrifice for his gifts.”
    Tearloch gave another shudder, ancient memories threatening to sear through the fog clouding his mind.
    “Yes.”
    “Do not waver now, Tearloch.” Without warning, the spirit was standing at Tearloch’s side, his clammy hand touching his shoulder. “Not when we are so close.”
    Tearloch shook off his hand, a strange ache pulsing behind his eyes.
    “You say we are close and yet you offer more delays,” he growled, struck by a sudden urge to find a place to lie down. He was tired. So tired. “I’m beginning to wonder if there’s a conspiracy among magic-users to prevent the resurrection.”
    The wizard allowed a hint of anger to touch his gaunt face. “If you wish to assign blame then you may point your finger at the damnable Weres. It was their battle with the demon lord that destroyed my altar and closed the conduit I had opened to my prince.” His fingers grasped the heavy pendant. “It will take time to restore all that I have lost.”
    Tearloch backed away.
    He didn’t give a damn about Weres or demon lords or any other pathetic excuses.
    The Dark Lord had reached beyond his prison to touch Tearloch with a searing demand to be set free.
    Until he’d managed to resurrect his master there would be no peace.
    “You have a week,” he snapped, heading toward the opening of the cavern. “Fail me, wizard, and I’ll banish you back to hell.”

Chapter 7
    Jaelyn walked through the long, steel-lined corridor, knowing on some level she was dreaming.
    Not that it didn’t feel real.
    Terrifyingly real.
    She shivered at the sensation of the white silk robe that covered her from neck to toe brushing against her skin. At the familiar hum of the florescent lights. At the cool air that stirred her hair, which spilled down her back.
    She was back in the private compound owned by the Addonexus.
    There was no mistaking the military perfection of the steel passageways that were carved beneath the Tibetan mountain, or the ventilated air that remained a monotonous sixty-five degrees.
    Nor was there any mistaking where she was headed.
    This wasn’t the first occasion she’d been locked in this particular nightmare. But like every other time, Jaelyn was powerless to halt the unfolding drama that clenched her stomach with dread.
    Trapped, Jaelyn continued down the corridor until she reached the heavy metal door at the end. Without hesitation she pushed it open and stepped into the dark room beyond. Too late she sensed the waiting vampire as he uncloaked directly beside her.
    “Samuel?” She turned her head to regard the pale-haired vampire with more surprise than alarm. “What are you doing here?”
    “Waiting for you.” A disarming grin spread across the handsome face, the blue eyes twinkling.
    Jaelyn wasn’t fooled by the boyish charm. She knew the cunning predator who lurked just beneath the golden good looks. Still, she wasn’t prepared for the man to dart forward, snapping a thick, silver collar around her throat.
    She hissed in pain, her hands lifting to tug at the collar that was searing into her skin.
    “What the