Sacrifice of Darkness: A Guardians of Eternity Novella

was wrenched from her throat. She wanted to run her hands over his entire body. To explore every hard inch…
Javad’s eyes shimmered a stunning bronze, his snowy white fangs lengthening as he reacted to the scent of her desire. Leaning forward, he brushed his lips down the length of her jaw before nuzzling the corner of her mouth.
“You are very distracting,” he murmured.
Terra shuddered, her stomach cramping with intense pleasure. It’d been so long since a male had touched her. Not since Javad had kissed her goodbye in the sewers beneath Athens.
Now, her entire body was going up in flames.
“Am I?”
He scraped the tip of one fang over her lower lip. “Yes.” His arms started to wrap around her, only to freeze when a distant scream of pain sliced through the silence. “Damn. The fall must have cracked my skull,” he muttered in self-disgust, leaning back. “Now isn’t the time to indulge in fantasies.”
Terra wanted to do a little screaming herself. She wanted to indulge in fantasies. After spending endless nights dreaming of being in Javad’s arms, his fangs sinking deep into her throat, she ached for his touch.
Unfortunately, he was right.
She didn’t know why they were there, but it couldn’t be good. Kidnappings didn’t usually involve fun and games. More like pain and torture.
“So, Vynom brought you here?” she asked, once again glancing around the cell.
“Yes. Just as he brought you here.”
She returned her attention to Javad’s grim expression. “I told you, that’s impossible. The medallion is directly bonded to you.”
“Impossible or not, Vynom knew you were about to enter the cell.”
Terra parted her lips to argue, then grimaced. As she’d matured, she no longer assumed that she knew everything. A rare benefit of aging.
“If that’s true, he must have some means of perverting our magic,” she said.
“He’s good at perverting things,” Javad reminded her in dry tones.
Terra tucked the medallion and chain back beneath her gown and rose to her feet. She didn’t have the answers. And for now, she had more pressing matters that needed her attention.
“I’ll have the Matron see if she can determine how he used the medallion.”
Javad straightened, standing next to her. “Can you get us out of here?”
“Of course.” She lifted her hand, intending to form a portal to take them to the temple. From there, she would find a means to return Javad to his home.
The magic tingled through her, but as soon as it hit the heavy air, it sputtered and died. Like a flame being smothered.
What the heck?
She tried again. And again. And again. Her heart sank at the familiar sense of impotence. She’d been caught in this snare before.
Javad lightly touched her shoulder. “Terra?”
She sent him a worried glance. “The portal forms, but it won’t open on the other end. Just like the first time I was trapped by Vynom.”
* * * *
“The bastard,” Javad growled. “He must have a witch who created a mire spell.”
“Is it the same spell he used in Athens?”
“No. That was a dampening spell that prevented any magic inside the lair. Vynom didn’t allow his fighters to use spells or incantations. This is targeted to keep anyone from leaving. It’s easy to get in. Impossible to get out.” Javad clenched his hands at his sides. He’d been infuriated to be led into a trap as easily as a drunken ZuZu demon. But now that Terra was stuck in this cell—not to mention, in danger–-his rage was incandescent. Only the knowledge that he’d collapse the entire cavern complex if he didn’t keep his emotions in check allowed him to stay in control. “Like a quagmire.”
“So we’re stuck here?”
He grimaced. “Momentarily.”
Terra slowly nodded. Her lavender eyes were dark with concern, but just like in the past, her expression remained calm. He’d always been amazed by her ability to maintain her serenity even when surrounded by chaotic violence.
“Why would he bring us here?”
“He needs money,” Javad said without hesitation. In some ways, Vynom was a simple creature. Nothing mattered but cold hard treasure.
Terra furrowed her brow. “Does he think the temple will pay a ransom for my return?”
“No. He knows he can’t force me to fight. Not without leverage.”
“What leverage?” Terra’s eyes widened with sudden horror. “Me?”
There was no use trying to deny it. “Yes.”
Terra considered his explanation. “That doesn’t make any sense,” she finally announced. “We haven’t seen each other for centuries. Why would he assume you even remember me?”
Javad swallowed the urge to laugh. Not remember her? Each and every second he’s spent with her was seared into his brain. The way the torchlight had danced over her honey hair. The mysterious beauty of her lavender eyes. Her soft, aloe vera scent. The memories had haunted his dreams.
And he didn’t doubt that Vynom had sensed Javad’s fascination with the fragile young Seraf. Perhaps even realized that it was more than just the lust of a male for a beautiful female.
Not something Javad wanted to discuss with Terra when they were stuck in a filthy cell at the bottom of a cavern.
“I finally found the backbone to walk away from Vynom a few decades after you returned to the temple,” he said, knowing exactly how to distract her. “He must realize that you’re the only one I would risk everything for to rescue.”
Instantly concerned, Terra’s hand lifted to touch his chin. “Oh, Javad. Did he punish you?”
He had, of course. When Vynom discovered that he’d lost the rare healer, he’d nailed Javad to the wall with silver spikes. He’d hung there for weeks, the pain so grinding that he’d begged for death.
Javad grabbed her hand and pressed her fingers to his lips, savoring the sweet taste of her skin.
“It doesn’t matter now.”
“Javad—”
“We need to get out of here,” he interrupted.
Her jaw tightened. Terra was kind and gentle and generous. She was also as stubborn as a mule.
Thankfully, she accepted the need to postpone their reminiscences for later. “Do you have a plan?” she asked.
“Does hope and a prayer count as a plan?”
She stepped close enough to