Sacrifice of Darkness: A Guardians of Eternity Novella

with the fact that Vynom is the one running it?”
Javad’s fangs lengthened. Just the thought of his sire was enough to stir his most savage impulses. With effort, he forced himself to shrug with fake indifference. If Viper realized the depths of Javad’s hatred for the male who’d abused his loyalty for centuries, he would do everything in his power to halt Javad’s fierce thirst for revenge.
“His presence is a direct challenge to my authority,” Javad said in icy tones.
Viper wasn’t satisfied. “You’re the boss in Vegas. Send one of your employees to deal with the bastard. You pay them to take out the trash, don’t you?”
“Vynom’s not particularly powerful, but he’s cunning and utterly immoral. I’m not going to risk my staff.”
Viper arched a brow. “And that’s the only reason you insist on being the one to go after him?”
Javad met Viper’s smoldering dark gaze. There was no way to lie. The older vampire knew him too well.
“No, that’s not the only reason.”
“Javad, you’re one of the most frightening warriors I’ve ever known,” Viper said in somber tones. “And that’s saying something.”
It was. This male was best buds with Styx, the King of Vampires. The towering six-foot-five Anasso was rumored to have enough power to collapse entire cities. Something Javad had done once or twice in the past.
“But?” Javad prompted.
Viper reached out to touch the small medallion that was hung around Javad’s neck. The older male understood that it was Javad’s most prized possession even if he didn’t know the reason.
“But emotions are the enemy of any fighter. This is too personal.” Viper murmured. “If you don’t want to send one of your people, then I’ll deal with Vynom.”
Javad knew his master was right. The grinding hatred he felt toward his sire was bound to cloud his judgement. But there was no way in hell he was going to allow anyone else to confront the male who’d tortured and abused him to make a fortune.
“This meeting is overdue. I have to deal with my former master once and for all.” Thankfully, Javad’s voice was calm. “For my own sanity.”
There was a long silence as if Viper were considering the likelihood of talking Javad into letting him deal with Vynom. At last, accepting that he would have better luck stopping the sun from rising, Viper lowered his hand and stepped back.
“First, you have to find the club,” he reminded Javad. “It’ll be protected by illusions.”
Vampires had many powers, but sensing magic wasn’t one of them. “I have several fey on the payroll. They should be able to locate the place.”
“I have something better,” Viper assured him.
“What?”
“Not what. Who.”
Javad frowned. Was Viper referring to his mate? He hadn’t heard the beautiful demon had a special talent for finding illusions…
Abruptly, Javad realized exactly who Viper meant.
“No.” He shook his head in violent repudiation. “Oh, no.”
Viper grimaced. “I hate to admit it, but he’s the best. If you’re serious about confronting your old master, you need to find those pits before Vynom discovers you’re coming to destroy him.”
Shit. Javad’s shoulders slumped. Viper was right. If he wanted to catch his sire by surprise, he had to locate him before anyone discovered that he’d been asking questions.
“Fine,” he growled. “Have him meet me at the Viper’s Nest. But, if he’s not there by midnight, I’m leaving without him.”
A slow, mysterious smile curved Viper’s lips.
Three hours later, Javad understood his master’s wicked sense of amusement. The older vampire hadn’t been able to convince Javad to give up his thirst for revenge. Still, he had managed to ensure that the journey was as uncomfortable as possible. No, wait. Uncomfortable didn’t cover his time spent in the company of the miniature gargoyle.
Aggravating on an epic scale was more apt.
Levet claimed to be a gargoyle, but he was less than three feet tall with gray, leathery skin, stunted horns, and large, fairy-like wings that shimmered in brilliant blues with crimson and gold. Javad suspected the creature had been sent from the netherworld specifically to torment any demon unfortunate enough to cross his path.
Mile after mile, the gargoyle had led him across the hard-packed earth, his mouth never shutting. He claimed to be a knight in shining armor who saved the world regularly. He spoke of his close and personal connections to the King of Vampires as well as the new Queen of the Merfolk, who he described in tedious detail.
Then there were the endless questions.
Did Javad personally choose who could enter the club? Did Javad cheat at cards? Did Javad know Elvis…
“Are you deliberately leading us in circles?” Javad snapped at last as they rounded a Joshua tree that he was certain they’d passed an hour before. Did they all look exactly the same?
Levet glanced over his shoulder, his brow furrowed. “Why would I lead us in circles?” he asked with a slight French accent.
Javad scowled. “Because you’re an aggravating pest.”
The creature stuck out his tongue before returning his attention to the low line of hills just ahead of them.
“We are close,” he said.
Javad glanced around with a strange prickle of unease. He’d been in Vegas long enough to spend time in the desert. But his visits were usually spent tracking down a customer who owed him money or feeding on one of the sand sprites who lurked among the scrub brush near the edge of the city. He hadn’t wandered through the vast emptiness, completely exposed.
It was unnerving.
“That’s what you said twenty minutes ago,” he reminded the gargoyle.
The fairy wings fluttered with what Javad assumed was irritation. “I cannot concentrate if you are forever napping at me.”
Napping? Javad frowned before giving a resigned shake of his head. “Nagging?”
“Oui. Yak, yak, yak.”
The ground shook as Javad struggled to contain his temper. It should have been easy. He’d devoted centuries to gaining complete mastery over his emotions. It was the one thing he could control. But something about the stunted creature set his fangs on edge.
“You—”
“This way,” Levet rudely interrupted, waddling toward a large rock formation that rose from