The men followed behind them in a little procession.
There is no fighting room with Skyler trapped between the demons in the portal and the men of the Sacred Circle. If that isn’t bad enough, Afanasiv, the high mage is bringing up the rear. He would be enough to contend with.Vasilisa sounded worried.There were others in the room when we first arrived. They didn’t show themselves to us, but I knew they were close. I could feel them. We could be in a little bit of trouble.
Woman, really? Do you think I would allow you to be in real danger?
CHAPTER
15
Vasilisa heard the amusement in her lifemate’s voice. Her stomach did a slow roll in response.You are relying on a royal to counter a high mage’s spell.
Naturally. That shouldn’t be a problem for my woman. Saving the day is her specialty. In any case, when the princess goes all royal and warrior woman, it seriously wreaks havoc with my body. In a good way,Afanasiv assured her.
Skyler sighed.You did not just insert sex into this very serious conversation about fighting the high mage, which I’m about to do, and now all I want to do is laugh.
Laughing at the high mage might get your mouth sewn shut,Dimitri cautioned.He’s very sensitive, and I’m fond of your mouth.
“Polina.” Vasilisa spoke very softly as she dropped one hand gently on the woman’s shoulder to halt her progress. “Don’t take one more step.”
Polina stood in the doorway and turned her head to look over her shoulder at Vasilisa. Her eyes shone with a zealot’s fervor. “The greenhouse Stepan is building for me is right over there. Do you see it?” She indicated the long crack that had opened in the backyard.
“Yes, Polina, I see it. I want you to hear me.” Vasilisa spoke low, but her voice changed subtly. It was filled with power, with a bright, hot energy. “We are bound together by the Lycan code. By the earth we guard. It is our sacred duty placed above all else. We are bound together by the code of honor we speak every morning and evening. No constraints are put on us in terms of beliefs of religion, but we always follow the code of the Lycan first. We are individuals. But we are part of the tapestry of the earth and were put here as the guardians. Our lives are intertwined, and each is needed for the other. We believe and live by the code. I am a royal, Princess Vasilisa, and I command each of you to see with the eyes of the Lycan.”
Polina, closest to Vasilisa and the portal, gave a startled gasp and tried to clutch at the royal’s arm. “Get inside. Stepan. Hurry. There’s terrible trouble out here. A crack in the ground has opened, and it’s horrible. Very large. I think I can see red eyes glowing inside of it.” With each word she uttered, the pitch of her tone rose higher and higher until she was shrieking.
The men separating Skyler and Barnabas began talking all at once. Stepan pushed Skyler aside in an effort to get to his wife.
See what I mean?Afanasiv said.It’s sexy when she talks like that.
Afanasiv,Skyler protested.
He has a point,Dimitri weighed in.I love to watch you when you work. It gets me in the mood fast.
Everything gets you in the mood fast.Skyler pretended exasperation.I have to concentrate. I have to keep the high mage’s attention on me. And get these men out of my way.
“Stepan, Polina, take your company into the study, where it is safe,” Vasilisa ordered.
Stepan and his wife immediately rounded up the other members of the Sacred Circle to go to the meeting room.
Barnabas leaned up against the wall, one elegant shoe crossed over the other. He looked Skyler up and down, a sneer of pure contempt on his face. “Why is it you little girls always think you can takeon men of great power? What do the two of you think you’re going to do?”
Skyler made a show of looking around her. “The two of us? Don’t flatter yourself, Barnabas. Vasilisa has no time to speak with you. She has much more important work to do than play games with you.” Skyler kept her voice low and compelling, even as she called him by his true name. She had a smile on her face, her features gentle and kind. “Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to keep up with you.”
I hope you realize I can’t possibly take on this mage. He’s unbelievably powerful.Skyler held on to her smile, but inside she was shaking.Few could defeat him.
You do not have to defeat him, beloved, only stall him,Dimitri assured her.
Skyler took a deep breath and let it out.You have no idea what you’re asking.
Barnabas straightened. “You think it’s a game?” As he straightened, he flicked his fingers toward the ceiling. “If you know my true identity, you should know better than to challenge me.”
Spiders of all sizes with dripping fangs crawled out of the cracks and began to make the descent down the walls, multiplying until the room was choking with them. Their eyes were fixed on Skyler as they skittered toward her.
I know I’m supposed to look all cool here, but you do know Barnabas is the real deal. He’s a high mage and he could crush me in two seconds.Outwardly, Skyler looked bored, lifted one hand and waved rather weakly at the spiders. To her shock they stopped abruptly and reversed direction, swiveling around to face Barnabas.
Did you think I would allow my daughter to face this madman alone?Razvan stood in front of her, unseen.There isn’t a spell he knows that I didn’t learn. I spent several lifetimes with Xavier, Xaviero, Xayvion and even Barnabas. They would forget I was in the room. Just stall. Vasilisa needs time to close the portal and seal the demons and mages in it. Once that is done, I’ll take over here openly.
Skyler fought to keep the shock off her face. She didn’t realize Razvan was part of their plan to strike at Lilith and her army. She doubted if anyone could match Barnabas—other than Razvan.