No, her scream was that of pure terror as the baby was ripped from her arms by unseen hands and left hovering in midair.
Frantically she struggled to free herself from the invisible bonds that kept her pressed to the side of the tunnel. Gods. This couldn’t be happening. She’d devoted so many years to keeping Maluhia hidden. How could fate be so cruel as to take him from her now?
Distantly she was aware that Tane was rushing in her direction, along with another vampire … Jaelyn? But, it didn’t matter.
He wasn’t going to arrive in time to stop Sergei.
Confirming her greatest fear, the mage stepped forward, briefly glancing toward Marika, almost as if hoping to discover she’d been overcome by the Sylvermyst.
His lips twisted as the bitch vampire ignored her numerous wounds and lifted the battered fey over her head to launch him down the tunnel, laughing as his body landed in an awkward heap.
No need to guess who was winning that particular battle.
As if the sight was enough to prompt him into action, Sergei waved his hand toward the baby still floating in the air. Laylah swore as the shield that protected Maluhia pulsed and shimmered.
Whatever he was doing it was obviously disturbing the stasis spell.
Terror blasted through her, stirring her blood and pumping a much needed boost of adrenaline through her body.
With a fierce effort she strained against the power that held her captive. With a sudden wrench, she managed to break free and tumbled to the hard ground. She cursed as her knees cracked against the stone, but with one motion she was surging to her feet and heading toward the mage.
She had to stop whatever he was doing. She had to …
Taking less than a half dozen steps, Laylah was brought to a painful halt as a slender hand wrapped around her neck and she was jerked off her feet.
“Don’t be a fool,” her aunt warned. “If you disturb the spell the child will die.”
Laylah reached up to grab Marika’s arm, wrapping her fingers around the forearm that was deceptively delicate.
“I’d rather he be dead than used in your sick plans,” she gasped, the crushing grip making it impossible to breathe.
“You’re too late, dear Laylah.” Her aunt’s laughter brushed over her skin with a biting chill. “At last I shall have all that I deserve.”
“Oh, you’re definitely going to get what you deserve.”
Laylah closed her eyes, concentrating on the feel of Marika’s skin beneath her palm. She couldn’t overpower the vampire even under the best of circumstances, but she could damned well make her regret squeezing her like she was an empty tube of toothpaste.
Gritting her teeth, she released the power she’d gathered.
She hadn’t expected grand explosions, or point eight on the Richter scale. But the sparks of electricity that danced down her arm were barely enough to shock a dew fairy.
Desperately she struggled to dredge up the last of her strength, only to come up empty. She was drained. Empty.
Her heart faltered, her gaze shifting to where the baby was surrounded by a thousand shimmering lights.
Any moment the stasis spell would be destroyed and the child would become a helpless vessel to be filled with the evil spirit of the Dark Lord.
Screaming in frustration, Laylah dug her nails into Marika’s flesh. It couldn’t end this way. She wouldn’t allow it.
She wouldn’t.
Lost in her sickening sense of failure, it took a moment for Laylah to catch the scent of burning skin.
Bewildered, she glanced down to where she still clutched at the vampire’s arm. Holy crap. The faint sparks were now small, jagged bolts of lightning that were spearing into Marika with devastating results.
She frowned.
What the heck?
The power wasn’t coming from her. Or at least…
Laylah sucked in a shocked breath.
She was accustomed to the surge of energy coming from deep inside her. It was how her powers had always worked, no matter how unpredictable.
Now, however, she realized that she was filtering the power. There was no other means to describe it.
Just like a true Jinn she was absorbing the natural forces that surrounded her. The air, the earth, even the frozen water that clung to cracks and crevices, was seeping inside her, not precisely restoring her powers, but instead flowing out of her body and creating the electrical jolts that filled the air.
She shook her head, not taking time to ponder the unexpected turn of events.
It wasn’t the first time a sudden ability had appeared, although rarely when she actually needed it. She wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
With no control, Laylah had no choice but to allow the power to flood through her, the intensity growing with every heartbeat.
Marika’s fingers tightened on her throat, clearly attempting to snap her neck, but, with a direct reaction to the threat, Laylah’s powers struck out. The female vampire cursed, forced to drop Laylah and retreat several steps.
“You can’t defeat me,” she hissed.
Laylah struggled to keep her balance, shocked by the sight of Marika.