When Darkness Ends Read Free

hands down the satin robe.
    â€œYou need the vampire?”
    â€œI have a name,” he reminded the princess with a snap.
    Siljar clicked her tongue, her gaze shifting from Fallon to Cyn.
    â€œI need both of you.”
    Cyn stiffened. It was never, ever a good thing when an Oracle had need of him.
    â€œWhy?”
    There was the unmistakable scent of sulfur as Siljar’s expression tightened with anger.
    â€œI fear the Commission is being tampered with.”
    Cyn arched a brow. Hadn’t Styx sent word that they’d uncovered the plot by the strange demons who’d been holding Fallon’s father captive?
    â€œAye, we know the Nebule planted a spy to pose as an Oracle,” he said.
    Siljar shrugged. “He has been destroyed.”
    Oh. Cyn grimaced. “You suspect there’s another traitor?”
    â€œThat was my first thought,” Siljar admitted. “But I believe that on this occasion the Oracles are being manipulated without their knowledge.”
    That seemed . . . unlikely.
    â€œWhy are you suspicious?” he demanded.
    Siljar hesitated a second before revealing what was troubling her.
    â€œOver the past few weeks I’ve found myself awakening as if from a trance to discover I’m seated in the Council Room,” she at last said.
    Cyn blinked in confusion. That was it? He’d been kidnapped and dropped naked in these caves because the old gal was becoming forgetful?
    He forced himself to consider his words. Only an idiot implied that an Oracle might be going a bit batty.
    â€œThe past year has been stressful, especially for the Commission,” he murmured.
    â€œIt has. And if I was the only Oracle to experience the strange phenomenon, then I would assume that your implication that I’m suffering from some sort of mental decay was right.” Her lips twitched as he flinched at her blunt words. “I am, after all, quite old and it wouldn’t be entirely unlikely that I would accidentally transport myself to a familiar location without realizing what I’m doing.”
    Cyn ignored Fallon’s barely hidden amusement at his discomfort.
    â€œBut?”
    â€œMore than once I discovered I wasn’t alone.”
    Cyn grimaced even as he heard Fallon suck in a startled breath.
    Having Siljar suffering from an occasional blackout was one thing. To think of the entire Commission being controlled by some unseen force . . . bloody hell.
    â€œThe other Oracles didn’t know how they got there either?” he rasped.
    Siljar gave a somber shake of her head. “No.”
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    When Fallon had opened her eyes to discover herself far removed from her fairy homeland, she’d been more annoyed than frightened.
    Strange, considering that it was the first time in her life she’d ever awakened in a dark cave, stark naked, and in the company of an equally naked vampire.
    Hell, it was the first time she’d ever been away from her father’s vast palace.
    She should have been freaking out.
    Shouldn’t she?
    But while she’d tried to convince herself that he must be some sort of deranged beast who’d stolen her from her home for God only knew what sort of perverted reason, she couldn’t truly make herself believe he was intending her harm.
    She hadn’t spent much time with Cyn, but while the massive clan chief was obviously a terrifying predator, she’d easily sensed he posed no danger.
    No, that wasn’t true, she wryly conceded.
    He posed all sorts of danger, not the least of which was the unwelcomed excitement that sizzled through her whenever he happened to glance in her direction.
    But she didn’t for a second believe he would physically hurt her.
    Not unless he believed she was a threat to his people. The tiny demon in front of her, however, had just sent a chill of terror straight down her spine.
    She knew of the Commission, of course.
    Unlike most Chatri, the pure-blooded ancestors of the