When Darkness Ends by Alexandra Ivy

him to the dungeon.”

Chapter Five
    Fallon hadn’t expected to sleep.
    But after Cyn had escorted her to the kitchens and promptly disappeared, she’d gathered a dozen bowls and headed back upstairs. Then, choosing a room close to her private chambers, she’d filled each with water and infused them with her magic.
    After that she had nothing to do but wait for the connection to the Commission to be completed.
    It always took longer to scry for a person than a specific place. And the greater the magic of the person, the harder it was to get a lock on them. So tuning the bowls to the caves Siljar had seared into her mind, she set the magic to trip only for a demon of great power. Eventually she knew she would be able to track the movements of the Oracles, but it wouldn’t be for several hours.
    Unwilling to risk running into the vampire who seemed to have an uncanny ability to rattle her nerves, Fallon crossed the hall to her rooms and stretched out on the bed.
    She’d only intended to rest for a few minutes, but obviously drained from expending so much magic she’d quickly tumbled into a deep sleep. It was past dusk when she woke and managed to drag herself to the shower.
    Now, still dressed in the ridiculous robe with her damp hair left free to tumble down her back, she opened the door to her rooms, intending to check on her scrying bowls.
    The last thing she expected to discover was a tiny gargoyle waddling down the hallway.
    â€œOh.” She came to a halt, her brows lifting in surprise. Cyn had shared his opinion of Levet during the trip to the kitchens. And his determination to rid his lair of the “pest invasion.” “I thought Cyn was going to make you leave.”
    The gargoyle sniffed, his fairy wings spread to reveal the brilliant crimson and blue patterns that were rimmed with gold.
    â€œI do not answer to the vampires,” he informed her, his ugly little features tight with outrage. “I have a higher calling.”
    â€œOf course.” Fallon hid her flare of amusement. There was something excessively charming about the small demon being utterly unafraid of a vicious vampire ten times his size. “You said when you arrived that Siljar sent you. Are you a part of the Commission?”
    â€œ Moi? Non .” He gave a dramatic shudder. “I have discovered that being entangled in Oracle business always includes some daring adventure that ends with me doing all the work and some vampire or werewolf ending up with the beautiful maiden.”
    She blinked. “I . . . see.”
    â€œStill, I could hardly ignore Siljar’s summons, or refuse her request that I assist Cyn and you in your efforts.”
    Fallon grimaced, easily able to imagine how happy Cyn was going to be when he crawled out of his coffin, or whatever it was a vampire slept in, and discovered the gargoyle still in his lair.
    â€œSo now Cyn has two unwelcome guests,” she murmured.
    Levet waggled his brows. “And one that is very welcome.”
    â€œI beg your pardon?”
    â€œA female vampire just arrived,” he explained. “They seemed to be very close friends.”
    Fallon narrowed her gaze. Cyn was entertaining another female vampire?
    Was he suicidal? That could be the only excuse for deliberately trying to piss off Siljar.
    â€œIndeed,” she said between clenched teeth.
    Levet tilted his head to the side. “Is something wrong?”
    â€œCyn clearly has difficulty following orders.”
    â€œCyn follow orders?” Levet gave a light laugh. “From what I have heard, the clan chief of Ireland does precisely as he pleases whenever he pleases.”
    â€œYou know him?”
    Levet shrugged. “He spent a few nights at Styx’s lair, but his reputation is widely known.”
    Fallon hesitated. She’d never enjoyed joining in the gossip that swirled around the royal court. Who cared who was flirting with whom, or which House was