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Cool air moved over his skin, thanks to the mechanical ventilation system down here

Behind him were businesses and shops built into the stone They were all closed at this hour, their parking lots empty and interiors dark He doubted any of the e de to say about it, he’d take care of their infestation and leave thelanced at Viviana "Stay close On my left"

"Got it I do not want to be anywhere near that shen you start swinging it"

"If things get hairy, you run Keys are in the truck"

He could see her treave a brave nod "It won’t come to that"

Not while he drew breath, it wouldn’t He didn’t think she’d be comforted by that fact, so he kept histo die I won’t allow it"

He couldn’t help but save orders "Yes, h the entrance, and the smellof wet animal assaulted his nose It was dark, so he channeled a few sparks of energy to his eyes, using their link to show Viviana how to do the sa"

The floor had once been smooth, but was now cracked and pitted Abandoned oods leaned precariously against one wall Crooked light fixtures sagged fro A rusted forklift covered in dust and cobwebs sat to their left, tossed on its side, and the relass

Whatever had happened here had been unexpected and brutal

There were two tall doorways leading deeper into the network of caves "Which one do we take?" asked Neal

"Right"

Neal headed toward it, listening for sounds of move that got near her

"It’s close," she said

A second later, she opened herself up to their connection, and Neal felt what she did A resonant huible in its intensity He could practically see the sound waves eic the object housed

He opened histhat hen he heard a scuffling noise to their right, inside the rooripped his sword in both hands and stepped between the noise and her "Easy," he whispered "I’ve got you covered"

Soh their link abated and he heard her let out a controlled breath Power flowed out of hi with it, the feeling gave hihtness

"That’s it, sweetheart Just like that"

A second later, a flurry of ed

Power filled Viviana It flowed through her veins and seeped between her cells until she was vibrating with it She sucked it into herself, reveling in the ease hich it poured from Neal into her

Pressure built within her until she felt like her ribs would burst under the strain She had to let it out--get rid of the energy before it killed her

Neal had told her she could wield ht lie, other than her obvious talent for finding Sentinel artifacts Unfortunately, neither did she, and it iftly becoht the ed them She could sense his need to keep them all occupied and away from her, but there were four of them and only one of him

In a blur of smooth motion, he lopped the forepaw from one of the beasts as it attacked Its blood spattered across Neal’s ar howled in pain and fell back, lapping at its wound

Two nored Neal and looked right at her Its Mr Yuck green eyes flared with a hungry light and it sprang forward, jaws open

A vibrant pulse pounded against the inside of her skull, nearly blinding her Viviana gathered a ball of power and flung it out at the sgath

Its body spun in midair, and it let out a pained snarl It landed hard, skidding over the cracked floor before its sharp claws slowed it to a stop

It turned, hackles raised, hissing as it slunk toward her

She hadn’t hurt it All she’d done was knock it around