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Dante lifted his brows "What do you mean?"

As concisely as possible, Viper revealed what they had discovered in the auction house He was careful to describe the reat detail It could be that Dante would recognize so the savage culprit

"You are certain a demon is responsible for the massacre?" his companion demanded

"What else?"

"A witch or wizard perhaps"

Viper hid a s suspicious of witches? Having someone try to kill you on several occasions tended to ave a shake of his head "If it were a demon, you should be able to track it There are feho can hide their scent from a vampire"

"A Hunding, an Irra, perhaps a Napchut"

"Are they powerful enough to tear apart a nest of trolls?"

It was the question that had plagued Viper since he had discovered the various troll parts splattered across the rooh to defeat the trolls and yet possess the ical abilities to hide his scent

"A Lu warrior would be"

Dante stiffened Viper didn’t blahtmares that crawled from the earth to devour whatever was in their path

"The Lu haven’t been seen for centuries," Dante breathed

"Neither have Shalotts"

"True enough" Dante moved slowly forward, his expression soh to battle a Lu Their teeth are capable of severing the heads of even i to take a bite out of me" Viper smiled "Not unless they happen to be naked in my bed at the time"

Dante’s concern didn’t ease "Your slave has fallen to the attention of a very dangerous enemy You would be better served to pass her ownership to another"

"I recall saying precisely the sao"

"Abby is ive arded Viper with a far too knowing gaze "Why do you risk yourself for the Shalott?"

Viper battled an unexpected surge of anger He didn’t want to explain his fascination for Shay Not to Dante Not to anyone

Even himself

"That is my business"

Dante paused as he easily sensed he had pressed Viper’s teave the smallest bow of his head

"As you wish" A hint of amusement returned to the silver eyes "I arn you that Abby will not be satisfied until she has assured herself that Shay is not being ritted his teeth He was the clan chief A ruler who held the power over hundreds, no thousands, of vampires and lesser deue with a woman

"And hoill she be satisfied?"

"She desires to have Shay spend a day with her"

"A day?"

Dante gave a helpless lift of his hands "She was very specific that the visit be during the day"

"So I cannot interfere?"

"In part" A whier vas for the cooddess she is still huossiping over coffee"

Viper shuddered in horror "By the blood of the saints, why?"

’That, old friend, is a question beyond va Blood and bones He didn’t want to share Shay Not with anyone Unfortunately, he couldn’t et the shadows deep in her eyes and her fierce deteroyle

She was lonely

Deeply, heart wrenchingly lonely

"I will extend Abby’s invitation to Shay, whether or not she agrees is up to her"

Dante ift to pounce on his casual words "So she is not your slave?"

"She is uest"