Page 20 (1/2)

Viper bit back his impatience "You think humans are superior? They have a reputation for violence and wars, not to enocide on occasion At least Shalotts never kill their own It is their linted in her eyes "Never?"

"Never" He held her gaze "They believe that to shed the blood of another Shalott is to condeods It is a sin that cannot be redeemed I could only wish vaaze dropped as she absently toyed with her glass of wine "Have you known many Shalotts?"

"A few And before you ask, I did not drain them, enslave them, nor were any of them my lovers"

"Don’t tell me they were some sort of des snapped together If she were deliberately atte a hell of a job

Of course, it was more likely that her jabs were self-preservation If she pretended she didn’t care, then nothing could hurt her

"I happen to have many demons as friends, but the Shalotts were aze abruptly lifted "You hired them as assassins?"

"Actually I hired them to train me," he clarified

"Train you for what?"

"Most Shalott’s are thoroughly skilled in the arts of coe of weapons" He gave a lift of his brows "Surely your father did?"

The pride she could not completely hide flickered over her face "Of course"

Viper hid his sudden smile He wasn’t entirely stupid

"And you?"

"I have soers, but my father died before I could be fully trained," she confessed in cautious tones No doubt she worried she was handing information to the enemy

"Well, I cannot possibly claim the talent of your father, but if you would like we could train together"

Silence

The sort of thick silence that assured hi some horrid plot, or siured it out she would tell hiether?" she repeated with a frown "Are you joking?"

He shrugged "Why not? I haven’t had a decent sparring partner in years"

"Most owners aren’t anxious to teach their slaves how to kill them," she said dryly

"Do you intend to kill me?"

"It’s not a decision I’ve h "You’ll let me knohen you do decide?"

"Perhaps"

"Not quite the reassurance I hoped for," heover her beautiful features Now this was a sparring partner that a vampire could truly sink his teeth into "Well?"

"Well what?"

He reached out to touch her fingers "Do you wish to train with uarded expression, but before she could answer the peaceful night was abruptly shattered

In the distance an unh the air

They both froze It could have been a coyote or even a stray dog howling at the fading night, but they both kneasn’t No mere animal could make the air shudder in fear

"Hellhounds," she whispered

Viper was on his feet and reaching out with his uards are under attack"

"Why would hellhounds attack your guards? They are no ave a sharp shake of his head, distantly sensing the battle occurring near the gates to his estate At thetheir own, but there were far toowounds that would need the healing of deep earth

"I don’t know" Reaching out he tugged her to her feet "Coing in her feet she regarded hi?"

"There are tunnels in the basee"

"Surely we are safer here than the garage?"

"There are cars in the garage"

Her eyes widened "No"