Page 21 (1/2)

Trapped by Viper’s deo had little choice but to offer a grudging bow

"As you command"

He waited until they melted into the darkness, headed for the secret lair that Santiago had built when Viper had brought hiuard the estate They would be safe and covered by the healing earth Which was ed as the distant baying echoed eerily through the air

He turned to aze "The hellhounds return We o"

Chapter Nine

On this occasion Shay didn’t protest when Viper grasped her hand and tugged her across the kitchen and through a narrow door that led to the basement

A small miracle, but at thecloser to the house than asserting her independence

With Levet clinging to the back of her robe, they uely make out the dark, secluded bedrooms they passed No doubt spare bedrooms in the event Viper decided to have a sleepover

Viper would have a room for himself, but it would not be his lair At least not his hidden lair

To prove her point the va at the end of the hall With aopened to reveal steps leading farther down into the ground

"Through here" he whispered, waiting for the behind them

Shay could sense the curses that bound the door They were powerful, but they wouldn’t provide protection from the demon that hunted her Not if it were truly determined to follow her

The smell of warm, rich earth surrounded Shay as she cautiously ht of steps and entered what she assuround she was forced to pause as complete darkness folded around her Unlike Viper she didn’t possess the ability to see through theher troubles there was a sound in the dark and then the faint blooht as Viper held a taper to the tall, silver candelabra

Shay’s eyes slowly adjusted as her breath caught in her throat

"Holy crap," she breathed, her gaze traveling around the vast cavern that surrounded her She had never seen so ers, ninja weapons, bows and arrows, handguns, and ancient arlass cases There was even a case where she could feel the power of ically blessed weapons "Where did these co a key Viper unlocked a case to retrieve an elegant sword that he strapped to his back He handed a dagger to the oddly silent Levet, and a sword to Shay who held it with the confidence of a wo such a weapon

"It is part of my collection," he answered as he un that he loaded with swift ease

Moving to stand beside hilance of disbelief "Part? Are you intending to invade Canada?"

The aze lifted to reveal a feint hint of amusement Shay’s breath disappeared at the sheer beauty of his face in the candlelight It was alel

The eyes darkened as he felt the fine treenda," he huffed,to stand far too close "At least not for today"

There was a disgusted hiss fro on Shay’s robe

"I hate to interrupt such a touching scene but those hellhounds are not going to wait for you two to play kissey face So, unless you intend to nail a chunk of roast beef to est we prepare for battle";

The glare that Viper shot at the soyle should have made Levet turn to stone, but he stepped back from Shay and waved them both toward the back of the roowith the bad"

Shay sensed it as well A dark, creeping dread that filled the air and made it difficult to breathe It was not yet at the door, but it was close enough to h to know that she didn’t want it any closer

She didn’t want it at all

Holding the sword in her hand she bent her knees and widened her stance The robe had parted to reveal the long line of her legs but she barely even noticed