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"I know this place We used to live just around the corner"

"It looks like an old store"

Shay struggled to sort through her vague hborhood had changed so much Still, she was certain she was notave a shiver "Dao look around" Turning Viper took her hands and lifted them to his lips "Shay "

"What?"

"Pro stupid"

She jerked her hands frorasp Why theass As if she were the one who had stayed and tried to fight the Lu with nothing more than a sword Or stos

Stupid, indeed

"Excuse rimaced at her cold tone "Maybe I could have phrased that a little better"

"You think?"

"What Iany risks The devil only knohat lanced toward the darkened shop "No, and that’s what is bothering h He had a point Whatever was hunting her was still outits time She would al unease

"Me too," she softly agreed

He gently pulled her into his arms and pressed his lips to the top of her head Down the dark street thetrade and the shrill calls of hookers could be heard, but Shay barely noticed theers, or rapists were not a probleainst her ear "We don’t have to go in there"

For a th Saints above, but it would be wonderful to simply hide behind Viper and pretend that he could keep her safe It had been so da since she had been able to depend upon anyone but herself

Then fir to have to cling to another

Jeez The day she becae

"Yes we do" Her chin tilted "At soht as well be now"

He studied her for a long beat, as if he could sense her pulling back behind her shields of protection

At last he offered a wry srating he pushed open the bolted door with obvious ease

Show off

"After you"

"Boy, having a vampire around can be handy," Shayhis hand shot out to grasp her arm He bent close to her ear

"Pet, if only you would allow me, I could take handy to a whole new level"

Her stoed into the darkened shop with far erous va in the center of the uneven floorboards she glanced around with a wrinkle of her nose The interior was narroith several shelves still loaded with crue objects that were inize beneath the layers of dust and spider webs

Toward the far wall there was a long counter with a handful of stools, and behind it another shelf with ceraht

Or maybe it was just the fact she had learned to distrust those tiny pots, she acknowledged with a tiny shiver Being at the irl

"It looks like it’s been abandoned for years"

Viper stopped at her side "Yes"