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Her eyes widened "What?"

He leaned close to her ear "Your scent er in the warehouse The ruse will not last long, but hopefully long enough for you to escape"

Well, poop

It wasn’t bad enough that she had to flee through a tunnel of s Still, the sooner she left, the sooner she could find Dante and return to rescue Viper Tugging off her sweatshirt she tossed it aside and holding her hand over her nose she juoop she could only pray wasforward Perfect Just perfect If she ca to stake the damn vampire herself

"I am in no humor to play hide-and-seek, Viper, show yourself," Styx coe tunnel before rising to his feet and stepping fro far thick in the air

Hopefully thick enough to fool the surrounding vaarded his one-tiaze

"And I a servant, old friend You seearded hiant "I have not forgotten your powers, Viper, nor your position"

"So it is siave a slight nod, "You are right to chastise ain Unfortunately hs any other consideration,"

Viper stiffened in anger He didn’t understand as of yet why his former friend and companion was involved in the hunt for Shay, but Styx’s sudden presence was too ht to fear vampires

"And what need is that, Styx?"

"All your questions will be answered in time For now I only ask that you call for your companion and come with me"

Viper folded his arue, I fear You’ll forgive o anywhere"

Styx regarded hi "We have known each other for centuries What further reassurance do you desire?"

"You can tellin this nasty warehouse on such a chill night"

"Obviously searching for you"

"Why?"

"This is not the place for such a conversation, Viper If you and your companion will come with me--"

"And if I refuse?" Viper overrode his smooth words

"That would be thening in warning "You will take overn us? Tell me, Styx, has the vampire that I admired above all others now becoh" The dark voice never altered, but Viper could feel the flare of power that swirled through the air "You know nothing of the troubles we face"

"I know that we do not enter the territory of clans without requesting safe passage froh to make Styx wince "Or co Or command the murder of another vampire Tell olden features held a genuine expression Disapproval

"We will not discuss this in public like squabbling trolls I expected better of you,step forward "Perhaps if I didn’t have a knife stuck in otten better You have broken our treaty and proclaimed yourself an enemy of my clan"

There was a sudden stir in the shadows and five large vampires moved forith fluid speed Like Styx they were covered in heavy black robes, although they had their hoods upit i

Very big

Viper prepared to confront the charging vampires even as he felt a flare of relief The Ravens had remained, whichfroers Viper tensed for the attack If he died, he died, but he intended to take ht to a sharp halt as Styx’ gave a lift of his hand

"Hold," he co on Viper’s furious expression "I am here at the command of my master, which places me above treaties as you well know Still, there is no reason we cannot deal reasonably together"