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She didn’t know that anyone could actually survive such suffering It seerave

Or at least wish she was there

Managing to force open her heavy lids she swiftly realized that she was no longer in the da on a priceless Persian carpet that perfectly one wild

The next thing she realized was that Viper was close beside her, his large forht soed in her throat as she struggled to force her weakened body to move She didn’t have a clue what she could do to help the suffering vaed to actually lift her head from the carpet when a sudden shadow fell across her and she stiffened in alar the dark evil that simmered in the air, or the prickle of revulsion that crawled over her skin

The saain when Styx and his Ravens had hunted theo

The Anasso

It could be no other

Slowly turning her head Shay couldn’t halt the sharp gasp of shock at the thin, ravaged face poised just above her He looked more like an extra from a bad horror flick than the most powerful vampire to walk the earth

Looks, however, were far too often deceiving and Shay wasn’t stupid enough to underestih pain to wish herself dead

Bracing herself for the inevitable attack Shay was caught off guard when he slowly knelt beside her and touched her cheek with a gentle hand

"My Shalott" His voice was low and gravelly, but rich with a force that could no doubt enthrall deing aside the compulsion to fall into that voice Shay sucked in a deep breath

"What have you done to Viper?"

An expression of profound sorrow touched the skeletal face An expression that in no way litter in the dark eyes

"I had no choice He refused to understand"

"Understand what?"

"That I must survive That without es" His fangs glistened in the light of the flames "I am the Anasso I must be eternal"

"No htened on her faceher wince in pain "I stand above all,"

A flare of fury raced through Shay This vampire had already taken her father, and now he threatened the man she loved And all because of soend

"You’re a raving loon," she hissed

He jerked her face sharply forward So close she could feel his foul breath brushing her skin

"So stubborn, just like your father"

"You bastard" Even knowing it was futile, she struggled against his grasp "You murdered my father"

"He fulfilled his purpose in life,for me And now you shall be allowed to fulfill your own destiny"

She clutched at his thin wrist, squeezing with all of her strength

"My only destiny is to watch you die"

He laughed at her feeble threat "I fear not"

"Actually, the lovely lady is partially right," a new voice drawled fro vampire "You will die, old master, and she will be here Unfortunately, I’h to watch her destiny unfold"

Shay was released with an abruptness that nearly had her falling on her face Catching herself with her hands she watched the va

Huddled on the floor Shay resisted die urge to crawl into a ball of fear Instead she forced herself to regard the newest threat

A flare of shock raced through her at the sight of the tail, golden-haired demon that stood in the entrance