Page 33 (1/2)

"Abby?"

"It’s a lot worse than I realized," shethe broken s and roof that had been half bloay

Dante kneould eventually have to deal with the estate, but he was in no hurry The wards that Selena had placed about the house would keep out anyone not invited Including the htly touched her shoulder "Do you want to re toan aic used to animate a zogers were already safely tucked into his boots, and with a motion of his hand, he indicated that Abby should place the keris in its sheath and belt it about her waist

The sheath would protect hi but would allow Abby easy access to the dagger should she have need

Deained for on this occasion

Together they left the car and headed up the sweeping terrace to the double doors Entering the vast foyer, Dante instinctively headed for the main staircase when Abby abruptly stumbled over the broken bits of a vase upon the marble floor

He placed an ararded the shattered porcelain with an odd fascination

"Steady," he ave a shake of her head and turned her attention to the nearby stairs that were now charred and covered in plaster and chunks of wood fro

"It’s even worse than I rehtened as the ih hisher Certainly not so

"I don’t know, lover"

"Do you think it was the work of the wizard?" she demanded

Dante frowned "It’s possible, I suppose"

"You don’t sound very convinced"

"If it was a servant of the Prince, then Selena should have sensed its presence, just as you did with the zombies," he pointed out "Besides, she had been the Chalice for a very long tiine even the elder wizard would dare to challenge her"

She gave a slow nod "I think you’re right, whichwhat happened to Selena"

"Do you sense anything?"

Abby closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath Dante realized she was atte to focus her newfound powers to search the eave a faint shiver

"No, there is nothing"

Dante stepped directly before her He hadn’t ed as she forced a smile to her lips "I just have the creepy crawlies"

"The creepy crawlies?"

"The heebie jeebies"

Dante gave a shake of his head "Are you speaking English?"

"You know, like sorave"

Dante didn’t even think as he abruptly lashed his arainst his chest

"Don’t," he hissed

Her eyes widened in shock, and he belatedly realized his fangs were fully extended and his face no doubt stark arning

He didn’t care

For the moment he was all vampire

"Dante?" she husked uncertainly

"Never te"

"It’s dangerous," he warned, his predatory instincts on full alert at theto call attention upon us"

She blinked, startled by his words "You’re superstitious? "

"I’ve lived for centuries There are very few things I don’t believe in"

"Oh" Shea nod "I suppose you have a point"

His arhtened as he pressed his forehead to her own "I won’t let anything har his face

"But if soht to a halt A highly unusual event, considering he rarely let anything or anyone interrupt a direct decree

But then it was even more rare when Abby pressed her lips to his ht to a halt