She blew out a breath she hadn't even known she was holding.
Holy crap, they had made it.
Even when she had been plotting to rescue Levet she hadn't truly thought she could pull it off.
Not with Evor and his merry band of trolls so close at hand.
On the point of sharing her rush of joy at their success Shay abruptly froze. A cold prickling was creeping over her skin.
A cold that could only belong to one creature.
"Levet, fly," she commanded as she bent low and prepared for an attack.
She had barely lifted her hands when there was a streak of blackness and she found herself flat on her back with a silver-haired vampire perched on top of her.
"Well, well, pet. Fancy meeting you here."
Her breath had been knocked from her lungs, but not from the swift tackle. Viper had made certain his arms encircling her body had taken the impact.
No. It was nothing so mundane.
Cloaked in his rich scent and surrounded by the cloud of his silver hair she could barely think, let alone breathe. He surrounded her. His body pressing against her a shockingly familiar weight.
Even worse his face was so close their noses were nearly touching. So close that she had only to tilt her chin to press her lips to his.
The very fact that the mere thought brushed through her mind sent a thrill of panic racing through her heart.
"Get off me," she gritted.
His low chuckle brushed against her cheek. "Make me."
She reacted more out of the fear of her response than to his soft challenge.
Smacking her fists into his wide chest she pretended to fight as most women would be expected to fight. He instinctively leaned heavier into her arms, which gave her just enough room to move her leg. Before he could suspect her intention she hooked her leg around his waist and with a fierce motion she had rolled him onto his back.
Just for a moment she was perched on top of him, her legs straddling his waist and a smug smile curving her lips.
His beautiful features were briefly startled, and then a smile curved his own lips.
She braced her legs, expecting him to attempt to roll her back beneath him. Men always preferred to use their greater size to overcome an opponent, not realizing their own strength could be used against them. Once he began to roll she would use his own momentum to end up on top again.
Unfortunately, Viper was a vampire not a man.
His smile widened as he simply lifted her upward, his arms wrapping about her as he flowed to his feet. Shay gritted her teeth as she abruptly bowed backward, throwing her arms over her head and wrapping her legs about his waist.
As she hoped her movement threw him off balance. He stepped forward and she grabbed him around his knees, her flexible back easily able to bend in an impossible curve. Her head turned to sink her teeth into his thigh.
"Oh no, my beauty."
With a soft hiss, Viper once again did the unexpected. Following her movement forward he placed his hands on the ground and with a smooth motion rolled until he was again on his back. This time her legs were trapped beneath him and he was able to reach down and grasp her with enough strength to jerk her up to his chest. His arms lashed about her, pressing her arms to her side so that she was well and truly caught.
Shit.
Chapter Six
Viper couldn't deny a thrill of excitement as he wrestled with the beautiful Shalott.
No doubt he should be furious at her attempted escape. He had, after all, done everything possible to make her comfortable in his presence. From ordering the necessary food, to having her room decorated, to filling her closets with clothing. He had devoted weeks, not to mention a small fortune, to pleasing the ungrateful brat.
To top it off he had behaved as a perfect gentleman when his dark hungers had howled in frustration.
What other demon would have treated her with more consideration?
Oddly, however, he found it was more of a predatory anticipation man fury he felt as he had started in pursuit of his renegade slave.
There were few things that stirred his blood more than a cunning, dangerous woman.
Especially when she happened to be beautiful in the bargain.
Not a bad bonus.
Holding her captive in his arms he slowly smiled into the golden flash of her eyes.
"Do you want to continue, pet, or are we done with our fun and games?"
She held herself so stiff it was a wonder she didn't get a cramp. "What I want is for you to release me."
"Not until we've had a little chat."
She angrily squirmed against him. Viper gave a soft moan. His last few lovers had been vampires and he had nearly forgotten the pleasure of feeling himself drenched in such heat.
"Dammit, Viper, let me up."
"No. You've already tried to run away once tonight." His arms tightened about her. "Once is all you get."
Something that might have been outrage rippled over her delicate features. "I didn't run away."
"You waited until I could not halt you and you slipped from my home. What would you call it?"
Her lips thinned with annoyance. Clearly she disliked being accused of slipping away like a thief in the night.
A demon with a sense of honor.
"I had a few errands to run. Surely I'm allowed some freedom?"
"That depends. What are you doing here?"
"I left something behind."
"Something?"
If her arms had been free, Viper didn't doubt she would have given him a solid punch to the nose. Which was precisely why her arms weren't free.
"A friend," she at last gritted.
Friend? Viper turned his head to regard the small, fluttering gargoyle who was attempting to hide in the branches of a nearby tree. He had spotted the demon when he had come from the tiny opening, but he had dismissed him once he had caught sight of Shay.
She managed to drive most things from his mind when she was near.
A rather dangerous realization.
"You mean the gargoyle?" he demanded with a hint of surprise.
"Yes."
"He belongs to Evor?"
"Yes."
He gave a slow lift of his brows. "If you had requested, I would have bought him last night. There was no need to endanger yourself."
She blinked in astonishment at his soft words. Even her muscles relaxed as if she temporarily forgot he was the enemy.
Viper silently savored the feel of her body pressed close against him.
"Evor has never attempted to auction Levet." Remembered pain flashed through her eyes. "He prefers to leave him as a treat for his goons to torture."
His arms loosened their hold enough to allow his fingers to trace a light pattern up her spine. He didn't like seeing that hurt darken her eyes. It made him want to drain someone.