"Dammit to hell. That would explain why they attacked so close to dawn."
"And why they sent the hellhounds first."
"Yes."
He shoved his hands impatiently through his hair. It was not that he feared a fight. Hell, it had been far too long since he had enjoyed a rousing battle. But for the first time in his long life he possessed someone besides himself to worry about.
It was an unnerving sensation.
And one that he wasn't quite certain how to deal with.
Glancing about the room Shay abruptly held a hand to her heart. "Where is Levet?"
"Hunting." Viper gave a distracted shrug. "After the arrival of the hellhounds he is no doubt halfway to Chicago by now."
"Or doing something totally stupid," she muttered as she spun on her heel and headed toward the back door.
It took Viper a beat to realize she actually intended to go out and find the gargoyle. With a blur of speed he was blocking her path, regarding her with disbelief.
She could try the patience of a saint. A. mere vampire didn't have a shot in hell.
"You can't go out mere," he rasped.
A dangerous spark flared to life in the golden eyes. "Viper—"
"No. The demons have no interest in Levet. He is far safer than you are at this moment."
"We don't know that for sure." Her jaw stuck out in warning. "He's my friend and I won't leave him out there to die."
Viper briefly savored the image of tossing the aggravating woman over his shoulder and being done with it Oh, she wouldn't go quietly. She was half Shalott and she would put up a furious fight. But he felt certain that in the end he could force her to his will. Unfortunately, such a simple solution was bound to create far more difficulties than it would solve. She was only half Shalott, but she was all woman.
Cursing himself for a fool he gave an impatient shake of his head. "Go to the basement. I will retrieve your missing gargoyle."
As if waiting for the perfect cue, the door was thrust open and the tiny gargoyle waddled into the kitchen.
"There will be no need for heroics, vampire," he drawled. "I am here."
Viper frowned. "What of the hellhounds?"
Levet didn't even attempt to hide his shudder of distaste. "They have been driven off for now, but I do not doubt they will be back."
There was a movement behind the gargoyle and Viper locked gazes with the vampires that had been standing guard.
He growled deep in his throat at the sight of the blood that covered their clothing and the wounds that marred their faces.
He was clan chief. Whoever had sent the hellhounds would soon regret their fatal decision.
"Santiago, gather the other guards and take them to your lair."
The tail vampire stiffened at the command. "We will not leave you."
Viper gave a shake of his head. His guards were still young and bound closely to the night. Once the sun rose they would be unable to protect themselves.
"You are wounded and it is too close to dawn. There is nothing you can do."
Frustration shimmered through the air as the guards were forced to accept the truth of his words.
"Your human servants will soon arrive," Santiago at last muttered.
"They are no match for the demon who hunts us. We must attempt to evade him if we can." Viper laid a hand on Santiago's shoulder. "You must take care of the others, my friend. Now go."
Trapped by Viper's demand to protect the lesser vampires Santiago had little choice but to offer a grudging bow.
"As you command."
He waited until they melted into the darkness, headed for the secret lair that Santiago had built when Viper had brought him here to guard the estate. They would be safe and covered by the healing earth. Which was more than he could say, he wryly acknowledged as the distant baying echoed eerily through the air.
He turned to meet Shay's troubled gaze. "The hellhounds return. We must go."
Chapter Nine
On this occasion Shay didn't protest when Viper grasped her hand and tugged her across the kitchen and through a narrow door that led to the basement.
A small miracle, but at the moment she was far more concerned with whatever was creeping closer to the house than asserting her independence.
With Levet clinging to the back of her robe, they moved in swift silence. She could vaguely make out the dark, secluded bedrooms they passed. No doubt spare bedrooms in the event Viper decided to have a sleepover.
Viper would have a room for himself, but it would not be his lair. At least not his hidden lair.
To prove her point the vampire halted before the paneling at the end of the hall. With a movement of his hand and a whispered word the paneling opened to reveal steps leading farther down into the ground.
"Through here." he whispered, waiting for them to pass so he could close the paneling behind them.
Shay could sense the curses that bound the door. They were powerful, but they wouldn't provide protection from the demon that hunted her. Not if it were truly determined to follow her.
The smell of warm, rich earth surrounded Shay as she cautiously moved down the flight of steps and entered what she assumed was Viper's lair. Once on solid ground she was forced to pause as complete darkness folded around her. Unlike Viper she didn't possess the ability to see through the murky black.
Perhaps sensing her troubles there was a sound in the dark and then the faint bloom of tight as Viper held a taper to the tall, silver candelabra.
Shay's eyes slowly adjusted as her breath caught in her throat.
"Holy crap," she breathed, her gaze traveling around the vast cavern that surrounded her. She had never seen so many weapons in one place. Long swords, short swords, daggers, ninja weapons, bows and arrows, handguns, and ancient armor were all carefully stored behind glass cases. There was even a case where she could feel the power of magically blessed weapons. "Where did these come from?"
Taking a key Viper unlocked a case to retrieve an elegant sword that he strapped to his back. He handed a dagger to the oddly silent Levet, and a sword to Shay who held it with the confidence of a woman accustomed to wielding such a weapon.
"It is part of my collection," he answered as he moved to another case and chose a small handgun that he loaded with swift ease.
Moving to stand beside him Shay shot him a glance of disbelief. "Part? Are you intending to invade Canada?"
The midnight gaze lifted to reveal a feint hint of amusement. Shay's breath disappeared at the sheer beauty of his face in the candlelight. It was almost indecent that a man should possess the face of an angel.