Embrace the Darkness by Alexandra Ivy Page A

slowly turned to face her. Until the past few moments she had managed to forget the hovering evil that seemed intent on capturing her. She had been so intent on how she could manage to rescue Levet from Evor that she had forgotten she possessed yet another enemy.
    Stupid, stupid, stupid.
    And embarrassing that Viper had remembered when she had not.
    â€œDid you kill Evor and his trolls?” he demanded.
    His tone was merely curious. As if he didn’t give a bloody hell if she had slaughtered the trolls.
    And probably he didn’t.
    â€œNo, I didn’t even catch sight of them.”
    â€œSo you saw no one? Heard nothing?”
    â€œNo.”
    His head tilted to one side. “And you did not think that unusual?”
    Shay shrugged, thinking back to her swift trip through the auction house. “They rarely enter the auction house before dark. Besides, I used the back entrance and went straight to the dungeons. You think they were attacked?”
    â€œSomething was.” He glanced back toward the silent building. “Wait here.”
    Shay watched as Viper collected his vamp and they moved through the darkness. Within a heartbeat they had melded into the shadows, and not even her enhanced vision could make out their silhouettes.
    She wrapped the cloak tight about her oddly chilled body as Levet fluttered onto the ground beside her.
    â€œMaybe we should just leave,” she muttered.
    â€œDo you think?” Levet slapped his hands on his hips and regarded her with a narrowed gaze. “Oh, wait. Why would we leave when we can linger in the backyard of our enemies and play suck face with whatever vampire happens by? And after that we can douse ourselves with gasoline and play with matches. The fun, as they say, never ends.”
    Shay felt a ridiculous blush touch her cheeks. She had not played suck face. Well, at least not on purpose.
    â€œDon’t push it, Levet.”
    â€œOr what? You’ll hold me down and kiss me to death?”
    â€œYou can be returned to your cell, you know,” she growled.
    â€œSur le corps.”
    Over his dead body? Shay gave a lift of her brows. “That could be arranged as well.”
    Perhaps sensing he had touched her last nerve Levet lifted his hands in a purely continental gesture.
    â€œNow, now, ma cherie . There is no need to be testy.”
    Unconsciously, Shay glanced toward the last spot she had seen Viper. “Actually there seems to be any number of reasons,” she muttered.
    â€œYes, I suppose there is,” he murmured softly. “Your new master is an oh-so-hated vampire.”
    â€œSo it would seem.”
    â€œA clan chief.”
    Shay’s attention sharply returned to the gargoyle at her side. “How can you tell?”
    â€œI can smell the mark of CuChulainn upon him.”
    Shay licked her suddenly dry lips. She had never attended the gladiator games. Few demons were considered worthy to attend the most elite of competitions. And even fewer allowed to participate.
    Those who walked out alive were feared and respected by all.
    They were warriors worthy of the title master.
    â€œHe has gone through the Battle of Durotriges?”
    â€œAnd lived to tell the tale. Quite impressive.” Levet regarded her with a knowing expression. “A wise demon would not wish to anger such a champion.”
    The very fact he was right only deepened Shay’s frown. Even if she were a pure blood Shalott she could never hope to best a clan chief.
    Somehow the knowledge annoyed the hell out of her.
    â€œThanks, Levet.”
    He blew her a kiss. “Anything to be of service for you, ma cherie .”
    She rolled her eyes. “Remind me why I bothered to rescue you.”
    The tiny, oddly lumped face became somber. “Because you cannot bear to see another hurt. Even if it means sacrificing yourself.”
    Shay shifted with a flare of discomfort. She wasn’t a saint. Far from it.
    The simple fact was that