Embrace the Darkness Read Online Free

will not kill her,” he said in tones that made a shiver run down Shay’s spine. “I do not believe your employer would be pleased if she is brought to him as a corpse.”
    The man gave a wild laugh. “If she ends up in the hands of another, I’m worse than dead. She might as well go with me.”
    â€œSo does your employer desire her, or fear her?” Viper murmured, smoothly moving forward. “Who is he? A demon? A sorcerer?”
    â€œStop or I will kill her.”
    â€œNo.” Viper continued his flowing stride. “You will drop the knife and walk away.”
    â€œYou can’t glamour me with your eyes. I’m immune to mystical crap.”
    â€œFine, then I will have to kill you.”
    â€œYou can’t—” The words of warning were still upon the man’s lips when Viper had him by the throat and tossed him into a nearby wall.
    For such a small man he managed to make a hell of a racket when he hit the paneling and slid to the floor. Astonishingly, however, he was back on his feet and reaching beneath his baggy coat in the blink of an eye. Clearly he was more than a mere human. No doubt a wizard with enough magical talent to offer some protection.
    Lifting his hand, he clutched what looked to be a small rock. Shay frowned. She had lived with the witches long enough to know the crystal held a powerful spell.
    â€œViper.”
    She called out the warning without knowing why. What did it matter who won the battle? Was being nightly drained by a pack of vampires preferable to whatever the unknown monster might have in store for her?
    In the end it didn’t matter.
    Even before his name had tumbled from her lips, Viper was leaping to the side and allowing the blast of black magic to strike the far wall. Flames crawled over the paneling and with cries of panic the wealthy guests began scrambling for the nearest door. Magical fire was the one thing that was as deadly to demons as to humans.
    â€œGet the fire extinguishers, you fools,” Evor cried, flapping his pudgy hands with growing panic. “I’m going to lose everything.”
    The mountain trolls reluctantly lumbered to battle the flames, but Shay’s attention remained glued to the duel between the vampire and the increasingly desperate man.
    Viper was on his feet, his black cloak flowing about him as he stalked in a half circle about the man.
    â€œThe spell that protects you will not keep me from ripping out your throat,” he said in silky tones. “Are you that anxious to die?”
    â€œBetter my throat ripped out than what my master would do,” the man rasped as he lifted the crystal and released the power toward the vampire.
    Once again Viper smoothly moved aside to allow the blast to hit the podium. It burst into flames and Evor squawked in horror.
    â€œOver here. Bring the extinguisher over here,” the troll cried.
    There was another blast and Shay fell flat on the floor, only her quick reflexes keeping her from being toast.
    A low growl filled the air and Shay lifted her head to watch as Viper launched himself toward the terrified man. The hairs on the back of her neck stirred at the sight of his features honed to a stark, deadly mask and his fangs lengthened to kill.
    He was no longer the beautiful angel but a lethal instrument of death.
    The man screamed as Viper’s teeth sank into his neck. The scream became a gurgle as the blood trickled down the man’s throat and dripped onto the ivory carpeting. He was a heartbeat from death, but with futile desperation the man lifted the knife to stab the vampire in the back. Over and over the blade bit into Viper’s flesh.
    Shay winced. Although the knife couldn’t kill a vampire it still had to hurt like a bitch.
    There was another ghastly gurgle and Shay deliberately turned her head. A part of her was grateful not to be handed over to the looming evil that still tainted the air, but she preferred not to