Deep within her she understood that the sensations he stirred were far more dangerous than if he locked her in a cell and beat her every day.
Turning her head to ensure that Levet was safely following behind them, Shay allowed Viper to lead her into the dark auction house and up the stairs to Evor's private quarters. As he threw open the door, she nearly gagged at the overwhelming stench of blood and gruesome death.
She had expected bad, but this went way beyond bad.
Her hand clamped over her mouth as she struggled not to hurl up what was left in her stomach.
The once elegant room was now splattered with bits and pieces of trolls. Blood, limbs, and body parts that should never be seen, were so mixed together it was impossible to even know how many had died in the attack.
Forcing herself to study the nightmare, her disbelieving gaze at last halted on the black marble mantle and the head of the mountain troll that had been stuck there like a trophy.
The red eyes were open and a snarl revealing his open teem, as if he were damning the soul of his killer.
Whatever he had been doing it hadn't saved him or the other bodyguards. They had been butchered with violent ease.
The nausea rolled through her stomach once again.
"Blessed saints. This is impossible."
Taking her arm Viper gently pulled her from the room and closed the door. Then, as if sensing her weakness, he pressed her into a chair and crouched down before her.
"There are few things that can kill trolls with such savagery, but there is no doubt they have been well and truly slaughtered." He studied her face with a searching gaze. "Do you sense anything that might give a clue to what or who was responsible?"
With an effort, she battled back her crawling horror and forced herself to think with what logic she could muster.
"It wasn't a human. They wouldn't have the strength to rip apart a troll with their bare hands."
"Was it a spell?" Viper demanded.
"No." She took in a deep breath. "There is no magic in the air."
Viper gave a nod of his head. As a vampire he had no ability to sense magic. Which was no doubt one of the reasons why he wanted her along.
"So it had to be a demon that possesses incredible strength, and the ability to mask their presence from a vampire," Viper murmured. "That narrows the list but leaves far too many suspects."
Shay shivered as she wrapped her arms about her. The shock was beginning to recede and the full impact of the savage attack hit her with an alarming force.
"Oh, my God " she whispered.
Viper reached out to grasp her shoulders. His touch was cool but surprisingly comforting.
Perhaps because it had been so incredibly long since anyone had touched her in anything but anger.
"I should not have brought you to see this. Forgive me."
She gave a shake of her head. "No, it's not that. It's Evor."
"Evor? Why... ah." Viper slowly nodded. "He's not among the dead."
She gave a short, unsteady laugh. "Obviously not. I think I would know if I had suddenly become a corpse."
"Yes, it's rather hard to miss," he said dryly.
She grimaced, struggling to regain control of her raw nerves. Holy crap, but it had been a close call.
Too close.
"If Evor had been in that room..." she breathed.