"What does that have to do with the curse?"
"She was instructing the younger witch on her duties of protecting a young Shalott who was in dire danger. She said that once the curse was passed that she must always be on guard for those who would harm the half demon."
"She was going to pass the curse to another witch?" Shay demanded.
"Yes. Morgana was concerned that she was growing too old to be an adequate guardian."
"Oh." Shay slowly absorbed the words. Perhaps ridiculously she felt a spark of warmth at the witch's concern. Her father had obviously chosen her guardian carefully. It reassured her that he had truly loved her as much as she had once believed. "So she wanted to protect me?"
Evor shrugged. "I suppose."
Always sensitive to her every emotion Viper tightened his grasp on the troll's throat. He would realize just how much she needed to know she hadn't been abandoned by those who claimed to love her.
"And you heard the word Shalott and immediately realized how much she would be worth," he accused in a lethal voice.
Evor squawked, his eyes wide with terror. "I'm a businessman. What would you have me do?"
"You're slime." Shay corrected. "How did you get the curse?"
"I..." Evor licked his lips, his eyes warily darting from Viper to Shay. "I slipped down the stairs and waited for the proper moment. Once the curse was being passed I leaped forward to kill the young witch and the spell landed on me."
"Then you murdered Morgana?"
"Yes." A hint of confusion touched the ugly face. "I intended to burn her body, but she seemed to disappear into thin air."
Shay remembered finding the skeleton and small box hidden behind the enchanted circle. Morgana had used her last breath to keep the truth safe for Shay.
"You despicable, coldhearted bastard," she breathed, clutching her hands at her sides to keep from reaching out and throttling the horrid troll.
The creature had made her life a living hell. He had bound her, abused her, and sold her like an animal.
If not for him...
If not for him she would never have met Viper, an unwelcome voice whispered in the back of her mind.
The trembling fury slowly faded, and quite unexpectedly she sank to her knees and began to cry.
She wasn't sure why she sobbed.
The utterly senseless loss of her father, perhaps. The horror of her stolen childhood. The years of slavery.
The knowledge that, but for a fluke, she would never have been in the power of Evor.
Or maybe she was simply purging the last of her bitterness so she could put it in the past where it belonged.
Whatever the cause it didn't take long for Viper to be kneeling at her side, his arms wrapped tightly around her.
"Shay, please, my love," he whispered into her hair. "You are breaking my heart."
She sniffed, burrowing into the strength of his chest. "It's over?"
His lips brushed her face, kissing away the wetness of her tears. "It's over. Truly over. We can go home."
"What about Evor?"
"He will go with us. I have enough connections to find us a witch powerful enough to break the curse. After that... well, that will be completely up to you, pet."
She tilted her head up to meet the troubled silver eyes. "When we bring an end to the curse, I won't be your slave any longer."
A slow, perfect smile curved his lips. "Maybe not my slave, but you'll soon be my mate. Which means you're stuck with me for an eternity."
"I haven't said yes, yet," she reminded him softly.
"Good." His lips brushed her mouth. "I want the pleasure of convincing you."
She gave a small shiver. She didn't doubt it would be a pleasure.
For both of them.
The sound of Levet clearing his throat echoed eerily through the cavern and Shay glanced up to discover him regarding them with a hint of impatience.
"Not that I wish to be the pooper of the party, but unless we get out of these caves Dante will soon be bringing his army in with guns blazing " he pointed out. "Time is ticking."
Viper gave a slow nod. "I hate to agree with the gargoyle, but if Dante is on his way then we must stop him before any further violence." His head turned to regard Styx who was silently gathering the handful of ashes that remained of his master. "There has been enough bloodshed."
Shay lightly touched his face in sympathy before returning her attention to the giant demon. He was quite impressive with his bulging muscles and grotesque features. As terrifying as even the greatest of gargoyles. But she missed her tiny Levet.
"Not that I want to rain on your parade, Levet, but have you given any thought to how you're going to get out of these caves?" she murmured softly.
With a frown of surprise, Levet glanced down at his enlarged body. "Can't I just..." He gave a wave of his hands. "Force my way out?"
Viper rose to his feet and pulled Shay to stand close to his side. "Not without bringing most of the bluff down on our heads. And while I appreciate your help, my friend, I have no desire to be trapped in these tunnels with you until we can dig our way out."
Levet gave a testy stomp of his foot, showering them all with chunks of rock from the ceiling.
"This totally blows," he complained. "I finally get to be a decent size and now I have to give it up before I can even enjoy one good pillaging."
"No." The silent sprite suddenly grasped Level's arm, her expression pleading. "Don't listen to them. They are trying to deceive you and make you give up your last wish. We can get out of here. I know a way..."
"Oh, do shut up," Levet snapped. "It's worth giving up a wish just to be rid of you." He sucked in a deep breath. "I wish I were my normal size."
In the blink of an eye Levet had shrunk to his three-foot stature and, best of all, the wailing water sprite had disappeared.
With a small smile, Shay moved forward to wrap her arms about her dear friend.
"I love you, Levet," she whispered.
He gave a derisive snort at her mushy words, but he didn't try to pull away. With an awkward motion he patted her back with his small hand.
"Oui, oui. Now can we go home?"
Home. Yes, she was going home. With her family at her side.
No demon could ask for more.
Viper was as good as his word.
He did have the necessary connections to discover a witch willing to break the curse that bound Shay.
Of course, he wasn't pleased with her decision to allow Evor to slink back beneath the rocks he had crawled from. He was fairly straightforward about what he wanted for the troll. A nice, lengthy bout of torture, followed by several hours of being sliced into tiny little pieces.
Shay, however, discovered that her fierce need for revenge was no longer the driving force in her life. Not when she had an eternity to plan with the vampire she loved.
She was free of Evor, and as long as he was being watched by vampires to make sure he didn't hurt any other demon, she was satisfied.
They had quarreled, of course, but in the end she had had her way. And they had both enjoyed the delicious opportunity to kiss and make up.
Now the curse was gone and Shay was able to plan her future for the first time in nearly a century.
With blissful joy she traded her life as a servant for one as a mate.
It had been a beautiful ceremony at Viper's country estate surrounded by hundreds of candles and roses and the sweet scent of freshly baked apple pie floating through the air.
As Viper's fangs had slid into her flesh and he had called the ancient power to bind them as one, Shay thought that there would never be a more perfect moment in her life.
She had been wrong.
As the days had passed she realized that her days were now filled with those perfect moments.
Shopping or just sharing lunch with Abby. Watching Viper teach Levet how to use a sword with deadly accuracy. Late-night dinners with Viper teasing her as she polished off a huge meal left by the housekeeper. The festive gatherings with his clan where the vampires revealed their profound respect and unwavering loyalty to the leader who kept them secure.
They were moments that many would take for granted.
But never her.
Returning to the house after a marathon shopping spree with Abby, Shay silently slipped into the bedroom she shared with Viper, and tossed aside her numerous bags. Until she had fallen in love she had never cared about something so foolish as fashion.
Now, however, she had a very special desire to look her best.
Relieved to discover that Viper was busy in the shower she hurriedly stripped off her clothes and reached into one of the, bags to pull out a white nightgown.
It was a beautiful garment.
Shimmering satin with inset lace over her breasts and down her stomach it managed to reveal far more than it concealed.
It seemed custom made to make the most discriminating vampire stand up and take notice.
She had just slipped it over her head when the connecting door to the bathroom opened and Viper stepped in the room.
Just for a moment she struggled to remember how to breathe.