"Abby?"

"It's a lot worse than I realized," she muttered, her gaze absorbing the broken windows and roof that had been half blown away.

Dante knew he would eventually have to deal with the estate, but he was in no hurry. The wards that Selena had placed about the house would keep out anyone not invited. Including the most desperate thieves.

He lightly touched her shoulder. "Do you want to remain in the car?"

She sucked in a deep breath, turning to meet his searching gaze. "No."

Gathering an amulet that Viper promised would counter the magic used to animate a zombie, Dante pushed it into the waistband of his pants. His daggers were already safely tucked into his boots, and with a motion of his hand, he indicated that Abby should place the keris in its sheath and belt it about her waist.

The sheath would protect him from the powerful blessing but would allow Abby easy access to the dagger should she have need.

Demon, witch, zombie, or wizard would get more than they bargained for on this occasion.

Together they left the car and headed up the sweeping terrace to the double doors. Entering the vast foyer, Dante instinctively headed for the main staircase when Abby abruptly stumbled over the broken bits of a vase upon the marble floor.

He placed an arm about her shoulders as she regarded the shattered porcelain with an odd fascination.

"Steady," he murmured.

It took a moment before she gave a shake of her head and turned her attention to the nearby stairs that were now charred and covered in plaster and chunks of wood from the ceiling.

"It's even worse than I remember. My God, how could this have happened?"

His jaw tightened as the image of Selena's lifeless body flashed through his mind. Nothing should have been capable of destroying her. Certainly not something that he had been incapable of sensing.

"I don't know, lover."

"Do you think it was the work of the wizard?" she demanded.

Dante frowned. "It's possible, I suppose."

"You don't sound very convinced."

"If it was a servant of the Prince, then Selena should have sensed its presence, just as you did with the zombies," he pointed out. "Besides, she had been the Chalice for a very long time and grown incredibly powerful. I cannot imagine even the elder wizard would dare to challenge her."

She gave a slow nod. "I think you're right, which means we're still no closer to discovering what happened to Selena."

"Do you sense anything?"

Abby closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath. Dante realized she was attempting to focus her newfound powers to search the empty house.

At last her eyes opened, and she gave a faint shiver.

"No, there is nothing."

Dante stepped directly before her. He hadn't missed her faint tremor.

"What is it?"

She shrugged as she forced a smile to her lips. "I just have the creepy crawlies."

"The creepy crawlies?"

"The heebie jeebies."

Dante gave a shake of his head. "Are you speaking English?"

"You know, like someone just walked over my grave."

Dante didn't even think as he abruptly lashed his arms around her and yanked her against his chest.

"Don't," he hissed.

Her eyes widened in shock, and he belatedly realized his fangs were fully extended and his face no doubt stark with warning.

He didn't care.

For the moment he was all vampire.

"Dante?" she husked uncertainly.

"Never tempt fate," he growled.

"It's just a saying."

"It's dangerous," he warned, his predatory instincts on full alert at the mere mention of Abby in her grave. "We mustn't do anything to call attention upon us."

She blinked, startled by his words. "You're superstitious? "

"I've lived for centuries. There are very few things I don't believe in."

"Oh." She mulled over his words before giving a nod. "I suppose you have a point."

His arms tightened as he pressed his forehead to her own. "I won't let anything harm you."

"I know," she said softly, her hands cupping his face.

"But if something should happen to me—"

His fierce command was brought to a halt. A highly unusual event, considering he rarely let anything or anyone interrupt a direct decree.

But then it was even more rare when Abby pressed her lips to his mouth. He found the entire world was brought to a halt.

Unfortunately her kiss was all too brief, and just as he was getting into the swing of things, she pulled back to regard him with a stern frown.

"No, Dante," she retorted, as always ignoring the fact that no one told him no. "You said yourself, we shouldn't tempt fate."

He didn't bother to argue. Why should he? It would be simpler to bash his head into the wall and be done with it.

Besides, Viper would know to come for her if something happened to him.

He would leave it at that.

"Enough." With a smooth motion, he hoisted her into his arms. Once assured she was secure, he easily moved toward the stairs. "I don't think it's wise to linger here any longer than we need."

Her arms instinctively looped around his neck. "What are we looking for?"

"Selena had a safe that she kept warded by powerful spells. I hope now that you carry the Phoenix, we can find a means to open it."

"If it survived the blast."

He smiled. Not even the end of the world would have affected the spell.

"It survived. Hold on."

She gave a small shriek as he crouched and then in one fluid bound had them at the top of the steps.

"Holy crap, I didn't know you could do that," she breathed. "What other surprises do you have?"

He slowly smiled. "Lover, I possess enough surprises to keep you guessing an eternity."

"And enough ego to last way beyond that."

"Would you have it any other way?"

She rolled her eyes. "I thought we were in a hurry?"

With reluctance he bent to set her upon her feet. He didn't sense any danger nearby, but he wasn't going to be caught off guard again. He wanted to be ready to strike if necessary.

"Be careful where you step. The floorboards are not entirely stable."

"Yeah, magical blasts tend to be hell on floorboards."

Despite her flippant tone, she was wise enough to be cautious as she made her way down the darkened hall. Dante was close behind her. So close that he easily sensed when the sudden chill shuddered through her body.

"What is it?" he demanded.

"Nothing."

'You felt something." He reached out to grasp her arm, pulling her to a halt. "Is there anything here?"

A frown marred her forehead. Not the pissy frown she reserved solely for him. But the one that warned she was sensing something she could not explain.

The one she had had too many occasions to use over the past few days.

"It's not that. It's… I don't know, like an echo."

"From the spell Selena cast?"

"Maybe." She abruptly rubbed her hands over her arms. "It feels wrong, somehow. Not evil, but…"

He tilted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Abby?"

"It's difficult to explain."

"Try."

Her eyes narrowed. A silent warning he would eventually pay for his arrogant tone.

Not at the moment, however.

"I once walked past a chemical plant that was pumping toxic waste into the river. It was nothing I could actually see, but there was a certain smell and foulness to the air that made my skin crawl. That's what I feel now."

"Foulness."

'Yes."

Dante growled low in his throat. He was a preda-tor. A lethal killer. The fact that he could not sense the danger lurking in the air made him long to destroy something.

Something witchy.

"There is something I'm missing." He gave a sharp shake of his head. "Damn. This way."

Taking Abby's hand, he led her farther down the hall. He considered it a minor miracle they managed to make it over a dozen steps before Abby dug in her heels.

"Wait. Where are we going? Selena's rooms are down that wing."

He glanced over his shoulder. "Trust me."

Damn. Wrong words.

Her heels nearly made holes in the floor as she refused to budge.

"Trust you? Again?"

"Have I led you astray yet?" Her mouth flew open far too readily. A diversion was clearly in order. Never one to miss an opportunity, Dante glided forward to cover her mouth in a swift, hungry kiss. "Don't answer that," he murmured against her lips. Her hands clutched his arms as she instinctively arched against him. Devil spit. Dante felt her fiery heat sear through him. It licked over his skin and smoldered in his blood. His teeth clenched. The ache to gather her in his arms and take her against the wall was firmly thrust aside. He would never have enough of this woman. But now was not the time or place, he sternly chastised. Pulling back, he grasped her hand and pulled her firmly down the hall before she could come to her senses. Shoving aside a broken statue, he pointed at the wall. 'This is it."