“Just a minute, beautiful. We’re going to help you come into yourself. Okay?” The hot press of the male’s lips against her ear caused something to snap deep inside of her.
Beautiful? Never.
She jerked away and turned, grabbing the knife from the male’s belt and sinking it deep into his chest before she could even think through her actions.
He groaned as blue blood poured from his chest and dropped to his knees, reaching for her and staining her white dress with evidence of his murder.
“No,” she whispered as horror ran over her. “No. Gods no.”
There was only one way off of Vanfia, and that was through the port at the edge of town. By paying someone off, she might be able to relocate to another planet. But the likelihood of negotiating passage off world with the meager stash of funds she had was slim. She had one other thing to barter with, although the chances of someone taking her up on the offer of her body might be slimmer still.
And could she really surrender her virginity for a chance at escape? Mayra thought so.
Anything’s better than death.
She ran through the hallway back to Demaylia’s room and slipped inside. The girl was purring loudly and already asleep.
“Praise the gods of Territh,” she whispered and moved into the closet to grab one of the princess’s robes. She plucked a bag of rubbals from the girl’s dresser drawers and moved back out into the hall, racing toward the kitchen and slipping out into the garden to hide among the trees. There was likely no way she was going to make it to the port before they found the body and the palace guards surrounded her, but it was worth a try. Standing around and taking credit for killing a guard was the worst possible thing she could think to do.
After checking her surroundings once more, she jogged down as deep as she could get into the nearby forest and walked out into the marketplace. She pulled the thick red robe over her head and pulled it in tightly around her neck before making her way over to Demaylia’s favorite vendor.
“Ah, Mayra. You poor soul. Did the princess send you to do her bidding again?” The tall, lanky creature hovered over her as small wings flapped along her back.
“She did. A bottle of face cream and three peppermint sticks for her bath please.” Mayra waited until the woman busied herself with getting together the items she’d ordered to turn and search the crowd. It was a busy afternoon, but no one seemed to be the wiser that something had gone down at the castle.
“Here you are!” The woman spoke loudly, and Mayra yelped and turned back to offer her a few of the coins from the small purse.
“Sorry. I didn’t expect you to have it together so fast.”
“No reason to tarry when there is money involved, right?” The woman smiled, and Mayra wished she hadn’t. Half of her teeth were gone and the ones that weren’t were black and falling out of her mouth. The clerk’s eyes moved to stare over Mayra’s shoulders as her cheeks turned pink. “How lovely. Can you imagine? A Territhian male taking you back to his beautiful world and making you his bride?”
Mayra glanced over her shoulder and scanned the crowd, not seeing anyone that might fit the woman’s description. “I don’t see a human. Maybe I don’t know what I’m looking for.”
“Ugh. Silly, simple girl. Come here.” The woman walked around the counter and put her hands on Mayra’s shoulders, turning her and moving her toward the edge of the tarp that hovered above their heads. “Right there. Jeez.”
Mayra moved to her left as the male came into view. Every cell in her body warmed as if the light inside of her had figured out a way to speak. Even with his back to her, she could tell that he was beautiful. Thick shoulders and a strong-looking back gave way to a shapely rear and big thighs. The smooth, tanned skin that showed from the sleeves of his shirt left her heart fluttering. No hair, no scales, no bony-like structure. Just skin. Skin like hers.
“Wow,” she whispered, almost forgetting her plan to get out of Vanfia as quickly as possible. “That’s what a human looks like?”
“Yes, ma’am, and I hear they pack quite a punch.” The merchant laughed and walked back to the center of the store as Mayra gagged and moved out into the dusty street. The odor of the merchant’s breath was heinous, and she almost felt sorry for anyone who might have to look on her and feel what she felt when being offended by something vile.
His voice was deep, smooth, hypnotic as he spoke to the gems dealer.
“I’d love to see the blue razule. It’s so incredibly rare, is it not?” The male spoke with an odd authority mixed with curiosity.
His dark hair was cut close to his head, and the smooth skin that ran along his neck and up to his ears drew her in. How kissable would it be? Her mouth grew wet at the idea of moving in behind him and lifting to her toes just enough to press her lips against him.
“Stop it,” she mumbled and turned as he glanced over his shoulder.
She hated not to get a good look at his face, but to have him stare back at her in horror would have been almost worse than death itself. To be called vile by vile creatures themselves was painful enough, but to have something beautiful look down upon her?
It would be devastating in a way that she wasn’t sure she could handle at the moment.
“Hey!” His voice grew in volume as she darted through the crowd and ran toward the castle. She would have to turn back and run through the trees near the forest again, but it would be a better bet than running into him. He most likely wasn’t even talking to her, but she took the chance that he was and ran harder.
After making it to the edge of the market, she paused and glanced over her shoulder to find that she’d finally lost him.
“If he was even chasing you, idiot.” She rolled her eyes and turned to run, crashing directly into two of the palace guards.
“Grab her.” One of them reached for her and pulled the cloak off, tearing at her hair in the process.
She screamed and jerked back as the other popped her in the side of the face with the flat part of his sword, cutting her only a little but busting the side of her lip.
“No. Please. It was an accident. I didn’t mean for it to happen.” She backed up and tripped over something, falling on the ground and busting her butt. A cry raced from her lips as she rolled over and clamored to her feet.
Her only hope was to run. Run until they caught up with her and took her back to Rantel for her punishment. A punishment that was sure to rival death.
