At seeing her distress, he took half a step toward her, his first instinct to comfort her, then he realized what he was doing and came to an abrupt halt.“Tell me why you’re working for Iseult.What hold does she have over you?”
A tear spilled free, highlighting her misery, and Leo found himself standing in front of her.He hated her, he told himself.Yet it was inhuman to watch someone—no matter who or what they were—suffer.He wrapped his arms around her and pressed her face to his chest.
She started crying in earnest then.Fuck, had he changed so much that he’d wage his war against a woman?Betrys felt slight and fragile in his arms, yet he knew she bore an inner core of strength.She had to in order to survive.
When she stopped sobbing, he ran his hand down her back and put some space between them.
“If you don’t give me answers, I can’t help you,” Leo said, scanning her face.
“Why would you want to help me after everything I’ve done?”
Her face was blotchy and her looks suffered from her crying jag.She never flirted or batted her lashes at him, and he kind of enjoyed her manner.Some people put a lot of stock in good looks.Some people treated him differently because the gene pool had worked in his favor.Some people were blind.
“Explain everything to me, and I’ll make that decision.”
Betrys tried to smile, tried to act nonchalant, tried to pretend everything was fine.She failed.Clammy sweat formed on her torso, between her breasts, and she started when Leo reached out and used a single finger to lift her chin.She blinked under his intense scrutiny, tried to glance away, but he wouldn’t let her.
“Tell me the truth, Betrys.You’re trying to protect your son.I get that.I do.But tell me the rest.Fill in the gaps for me.”
Leo’s tone straddled reasonable and persuasive.She wrapped her arms around her torso and tried to speak.All that emerged was a croak.How could Leo help?No one could save her and Ricci because she’d made mistake after mistake.She’d procured men for her boss in the knowledge they’d die.She was a murderer, or at the least an accomplice.
“Iseult will kill Ricci if I don’t follow her orders.”Unable to stand still, she started pacing in jerky steps.She came to an abrupt halt by the long chair and stared at her sleeping son.Leo moved to stand beside her, not touching, but so close she was aware of his body heat and his silent command for her to share details of her life in Iseult’s household.
As she stared at her son, he started to fade.She gasped, and Leo wrapped an arm around her shoulders in silent comfort.Caspar had promised he’d look after Ricci, but she couldn’t help but worry.She’d received a little basic training and knew of the dreamscape, almost from the moment of her birth.Every Petros child held the same understanding, even if the skill never materialized, and the instant her talent had propelled her onto the dreamscape, her instincts had taken over, and she’d known how to control her power.Ricci possessed none of that vital knowledge.
Once Ricci had faded away to leave nothing on the long chair apart from the soft blanket that had covered him, a ragged sob emerged.Without knowing how it happened, she found herself wrapped in Leo’s arms while she wept.
Control.
She’d never possessed influence over her path in life.First her parents, then her husband, had governed her actions and kept her secure.Coping on her own wasn’t easy, but she’d done her best.She hadn’t wanted to rely on anyone else for her happiness, not since she was capable of doing the job.With independence her goal, she was failing badly.
Leo grasped her shoulders and shook her to grab her attention.“Stop this crying.Come.”He tugged on her hand, and she stumbled after him.He unfastened the tie on her robe and had her naked in seconds.Before she could protest, he scooped her off her feet and set her on the sleep-bed.
Seconds later, Leo joined her and pulled her into his arms.“Tell me everything.How did you come to work for Iseult, and why did you come to the resort now and leave your son at Spiderus Mansion?”
Leo couldn’t help her, but maybe talking about her problems would present a solution.She started at the beginning.“Corrin, my husband, must’ve suspected something was wrong.He told me to gather our belongings and he’d join us later.He never came.I arrived on Dalcon and wasn’t sure what to do.I decided to stay in a hotel and wait for Corrin.When he didn’t arrive, I knew he’d died.I started to hear rumors about the downfall of our people and knew I had to find a job because my resources were low.There aren’t many positions available for a woman with a child.I needed to find a place for us to live, and the job with Iseult for an assistant seemed perfect.”
“But it wasn’t.”
“At the start, I took care of administration tasks, the ordering of food supplies and making sure the mansion was clean and tidy.Then, once I’d settled in, Iseult called me to her web and gave me instructions to procure a man for her.”
“Why didn’t you leave at that point?”
“I refused and said I would leave.Iseult said if I tried to leave, she would order my son killed.”
“You believed her.”
“Oh yes.Iseult never offers empty threats.If she says she will do something, she always follows through.Yes, she meant to kill Ricci.”
“So why are you here at the resort?”
“Iseult enjoyed you so much, she decided I should travel to your home planet and find a relative for her.She intends to pay well, but it’s a death sentence.”
“I didn’t die,” Leo said.
“I know, and I don’t understand why you survived.Iseult has changed since she…ah…”
“Since she abused me,” Leo said.
