“Yes, I think so.What do you need me to tell you?”
“Start from the beginning.”Saber waved her toward a seat.He remained as he was, leaning his backside against the kitchen counter.“From the moment you first met Iseult, and how you came to work for her.I need to know everything you know and have observed about Iseult and her people since your arrival.Her strengths.Her weaknesses.The weapons she uses to subdue her enemies.Everything.”Saber’s face was hard and radiated determination.
A shudder crawled Betrys’s spine.This man was dangerous, and she didn’t want to get on his bad side while he attempted to protect his family.
“Here, drink this.”Saber handed her a mug.Tendrils of steam rose from the liquid along with the scent of the coffee beverage.
Betrys wrapped her hands around the mug and took a sip.The bitter black liquid burned her tongue, and she spat it back into the mug.
“Careful, it’s hot,” Saber said, and a grin flashed across his face.The Mitchell grin she’d witnessed from Leo and from the siblings she’d seen on arrival at the resort.It was obviously a family trait along with the scowl.
Betrys ran her tender tongue over her teeth and winced.She took another cautious sip of her coffee, then started talking, prodded by Saber’s questions for clarification.
“So, you see,” she finished.“I saw her bite one of her guards a few months ago because he didn’t follow orders.Mostly, she rules by fear and the might of her guards.I told you I don’t know much.”
“No, you’ve been helpful.We know Iseult is able to paralyze with what we assume is a type of venom, but she prefers to secure them with cuffs.That tells us she has limited ability, or she keeps that talent for emergencies.And she applies the paralyzing agent with her mouth.She seldom leaves her web, which tells us she feels more comfortable on her home turf.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“If she contacts you, tell her there are several suitable men here.Tell her they’re Leo’s brothers, but that you need longer because they’re proving difficult and won’t sign a contract.See what she says, but try to get her to come to the resort.She’s already considered it, and with luck, she’ll be easy enough to persuade.Getting her here—to our home ground—would be to our advantage.”
“I doubt she’ll leave the mansion,” Betrys said, shaking her head in support of her words.“She attends the occasional social function but never stays long.”
“Because she doesn’t enjoy the social scene, or is it for some other reason?”Saber mused.“She never socializes with others of her species?”
“Apart from her guards.She’s never had any visitors of the same species.”
“There must be a reason for that.Scarlett needs to do more research.”Saber set down his coffee and straightened from his lean.“I know it’s difficult, but we’ll have to get Iseult to come here somehow, so we can snatch your son.Trying to get the better of the woman on her home territory doesn’t make sense.I’ll be back later.Call me if Leo needs anything.”
Betrys wandered after Saber, unsure of what to do next.
“Don’t forget.Call me if there are any problems.”Saber stepped outside and chuckled when a bright-blue bird waddled up to him.He stooped to pet the strange-looking creature before departing.
What was she meant to do now?Betrys scowled at the closed door.
“Betrys.”
The sound of her name galvanized her to action, and she rushed into the bedroom.“What is it?What’s wrong?Do you need something else for the pain?”
“No.Come and lie beside me.”
“But I might hurt you.”
“I need you, Betrys.”
Chapter Eleven
“Hello,Ms.Orna.Welcometo Middlemarch Resort.My name is Saber Mitchell, and I hope you’ll contact me should you require any assistance.”
“Thank you,” Iseult said.“The journey was arduous, and I wish to rest before dinner.”Hopefully, she’d make it to her room before she lost grip on her form.Already her eyes flickered with the beginnings of the shift, and she was starting to see everything in multiples of six.A pity because she’d like to cultivate this man.He bore a striking resemblance to Pretty.Another time.
“Space travel does affect some people that way,” Saber said.“Here you are.This is one of our best rooms.”
He opened the door and stood back to allow her to precede him into a stylish bungalow.Tiles kept the room cool, and the shades of colors were to her taste.But really, she didn’t care about the luxurious amenities, styled, according to the brochure, in the way of planet Earth.All she wanted was to be left alone before he discovered her other nature.
“Thank you.”Get rid of him before the change starts.Get rid of him now.“I have a headache.I rest and recuperate now.”
“Of course.Should I send a maid with some blockers?”
