Betrys jerked away before she caved and touched him.“What are you doing?”Did he just sniff her?Iseult had a distinctive scent.Most men found it attractive, but the idea of smelling likethatwoman brought revulsion.It was bad enough she was forced to work for her, but to become similar to Iseult, even in a small way, raised her gorge.She swallowed.Once.Twice.Hastened her footsteps so he could no longer see her expression and worked at gathering her scattered control.
This man rattled her and had done so from her first glimpse of him in the Dalcon marketplace when he flirted with an old Tigrus woman.Now her powers had kicked in, and she’d visited him on the dreamscape.Useless to fight destiny.ButGoddess Juna, destiny had made a mistake.She’d failed to understand the message contained in the dream and today her dream lover would die.
Her throat tightened, and she struggled for emotional balance.Handsome.So handsome he made women stop and stare.Goddess, she’d gawked at him, and she’d detected other females smitten by the sexy man.He hadn’t noticed that he’d created a pedestrian traffic jam around the fruit seller’s stall.With his height, his long black hair, his powerful physique, and the perfect symmetry of his features, the package was attractive, but add the stunning pair of jade-green eyes, and he’d made folk of both sexes gape.
Yes, the man was handsome, and because of his stunning good looks, she’d approached him with an offer he couldn’t refuse.Once he knew the bargain came with strings, it had been too late since Iseult’s web had him trapped.
“You’re not the same species as her or her guards.Why do you work for her?”
Because she had no choice.
Betrys ignored him and led the way into the mansion via the servants’ entry.It was quicker and would get Leo to the central web before Iseult arrived.She liked to make an entrance, dressed to impress, and if she wasn’t admired in the correct manner, life became difficult for them all.
Hard fingers curled around her upper arm and hauled her to a halt.He spun her around to face him and repeated his question.“Why do you work for her?”
None of the sexy and demanding dream lover showed in his face, but her grandmother had told her the male often fought destiny and pretended their dreams didn’t exist and therefore couldn’t be real.
“She pays well.”A lie, but the faint curl of those perfect lips told her he’d believed she’d signed him up for money.“Hurry.We need to prepare you before Iseult arrives.”
“And everything Iseult wants Iseult gets.”
“Yes,” Betrys said in a thick voice, and she couldn’t meet his gaze.
Betrys hurried along the servants’ passage and turned into Iseult’s private quarters.In the sanitizer room, she turned to Leo and started to unbutton his shirt.
He slapped her busy hands away.“I’ve been dressing and undressing myself since I was five years old.”
Betrys let her hands drop away.Her son preferred to dress himself too.
In the distance, a timepiece chimed midday.
“Please hurry, or Iseult will punish all of us.”Goddess, she couldn’t keep doing this, couldn’t keep luring men to their deaths.It was killing her inside, and with Leo, the situation magnified.Her desire for him dueled with her love for her son.Today they would all lose.Battling tears and despair, she swallowed hard.“Please, Leo.”
His face didn’t soften at her plea, but he did start removing his clothes.He disrobed without a fuss, which she appreciated.He’d lost weight, something she hadn’t noticed during her visit on the dreamscape.The suction marks Iseult inflicted on her lovers had healed and almost disappeared.Unusual.The oddity would intrigue Iseult.
Without being prompted, he walked into the sanitizer and started to cleanse in preparation for his meeting with Iseult.
Goddess Juna.He was going to die today.Guilt and despondency soaked her pores, filled her thoughts, weighed her down.He had people who loved him, and they’d never learn of his fate.
“Are your family on Tiraq?”she blurted, even though she knew the basic details.
He glowered through spiky dark lashes.“Why do you want to know?”
Betrys gulped.Telling him she wanted the information in order to inform his loved ones of his demise didn’t seem tactful or wise.“Just passing conversation.”
His contemptuous snort echoed and brought the heat of distress to her face.She averted her gaze while he completed the cleansing and drying process and picked up the silky white robe Iseult insisted her lovers wear.
“I have four brothers and one sister,” Leo said.“Is that for me?”
“Yes.”She opened it for him to slide his arms into the sleeves, but he snatched it from her and donned the garment by himself.
Betrys gasped, yet couldn’t fault him.If she wore his shoes, she’d feel the same distrust, the same contempt and hatred.Understandable.
Their dreamscape ties counted for nothing.They couldn’t.She needed to protect her son.Iseult would order her men to kill Ricci if Betrys refused to carry out her orders.In her own way, she was trapped like Leo, except hers was a living hell.At least Leo would have the peace and tranquility of death.
Iseult Orna bubbled with anticipation.This latest food offering purchased by her maidservant tasted exquisite.His essence still fizzed through her system, which was unusual in itself.
She stalked a circuit of her private rooms in an effort to burn off her excess energy.It was a pity the last feeding always killed them because this one—this one was something special.
