Blazing green eyes with sparks of molten goldburned into his.“Is it true?”
He’d promised her father that Aleksi wouldkeep their bargain a secret, but he wasn’t going to lie to Sahar,not again.Besides, she was smart enough to put two and twotogether, and it would be better to get the truth out into the openrather than let Yago’s lies infect and fester.
“Yes,” he said as murmurs swept through thecamp.“The king asked me to guard your safety during the race.Andno,” he hastened to add, “he didn’t ask me, or any other man, tolet you win.”
“Ask the bastard what your father promisedhim as payment,” Yago said.
“I would rather ask how many spies you haveset about the palace and the city,” Aleksi said, for that was theonly way he would have known about the king’s visit.
“A question I needn’t deign answer.Not toyou.”
“Perhaps not.”Aleksi glanced about at thecrowd of riders.His point had been made.
“But I am certain that King Asad will insiston an answer from you.When this race is over, you and I are goingto have us a serious discussion.”
The Wolf stepped back, a bead of sweattrickling down his forehead.“Come after me, bastard, and myfather’s army will come after you and yours.”He jerked his blackhead at Sahar.“As well as your host and conspirator, the BlackMane.”
“You are quick to threaten the force of yourfather’s army over any perceived slight,” Aleksi said as the crowdaround them grumbled and grew closer.“Is your father aware of yournever-ending threats?”
“My father will stand by me against any andall of our enemies,” Yago proclaimed.“Unlike yours, who will noteven claim you, or the whore that gave birth to you.”
Aleksi shrugged off the insult of hisparentage.He had heard worse from his father’s queen and her twodaughters every day he’d lived in the palace.He glanced around atthe restive riders, who were throwing pointed glares the Wolf’sway.
“I’d be careful of who I threatened next wereI you,” he told the Wolf.“I see no enemies here, only fellowcompetitors.”
“That’s because you’re blind to everythingbut the twitch of a royal bitch in heat’s shapely backside,” theJackal twittered.
Behind Aleksi, a tigress hissed.Before him,the Wolf sneered.Aleksi cocked his fist, and held as the blur of ashadow flew past him, straight for the Jackal.The crunch ofcartilage was followed by a high-pitched keening.
“You bastard,” the Jackal cried, holding hishand to his nose as blood dripped down his mouth and chin.“Youbroke my nose.”
They all turned to Feroz.
“Someone needed to shut the prick up,” hesaid, rubbing the knuckles of his right hand.He shrugged.“I wasalready out of the race.”
The fight over, the riders made their wayback to their fires as Yago and Taweel led the bleeding Jackal overto the stream.Feroz and Munir went back to cutting up the saddleblanket to make a soft boot for the gelding, leaving a fuming Saharalone with Aleksandr.
“What,” she demanded, “did my father promiseyou?”
“One hundred gold pieces, win or lose, aslong as you are kept safe.”
She nodded slowly and blinked back tears thatburned her throat.“So, you will have enough to buy a wife andbroodmares after all.Well done,” she said with a quick dip of herhead, as if she were truly complimenting him, as if it didn’tmatter that he’d taken payment to protect her.That he’d betrayedher again.“I’m so pleased to be able to assist you in yourpurchase of a bride.”
“I asked you first,” he said.“You refusedme.”
“No.”She shook her head.“I didn’t.”Shewatched surprise take over his expression.“If you recall, I neveranswered your proposal.”
“What I recall,” he said, “was your blade’spoint pressed to my stones and your threat to geld me then andthere.”
“Aye, after your ill-bred pawing and arrogantassumption that I would fall to my knees for the chance to breedwith you.”As soon as she said the words, the vision of the whoreon her knees in the stable, her face deep in Aleksandr’s groin,came unbidden, fueling Sahar’s growing ire.“After which,” sheadded hotly, “you proceeded to flirt with every kitchen and servingmaid in the palace, and consorted with that whore—”
“Roxanna.”
“What?”
“The whore’s name,” he said with maddeningcalm, “is Roxanna.You know I didn’t solicit or consort withher.”
She snorted with derision.
