Chapter Two
A whoosh of relief swelled in Betrys Torin’s chest, along with a serving of embarrassment. Her dream last night…
She shook herself and forced her mind to the important topic of the day.
Leo was here. After the second meeting with Iseult, she’d had to help him don his clothes and stagger from the mansion.
Part of her had wondered if he’d refuse to attend to Iseult’s needs for the third and final contracted session.
It had happened before, and she, along with several of Iseult’s guards, had enforced the contract.
No matter which way the third time went, the man would die.
She registered Leo’s wariness, the clench of his fists and the jerky steps, as if he had to force himself to enter the grounds of Spiderus Mansion. She felt her heart twist.
“Good, you’re here and on schedule.” Betrys shrugged away her sympathy, her sorrow at losing her dreamscape lover, and hardened her resolve.
It didn’t matter what she wanted.
At least dying in Iseult’s bed was the lesser of two terrible alternatives. Iseult’s guards would tear him limb from limb and gnaw on his bones. Goddess Juna, even thinking about it made her stomach bubble with nausea.
“You warned me what would happen if I reneged on my contract,” he said, his voice toneless, while his dull green gaze accused. “I need the currency.”
But he wouldn’t receive any shillars for his last session. The currency would go to his family because he was dying, although he appeared stronger than the others. He’d walked into the mansion grounds under his own steam. Iseult would be pleased.
He removed his hat, and she gaped at him for long seconds.
“What did you do with your hair?”
“It kept getting knots in it. It was annoying in the heat of Ione so I shaved it off.”
Iseult would hate the small mutiny. She favored her men strong, powerful and sexy. The prettier the better. Like Leo. “Iseult is preparing for you.”
His features went to hard rock. “Do you enjoy your job?”
Betrys ignored his question, tried to discount the sense of him standing so close. She thought about the beautiful man way more than she should. And the dreamscape opening between them…
“We shouldn’t keep Iseult waiting. It makes her angry.” She turned to walk away.
He grasped her shoulder, and a shudder sped from her head to toes. Thankfully, his hand dropped away almost immediately. Why this one, she couldn’t guess, but the pride in him, the way he straightened his shoulders even though he knew what awaited made her admire and desire him.
Leo—she’d started thinking of him as Leo after last night on the dreamscape—moved closer and sniffed her neck.
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 like that woman 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. But Goddess 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.
Too bad. She’d savor this session, extract every bit of his essence and enjoy the high that came with the fucking. Such a beautiful creature. Perfect of face and form.
Faint vibrations thrummed beneath her feet and danced in the air, alerting her to the fact Betrys was delivering the man to the main web. Excitement pulsed in rhythm with her rapid central valve, and fangs sprang to prominence in her mouth.
She hadn’t looked forward to a feeding so much for eons.
Her in-home com buzzed.
“Yes?” Iseult barked.
“The man is ready for you,” her maidservant said.
“Perfect. I am very pleased with your latest procurement. You may take tomorrow off and visit with your son.”
A faint gasp rippled from the com, and Iseult’s lips curled into a benevolent smile. She was a reasonable being after all.
“Thank you, mistress.”
“Make sure you are back by fall of dark to carry out your duties.”
“Yes, mistress.”
Her maidservant’s smooth voice never faltered or changed in register, but if Iseult troubled herself to pull up the screen for her private cameras, she was certain she’d spot the woman’s distaste.
A melodic laugh spilled free at the thought.
Her maidservant disliked many of her duties, but she performed them anyway because Iseult had custody of the woman’s young son.
A cute wee thing, and much prettier than his mother.
Iseult had told Betrys she would release her son, and they could be together again.
Her maidservant believed her words when her intentions were quite different.
The child would make a tasty snack with more years of seasoning.
Oh yes. While it was true the Spiderus race could not lie and always spoke the truth, they were canny enough to leave out pertinent facts.
Those not of the Spiderus race did not comprehend the subtleties of the game.
Iseult let out another delighted chuckle and sauntered to the looking glass to check her appearance.
She picked up a jeweled comb to place in her dark locks before replacing it on her dresser.
No, the decorative comb would be too much and would clash with the colors of a well-fed Spiderus pulsing across her torso.
An unusual occurrence but very exciting since it meant she was capable of breeding.
“Despite what my clan thinks,” she murmured. “A child.”
Smiling with satisfaction, she pursed her lips and blew a kiss at her reflection. She plucked her favorite flogger off the corner of her sleep-bed and strolled from the room.
Time for dinner.