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Lucan s body earlier in the day.
Minutes later, she sat up nearly fully healed aside from a dark red mark across her skin.
Lucan knew from experience, the scar would fade to nothing within the half hour.
My name s Amara, she murmured. I was a servant to Lord Tawren. Her head bowed
and she placed a hand over her chest. I m at your service.
Was that Lord Tawren? Lucan couldn t help asking.
No! That was my lover ex-lover Claive. Lord Tawren is& well, he s actually
somewhat& kind. She glanced over at them then added, To our people.
Why did Claive try to kill you?
He s been stealing. I was trying to convince him he should stop now, I am cast out. I
am as good as dead to them, but I would rather find a way to live out there, she waved a hand
toward the entrance of the cave, than be dead.
It s an archaic society, Maks told him. Men are dominant and their women are
belongings. Her lover s action makes her worthless. She can t be part of their society any longer.
Amara, will you help us get inside? Lucan ventured.
Why? she asked hesitantly. I cannot help you hurt my people.
My wife has been stolen
Her eyes went wide. Tawren s woman. I cannot&
He held back his growl of frustration. It would do no good to frighten the woman. We
won t hurt him, he promised. Not purposely, anyway. And when we leave we will let you
come with us.
Lucan! Maks protested.
We can t let her out on her own, he told his scion.
I don t like it.
We have no choice. She won t help us inside otherwise.
Okay, Amara said. She glanced at Maks, and Lucan saw interest in her gaze for the
first time. Of course, Maks was still in human form, and she had his blood flowing through her
for the moment. We must hurry. Lord Tawren plans to join with your woman at dusk. If that
happens, there is no hope for you.
Fury gripped Lucan. No one would touch Meda! She was his!
Dial it back, Wolf, or even the Djinn-girl will hear your thoughts, Maks chided.
This way, Amara said. She led the way deeper into the cave, and away from the door
they d been trying to get through. There s a less used door over the servants quarters.
Should we trust her? Maks asked.
Do we have a choice? Lucan replied.
After a few minutes, she paused. Remember you promised not to hurt anyone though
if you happen to maim Claive and cut off his inadequate member, I wouldn t consider it a breach
of our agreement. She shook her head. Trusting Dragons, she muttered. What next?
Maks leaned close to her. You know, I ve been told you should never ask that.
She lips turned up sadly then flattened as she pressed her hands to the wall. Slowly, a
great panel of rock slid inward, revealing a narrow stand of stairs beyond. A faint green light
glowed at the bottom.
Follow the wall at the bottom of the steps. It will fork. The one to the right will lead you
to the main gallery. Take it, but stay to the shadows. Follow the gallery wall to the left. Take the
first passage. There will be two guards to get past, but that is Lord Tawren s quarters.
Stay with her, Lucan told Maks. One of them would have an easier time getting
through undetected than two.
Lucan, no!
I ll stay in communication with you.
Maks scowled, but didn t disagree. With a sharp nod, he stepped back to allow Lucan
unimpeded access.
Amara caught Lucan s arm just before he stepped inside. Sickness plowed through him.
It was as if no one could touch him but Meda. And he needed her more than life&
Beside him Maks growled. It was then, Lucan glanced down at the hand holding him.
Filigree laced up it.
Oh Maks, he breathed, glancing at his scion s arm.
Maks looked down at the same time. Shit!
Apparently, this was what s next .
Amara yanked her hand away from him as if burned. Lucan watched in mesmerized
fascination as Maks tugged her to his side. She gasped then blue fire blazed in her eyes as she
looked up at him.
His hand buried in her hair and his mouth lowered to hers. Lucan coughed, and they both
startled from their trance.
Be careful, Amara murmured, her eyes continually darting to Maks, her confusion
obvious.
Go, Maks said. Talk to me as you go, so I know you re safe. He turned back to
Amara. We need to get your clothes. I don t want anyone seeing you naked. Then we have to
come back here so I can help Lucan if necessary. He growled. I suddenly want to kill Claive.
Now who needs to dial it back? Lucan chided as he started down the stairs.
She s my mate, Maks grated through his mind. Meda s just your&
Mate, Lucan asserted. She s my mate.
Chapter Eight
Leaving Maks and Amara, Lucan stealthily headed for the green glow at the foot of the
stairs. There was no movement shadowing the light, but he worried about what he d come upon
at the landing.
As it turned out, the room was a kitchen and long deserted if the dust was any indicator.
Amara had said to follow the wall. One direction ran to a corner; the other went through a
doorway. Hoping he d understood her, he crept along the path and through the opening. He
found the green glow came from some substance in the walls and wondered if this section of the
Djinns stronghold was unused. Everywhere dust and cobwebs hung in thick swaths.
Finally, he came to the fork. Heeding the directions he d been given, he headed to the
right. The walls emitted less light here. The further he moved, the more the illumination
diminished under the soot that covered the surfaces. Deep shadows hid him, and the faint
flickering of flames showed at the end of the passage. Someone had a fire in the gallery, but it
wasn t enough to fully brighten the whole space. Perfect.
Though he felt safer in Dragon form, he shifted. His human visage would be less
noticeable.
Maks, he called.
Are you all right?
Yes. Meda could hear your voice before. Try to direct your thoughts at her now that the
door is open and see if she can hear you. Tell her I m on my way.
He heard Maks trying to call her several times but with no response. I think your blood s
worn out of her system, Maks told him.
Lucan couldn t help a small pulse of satisfaction though the development was
inconvenient. He didn t want Maks in Meda s head. Still, it would have been helpful.
At the opening to the tunnel, he darted to the left as Amara had directed. So far
everything she d said had proved true. But he had yet to make the final turn. A trap could await
him around the next corner.
Gathering his wits around him, he scanned the room. Several small fires had been built,
with large groups of people around them. A bevy of Djinn danced and played instruments around
the flames while those watching clapped. An array of colorful, swirling fabric reminded him of
gypsies. He could fully imagine the scene taking place beneath a star-filled night with their
caravan wagons waiting in the distance.
And everyone was occupied with the frivolity. A few serving women wove amongst the
people, filling cups and doling out food. Everywhere, he spied shadows of couples making love
as the celebration quickly moved toward sexual free-for-all. The tension from it hung heavy in
the air, energy waiting to explode into action.
The Dragons never had anything so orgiastic, yet he could imagine him and Meda
writhing amongst others, his cock deep in her as other bodies rubbed against them in their own
sexual experiences.
Good heaven, he needed her now.
As he watched, more and more Djinn split into groups around the fire. The sounds of
passion grew as the coupling escalated. He suspected if someone yelled, no one would hear it or
they d think it was part of the sexual experience. Perfect.
Men seemed to outnumber the women. His hand rubbed over his cock at the sight of one
woman between three men, the look on her face pure bliss. He wanted to see that expression on
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