Peyton 313 (35 page)

“You jest. Have you ever really killed a man in his sleep or otherwise?” Suzerain Trax demanded.

“Yes. Several. After killing my original mate for what he did to me and Rena, I have since developed a talent for taking life. I spared Chief Arghane’s life today as a show of good faith between offspring and sire. His wrist may need medical attention to heal though. I think I broke something in it when we fought.”

Seta felt Ji stiffen beside her as the suzerain leaned out to look at Arghane in surprise. The male in question quickly stopped rubbing and dropped both hands to his side. Snorting, her sire turned back to her.

“I see the reports about the state of your mind were not exaggerations after all,” Suzerain Trax declared, rubbing his chin. “But the Siren’s money is in transit and I would hate to disappoint such a good customer. He has already refused any substitutions. The deal is for you or it is null and void.”

Knowing better than to respond, Seta lifted her chin.

“I cannot promise what outcome I will choose for you, but if you are successful, I will keep accord as pertains the rest of your family and siblings. But we must shelve the discussion of rewards until you have retrieved my property. After its safe return to me, then we will discuss options again. My word will be final and you will do as I command concerning the Siren.”

Seta bowed her head, let it hang for a moment, and then raised it again. “Despite my reluctance to be bound to the Siren, I have to admit no finer warrior exists, Suzerain. I ask your permission for him to accompany me on my quest. We have been on many missions together and you know I will need male protection.”

“I had intended to send Arghane with you. He has asked for privileges. Why should I not grant him those?”

Seta stared back, not blinking. “If you wish Chief Arghane dead and me gone again, then by all means grant Chief Arghane privileges. The Siren is the only male I promise to let live—and the only one whose bed I am willing to share in any manner.”

“Be grateful I need your help, my errant daughter. How about I send both males with you? My treasure is quite valuable and I am in a generous mood. As a show of good faith, the Siren can have you for a temporary time,” Suzerain Trax declared, smiling about his solution.

Seta glanced at the male rubbing his wrist again. Arghane would provide a buffer between her and Ji. “If that pleases you and moves this discussion forward, then I will agree,” she said, bowing her head again.

Suzerain Trax clapped his hands and Arghane rushed to his side. “Get that wrist taken care of and pack. Take what you need and two armed secondaries to watch your belongings. Return Seta’s and Siren Warro’s weapons. They might need them where you’re going.”

Arghane sputtered in shock. “But Sire—Seta is to have a weapon? She’s female.”

The suzerain looked at his surprising offspring who waited stoically for his answer. Then he looked back at Arghane. “I don’t wish her killed before she finds Endara, so she is to have a means of protecting herself that doesn’t require fighting hand-to-hand. This trip will give you a chance to make amends for your cruelty, Mot. I prefer to keep you alive in the long term so try to earn my offspring’s gratitude before you return.”

Seta saw Arghane glare at her before releasing a breath. He nodded to the suzerain and then left the gallery. She returned her gaze to the detestable male who sired her. “I am ready now to hear about your treasure that needs finding.”

“The treasure’s name is Endara. I betrothed her to a rock-mining suzerain, but he paid far too little for what he received. You know how I feel about being cheated out of my profit. I want Endara returned until he has paid for her true value.”

“Are you sure the child still lives? Perhaps her new mate has tired of her and put her to death to spite you. That has happened before,” Seta said.

“Yes. But I am sure that is not the case with this arrangement. Endara wasn’t of age to service males and won’t be for quite some time. It was a special situation. My optimism that her absence would prompt her female sire to want another offspring proved to be a bad decision.”

Seta swallowed the bile in her throat. She had been only fourteen Earth summers old when her father had given her to his Chief to initiate. The question she needed to ask stuck on it’s way out of her throat. “How old is the child?”

“Endara is twelve zans. Wait that’s rude of me. Common language calculation—she is four and half Earth years old.”

Seta’s eyes widened no matter how much she tried to stop her emotional reaction. “
Four?
What possessed you to accept a union price for a four-year-old child?”

She heard the suzerain snort.

Seta dipped her head in what appeared to be apology. “Forgive me. I do not know your reasons and I should not judge your wisdom in business matters.” She closed her eyes and tried to fight feeling so much revulsion. It was hard to bite back the insults she wanted to rain on his head.

She felt Ji’s stroking hand between her shoulder blades and quickly stepped away. Comfort—any comfort at all—would reduce her to a puddle.

She raised her head finally. “I will also have to ask you to forgive me this question as well, but I need the information in order to plan our search. What is the child’s value to the one who paid for her?”

She waited patiently for an answer and grew highly irritated by the way the suzerain squirmed in his chair.

“I would rather not say at this time. Just know Endara is special, highly valuable, and must be returned to me so a more equitable bargain can be struck,” Suzerain Trax stated.

“We cannot go blindly out to retrieve a person you bargained away without knowing what perils we might be facing. Why would a mining kingdom buy a child from Suzerain Trax? If this quest is important to you, then tell me the truth of the matter.”

“Very well—the child talks to rocks, including all gems. Her female sire was an off-planet female that I bargained for on special trade. Endara’s talents are common on her female parent’s world, but I was not aware of this when I accepted the mining suzerain’s union suite.”

“Is her mother still in your corral?” Seta asked, tense with concern for someone she had never met.

Suzerain sighed and stared off at a far wall. “Ineid is no longer in the zenana because she is broken. Ineid is kept sedated so she will remain calm. The chances of getting her to conceive again are slim. Healers tell me her spirit has mostly left her body already. That process began long before Endara though. The female was melancholy when her former mate traded her to me for a younger, fair-haired female. Even with restraints and many days of medical assistance, it took me several weeks to get Ineid to conceive Endara. Then to make matters worse, she did not fare well once conception was finally achieved.”

Counseling herself not to show her feelings about her father’s vile admission, Seta nodded tightly. “I wish to talk with Ineid. If she is not Ethosian, I would like to understand what she is before I set out to find the child.”

When her sire had the audacity to look put out by her request, a dark vicious hatred rose inside her. She felt Zorinda’s power straining toward the male she stared at as stoically as possible. In her mind, she created an image of an invisible cord wrapped around Suzerain Trax’s neck, choking the life from him. Before her gaze, the detestable man started sweating and clawing at his throat. Several of his closest attendants rushed to his aid when they noticed what was happening.

Could it be the demon bringing her thoughts to life?

Zorinda—stop
, she ordered, sending the mental command.
It is not time for his death. Not yet. I command you to stop—for now.

Suddenly free of his choking fit, Seta watched the suzerain wave away all those around him.

“Get away from me, fools. Can’t you see I am fine? My clothes are too restricting. I obviously chose poorly when I dressed this morning—that’s all.”

Seta watched his attention shift to her.

“Arghane can take you to see Ineid, but I doubt you will get any helpful information. She refused to tell me no matter what luxury I promised her. You’ll be lucky if the female even acknowledges you at all. Her mate lied about her species because I had her blood tested.”

Seta nodded that she heard the challenges he ticked off, but lifted her chin as her gaze met the suzerain’s again. “My intuition has been sharpened by Peace Alliance training. I wish the Siren to accompany me as a witness.”

“Easily granted and wise. A lone female cannot be seen roaming about unattended anyway. If your Siren values you as much as he claims, it would be wise for him to remain with you at all times while you are on Ethos.”

Seta saw Suzerain Trax turn to his administrator and motion the staid man to his side.

“Put out the word that Seta and the Siren have free reign of the canton. They are to be allowed any liberties they choose for the purpose of the task she is performing, provided they are accompanied by a canton guard at all times.”

The man bowed his head and glanced warily at her and Ji.

Though Seta had not made contact with her unwelcome suitor much, awareness of Ji was a constant whenever he was nearby. She felt the Siren’s energy resonating inside her almost as much as she felt Zorinda’s power. In some ways it was a comfort because his presence meant she wasn’t going to be alone with unfriendly males. At least Ji was an ally when it came to dealing with the Arghane types on Ethos. Who knew how many of her father’s men Zorinda would have to kill to protect her if Ji wasn’t here?

“Seta?”

Shaking her head to clear it from her mind wanderings, Seta brought her attention back to the present. She and Ji were being surrounded by several armed men.

“Suzerain Trax has ordered his guards to escort us to suitor quarters,” Ji said sharply.

Seta nodded and turned as one of the guards ordered them to follow. She felt Ji fall into step beside her. While outwardly he looked at ease, she could still feel his tension.

Her exit out of the gallery was as silent as her entry.

She promised herself that the next time she entered her father’s canton, it was going to be on her terms.

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About the Author

Donna McDonald is a best selling author in Contemporary Romance and Humor, and lately has been climbing the Paranormal Romance lists as well.

Paranormal readers are calling McDonald “a literary alchemist effortlessly blending science fiction and romance”. Contemporary and humor readers often write to tell her that the books keep them up reading and laughing all night. She likes both compliments and hopes they stay true forever so she can write for the rest of her life.

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