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He could not afford a distraction tonight.
He had spies embedded all over Amagarie, and their deception had flown with wings to reach his ears. The Mevian emperor had Serangites and witches working with him. The walls whispered that his enemies planned to capture him.
Capture.
That had startled Ajali. Many would welcome his death, but he could not imagine what they could gain from his capture. Torture? It perplexed him, and he had ordered his eyes and ears to delve deep and provide him with details of every meeting, gathering and rumor.
Treachery abounded. Enemies were within and outside his walls. Since removing his warriors from outside his wing of the castle, no movements had been detected. He needed to lure them into trying to take him. He needed to appear vulnerable. His lips curled with disdain. Vulnerability. He would try his utmost best to be entrapped by Tehdra.
The duty to deliver death to his enemies pelted in him, yet the need to have Tehdra under him until all his raging lust was sated vied ruthlessly for his attention.
He had never had another in his private wing before, much less his room, where he sought solitude. She turned, and obsidian eyes met his, and the need to take her rushed through his veins like a storm. He was not sure if it was her cool beauty that aroused him. Ajali was not ruled by his cock. Ever. And he was not about to start. However, he could not deny that he wanted more than her body. There was something about her that intrigued him. He already knew she was a liar. That alone impressed him; most feared him too much to even consider lying.
She claimed she was tutored in the sensual arts.
Lie.
She claimed she was unskilled.
Lie.
The grace of her movements and the way she walked was predatory.
No lower house would send an unskilled daughter to his kingdom. Many were not able to afford a master to train them in the fighting arts, but none came to him unskilled in how to arouse and please him. Her mouth had tasted of innocence, and its effects punched him deep and hard. He doubted he had ever bedded an innocent. Virgins, yes, but not an innocent. Virgins that came to him knew how to use their hands, tongues and voices alone to bring men to their knees. She knew nothing, yet the carnality that she possessed was raw and unmatched.
She was the enemy. From which quarter, he had yet to discover. But he always kept his enemies close and she was as close as anyone could get.
“Was Xian hard on you today?”
Her throaty voice caressed his cock. “No, she was very careful in how she handled me. She is a fine teacher. Her patience was unmatched. Will you watch me tomorrow?”
He raised his brows. He was sure she was there to spy against him, yet all her actions indicated she wanted him near. Ajali did not fear death from her quarter; he could kill her before she formed the thought to assassinate him. But he wanted to know who she spied for, and torture was not the method he would use. After all, it was always more beneficial to turn a mole in his corner. He needed to start moving his pieces across the board.
“I will train you tomorrow.”
Surprise then pleasure flared in her eyes.
“I would like that,” she gave him a smile filled with simmering sensuality.
Fuck! It seemed as if his distraction would indeed start tonight and not in the morn.
“Why are you untutored in the sensual arts?”
“Initially, I was pledged for marriage to a lower house merchant. It was a greater opportunity to join your harem for my family. It was a privilege for me to represent my house. As the youngest daughter of three, I was considered the most beautiful.”
A credible and quick answer.
“Are you displeased?” Her gaze was direct and curious, but not fearful.
Pleasure darkened his veins.
Without waiting for an answer, Tehdra spun and faced the sword. Being in Ajali’s presence was hard, yet to be outside of it was inconceivable. His scent intoxicated her. Intelligence and cunning shone in his eyes, and she admired and dreaded it in equal measure.
He suspected her. There was no negative emotion that her darkness could not ferret. He had buried it swiftly and deep, but she had felt it. It was not a panicky kind of distrust; it was glacier cold. She lifted her hand and ran it across the astoundingly beautiful weapon. She bit her lips as she felt him move behind her. The raw energy behind her lured her into leaning back slightly. Her body curved into the hardness of him and it was delightful. Primal awareness rushed through her, and the need to mate infused her limbs. Molten desire spiraled through her, and her nipples puckered painfully.
His hand covered her fingers that caressed the sharpened blade.
“Are these dragon claws and scales?” she murmured huskily.
