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CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Visla

Ishook the basket of gems through the stream of water and watched the mud wash away. The process usually brought me peace and tranquility, but this time, I felt numb. I refused to let that little incident get to me. Like this whole situation over the past week, I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Khol was a king. He was expected to do things that kings do. Making alliances. Meeting all kinds of other species from everywhere in the galaxy. Even having business meetings with rude wenches. I couldn’t be mad at him because some royal alien bitch called me a human slave.

I shoved the basket harder under the water and almost lost a few of them.

I gripped the basket tight, paused in my work, and took a moment to gather myself. Closing my eyes, I tried to think of something else.

It was no use. How could I force myself to think of anyone else other than Khol Xihran?

I had let myself become completely infatuated with him. Somehow I thought I was invincible when it came to becoming so smitten with these strong warriors that I’d throw away all logic just for a few nights of pleasure. Obviously, I was wrong.

“Are you okay?” Lexanne asked, kneeling at the water’s edge and placing a hand on my forearm.

“I am. I was just thinking about something, that’s all.”

“Is it about him?”

I glanced at her.

“Don’t look at me like you don’t know who I’m talking about. Some of the girls said they saw you walking around with the king the other day. He comes to visit you in your new hut, doesn’t he?”

I didn’t say anything. I just sighed. So, the rumors had begun.

“Don’t be ashamed. He’s a king. Do you know how many of us would die to be in your place?”

“Don’t say that.”

“Why not? You two shared mutual sex. It was mutual, right? I admire you so much and I know you’d never let someone force you or rape you. We heard what you did in the courtyard.”

“You’re right. I’d die before I let someone rape me. It wasn’t rape. I wanted sex just as much as he did.”

“It must’ve been out-of-this-world sex. It looks like you’re daydreaming about it, but your actions don’t completely match what you’re feeling,” she said.

“The sex was great.” I smiled bashfully.

“See? What’s there to regret? You’ve captured the king. He could’ve had anyone here with the way they all throw themselves at him.”

“I know. He is a king and all that…yada, yada. He’s not normal by any stretch of the imagination. He’s a freaking hordesman. And me? I’m normal and that’s what I’m used to. That’s what I’m going to stick to.” I shrugged. “Even if I have to find a nice human boy like my mama always said.”

“Then why not give some of these bachelors the time of day when they look at you?” Lexanne nudged me.

I chuckled and rolled my eyes and continued shuffling through stones and gems. I drowned out my thoughts, even after the sun disappeared behind the clouds. I was still at the water’s edge when most of the women began packing up to go home.

I almost jumped from my skin when a big alien form came to stand beside me. I was bent over the edge and I didn’t even have to look up to know who the feet belonged to.

Khol.

I kept my eyes on the ground, but he kneeled in the mud right beside me.

“I should have known you’d be here,” he said, grabbing up some mud with stones and jewels and placed them in my bucket.

“Some of us must work,” I said, picking out a few pieces of twigs that he’d mistakenly dropped in the bucket.

“All of us must work,” he said, plucking a big flawless ruby from the mud with his fingers and handing it to me.