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Even men were not immune and could be caught in their spell, slaves to their will. More than that, the nymphs passion spilled into
every area of their lives. Not just sexual passion, but fury.
The dragons would not fall prey to their charms, which meant they would have to rely on their wits, sword skill and potent
fury. At least the palace, which had been made for dragons, was fire resistant.
Do you want traps set? Broderick asked.
He considered the idea. No. Let the dragons reach us without incident. They ll be less likely to rush in to attack, and we
can launch a surprise assault of our own in the coming darkness.
Broderick rushed to convey all he d been ordered.
In the dining hall, Valerian strode to the wall of windows and gazed out. Empty streets greeted him. The citizens who lived in
the Outer City must have spied the dragons and run home, fearing for their lives.
War had finally arrived.
Valerian spun on his heel and strode to the arena. Broderick was busy instructing the men. As they received orders, they
raced to obey. May the gods go with you, he told those who passed him.
And you, my king, he heard uttered numerous times.
Those without assignments formed a line and eyed him expectantly. He paced in front of them, saying, I want you to circle
around the Outer City undetected and remain behind the dragons. I want them flanked by nymphs on every side.
They nodded in unison.
When you receive my signal, close in on them and let them know you are there. Now go.
Hurried footsteps echoed as the men rushed to obey. Valerian found himself alone. Gripping his sword hilt, he stood there a
moment, his thoughts drifting inexorably to Shaye. Had she not been here, he most likely would have led a section of his army into
the outskirts of the city and attacked the dragons there. As it was, he wanted all of his forces surrounding the palace. Close at hand.
A circle of protection.
All he had to do now was await the dragons arrival. And kill, of course. Kill each and every one of his enemies.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
SHAYE STUDIED the other women locked inside the cell. Of course, they were the same ones who d been locked inside the hobby
room with her. They didn t seem to mind the current situation, and were, in fact, chatting amicably with each other.
How could they possibly be from the same planet as her? God, what a nightmare. Was Brenna here? Shaye really needed
an ally. Someone to share her worries with, someone to keep her calm. Brenna, she called.
The girl shouldered her way through the thick crowd. Here.
Thank God. Shaye pulled her into the nearest corner. How are you? Did Shivawn punish you for trying to escape?
Escape, the one called Tiffany groaned. She leaned against one of the side bars. Please tell me you two aren t going to try
to escape again. At least, not right now. Don t you know you re supposed to wait until everyone is sleeping, then run? That s how
all the movies do it.
I still don t understand why you d want to escape Valerian. The dark-haired girl who d left Valerian s room that first night
stepped toward them, unabashedly joining the conversation. He s amazing.
Yes, he was, Shaye thought, her hands fisting at her sides as jealousy speared her.
I still dream about him, the woman added, sighing dreamily. Does he ever speak of me? I m Kathleen, by the way.
Shaye s teeth gnashed together as images of Valerian and Kathleen naked and straining consumed her mind. This
jealousy thing was new to her, and she didn t exactly know how to deal with it. No. He hasn t mentioned you.
Oh. Kathleen s shoulders sagged with disappointment. Hopefully he ll tire of you soon. I really, really, really want him
back.
What makes you think he ll tire of me at all? she snapped. She hated that she possessed that fear herself. How long would
Valerian remain interested in her? How long until his eye began to rove in search of someone else? Someone sweeter and more
biddable?
Kathleen shrugged. You tried to escape him. I can t see that such behavior will appeal to him for long. I give you a week,
two at most.
Shaye stepped forward, hands clenched, ready to strike. Brenna grabbed her arm, a silent command to stop. No tools to
patch Kathleen, her friend said hoarsely.
Expelling a deep breath, Shaye turned away from the bitch in question. She wanted out of this cell, away from these women.
She wanted to go home, to be alone except the thought left her with a hollow ache in her chest.
The group began chatting about the arrival of a new nymph, one more handsome than any of the others, including Valerian.
Apparently this nymph liked to ask questions and could bring women to climax with only a look. After a while Shaye tuned out the
prattle. Fury seethed like a ticking bomb in her blood, detonation assured.
If she stayed here, this was the life she would have. She would be trapped in a cell every time war threatened. One day, she
would be forgotten by Valerian, just another of his conquests. And all the while, she would crave him because he d awakened
desires that she d thought buried.
What would she do when he got tired of her? He d said he wouldn t, but he could not predict the future. Another woman
might one day catch his eye. He was a nymph, after all, and that was par for the course.
I can t let him dump me.
Everyone she d ever come to love had either abandoned her or disappointed her. No one stuck around. No one wanted to
work at relationships. She knew that. She also knew that if she didn t love, then she didn t hurt when everything crumbled.
Yet here she was, falling for Valerian and giving him more of herself than she d ever given another.
Her first instincts had been right. She needed to leave him.
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