"Look at me! I know your l.u.s.ts, Dirk. She's not your victim and I won't have her treated so. So help me, I'll take her from you."

"Understood."

"There Pomegranate Blossom, you have my promise." Boy, if he knew what I thought of his promises. Gaius kissed me on the cheeks. "I must go meet with Ethan. Dirk, entertain her- show her the labyrinth."

As soon as Gaius left, Dirk jerked me to him, chortling. "Things will be very different now. It must really irk you that pretty Ethan put you aside, but with me you'll be better off."

"You really get off on me hating you."

"It makes it more interesting. Let's find a little privacy."

He dragged me, a kid with a new toy, toward the gardens where a bronze Eros perched over a magnificent marble fountain. His slender, winged form recalled Kurt's, while Dirk's simian bulk prompted nothing but revulsion. Psyche never labored as hard as me for Love.

I grimaced. "You're as happy as a pig in s.h.i.t, as we say, but it's not a done deal. Ethan could change his mind."

"The Northman doesn't want you in the way. You need a man, not another man's boy." He pulled me into a maze of shrubs. "This is much better." He lowered my bodice, trailing his finger over my b.r.e.a.s.t.s. "You know you want it."

I stared him down. "Not particularly, but if the compensation is worth it I can tolerate it."

"Arrogant s.l.u.t." He wrapped one arm around my waist, his free hand groping me. His tongue forced its way into my mouth, a wet, slippery eel. I pulled back and scratched his face, knowing full well this is what he liked. He grabbed me by the shoulders. I struggled to free myself. "That's right, put up a fight," he panted, licking a slimy path down my throat.

I pushed his head away, gasping. "Can't you wait until they settle terms?"

He whined, "I've waited twelve years!"

My voice dropped low in my chest, "It'll be so much better when we're in our own bed."

He moaned aloud and pushed me down on my knees, unzipping his trousers, "Suck me off!"

I pushed, knocking him backwards into the hedge, and took off running through the maze. I had to string him along for a while longer. If I gave in too easily, he'd be suspicious. The long gown tripped me up and the corset I wore kept me from getting a decent breath. I came up on a dead end, panting against the wall of a shed, until he found me.

"I'm tired of games." He pulled me into the small stone building, opening a trapdoor in the floor and carried me down, shutting the trapdoor and locking it from inside. I broke away and ran into a storeroom filled with crates, adjacent to the stairs. Dirk cornered me and caught me by the shoulders, sinking his teeth into my neck, draining me until I was weak. "You're not going anywhere yet." He grabbed a length of chain that he wrapped around my wrists, fastening them to a hook hanging from the wall so my feet barely brushed the ground. He seized my chin, forcing me to look at him. His face was impa.s.sive, blank and cold as he slid the zipper of my gown down my back, letting it drop to the floor. He drew a thin bladed knife from his coat, trailing the point over my throat, slicing the skin.

"Dirk, please."

He licked my blood from the blade. "The Northman has ways of bending minds, Gaius says. Are you a spy?" He grabbed my hair, bending my neck painfully to look up at him. "Answer me!"

"No!"

He bent over my throat again, drawing very hard on the wound, until I was gasping with searing pain. "You're a locked door! d.a.m.n you!" Cold darkness swirled around as he took hold of my hips. As loathsome experiences go, it was the worst.

I was torn, bruised, and bleeding all over when that animal finished. Finally, he gave me his wrist. "Go on, drink. I'll take you to Gaius. We'll have time enough to work on you."

As soon as his blood hit my system, vision locked in: hospital gurneys and small Immortyls chained down, their blood siphoned out by tubes and pieces of their flesh cut away by scalpels, screaming in agony as Dirk and Gaius watched. The vision flickered for only a moment, replaced by a glowing skull with yellowish eyes.

He unchained me. "Get dressed." I reached out, scratching a huge gash on his face. He shoved me against the wall. "You'll pay for that."

I struggled with my dress. He watched, with a satisfied smirk on his face. He grabbed my arm and dragged me along a corridor to a stone staircase, pulling me up the steps and through a doorway concealed by tapestries. Torches illuminated archaic instruments of torture and hospital gurneys. The room I'd seen in the blood was very real.

"Gaius will bring you later for some fun." He pressed a switch concealed in a panel on the opposite wall. It slid aside to reveal a large, luxurious apartment with huge windows overlooking the bay. Sitting at a small round table were Ethan, Gaius and his women playing cards. The women laughed as Ethan told an anecdote in Italian. Dirk dragged me in front of Gaius. Ethan looked at my disheveled appearance and his eyes went cold. "Sniveling dog, the terms aren't even decided!"

Gaius was stone-faced. "Dirk, what has transpired?"

"I made sure she wasn't a spy."

Ethan jumped to his feet, grabbing Dirk by the lapels. "You bled her? Who gave you permission?"

Dirk's yellow eyes narrowed as he spat in Ethan's face, "Remove your hands you strutting peac.o.c.k, or I'll cut your throat."

"Enough!" Gaius growled.

Ethan released Dirk. "He has no right!"

Dirk smirked. "It's not like it's the first time."

"Silence!" Gaius thundered, and I do mean that, the room shook. Dirk paled and backed off, slinking into a corner.

Ethan sat me down, but the coward couldn't look me in the eye as he examined the marks and bruises Dirk had left. "Animal, I wouldn't give her to you for any price!"

Gaius slugged Dirk. "You've ruined any chance you may have had- and now I owe him damages! Stupid beast! Ethan, will accept you the painting as compensation, with my deepest apologies?"

"I'd like his head better."

"That would be a matter for the council. We don't need to involve them, do we?"

Lisette brought warm water and gently washed blood from my skin. My wounds burned as if they had been cauterized.

Guilietta stared hard at me. "I knew she'd cause problems."

Gaius stared her down. "No one asked your opinion."

"You put too much trust in that buffoon over there, so your alphas are turning. Ethan is right. Take his head!"

The Wolf's eyes went cold. "You're dismissed."

Guilietta glided past. "Mark me, it won't end here."

Gaius turned to Ethan. "Perhaps it's best you go now."

Twenty minutes later, Gaius's boat sped back over the bay to our villa with Ethan cradling his crated painting and me huddled on the deck in a robe belonging to Lisette. Pleased with the turn of events, he hummed a little tune, mentally tallying his take while I sat utterly wretched and spent by the night's events.

"Cheer up, Madam. You'll never be troubled by that swine again."

"If only I could say the same for you."

Ethan's eyes narrowed. "What exactly did Brovik promise you?"

Kurt's face flickered before me, but I was too drained to feel desire, only a deep longing, sadness.

"You went above and beyond for our glorious cause, my dear."

"Don't you ever know when to shut the f.u.c.k up?"

"You were so gung ho on this. You didn't agree to be manhandled just to make Brovik happy. We'll just have to wait and see if he comes through with the goods."

Brovik lost no time in calling on us, Philip in tow. He was very pleased with the outcome of the venture and brought me a small golden falcon as a gift.

"Egyptian. Very old," Ethan said, appraising it. "Horus."

"Had it for centuries- our Bird of Prey should have it. You're returning to America. I have more work for you there. Philip has your payment in that briefcase; count it if you don't trust me. Mia, join me on the terrace? I wish to enjoy the view."

The night was cool with the crisp, clean smell of ripening grapes. Now and then the moon would break through the clouds and bleach Brovik's pale hair to silver. His untroubled demeanor gave no clues to his thoughts.

"You've done well, my dear, very well indeed," he said, finally. "Tell me exactly what you learned in the Wolf's house."

I told him everything, down to the last bruise. He took me into his arms and held me tightly. "Dear child, it grieves me that you endured this. Your courage puts us all to shame. This is valuable information."

"What about the little rats? He'll go on hurting them."

"Unfortunately, that is their lot. Kurt will warn them to avoid the Wolf's dominions."

Since Brovik had mentioned Kurt it seemed like a good time to broach the subject of my reward. "How is he?"

Brovik smiled fondly. "Well." He slipped a small book of Sh.e.l.ly's poems into my hand. "He asked me to give you this, a first edition he found in a shop in London."

An envelope protruded from the book. I took the envelope out of the book and ran the smooth, heavy paper through my fingers. Closing my eyes, I conjured his face. "I've done my part, Brovik. You said you'd arrange things."

I opened my eyes. Brovik tilted my chin up, serene smile flowing over his face. It was like Ethan said. He just reached inside and plucked the soul from me.

"Dear child, did you think I meant right now? There's far too much to be done first. I need you at Ethan's side. The two of you work so well together. Ethan's great talent is courting investors and politicians. You'll be instrumental in this work."

The desperate b.u.t.terfly panicked as the net dropped down on her yet again. "How long, Brovik?"

"When we finish this work, you'll be free to go to Kurt."

"When- in thirty years?"

"This work is more important than your l.u.s.t."

I was angry now. I snapped the book shut. "So, I have no choice, but to be Ethan's slave?"

Brovik smiled again. "Thirty years is a mere blink of an eye to us."

"It's a lifetime to me. I'll kill myself, I swear, if I have to endure another night with Ethan!"

He took me by the shoulders. "You will go back to America with him, and go on as you are until I have no more need of your service!" An owl hooted overhead. Brovik looked up, spooked. The slightest of tremors pa.s.sed through him. He softened his tone. "You're still very young. You and Kurt have centuries ahead of you. Ethan isn't the harshest master you could endure. Dirk must have taught you that."

"It's easy for you to say!"

"To lead an Immortyl house is fraught with danger and sorrow as well." He took my head into his hands, fixing his eyes on mine. "In time what you desire will be yours. Stay with Ethan Stay with Ethan."

I shook my head adamantly, looking away from his strange hypnotic stare. "I won't cooperate anymore!"

I broke away, running back into the house, wanting to go upstairs and lock myself in. I tore through the drawing room. Ethan and Philip looked up.

"What on earth did he say to make her behave so?" Ethan asked.

Philip blocked my path. "Hold on, little one. Has the old one upset you?"

"Let me go! I'm sick of all of you!" I jabbed my heel into Philip's foot and ran upstairs to my room, slamming the door.

I threw myself face down on the bed, head throbbing. Tears ran down my face. I still held Kurt's letter clutched in my hand. To my surprise Ethan came in from the balcony. He must have climbed the arbor. I hid the letter, but he saw it and s.n.a.t.c.hed it away, holding it above my head.

"What's this? A love letter? Let's see, from whom?"

I looked up at him and snapped, "Go on, say something disgusting, it's the only thing you know how to do."

Ethan took it all in good humor. He just enjoyed my pain too much. "How long has this little correspondence been going on?"

"Ever since Philip first came to see us!"

Ethan unfolded the sheets and smoothed them out to read. "So that's the reason for all those packages, to hide his treachery?"

"Stop being so dramatic! Give it back to me!" I reached out and tried to take it.

Ethan s.n.a.t.c.hed it away again. "Does Brovik know about these letters?" A malicious grin split Ethan's face. "You've been played for a fool, my dear." He began to laugh. "Now I know what he promised you! Let's read what tender phrases Cupid concocted to woo you. Oh my, this is dull. No wonder you're in tears. Oh, this is promising, 'How lovely you looked the last time I saw you with the wind in your hair and the moonlight in your eyes... but how sad, so unhappy to be chained to that monster.' Don't you see? Brovik put him up to it. The boy turned those big, blue eyes on and you turned to mush covered in mola.s.ses. Do you really believe that effeminate creature cares for you?"

"He's not effeminate! He's- something beyond your understanding!"

Ethan grabbed my arm and pulled me to him. "He's a killer, Mia, just like the rest of us. Haven't I taught you anything? Stupid, does he put you in mind of that boy you fell in love with when you were fifteen? Wake up my dear, he's devoted to only one love, you have the wrong set of equipment."

"No. That would be you you."

Ethan hauled off and slapped me. "I'm putting a stop to this now."

He stalked out of the room and went downstairs to confront Brovik. I was momentarily paralyzed. What if all Ethan said was true? I'd been misled once already. Maybe it all all was a ploy, and the things Kurt had said to me for years were just lies. I had to find out. I followed Ethan downstairs, where Philip was stirring the fire, and Brovik leafing through a pile of papers Ethan had prepared, our expenses for the trip home. was a ploy, and the things Kurt had said to me for years were just lies. I had to find out. I followed Ethan downstairs, where Philip was stirring the fire, and Brovik leafing through a pile of papers Ethan had prepared, our expenses for the trip home.

Ethan waved the letter in Brovik's face. "So. You promised her the boy. You put him up to writing her love letters."

Brovik was nonplussed and pushed Ethan's hand away as if shooing a fly. "I only encouraged him. The words and the sentiments are his own."

"You manipulated her and deceived me."

Brovik's liquid smile flowed once more. "It has worked to our advantage."

"Well, now that this is out in the open, we can end this little charade." Ethan turned to Philip. "You had a part, too."

Philip's face was troubled. "The child was lonely. I thought friendship with one her own age would be good for her. I never meant harm."