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her because she was carrying his brat!”
    Blood rushed from Iliana’s face and she began to feel lightheaded.
    “Serves her right, then,” the second man said. “I wouldn’t want to get a bastard on a whore, either.”
    The prostitute gave a tight smile. “No need to worry about that with me, love. I’ve been working the streets for four years with no seed taking root in my womb.”
    Both men inspected the woman thoroughly. “How much?” the first one asked.
    As they negotiated their business arrangement, Iliana turned away, bile rising to her throat. It can’t be true. Not one word of it. It’s just some gossip that got out of hand. But she wasn’t convinced.
    She rushed back to the inn and ran up the stairs to her room. Her head was swimming, so she laid down on the bed without even removing her shoes. Breathing deeply to calm herself, she somehow fell asleep through her anxiety.
    When she woke, Turney was beside her, slumbering soundly.
    After hesitating a moment, she took a breath and nudged his shoulder. “Turney?”
    He smacked his lips and turned over.
    “Turney I need to ask you something.”
    “What?” he muttered.
    “Is it true you killed a whore because she was pregnant with your seed?” Her question came out breathless. She’d never said the word “whore” out loud before.
    He shifted and mumbled, “No child of mine can live in this world.” His breathing immediately went back to deep and even.
    Iliana waited for several minutes, watching him closely. As quietly as she could, she slid out of their bed. Her heart pounded loudly as she quickly packed her belongings. She would need to take some money to buy food as well. She wasn’t even sure she could find her way back to her village, but she had nowhere else to run to. And she certainly couldn’t stay with a man who would kill so easily.
    Just as she eased the door open a crack, Turney’s large hand reached around her and slammed it closed. “Where are you going so early?”
    Swallowing past her dry throat, she whispered, “I don’t love you anymore.”
    Turney looked bored. “So? I never really loved you, either.”
    His callous demeanor and words hit deep. Her voice cracked when she asked him, “Then why did you marry me?”
    He shrugged. “So you would come with me. You did amuse me for a while. Longer than most women.”
    Her very core shook. “Have you married other women before to keep them until they no longer amuse you?”
    “You’re the first, but I highly doubt you’ll be the last. It’s nice to have a wench in my bed while I travel.”
    Tears sprang to her eyes and Turney laughed at her expression. “You still don’t understand, do you? I don’t age. I’m a god from a different world. I found an opening into your world through that cave where you found me.”
    Iliana shook her head, her hair flying about her shoulders. “Lies. You lie!”
    “Really, darling? Have you not noticed that the weather is always perfect wherever we go? That I always hunt the best game?” he challenged. “Have you ever seen a man as large and handsome as me?”
    Staring up at him, Iliana was speechless. He couldn’t actually be a god, could he?
    After studying her expression for a moment, Turney shrugged. “You want to leave? Then go. You probably won’t get the same treatment from strangers when you’re alone, but it’s no matter to me. I’m more amused by this prince and his court anyway.”
    He opened the door for her and she fled, her face a mess of tears and dis­enchantment.

Chapter 8

    “Y ou can do this, Samantha,” Liam encouraged. “Nikita will help you through it.”
    Samantha barely registered his words, but she knew that something was happening. It was dark and humid. They had gotten off the boat earlier that morning before the sun rose in the sky. She knew that Nik had arranged a hotel room for them and they’d stayed there most of the day. As soon as night fell, Nik and Liam had ushered her out the door, but