Read Online Moon Borne (Halcyon Romance Series Book 1) by Rachael Slate - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rachael Slate
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it.”
From the longing in her voice, he sensed she wanted to. He huffed and uncrossed his arms. “Why? Are you a man?”
She regarded him, her lips parting.
His mouth curled into a grin. “No? Didn’t think so. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He leaned in close and swept the curls off her neck to proudly display the crescent Moon. “Mark or no mark, in that gown, Kyme, your beauty could drive any man to insanity.”
***
Kyme blinked as she followed the slaver out of the brothel. He considered her beautiful. Why was that such a shock to her? She’d witnessed the evidence many times. Never before had he spoken the words.
No man ever had. None had given her a second glance. The truth was, her chastity hadn’t been difficult to maintain. No males lined up at the river Thermodon, waiting to claim her. She’d assumed she wasn’t attractive. That, or men were far too intimidated by what and who she was.
Not the slaver.
No, he was a male who seized whatever he fancied. He didn’t cower in fear or repulsion from her or her Amazon blood. To have a male like him speak and believe such words…
Blast it. What was wrong with her? He may be bringing me to my enslavement, and I’m daydreaming about dresses, roses, and sunshine. She squared her shoulders. You’re a fool, Kyme.
“Ready to go?” Arsenius’s deep timbre echoed into her mind.
“Aye, Captain.” Thereus stuffed his shirt into his breeches. As his gaze caught hers, he winked at her and heat rushed into her cheeks. She had to stop ruminating about coupling. Easier said than done when in a brothel, surrounded by two fine specimens of masculinity, one of whom had a glow of satisfaction about him. The other’s dark stares warned her he hungered to perform those same acts with her.
Desperate to distract them, she sought information about this evening’s proceedings. “Where are you taking me tonight, slaver?”
Thereus’s jaw clenched, grim. “A symposium, Kyme. You’re the entertainment.” He clamped a hand on the slaver’s shoulder. “I don’t think this is a good idea, friend.”
“Then don’t join us,” the slaver snarled. “I neither desire nor welcome your advice, centaur. Stay at the brothel if you wish.”
Instead of appearing hurt or angry, Thereus inclined his head. “Never, my Captain.”
“Fine, but stay out of my way.” He stormed off, Kyme and Thereus trailing after him.
Perhaps she wouldn’t be sold tonight. Her interest piqued, and curiosity, in her experience, was never a good thing.
Her suspicions were reinforced as the men led her to the side of a vacant stone building. The slaver snared her elbow as he whispered three words— chalkos, argyros, and chrysos —into the darkness of the alley. She quickly translated— copper, silver, and gold.
The Portal revealed itself, shimmering as it parted the blackness. Portals were a gift from the gods to their descendants. The gates functioned as a barrier from the prying eyes of humans.
The cold bite of fear coursed through her as they passed through the opening and down into the damp earth.
Confined spaces . She cursed under her breath. Why did pyrates enjoy small, cramped boxes? Why couldn’t this meeting take place in an open meadow?
She pressed her lips firm against her trepidation as she followed the slaver. Thereus placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and its warmth helped her to relax. Black-flamed candles lit the narrow corridor. Pausing at the far end, the slaver repeated the passwords and the heavy wooden doors swung open.
Worse than the brothel. Sweaty, barely-clothed males and females of various races performed erotic dances for the customers in front of them. The patrons, mostly men, were scattered around the establishment. Some reclined at open tables; others tucked themselves away in private booths. They were dressed like her two companions, in leather and menace. Definitely pyrates and slavers.
Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed Thereus’s
From the longing in her voice, he sensed she wanted to. He huffed and uncrossed his arms. “Why? Are you a man?”
She regarded him, her lips parting.
His mouth curled into a grin. “No? Didn’t think so. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He leaned in close and swept the curls off her neck to proudly display the crescent Moon. “Mark or no mark, in that gown, Kyme, your beauty could drive any man to insanity.”
***
Kyme blinked as she followed the slaver out of the brothel. He considered her beautiful. Why was that such a shock to her? She’d witnessed the evidence many times. Never before had he spoken the words.
No man ever had. None had given her a second glance. The truth was, her chastity hadn’t been difficult to maintain. No males lined up at the river Thermodon, waiting to claim her. She’d assumed she wasn’t attractive. That, or men were far too intimidated by what and who she was.
Not the slaver.
No, he was a male who seized whatever he fancied. He didn’t cower in fear or repulsion from her or her Amazon blood. To have a male like him speak and believe such words…
Blast it. What was wrong with her? He may be bringing me to my enslavement, and I’m daydreaming about dresses, roses, and sunshine. She squared her shoulders. You’re a fool, Kyme.
“Ready to go?” Arsenius’s deep timbre echoed into her mind.
“Aye, Captain.” Thereus stuffed his shirt into his breeches. As his gaze caught hers, he winked at her and heat rushed into her cheeks. She had to stop ruminating about coupling. Easier said than done when in a brothel, surrounded by two fine specimens of masculinity, one of whom had a glow of satisfaction about him. The other’s dark stares warned her he hungered to perform those same acts with her.
Desperate to distract them, she sought information about this evening’s proceedings. “Where are you taking me tonight, slaver?”
Thereus’s jaw clenched, grim. “A symposium, Kyme. You’re the entertainment.” He clamped a hand on the slaver’s shoulder. “I don’t think this is a good idea, friend.”
“Then don’t join us,” the slaver snarled. “I neither desire nor welcome your advice, centaur. Stay at the brothel if you wish.”
Instead of appearing hurt or angry, Thereus inclined his head. “Never, my Captain.”
“Fine, but stay out of my way.” He stormed off, Kyme and Thereus trailing after him.
Perhaps she wouldn’t be sold tonight. Her interest piqued, and curiosity, in her experience, was never a good thing.
Her suspicions were reinforced as the men led her to the side of a vacant stone building. The slaver snared her elbow as he whispered three words— chalkos, argyros, and chrysos —into the darkness of the alley. She quickly translated— copper, silver, and gold.
The Portal revealed itself, shimmering as it parted the blackness. Portals were a gift from the gods to their descendants. The gates functioned as a barrier from the prying eyes of humans.
The cold bite of fear coursed through her as they passed through the opening and down into the damp earth.
Confined spaces . She cursed under her breath. Why did pyrates enjoy small, cramped boxes? Why couldn’t this meeting take place in an open meadow?
She pressed her lips firm against her trepidation as she followed the slaver. Thereus placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and its warmth helped her to relax. Black-flamed candles lit the narrow corridor. Pausing at the far end, the slaver repeated the passwords and the heavy wooden doors swung open.
Worse than the brothel. Sweaty, barely-clothed males and females of various races performed erotic dances for the customers in front of them. The patrons, mostly men, were scattered around the establishment. Some reclined at open tables; others tucked themselves away in private booths. They were dressed like her two companions, in leather and menace. Definitely pyrates and slavers.
Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed Thereus’s
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