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else.
You will not find anyone else. His voice caressed her, but there was also a hard
edge to it.
Do not be so certain. Perhaps your former friend Rayder Tyrus would help me.
As the red light burned high in his eyes, she realized she pushed him toward a
dangerous edge. He won t if he values his balls.
Well, since he isn t my mate, I wouldn t have to worry about him demanding sex
all the time. He smiled, and she saw the glitter within his eyes that said the joke was
on her. What are you smiling about, Dane?
You ve already had sex with me.
What? Shocked didn t describe her. Despite her knowledge of sex, she suddenly
felt as stupid as the day was long. We didn t. That was just& preliminaries.
Keep telling yourself that, sprite. As far as I m concerned, you ve had sex with
me.
She shivered, the word sex on his lips causing sweet tremors low in her belly where
she still felt unfulfilled in some primary way she couldn t define. That s ridiculous.
Think what you like. A man and woman engaging in cunnilingus and fellatio are
considered having sex, Ketera. So if you planned on avoiding sex with me, you failed.
Before she could object, he continued with, Let us bathe again and prepare for the day.
After we take our morning meal, we must head back to Grimnald Castle.
85
Denise A. Agnew
Chapter Nine
As Dane walked through the forest with Ketera, he wished for two things. A bertog
to ride, and that he d never agreed to keep his hands off Ketera. He could be forgiven
for changing his mind, for vowing that he d leave her alone rather than try to seduce
her. A man could change his mind as often as a woman. He wasn t used to confusion or
altering his plans for a female. In his world, things tended to one way or the other,
without that much variance. Violence or peace. Frequent sex or none at all.
As he touched Ketera s slim back, he acknowledged confusion. He hadn t lied to
her when he said they d had sex. Technically they had. Yet he wanted more. By
Draconus he wanted far more from her.
Never you mind. She ll come around some day.
He d gone from denying she was his mate to being unable to say that she wasn t in
a very short time, and this highly unstable state didn t appeal. After all, Daryk Ones
had a reputation to uphold. They were daryk. Strong. Brutal when need be. He didn t
want to forget that.
After she fallen into the hands of that bloody slave trader, he didn t want to leave
her, his fear too strong. He couldn t lose her. Logic played no part in his feelings.
Doubling his trepidation was the fear she might go to Rayder, and he didn t trust the
bastard well enough to put her into Rayder s hands. Rayder had experienced
excitement during the fight too. If she d been willing, Rayder would have had sex from
her to relieve his lust.
Though he d never experienced sharing a woman, he d heard that Rayder had
enjoyed two women at once. By Draconus, Rayder would be dead if he touched Ketera,
and he didn t relish fighting with his old friend, even if the man had become a slave
trader.
He pushed away violent thoughts and apprehension and vowed to keep his eyes
open. Last evening he and Rayder had passed through a particularly dangerous stretch
of jungle. A few miles remained before the jungle would part and welcome them back
into the relative safety of Grimnald Castle.
How much longer to go? she asked.
A couple of miles. Not far now.
I always thought I was well-conditioned until I started this adventure.
Is that what you thought it was? An adventure?
She shrugged, her held high. There was some pride in this woman for certain. No,
not really. All that is on my mind is finding a way to get back to my father. Worry lines
or perhaps anger lingered on her face. I haven t done right by him.
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Daryk Hunter
You re trying.
I need to find a ship that will take me back to Magonia, and instead I m traipsing
about the country.
Impatience rolled up inside him. Do you always complain this much?
Complain? She stopped dead and glared at him, her gaze as icy as a glacier in
Imekland. What are you talking about?
He caught her upper arm and continued walking. You can t do anything about the
situation right now and yet you re complaining.
Damn it, Dane, I won t be told how to vent my anger. You re allowed to be this big
brute with anger issues but I m not?
Anger issues?
Yes. Someone who always blusters and boldly goes wherever he wants because
he s so strong and indelible? I thought women here are allowed full expression.
He barked out a laugh, half offended and thoroughly amused. An inkling of shame
worked its way into the recipe too. You re right.
She halted so fast she jerked him to a stop. What?
I said, you re right.
Her mouth opened then closed then opened again when she found her voice. I
can t believe you said that.
I m a reasonable man. At least as reasonable as any Daryk One can be, given our
abilities and notions. We re beastly men, Ketera, I acknowledge that. It takes a lot for us
to admit we re wrong.
I see. Her voice held an ironic tone. How are the Daryk Ones governed if they
cannot agree who is right and who is wrong?
We re extraordinary. We work as a team whenever we re in each other s presence.
At least that s the way it used to be until Drakus broke away and gathered rogues to his
cause.
She nodded, and Dane started them moving again as he released her arm. You saw
how Rayder and I worked to save you, even though we are within an inch of killing
each other.
Because of his betrayal?
Right. No Daryk One should ever consider being a slave trader. It goes against
every oath we take to protect the innocent and those unable to help themselves.
He glanced over to see her mouth twist slightly, and her gaze catching his was full
of doubt. Have there ever been Daryk Ones who were of mixed blood? Magonian and
Dragonian.
Yes. Why do you ask?
87
Denise A. Agnew
Her mouth softened, as if she wanted to speak but thought the better of it.
Curiosity. Now back to the original subject. How do I find a ship to take me back to
Magonia? There must be a way.
Minilos knows a man who can help you. Someone we can trust.
Another Daryk One?
Finius Dow. You must never utter his name to anyone you cannot trust.
Why?
Because he s a pirate of sorts. Not the kind who rapes or murders. But he does
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