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The outside door opened, and a female voice said, "Good, you’re awake At least on’t have to drag you to the wagon and du over the chair, his heart haht as he looked at the startled dark-haired, green-eyed wo in the doorwayIt isn’t her

"Maybe ould have been better off if wehad had to dump you on top of the supplies," she ave him one sharp-eyed, head-to-toe look that plainly said there were already tooto be another one "Better prance on out there She’s ready to leave, and ouldn’t want the prize dangle to get dragged along like a reluctant puppy on a leash, would we?"

Anger flooded him, but it had no heat, no bite It was like his blood was being clogged with ashes instead of floith fire

And there was so to the presence of a witch, broken or not

A sour taste filled the back of his mouth, and he started to shake

The wo out to him "Are you still sick?"

Jared recoiled fro fine until you came in," Tomas snapped

Her eyes frosted over until they were green ice "Be careful, little man," she said in an awful, quiet voice before she turned around and walked out

"Areyou still sick?" To anxious "Should I tell the Lady you need to ride in the wagon?"

Jared continued to shake When Torab the boy’s ar the word out "I’d--I’d rather walk" He took a deep breath Took another "That was Thera?"

Tohed "That was Thera"

With one hand on Touest servants’ quarters and slowly followed the pedlar’s wagon and the wary slaves who trailed behind it

Thera had done hi it At least he understood now

He was still th of the Red Jewels He still had his skill in using Craft What he had lost, what the wild stranger had taken aas the fire and passion that made a Jeweled male a Warlord

Chapter Six

Krelis didn’t stare at Dorothea SaDiablo, nor did he avert his eyes One action would have been considered a challenge; the other, a lack of appreciation Either error could cost a man freedo Warlord lying on the chaise lounge with Hayll’s High Priestess

Not a pleasure slave, Krelis decided as he studied the young Warlord’s kiss-swollen, sulky mouth Must be one of the toy-boys, maybe even an aristo youth froiven the honor of serving in Dorothea’s court Didn’t really matter, pleasure slave or toy-boy, except the toy-boys had social status so they couldn’t be physically mistreated that much, and were still considered s who still had their balls

At least so Warlord onefroe "Did she take the bait?" she asked as she buttoned her gown, her hands s the material over her firm, small breasts

Krelis took a deep breath to steady himself "Yes, Priestess--"

She cut hiesture

Krelis’s face tightened as the young Warlord smirked at him He understood the youth’s need to ht be, but a Master of the Guard was considered the do of his authority ht lead to actions that could put his Lady at risk The youth’s Yelloas no match for his Sapphire, and the difference-in their Jewel rank was reason enough to give Dorothea’s new toy a disciplinary lesson As for the difference in their social rankIf the young Warlordwas an aristo from one of the Hundred Families and not from an offshoot, Krelis could becoht lead to his dismissal--or worse

He should have known Dorothea wouldn’t es between two ave the youth aWhy don’t you aet back"

Krelis felt no pleasure at seeing the distress in the youth’s eyes They both knew Dorothea’s saying that in front of anotherthan any physical discipline Krelis ht have inflicted They both knearrior was more valuable to the court than a handsome youth who could be replaced so easily And they both knehat could happen if the toy-boy wasn’t ready to please Dorothea by the time she returned

Krelis started to turn away, but Dorothea didn’tWarlord until his eyes turned tear-bright and hishard, he opened his trousers all the way and slipped his hand inside

Satisfied, Dorothea led Krelis out of her sitting roo of the SaDiablo mansion

"So the bitch took the bait," Dorothea said

"Yes, Priestess"

"But?"