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Kat and Jacky werecheese and olives and so about the ethics of hypnotisht before as princess, went rushing by, and then paused when she saw Kat

"What is it, Aetnia? Where’s everyone going?" Kat asked

"Theby the beach, Princess I’m--I’m sure Achilles would wish for you to coht he certainly seely

"Really? You mean when he was conscious or afterward?"

"Both," Kat lied

"Well, then, let’s go check him out Unless you’re scared to face hi" Jacky ju ht," Kat muttered and pulled a face, but followed Jacky anyway

"I mean, I for one would love to see if he’s still under your diabolical spell"

Three woave Kat fearful looks and began whispering ast themselves as they overheard Jacky’s words

"There is no spell, you dork," Kat said loud enough for the huddling women to overhear Then she lowered her voice for Jacky only "The hypnosis ended when he woke up this ood as new"

"And just exactly what is he going to rerinned "Only as much as he wants to"

"Okay, that’s diabolical," Jacky said

"No that’s ingenious," Kat countered

Jacky gave her a dubious look, but they were both too busy cli over dunes to bicker with any enthusiasave way to a smooth, wide beach that was filled with--

"Seminaked men!" Jacky trilled

"With swords," Kat purred "It is a romance novel!"

"Hey, there’s your boy"

Jacky’s pointing finger called Kat’s attention to the largest group of roup was Achilles, stripped to the waist and circled by four h Achilles was practically naked, holding only his shield and a weird-looking short sword

"Damn, he has muscles on his muscles," Jacky said "And I don’t kno the hell he survived those wounds No wonder they say he’s immortal"

"Is that what they say?" Kat whispered as they joined the other wo the ed "I overheard soht The Myrod"

"He’s not He’s just a man," Kat said fired at Achilles She needn’t have worried about him His reactions were so fast he seeed aside, spun and smacked both men smartly on their asses with the flat part of his sword The watching Myruffaws, corin was surprisingly good-huestured for the other tarriors to coed Achilles le-crested shield The warriors backed off and Kat realized why his sword looked weird--it ooden

"He’s not even using a real sword!" Kat told Jacky

As if he heard her, Achilles’ startlingly blue eyes looked up fro warriors directly to her Kat saw the surprise that widened his eyes, and then felt the electric snap of attraction that sizzled between them At that moment one of the warriors struck and Achilles was late in his reaction The warrior’s sword blade ski a thin ribbon of scarlet, before he slapped it aside with the nonlethal wooden sword With a growl, Achilles dropped into a crouch Kat noticed the change in the surrounding warriors at once The circle backed off and thewith Achilles seeulps of air as he obviously fought against the onrush of the berserker

Then there was a flash of silver-blond and a tall figure detached hi circle Completely unar a surreptitious motion to the other tarriors to back off His smile was clearly reflected in his voice and he spoke nonchalantly, as if he had no idea Achilles was struggling with beco a monster

"They say, cousin, that none can beat you in a wrestling match I say that’s because they do not have the inside knowledge of a kinshtened out of the feral crouch Kat saw his lips twitch up slightly "And what inside knowledge would that be, kins turtle Dangerous and unpredictable, but helpless when you’ve been pushed on your back"

As Achilles laughed, Patroklos launched himself at the older one and the rappled in the sand

"If that dale hiroup of men and pull Achilles and Patroklos apart

Kat snagged her wrist and pulled her back down beside her "You are so not going down there to yell at Patroklos in the middle of all of that testosterone and me-Tarzan, you-Jane ruonna be pissed if he messes up those stitches"

"Oh, relax Achilles will make sure he doesn’t hurt himself," Kat said automatically, and then as she continued to watch she realized how right she’d been They were putting on a good show The two hly entertaining, but Kat could tell that Achilles was definitely avoiding Patroklos’s injured shoulder

"Okay, I’ll just ad completely sexy about all this warrior machoness I mean, look at them They’re all bare chested andon for you’ that it makes me want to let hile of her brows "Who hiet fresh"

"And did you say ravish? Since when could anyone ravish you?"

"Since I turned white"

Kat was laughing when Aetnia and two other servants approached her All of theave a little curtsey/bow

"Excuse me, Princess" Aetnia spoke in a lohispery voice while throwing furtive looks over her shoulder at the group ofat any ti"

"Escaping?" Jacky frowned at them "We’re not escapin’"

The wos One of the that looked like a penis a from a braided hemp rope around her neck as she quickly backed a couple steps away

"That’s really nice of you, but like I said last night, I’m fine," Kat said Before Jacky’s feathers could ruffle she amended, "We’re fine Honestly I’ll let you knoe need anything"