Seducing a Princess by Lois Greiman

Author:Lois Greiman [Greiman, Lois]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

It wasn’t until that evening that Shandria saw Gem again. She took her place by the table quietly, her eyes shadowed, her face pale.

“Leavin’ the corpse in peace?” Ox asked.

The girl gave him a muted glare but said nothing as she glanced toward Poke.

He smiled fondly. “Your large friend hasn’t awakened yet, Gemini?”

She was silent for the slightest moment, then, “Just once, for a short time.”

“Truly? Perhaps your vigilance is not wasted then.”

“She’s lyin’,” Ox scoffed. “You ask me, the ugly bastard’s already dead, in his ’ead, leastways.”

“’E ain’t dead!” Gem’s voice was strident, but she caught control in an instant and steadied herself. “’E spoke.”

“Did he?” Poke asked, seeming pleased, as if he weren’t to blame for the man’s condition. As if he’d had nothing to do with the mangled face, the pool of blood. An actor on his favorite stage. “What did he say?”

Shandria held her breath, but she needn’t have worried, for Gem’s survival was founded on far more than blind luck. “’E wanted water.”

“He said as much?”

She lowered her eyes as if hiding the true extent of his debilitation. Poke wasn’t the only actor in the room. Indeed, the Den was full of them. “I knew what ’e wanted.”

“Ahh,” Poke said, and smiled again, though the expression was gently pitying this time. “So you’re not certain if his mind is clear.”

She delayed for several seconds. “I’m afraid ’e may be addled, Master Poke.”

“Ohhh.” The other sighed as if deeply disappointed. “I am so sorry, Gemini. I know how you’ve taken to him.”

“Aye,” Ox said. “’Tis a terrible shame. I bet ’e was brilliant afore.”

“Compared to you any road,” Gem hissed.

“Shut yer trap!” snarled Ox.

“Hush now, my little cubs,” Poke soothed. “I’ve some business to discuss.”

The room went quiet as all eyes shifted to Poke. The man called Slate watched from a nearby chair. Who was he? Shandria dared not glance his way, but she knew how he would look. Shabbily elegant, almost relaxed, as if he’d spent each day of his life in circumstances just as deadly, just as macabre, and was not moved a whit. But there was something wrong. Something she couldn’t quite decipher. Something sad in the depths of his amber eyes.

“I’m afraid profits have been a bit short of late,” Poke said. “What with two new mouths to feed, it seems more money is going out than coming in. Thus I’ve decided to set certain tasks for each of you. Of course, I shall assist. In fact, I fear I’ll have to leave you for a time again soon to see to some distant business, but until then we must all bear down. I expect profits to double.”

“But Master…” Gem’s voice was strained. “If I could ’ave but a few more days, I’m sure the big bloke will be on ’is feet and—”

“Aye,” interrupted the Ox. “I’m sure of it. If she prods a stick up ’is arse and props ’im in the corner.”

“Shut your filthy—”

“Quiet!” Poke said, then softened his tone. “I’m sorry, Gemini.

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