Lords of Illusion: Urban Fantasy Romance For Adults (The Lily Harper Urban Fantasy Series Book 11) by H.P. Mallory

Author:H.P. Mallory [Mallory, H.P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-01-26T00:00:00+00:00

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The room we stepped into was much cooler. It had the look of a pasha's palace with soft light coming from above, sans the harsh red glow of the desert's sun. The shallow pool within the center of the tent had crystal-clear water, disturbed only by the naked swimmers within it. The ivory columns holding the room up, the walls and the marble floor were all pristine and spotless.

But the presence of a dozen Greater Imps with drawn blades, the red swirling gate in the background and Countess Bathory, herself, made this place seem like anything but paradise. I was all the more eager to find Ariadne so we could leave.

Speaking of, I began searching the landscape in front of me, trying to locate her. One of the women was asleep on a divan. Her Hellene features made my heart swell and hope for a moment. But the moment passed when I realized she wasn’t my long lost beloved. She was, if anything, far more beautiful than nearly any other woman in this room. But all meant so little to me. Ariadne had more than just beauty to me. I did my best to suppress thoughts regarding Lily and how she, too, had qualities far beyond her looks.

Every woman I saw was lovely in her own way. But their insensible listlessness marred their great beauty, making them appear more like statues come to life. The thought of such fate infecting my lost beloved made me look even harder for her.

I began scanning the crowd of women when Bathory said, “Shall I take both women off your hands for $100,000?”

“$200,000,” Tallis said, his tone as firm as his muscles. I had no idea how he could ignore the women as they ambled aimlessly around us.

Tallis' answer brought a scoff from Bathory. “No woman, nymph or goddess, is worth so much. $110,000 is far more reasonable.”

I saw no sign of Ariadne in or around the pool. My eyes moved on to the rest of the chamber, outside the immediate circle of light. Still no sign of her.

“They are beyond beautiful,” Tallis retorted. “An’ they both would be worth $200,000 to yer prince.”

I felt my stomach drop at Tallis’ words. To say such a foolish thing in a prince's house was an excellent way to get us all killed. Bathory's next words confirmed that impression.

“Need I remind you whose ground you stand on, barbar? Or how, with a snap of my fingers, I can order every fallen angel in this room to carve you into chunks. Should that happen, we could simply take your goods and do so for free.”

“Dammit, this is why I do the talking, Bran,” Wally said, pushing Tallis back.

Tallis' response was to pull his blade free and stick it to Wally's wrist, without sinking it into his flesh. “Mind where ye put your hands if ye want to keep 'em.”

Bathory was intrigued by this exchange. “Bran? As in Bran the Blessed?”

“There's naught anythin' blessed 'bout me,” Tallis growled at her.

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