CarnalPromise Read Free Page A

Nyphosian mistress knew of the notice
that her brother, Rurik, had issued, instructing anyone who found Jinn to hold
her fast and notify him. Yet the time was late for the Nyphosians. Barring some
extraordinary circumstance, they wouldn’t do any more business tonight, even
with an official document from her brother.
    Easing another breath through her barely parted lips, the
tightness in Jinn’s chest loosened. She sighed, still sensing the warmth of the
scented bath water—a Nyphosian ritual offered to all visitors. Jinn savored the
small respite she so needed. She’d luxuriated in the milky liquid—replete with
Androsian oils—taking her time to bathe, wishing she could have accepted the
offers from at least one of the priests to assist her.
    Of course, seduction would have been included—if wanted. It
always was with the Nyphosians, who generally engaged in a large array of
sexual endeavors. Although the Nyphosians believed in a single greater power,
that belief manifested itself in all the forms of love for their
neighbor—assuming all parties were agreeable, of course.
    Which made for some interesting liaisons. Those sexy hunks
would be a temptation to any female Svendian warrior. At least any female
warrior but her. After being claimed by Drakkar, no one else could satisfy her.
She knew that. Not that she hadn’t tried but she just couldn’t get into sex
with someone else. Hell, as much as the Vulgarian pained her, her body still
burned for Drakkar’s touch, still yearned for him with something deeper than
what she could define. She couldn’t deny it. The unique magnetism they had for
each other was part of their biology. Their mating was only a matter of time.
    Yet nothing could piss her off more. Why him? Why had
the fates chosen a man more controlling than her brother? And how could she be
attracted? To him? Her sworn enemy. A Vulgarian. A coarse man who had
planned the Vulgarian raid that was used by her uncle’s cronies as a cover to
attack her father’s ship. She grimaced. The Renegades had disguised themselves
as Vulgarians, yet how could they have known of Drakkar’s move? One thing was
certain. Her betrothed had not known about it nor had any of his crew. But
someone in the Vulgarian ranks had. Who? Who was the link to her uncle? She
rubbed her brow and cringed at the myriad thoughts that assailed her.
    At least she knew Drakkar was innocent, the bastard.
    She gritted her teeth at his controlling ways, yet in truth,
she did not know the man. True—when he’d found her, the need to mate consumed
him. He’d admitted that much. Admitted that she wasn’t the type of woman he
wanted but his body gave him no quarter.
    True, after her capture, he listened to her enough to see
for himself that someone else had broken the shaky truce their two people had
in place, not her brother Rurik.
    True. She had agreed to bond with him but not under the
conditions he’d laid out and only under duress! Hell, he was torturing her by
withholding the sex they both craved, the instinct to mate.
    Shatz. When her uncle’s deception was revealed, her
brother and Drakkar’s forces worked to defeat Craddock and the Renegades, the
rebellious sect from both their people’s with which Craddock had aligned
himself, even though Craddock and his biodroid were with those who escaped.
However, when the battled ended, Drakkar pled his case to bond with Jinn. Her
brother took Drakkar’s side.
    Damn . Rurik hadn’t given her the chance to explain. A
problem, especially now. Even being on the run, she’d heard the news. The
Svendian council had made Rurik the new planetary headmaster. Now all her
people must be aware of the need for her return. Yes, Rurik had sent others
after her, ones she easily avoided. But Drakkar . God, he was relentless
in his pursuit. Her last escape from him had been with the skin of her ass. She
huffed and closed her eyes with a prayer of thanksgiving. She’d been lucky to
get away unscathed for so