Deceptive Lord (Lords of Bondage) Read Free Page A

bit mysterious. The other males were baffled that he had not yet had to serve the countess sexually, as she had apparently been very vocal in her desires. However, Dev had claimed that she kept changing her mind after being summoned to her chambers, and on one occasion, the countess had become inexplicitly sick to her stomach. He thought that it was suspicious indeed and he wondered if the male possessed hybrid mental abilities . Later, he found Dev alone and decided to question him. “What do you know about the Asstrum?”
    “Not much. Why do you ask?”
    “You have the look of one, that’s all,” Drest said . “ Very unusual to see a Flourdan with dark hair .”
    “Unusual, but not impossible,” Dev stated in an irritable tone. “How would you know what the Asstrum look like , anyway. Have you actually met one?”
    Drest looked into his eyes, which were an unusual shade of indigo, darker than any seen in Flourda. Had he seen those eyes before in Ravenwood? He had not been told the identity of the father, but it had to be one of high status. His skin was the right shade for an Asstrumnian, golden and tanned rather than the pale cream shades seen in Flourda. “They do not usually venture out of Asstrumnia, but on occasion, merchants travel to the great cities for trade, and their bards can travel as they please. I did meet one of those once, a nd he could produce the most beautiful music.”
    Dev looked at him in disbelief . “What was he like? Did he have a name?”
    “He did not give me his name. They are a secretive people. He told me that the eyes reveal their inhumanity, their alien nature. If one looks into them long enough, the eyes will tell. The irises flash red sparks whenever they are over-stimulated or excited , and they deepen to dark garnet pools when they are using their inhuman abilities.” Drest watched him carefully, so he did not miss the instant flash of red in Dev’s eyes, a trait only seen in hybrids. He had to be the one they were searching for, and his King would be glad for the knowledge. He knew he had no good reason to dally . He should return to Asstrumnia this night, when the others were safely abed. Against his better judgment, he allowed himself to fall into a deep sleep, not waking until the morning.
    ***
    Drest spent the next day with the lords, riding horses and fencing with swords. He endured a supper where strange foods were served on silver platters, and afterwards, he reported to the main chamber where the countess held her sordid revels. He was not surprised when he was ordered to line up on the stage and disrobe in order to display his wares more fully. He noticed that none of the other lords refused to obey her command, so he would need to comply as well if he wished to maintain his cover . Tra nsport ing himself instantly to Asstrumnia was out of the question, because they would all know without a doubt that a hybrid had invaded the harem. He removed his clothing and joined the line of naked males, and he tried not to think about the way that he would be evaluated in excruciating detail.
    The countess leapt from her throne and began walking alongside the queue, surveying the males with calculating eyes, lingering on those parts that only males possessed. She paused when she reached him and leered suggestively. Up close, the countess appeared monstrously unfeminine, with bulging muscles on a formidable frame, wide shoulders, and a lack of feminine curves. She wore a translucent gold gown, which on a different woman may have incited lustful urges, but on her, produced repulsion. In her hand, she held a whip, and she slapped it against her other hand and smiled. “You must be Lord Kane Woodcock. The ladies told me you were here, and I had no idea that I even had a new paramour. ” She began to salivate while she ogled his body in a lascivious manner. She captured the droplets of drool that had escaped from her mouth with one long finger. “ My, you are as fine as your