Destined Read Free Page A

topic?”
    He blinked. “You don’t simply draw the true loves of those sitting?”
    They were out of the crowd and in the hall, heading to the clerk that would take his payment.
    “No. I draw what they want to see. It is not my idea to draw their mates. That is just what most single beings are fixated on. A couple might want to see if they were going to have children and boys or girls. That I could do as well. Or occupations. The only thing I won’t draw is death.”
    “You can draw death?”
    “Yes, but it takes part of me with it as I draw. It is painful.” She grimaced. “What time would you prefer?”
    He cocked his head. “It is fairly fluid. My schedule is unpredictable, as you probably saw.”
    She swallowed. She had indeed seen. She had smudged his alter ego as much for his sake as she had rubbed out her image for her own sake. “I think you have certain calls on your time. Well, in my schedule, tomorrow, I am taking a tour to the caverns to show folks how to draw crystals. Any time after noon is fine. I spend most days at home. I am sure that the society can get you my number.”
    He smiled and his low voice asked, “I can find your number, but what is your name?”
    She blushed scarlet. “I am sorry, Your Highness. I am Rhoda Evergreen of the Alliance Protectorate of Terra.”
    “Rhoda. Interesting name.”
    She chuckled. “It is when you say it.” The words came out without her willing them to, and she blushed.
    He smiled. “A pity that the sketch was smudged. I would have enjoyed seeing my destiny.”
    She shrugged. “It can probably be recovered in the portrait unless you had another subject in mind.”
    “Oh, I think the woman I will spend the rest of my life with is the perfect subject matter.” Prince Drehl smiled.
    “Well, you have my name. Call me when you are ready for your portrait, Your Highness.”
    He raised one of her hands to his lips. “I will, Rhoda.”
    She slowly removed her hand from his and curtseyed briefly before she left. She recovered her wrap from the coat check and waited for the valet to flag down a transport for her.
    She shivered as she waited in the cool night air and wished with all her might that she were somewhere else.
    The transport finally pulled up, and she took her seat, double-checking that she had her pay chip with her. She stopped the driver before he took off. “I am sorry. I can’t find my pay chip.”
    He gave her a look in the mirror and smiled, a low, slow smile. “We can work something out.”
    Rhoda got out of the transport and waited until he left before she started walking. It would take her over an hour to get home and her feet would never forgive her, but wherever her payment chip was, it was not in her clutch.
     
    * * * *
     
    Drehl was watching Rhoda walk away from the centre, and he frowned as he realized she must live in the city.
    Ura, the Selna, cuddled against his side. “Stupid woman. Doesn’t even guard her purse. She deserves to walk.”
    Idly, Drehl stroked her arm, “What?”
    “While she was sketching you, I looked around in her purse, and all she had to offer was this tiny, little pay chip.” Ura fished it out of her cleavage and waved it at him.
    His face pulled into a frown. “You stole from her?”
    “This tiny amount is hardly stealing. Have you seen this crowd? This isn’t even a tip for the groomers for them.” Ura tucked the chip back into her cleavage.
    Drehl watched Rhoda walk up the hill, shivering and wrapped in a light, gauzy piece of fabric. “I believe, Ura, that you should get out of my sight and never bother to darken my door again.”
    He turned and reached into her cleavage, pulling the chip out. “This, I will return to her, and I do not ever wish to see you again. Are we clear?”
    Ura whined. “But it was just some fun…”
    “You are a parasite, looking for someone to attach to and destroying anything in your path. Consider yourself discarded by your host.” He walked away from her and