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at?”
    Lord Havik bowed his head in deference. “The lady who is on a shopping trip. No one has seen her before, but she is surpassingly lovely.”
    Akutan dismounted. “Where is this creature of loveliness?”
    “In the stationery shop. She went in there with a maid a few moments ago. We are waiting for her to come out.”
    Akutan grinned. “It is a good thing I am out of ink.” He walked through the crowd of men who bowed low as they realised who he was.
    He entered the shop with curiosity burning in his mind. He glanced around and had no trouble finding the women that the crowd was waiting for.
    The lady was poring over pens, and a slick black silk waterfall of hair hung down her back to her knees.
    The proprietor returned from the back and froze in place when he noticed his other customer. “My lord, what can I do for you?”
    The woman turned and looked toward him, meeting his gaze with a surprisingly frank look. He stood in shock as he took in the vivid purple of her eyes and their peculiar pupils. “The lady was here before me, please conclude her business.”
    The servant at the woman’s side jerked in recognition. “Lord Akutan, welcome back.”
    He blinked in shock as he recognized a member of his own household. “Porali. Thank you for the welcome.”
    The woman frowned and then a hot-pink colour covered her cheeks. She offered him a graceful bow. “Lord Akutan, thank you for your hospitality.”
    Her silken fall of hair almost reached the ground as she bowed with her slender fingers held together.
    “You are my niece’s friend? Welcome to Rai.” He reached out and touched her cheek with two fingers. It went against every protocol, but he wanted to know if it was as soft as it looked.
    “Thank you, my lord.” She straightened but kept her eyes averted.
    He wanted nothing more than to lift her chin and stare into those eyes, but the proprietor was watching far too avidly. “What brings you into town today?”
    She smiled, and the curve of her lips held his gaze, “Teriki is ordering me to learn how to read and write the common language of Rai. She did not wish me to dip into any of your possessions so authorized me to come and choose writing tools.”
    He looked at the items on the table. They were good quality and not extravagant. She was not attempting to gain goods through him. That was something in her favour. “It seems you have purchased the ink I came in to obtain. May I offer you a ride back home?”
    The thought of her plastered across his thighs was tempting.
    Porali forestalled his fantasies. “My lord, she is not dressed for riding.”
    He sighed at the practicality and stowed his fantasy. “Very well. I will see you when you return to my home.”
     
    * * * *
     
    Amy watched him sweep out in a flow of robes and nearly metallic gold hair. His eyes were dark bronze, but she could see the similarity with Blade. They really were related.
    Sharp features marked every inch of him. Straight, sweeping brows were over those fascinating eyes, his nose was a sharp blade that complimented the clean cut of his lips and the elegant line of his jaw.
    She watched the column of his neck flex as he spoke, and she guessed that he was a little more muscular than the average man of Rai. Something about him said don’t mess with me, and she was guessing that none of the locals did.
    The two days of etiquette stopped her from staring at his face, but she swallowed nervously as the last flicker of silk disappeared from the doorway. Her heart was pounding, her palms were sweating and there was a distinct dampness between her thighs that told her the heat had not been contained to her cheeks. Just the sight of him aroused her, and now, he was going to be there when she returned to the palace.
    There went her restful sleep.
     
     

 
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
     
    The crowd had watched her get into the chair, and it had made her nervous. Getting out of the chair at the palace terrified her.
    She bit her