In Other Worlds Read Free

worse.
    Livia quickly amended her list of qualifications to include a man who bathed.
    A tall, dark human male smiled at her, displaying a set of black teeth. Okay, she would also add one who knew how to use a toothbrush.
    As she crossed the room, she saw a brunet at the bar who looked like a hopeful prospect. She headed for him. But as soon as she drew near enough to see his face clearly, she froze.
    It was her father’s personal runner.
    If she knew how to curse, she would definitely curse at her luck.
    Just don’t let him see me.
    Falling back into the crowd, Livia kept an eye on him while trying to scan the beings around her for her target. Surely, there was someone here who could . . .
    A commotion at the entrance caught her attention.
    Livia turned to look.
    No! She panicked at the sight of her father’s royal guard swarming into the bar. Immediately, the gray-clad soldiers began questioning patrons as they spread out to cover as much of the bar as they could.
    Fear tore through her. For them to be here in force and that grim meant Krista had volunteered her location, and no doubt her intent as well. She groaned at the very thought.
    Father’s going to kill me.
    How could Krista betray her? Her maid had been so helpful in the planning and execution of her escape.
    But then for some unknown reason, Krista lived in fear of Livia’s father, and one scowl from him would have easily caused her maid to tell everything.
    Right down to the grittiest of details.
    She cringed at the thought of her father’s reaction. But at least Krista, unlike her, would be spared his wrath. Krista was protected by their laws. Only a male of her own family could punish her, and since Krista had no living male relative . . .
    Livia was not so fortunate, and there was no telling what her father would do to her for this.
    Chastity was one of the highest virtues any woman could possess on her world. In fact, men and women were allowed to mix only during meals, at chaste royal functions, and when married couples performed conjugal duties. For a woman to seek out a man not related to her was strictly forbidden.
    And punished severely.
    Publicly.
    She shook the fear away. She’d known the consequences before she set out. Either way, she was going to pay for her indiscretion, and if she had to pay, then she was going to make sure she completed the deed.
    Clenching her teeth, she scanned the room for a hiding place. At the back of the club were a line of booths. She headed for them.
    Unfortunately, all of them were occupied.
    Drat!
    â€œHey, babe.” A rough-looking man stopped her as she tried to move past him. “You want some company?”
    She considered it until he reached out and roughly grabbed her arm. He pulled her toward him, his hand biting fiercely into the flesh of her upper arm. “C’mon.” He gave her a slick smile as he roughly ran his hand though her wet hair. “What say you and me head to the back?”
    She jerked away from him before he hurt her any more. “No, thank you.” Turning, she saw the guards heading her way as they skimmed the crowd.
    Her heart hammering, she ran to the last booth and sat on the empty bench before the guard saw her.
    â€œWhat the hell are you doing?”
    She shifted her gaze from the guard to the man who sat across from her. Livia’s breath caught in her throat as her gaze focused on his face.
    Oh . . .
    My . . .
    He was more than passable.
    In fact, she’d never in her life seen a man so incredibly handsome. His features were sharp and aristocratically boned. His dark-blond eyebrows arched finely over the most piercingly blue eyes she’d ever seen.
    Dressed all in black, he had long white-blond hair tied back into a neat queue. Clean-shaven and washed, he was gorgeous. An air of refinement and power clung to him.
    But his eyes were cold while he watched her. Guarded. They warned her that he was lethal in nature. And by the set of