Vision of Seduction (12 page)

The man had the same dark hair and lavender eyes as most of the Klatch,

but several hundred years of living had thinned his muscles and streaked

his hair with gray. Even the slower aging experienced on Tador eventually

took its toll on its inhabitants.

The man nodded to the bored waitress as he said a few words to her Aedan

couldn't hear. She popped her gum in answer and ambled off behind the

ancient counter.

Impatience made Aedan's heart beat faster and his throat constrict. He

might need this man for now, but soon his usefulness would be at an end,

and Aedan would enjoy watching him die.

"Sorry I'm late." The man slid into the booth across from Aedan. "I had to

avoid the royal guards. They're everywhere on both sides of the between

since your failed attempt to capture the Seer." His still rugged features

scowled as he looked at Aedan.

"Don't worry, we have a plan to take care of the Seer." Aedan clenched his

coffee cup, denying the quick urge to smash it over the man's head for the

condescending tone and the audacity of questioning a Cunt warrior.

"You'd better." He rested his arms on the tabletop and leaned toward

Aedan, keeping his voice low. "The only reason I agreed to help you was to

keep this triangle from happening. The new queen is foolish to relinquish

part of her power to two mere humans to complete the triangle."

Aedan forced his fingers to relax, and remembered that charm and cunning

worked better when dealing with Klatch arrogance. "I totally agree, which

is why I'm helping you, remember?"

The waitress approached, and Aedan fell silent, not wanting her to hear his

words. Her blond ponytail swung as she slapped an empty cup down in

front of the informant and then sloshed steaming coffee into it from a pot

she carried in her other hand. She topped off Aedan's without asking,

leaning over far enough to give him an unimpeded view down her

impressive cleavage. She winked at him—the effect ruined by a loud smack

of her gum—and then walked away to flirt with some college boys a few

booths away.

When Aedan was sure she wasn't paying attention to him and his booth

companion, he continued. "There is still time to stop the triangle, we just

have to change our plan now that she's already on Tador."

The informant sipped his coffee and winced, although from the heat or the

overbrewed bitterness, Aedan wasn't sure. "You assured me she would

never make it to Tador, remember?" He set down his cup and glared across

the table at Aedan. "And not only did she make it to Tador, but Prince

Grayson was injured in the process. You also assured me no harm would

come to the prince!"

"I regret that," Aedan smoothly lied. "However, Grayson charged us when

he foolishly tried to save the Seer, and he injured himself. It wasn't

anything done by my men."

The informant looked unconvinced, his lips thinned into a hard line.

"Maybe we should just concentrate on finding the Healer before the royal

family does."

"Waiting until half the triangle is in place—with the queen and the Seer—

still weakens the queen's hold on her power and leaves Tador unstable."

Aedan picked up his coffee cup and took a drink, ignoring the bitter liquid

that slid over his tongue and giving his words a chance to make an

impression on the informant. He could tell the minute they hit their mark—

the man stiffened in his seat, a deep crease furrowing his brows. Finally,

the man nodded his reluctant agreement. "The royal family has asked that

no one mention the triangle to the Seer, they want her to become

comfortable on Tador before they tell her what they want of her. We may

be able to use that to our advantage when the time is right."

Aedan resisted the urge to smile as satisfaction curled inside his belly.

Klatch were almost as easy as humans to manipulate if you understood

them. "That's perfect. Let the Seer find out that they want her to give up her

entire life and tie herself to a man she's just met, and she'll most likely run

straight back to Phoenix."

The informant nodded. "True. She'll need help getting through the portal,

but I'll let you know when I have any further information."

Maybe this situation would reverse itself more easily than Aedan thought.

He needed quick results if he hoped to achieve his aims with Sela and

remain alive.

***

The next day, Grayson guided Katelyn outside onto the front steps of the

castle and into the midday sunshine. Her fiery hair glinted a thousand hues

of molten fire, and her green eyes sparkled with curiosity. All his

willpower couldn't keep his gaze from tracing over her luscious body.

She still wore the same green vee-necked shirt that matched her eyes, and

Alyssandra had loaned her a pair of blue jeans and some worn riding

boots.

Grayson was convinced that each piece of clothing had been specially

made for her because each lovingly hugged her generous curves.

Either that or they'd been fashioned to torment him. And they were

definitely doing their job on that count.

The breeze gently tousled Katelyn's unruly mane of hair, bringing the scent

of lavender that always clung to her to infuse his senses. He leaned closer

and inhaled.

"Whoa, stalker boy." She flattened a palm against his chest and kept her

arm straight to put distance between them. "Hasn't anyone ever told you

sniffing a woman is a little out there?" Katelyn's lips curved into a sensual

smile, and she seemed more amused than irritated.

"I'm sorry." Chagrin flooded through him, and he stepped back until her

arm dropped back to her side. What was it about this woman that made

him act like a stag in heat whenever she was close? "You smell of warmed

lavender. I couldn't resist." He shrugged and adopted what he hoped was a

harmless expression.

She pursed her lips and perched her fists on her hips as she considered

him. "The only reason I'm going to let that slide is that I happen to like

scents, too. In fact..." Katelyn stepped close and leaned in until her nose

almost touched the side of his neck. She inhaled, and the motion brought

her breasts so close to his chest he could feel her body heat radiating

between them.

The majority of the blood in his system rushed due south. His cock swelled

almost painfully inside his breeches, and he internally winced.

Katelyn stepped back, closed her eyes, and exhaled slowly, savoring his

scent. "Mmm, you smell like chai and man, which I don't understand,

because you didn't have any chai upstairs." He laughed, easing some of the

sharp arousal swimming inside his veins. "Chai? I've never had a woman

tell me that before." He couldn't help the self-conscious grin. "I have a

supply of chai I keep in my rooms. It's something of a vice, I suppose. One

of those Earth drinks we can't seem to make here."

Katelyn's smile widened. "As vices go, that's not a bad one. It's a sexy

smell." Her eyes glinted with mischief, and she grabbed his hand,

threading her fingers through his. "Are you going to show me around, or

are we going to stand here sniffing each other all day?"

This woman amazed him. He thought after Stone had caught them upstairs

that she would be embarrassed and hesitant. Granted, the mood had been

spoiled, and they had each gone their separate ways to change. But after

he'd found some nonsoiled breeches, he'd met her at her chambers, and he

had sensed no hesitancy in her at all.

She tugged on his arm, breaking him from his thoughts, I'm dying to see

the fountains I heard from the balcony." Apparently, Katelyn had come to

grips with her stay on another planet and was ready to explore. Grayson

loved her infectious energy and optimism and the way she quickly

adapted. He couldn't help but laugh. "All right, Seer. I must remind you

that this is a sexual society, and public places are utilized differently here

than they are on Earth."

Katelyn squeezed his hand and cocked an eyebrow while she mock glared

at him. "I'm a big girl, Prince Grayson. I won't faint dead away at the sight

of people having sex."

He shook his head even as he realized he enjoyed their friendly banter.

"Fair enough. I just didn't want you to be surprised."

She stepped close and pressed a quick kiss to his lips before moving away

so quickly he thought he might have imagined it—except for the warmth

still burning his lips. "It takes a lot to surprise me. Although I could have

used that warning yesterday before 'meeting' the king like I did."

On Tador it wasn't uncommon to come upon couples or even groups

engaged in sex several times throughout the day. Thankfully, Stone must

have realized that Katelyn was embarrassed by his sudden entrance, and

he had left quickly.

"I apologize," Grayson said. "We often forget that the humans we interact

with aren't used to the same degree of openness our society displays."

"No worries. I'll be prepared next time."

Grayson's cock surged to life at the mention of "next time," and Katelyn

smiled as though she'd read his mind. Most likely she'd just seen the

immediately larger bulge in his breeches.

"Down, boy." Katelyn glanced at Grayson's crotch and tsked. "Right now I

want that tour. But I'm not done with you." She glanced up at Grayson as if

she hadn't just carried on a dialogue with his aching erection. "Are you

ready?" Her voice was all innocence and curiosity, catching him off guard

yet again.

He cleared his throat, hoping his voice wouldn't crack and betray his

struggle with his hormones. "This way, Seer."

Katelyn smiled to herself as she allowed Grayson to lead her down the

stairs and toward the main fountain. She gasped when they rounded the

side wall of the castle and the fountain came into view.

The fountain was three levels high, the top two tiers respectively smaller

than the tier below it. The footprint of the fountain seemed to be as big as a

single family home back in Phoenix.

The entire structure was made of the same snowy white balda stone as

nearly everything else on the planet. Water geysered out of the top and

then frothed over, forming two waterfalls on the lower levels, which

created seemingly private rendezvous places. Places the natives were

taking full advantage of.

Several Klatch splashed and played in the sparkling blue water, some

naked and some dressed, the cloth on those who wore clothing nearly

transparent from the water. Off to the right were the baths, where Grayson

had promised to bring Katelyn after her tour, and off to the left were the

gardens.

Wow, this is beautiful. Look at that water." Katelyn rushed forward,

dragging him impatiently. She dropped his hand and then leaned over the

waist-high white stone rim of the fountain and dipped her arms into the

water.

Crisp, cool water surrounded the skin of her arms, and she sighed

blissfully as she wiggled her fingers, enjoying the resistance and ripples she

caused. She glanced up to see some of the closer Klatch watching her, open

curiosity plain in their expressions.

Katelyn smiled and received several smiles in return, but a few moved

away from her or toward the other side of the pool. Her smile died on her

lips as she watched them, and she wondered if they were just shy of

strangers or if there was some other reason they kept their distance.

Grayson stepped up beside her and dipped his hands into the water also.

"As the lone redhead here, you do tend to stand out." His voice held a

teasing note.

Her brow furrowed as something about Grayson's words seemed off—as

though he was holding something back. Very similar to the impression

she'd gotten from the queen this morning. She thought about asking him

straight out, but realized she had nothing to go on but a few vague

impressions.

"Some of them don't seem too happy to see me." A thought lodged in

Katelyn's mind and wouldn't let go. "You aren't married or engaged or

anything, are you?" She instantly chided herself for such a thought. Most

likely Grayson had slept with quite a few of these women and would do so

again. It wasn't any of her business, and, really, she didn't care. After all,

she didn't want anything more from him than a good time herself.

Her words stopped, but her mind continued to churn. Both Grayson and

Alyssa had said that social rules here weren't like those on Earth. However,

as much as Katelyn steered clear of Earth relationships, that didn't mean

she wanted to break someone else's apart. Her gut tightened as she

imagined one of the scantily clad women before them in Grayson's bed.

Grayson's eyes lit with amusement as he studied her before speaking,

which only seemed to spiral the conspiracy theory building inside her

head. "No, my curious Seer. I am neither married nor betrothed. Yet." He

splashed a few droplets of water at her with the back of his hand.

The cool drops hit her neck and chin, stopping the out-of-control spiral of

her thoughts, and she chuckled at herself. Then she instantly sobered when

the slight pause he had put before the word yet registered. Why should that