one is different. I think you’ll like her.”
No one who lived under Lothar’s roof could garner Nikol’s admiration. Choosing not to respond, Nikol opened the door.
“I do hope you enjoy her.” Laughter followed.
Nikol left Lothar’s office with the same outward appearance of calm he’d entered with but inside he was seething. The dark-haired man leaning against the wall joined his side. “What happened?”
“I’m guessing,” Nikol muttered, keeping his voice low, “but I think I may have received a new tutanis from my...father.”
Dain gaped. As someone Nikol had grown close to in the last couple of years, Dain was aware that the women who resided in Nikol’s harem were all castoffs from Lothar’s older harem years ago. Nikol didn’t touch those women sexually though he never explicitly let Lothar know that. As if he’d ever sate himself sexually with those who had known him as a child.
“I thought you told him you would add your own after the others were given to you.”
Nikol shot Dain a sidelong glance. Lothar abided by his own rules.
Dain grimaced. “Right.”
Despite his pace and sense of urgency, a woman stepped into his path with her head bowed.
“Forgive me, Nikol. My master has given me leave to offer myself to you.”
Nikol had no idea of who her master was. She seemed to be a new addition to the household. He couldn’t keep track of how many women arrived here.
Her body was voluptuous in the overblown way Lothar liked. Full hips and breasts swung with each step she took and the blue shellam hung loosely about her curved waist to sway at her ankles and bare feet.
Was this Lothar’s gift? “Who do you belong to?”
She glanced up and tipped her head to the side, every move graceful and what he would expect from a trained tutanis. Her gray eyes sparked with secrets, her mouth curving with a sensuous smile. Her horns were a dusky gold and clashed nicely with her dark hair. Gold horns and light-colored eyes were rare and prized. His father had really reached deep to find one such as her. Marenians males would fight to bed her.
She lowered herself gracefully to her knees. “Welcome back home. I am Taima. I belong to Vizen.”
Then she was not Lothar’s gift to him. Her presence was still troubling to Nikol. Vizen didn’t have a kitse. His lack of sufficient wealth didn’t allow for it but clearly he’d managed to receive one such as this. He’d look into the matter later. Right now, he needed to know how much damage Lothar had done with his recent actions and gift.
“Stand aside and thank Vizen for the gift. I refuse.”
Not bothering to see her get back to her feet, Nikol circled around her and Dain followed suit. “She was magnificent.”
And probably conniving but Nikol didn’t add that. Dain should know better by now not to trust anyone who lived here.
It didn’t take long to reach the section of the massive home Nikol had claimed as his own. He’d picked the area farthest from Lothar’s kitse and with the best defensible position should an attack ever occur on the premises. Nikol nodded at the two guards at the door. One stepped forward to speak. “Nikol, Lothar has—”
“I know,” Nikol cut him off. “Where is she?”
Tseju met Nikol’s stare evenly. “But, sir Lothar said—”
Nikol waved the excuse away. Later they’d discuss proper protocol to deny entrance into his suite. Garmon, the second guard, opened the doors immediately. Nikol strode inside, leaving Dain behind. No one else entered his private space. Not even the handful he extended trust to.
High ceilings gave the space a cavernous feel. The heavy scent of flowers spilled from the planters on the few tables scattered about the open foyer. The fountain in the center of the room bubbled, spewing water in a rainbow of colors thanks to the lights mounted in the base. Nikol ignored the picturesque setting.
Thick carpet muffled his steps. Shadowy alcoves were discretely carved along one wall in which bedrooms for the tutanis under his care were hidden in the recessed space on the left.
Cecilee was the first to come forward through the glass doors that led to an enclosed garden space. Amia, Tashire and Stasia came next. Cecilee was speaking quietly to the shorter woman at her side. Nikol took in the riot of red curls, the blue eyes glaring at him, the jut of sharp cheekbones in a delicate oval face and slammed a door down on the unusual whirl of feelings including undeniable