“No, presidents rely on elections. A queen has power because she is what she is. That’s why it hurts my feelings that you don’t believe me. You should feel honored that I let you have my body.”
“Stop playing this game, Zahra. Just let me—” He gasped as her hand closed on him. “What…do you want?”
“I want you to tell me that you know I’m a queen, and you’ll do everything you can to make sure that’s how I’m treated in New York.”
“You—know—I—will.”
“How do I know it?” Her hand tightened around him. “Prove it to me. I haven’t noticed you doing anything to make my position here in Maldara stronger lately.”
“I do everything you ask.” He gasped again as her nails dug into him. “Shit.”
“I don’t appreciate how unfriendly the newspapers have been to me. You have influence. Do something about it.”
“I told you, interfering with the free press would be a mistake. It would shine too bright a light on me and my office here in Jokan. I can’t do it.”
“All I wish is for you to get rid of just one journalist. Jill Cassidy. That’s not too much to ask.”
“She’s very well regarded, and it might cause a stir. You said you’d take care of it yourself.”
And she would have, if only those fools had been a little rougher with the bitch that night in the jungle. She’d given explicit instructions, and it should have worked beautifully. But Jill had disappeared for only a few days after the attack; and then she was back in Jokan and still very much in the way. “It didn’t work out. I want you to do it.”
Wyatt was silent. “I’ll do it. You know I’ll do anything you wish. But you should know they will probably recall me. Is that what you want?”
No, it wasn’t what she wanted. Wyatt was still useful, and it would take her time to develop a relationship with a replacement. “You know it’s not,” she said curtly. “Very well, I’ll find another way. But you will be sure and block anything she tries to do here?”
“Of course.” He looked relieved. “Whatever you want. That’s a much better—”
He gasped. She was suddenly above him and he was deep inside her. “Yes.”
She reached up and took the ruby comb from her hair and held it in front of his eyes. “Isn’t it beautiful? Full of glitter and power. But there’s always danger with power. What if I’d coated these prongs with a deadly poison?” She brought the prongs closer to his throat. “Then you’d really know how powerful I am, wouldn’t you?”
He was staring in fear and fascination at the comb. “Yes.”
“But it excites you, doesn’t it?” She brought the comb still closer to his throat. “I can see it does.” Then she was taking the comb away and putting it back in her hair. “Whatever I want?” She was moving fast, controlling him, not letting him touch her, totally dominating. “Stay still. Don’t move. You have to be punished for not giving me everything I need tonight. I’ll permit you to have this, but then I’ll tell Dalai to use the quirt on you. You’ll like that, won’t you?”
His cheeks were flushed, his mouth open to take air. “Yes. But I—want you—to do it.”
“Why should I care what you want? You’re only my slave, and so is Dalai. I’ll lie here as a queen should and watch the two of you perform for me.” She leaned over him, her dark eyes glittering. Her sharp white teeth sank deep into his shoulder. “Say it.”
“Whatever pleases you.” He shuddered as the blood ran from the wound. “Yes…watch us…as a queen should…”
* * *
Lake Cottage
“It’s crazy,” Joe said curtly when Eve finished telling him why she was going to Maldara. “I knew that there was something going on last night. I just didn’t know I wasn’t going to get a chance to talk you out of it.”
“You have a chance now,” Eve said. “I called you as soon as I was positive I was going. I won’t be leaving until tomorrow afternoon at three.” She added sarcastically, “It seems Jill has arranged with one of her friends in high places to lend her his jet and pilot to give us a lift to Maldara. For all I know, she might have even set it up before she came to see me. But at least that will eliminate a lot of red tape and give me more time to send Nora off and