For a moment Sark just stared at him. The enormity of this male’s ego—and the sheer number of his disgusting, abusive acts—were almost more than he could comprehend. Like all Kindred he felt the instinctive need to protect females. When he mentally numbered all the female employees he’d seen as he passed through the enormous palace and realized that Le’rank had probably raped each and every one of them, he felt a mixture of sickness and fury overtake him.
Something stirred in him—something huge. A physical manifestation of the rage he felt—he almost seemed to hear vast, invisible wings sweeping the air around him.
“Have you considered that all those maids and servants felt like they didn’t have a choice about having sex with you?” he demanded, his voice deepening to a growl. “That they were afraid if they didn’t let you rape them and pretend to like it they would lose their jobs and be thrown out of the palace? Where apparently your people are starving in the streets because, while their crops are failing, you’re using all the available resources to live a life of fucking luxury!”
“What?” Le’rank’s narrow face went red with fury. “How dare you speak to me in that manner? That is treason!”
“It’s only treason if I’m one of your fucking subjects—which I’m not,” Sark growled. “And I’m also not willing to listen to a critique of my sexual technique from a male whose idea of foreplay is rape!”
“Why…you…you are hereby released from your contract!” Le’rank sputtered. “I will not hear this kind of language directed at my Royal person.”
“Fuck that,” Sark growled. “I re-read the damn contract last night—there’s no clause for an early release. You probably did that for your own benefit, but it’s too late to change it now. I’m here and I’m staying.” He pointed a finger at Le’rank. “And let me tell you, while I’m here, you’re not laying another hand on Isla. If you do, I’ll break it off.”
“How dare you threaten me in my own home?” Le’rank demanded.
“I’m not threatening you—just letting you know what will happen if you try anything,” Sark told him. “I’ll make your wife glow, but I’ll do it my way and in the meantime, you’re not to interfere. Understand?”
“I understand that you will be getting an extremely bad review when this contract is up!” Le’rank spat. His rat-like face was puce with fury.
“Fine.” Sark nodded coolly. “Though I think the glowing review Emperor T’raskow of Yanem Two gave me might overshadow your temper tantrum just a little fucking bit.” He held his thumb and forefinger a tiny bit apart to illustrate his point.
Le’rank’s narrow shoulders were tensed and his hands were balled into fists at his sides. He looked like he wanted to attack, but there was no way he could go up against Sark and come out alive on the other side, and both of them knew it.
“Come on, little man,” Sark growled. “You want to hit me? Try it. I think you’ll find I’m a harder target than a helpless female who’s under your control.”
“You…you…” Le’rank was practically dancing on the balls of his feet with rage.
“Yes?” Sark raised his eyebrows.
“You…” Le’rank took a deep breath. “You tell Isla to pack her things. We are leaving for Fenushia Alpha tonight! And after we finish there, your contract will be over, whether you’ve made her glow or not!”
The he turned and stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
SEVENTEEN
From the diary of Lady Isla, wife to Lord Baslik Le’rank of Telmar Two of the Orinthian System:
Oh dear—I cannot believe what I have just heard!
I know I said it was time I left the bathing chamber, but I have come back for I must record this. Just a few moments ago, I heard murmuring as though Sark was talking to someone and I wanted to know what he was saying.
I left the bathing chamber and went to the door of my bedroom, which leads into the sitting area. I put my eye to the crack in the door and saw my guard pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace.
At first I thought he was talking to himself, but then, after a moment, I realized he was speaking into a device—recording his thoughts and observations—much as I write my deepest and most secret thoughts in these pages. And then, I realized with a shock, that he was talking about me.
How can I express how I felt when I heard him saying that he finds me beautiful…and then describing the most shockingly carnal acts which he wishes to commit with me?
He says he wants to taste me! Not just my skin or my lips, however—he wishes to taste me between my legs.
I confess that in my ignorance, I had not even believed such things were possible or that people would actually do them to each other. I can hardly believe it, but my guard was talking about wanting to put his mouth on my forbidden area. No, my pussy—I will call it that, for I like the name much better. But it makes the idea no less shocking.