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called by the girls this morning, but then again, maybe it wasn t. She hadn t
called them to work it was rainy they d decided to busy themselves in their
own way. Clearly they were as smart as Mikki had given them credit for being.
I m sure the Elementals will be here any second. I ll be happy to let you
guys in.
Their leader s eyes lit, and he bowed again to her. To be invited within the
Realm of the Rose by its Empousa is truly an honor we do not deserve.
Oh, it s no problem. We can walk back to the palace together. I was just
going to head in that direction. And being escorted by four
to-die-for-handsome young men was definitely not a hardship. Neither was it
wrong. She felt an unexpected surge of anger. Hell, no! It wasn t wrong. She
was in love, not dead. And all she was doing was taking the men to her
handmaidens. The only ulterior motive she had was maybe to engage in some
harmless flirtation. And why not? She felt amazingly pretty and completely
loved. But that didn t mean she wanted to be controlled and caged! Asterius
could just think again if he expected to put his brand on her and treat her
like a prize heifer! Is that what Asterius would expect from her? To allow him
to own her every movement? She was suddenly afraid that he might. He was,
after all, a beast. She couldn t expect him to know how to treat a woman.
Somewhere in the depths of Mikki s mind a warning tried to cry its way through
the cacophony of unnaturally defensive thoughts that bubbled and brewed like a
rancid stew. But they could not be heard over the hatred and envy, selfishness
and fear that were shouting so loudly.
Feeling totally pissed off, she moved to the middle of the gate and frowned at
it. No doorknob. No latch. No bar to slide back. Frustrated, and especially
annoyed at the massive headache that pounded in her temples, she raised one
hand and pressed her palm against the gate.
This is your Empousa speaking. Open the hell up, she muttered angrily.
The living gate instantly swung open. The four men stepped out of the swirling
fog, smiling at her as if she had just given them the key to paradise. Mikki
smiled absently back at them, wishing they d hurry and get inside. She didn t
like the looks of the gray-cloaked forest, and she wanted to get the gate shut
right away. The second the last man was through, she raised her hand again and
whispered for the gate to close, breathing a sigh of relief when it obeyed
her. Then she turned to the men.
Okay, the palace is that way. Mikki gestured to the widest of the marble
pathways.
After you, Empousa, the golden man said.
Mikki began down the path but stopped abruptly when the dark-haired man
stepped in front of her to block her way.
Uh, it s that way, Mikki said, pointing over the man s shoulder and thinking
that he may be handsome, but he definitely wasn t the brightest Crayola in the
pack.
Perhaps you would like to know our names before you lead us to the palace,
Empousa.
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The golden man s voice came from directly behind her. He was standing so close
she could feel his breath on her hair. The other two men stepped in to close
the tight circle so they had her neatly surrounded, and in that instant her
mind cleared the pain in her head stopped, as did the deafening emotions that
had been seething in her mind.
Mikki was suddenly, horribly afraid. They were Dream Stealers, and she had
opened the rose gate for them.
Instincts that had been silenced from the moment she had begun talking with
the golden man screamed at her not to show fear. Mikki swallowed the bile that
had risen in her throat, drew herself up regally and turned to face the golden
man.
What is this all about? she snapped.
We re simply saying that we would like to introduce ourselves to you,
Empousa. You see, we already know you. We ve enjoyed watching you. Now we d
like for you to know exactly who you have so graciously invited within your
realm. His voice had changed from charming to sarcastic. His lip curled at
her, and his handsome face twisted in disgust.
I don t like your tone, and I don t like how close you re standing to me,
Mikki said sternly, trying to imitate Hecate s intimidating tone. I think
it s time you left. I ve decided my handmaidens wouldn t like you.
Too late! You opened the barrier to us, and you will see that once invited,
we are not so easily banished. He reached out and lifted a strand of her hair
that had fallen over her shoulder. Mikki tried to jerk away from him, but hard
hands grasped her shoulders and held her in place as the golden man bent and
sniffed at her hair. Mikki struggled. Fisting his hand in her hair, he jerked
her head to the side. Like a snake tasting the skin of its prey, his tongue
flicked out to graze the side of her neck.
Ah, the sweet taste of an Empousa. It has been centuries since I ve sampled
this particular delicacy.
Stop it! Mikki cried. Let go of me!
Surprisingly, the golden man let loose her hair. He smiled at her, but it was
a baring of teeth, not an expression of humor. We re going to enjoy our visit
with you, Empousa. And we do appreciate the weather change you commanded all
the better to cloak our little rendezvous, though it looks as if someone has
already had the pleasure of your company this morning. With reptilian grace,
he lashed out and ripped the brooch that held together the torn pieces of her
chiton.
Mikki was frozen with fear. She clutched at her chiton, trying not to vomit as
the men crowded closer around her, grasping her with hungry hands and watching
her with ravenous eyes.
Come now, Empousa. Don t be shy. You can t say you don t recognize me.
Or me, the dark-haired man breathed into her back.
Or me.
And me.
Look into my eyes, Empousa. I m sure you ve seen me before. Can you not guess
my name?
She stared into the golden man s blue eyes and they changed. The pupils
shifted and became slits. The color faded and washed from brilliant blue to
the red of old blood. Mikki did know him. Who he was seared through her mind,
and with his naming came a fury that burned away her fear.
Get your fucking hands off of me! She jerked violently. Surprised, the
dark-haired man holding her from behind stumbled and lost his grip on her, and
she was able to back several steps away from them.
The golden man laughed and followed her with smooth, serpentine grace. Good .
. . we like it when they struggle. It makes it more interesting. What do you
see when you look within my eyes, Empousa?
I see an asswipe who needs to invest in color contacts. She kept backing
away. He and the other men followed her.
Ha! I will have to teach you better things to do with that sharp tongue of
yours. But for now, tell me, Empousa, what name would you give me?
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Hatred, she said without hesitation.
His smile was fierce. Ah! You are a quick study. Perhaps I will take you with
me when we leave here. Would you like that? I am a man who knows intimately
the hidden desires of women.
Man? She laughed sarcastically. You re not a man; you re a creature. A
carrion eater that feeds on the carcasses of dreams. I don t care what kind of
skin you wrap yourself up in! You re no man.
He lunged forward and grabbed her arms. Not a man? I ll show you how much of
a man I am!
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