Deceived Read online

  Anna looked at him uncertainly, then automatically began to scrub.

  “That’s right.” Dark nodded. “That’s the way, baby. Could you please just scrub these for me and concentrate really hard on getting all the dirt off them? I’ll be back to check on you in a little bit.”

  “All…all right,” she said dully, nodding. “I can do that.”

  “Thank you.” Dark wished he could drop a quick kiss on her cheek but almost all of the kitchen staff were watching now—even the sullen, angry Targo who had been keeping to himself ever since Dark had put him in his place. So he contented himself with squeezing her arm and murmuring, “Everything is going to be all right—I promise.”

  Then he had to leave her and go tend to the banquet food, which was only half-way ready. He promised himself that later they would talk more on this subject—much more. Apparently Gorn hadn’t been leaving her alone while he waited to breed her. But what was the big bastard up to? Until he could get the story out of Anna, Dark wouldn’t know.

  But I’ll find out, he swore to himself. You’d Goddess-damned better believe I’m going to find out. And if that Trollox bastard had laid a hand on her, I’ll kill him—mission or no mission, he’s going to fucking die.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Uh, Chef? They’re calling for you—the Master and his drewgs, I mean,” one of the kitchen crew who had been serving the dessert of chilled and candied glorm brains said to Dark as he came back through the double metal doors.

  “Calling for me? Why?” Dark asked warily, wiping his hands on the white towel he had slung over one shoulder.

  “Dunno.” The male shrugged. “I just know your Master, Gorn, and Master Yark told me to tell you to come out before the company.”

  Dark frowned. Now what in the Seven Hells could this be about? Either they were going to complain and berate him for what they thought was substandard food or, more likely, make some special request. Either way, he hated to leave the kitchen because Anna was still there.

  She was sitting in the same alcove and scrubbing the same tuber he’d put into her hands hours ago, Dark saw, glancing back at her. There was a shell-shocked look on her face that said she still hadn’t gotten over what she’d seen when that bastard Yark had been showing off his new heir.

  Dark didn’t like to leave her alone—not even for a minute in that condition. But he didn’t see that he had much choice—not with Gorn and Yark both calling for him.

  “You better hurry, Chef,” the male who had given him the summons in the first place said. “I don’t know about your master, but ours don’t like to be kept waiting.”

  “All right,” Dark muttered. “I’ll be back shortly.”

  Straightening his white jacket, he pushed through the swinging metal doors and went out into the dining room.

  Sitting at the long, food-smeared table, were Gorn, Yark, and their drewgs—the other Trollox who had been invited to the celebration. Their faces were filthy with their dinners and many had dribbled down their fronts as well. Hands were sticky and slimy and the odor of their combined belches and the remains of the Trollox cuisine was almost overpowering, even though he’d just come from the kitchen which reeked of the cooking food.

  “Yes, Master?” he said, looking at Gorn. “I was told that you summoned me?”

  “Ah, yes—yes indeed!” Gorn’s left head bellowed. “We wanted to compliment you, pretty boy! On such a fine feast!”

  “He’s quite a good cook for a Replicant,” Yark said, both heads nodding salubriously. “I might have to buy him off you, Gorn—if you’re selling!”

  For a moment Dark’s heart hammered in his chest. If Gorn sold him, he would be leaving both Anna and the Shannom-rah behind! What was he going to do if—

  But Gorn was shaking both his heads.

  “Sorry, Yark,” the left head proclaimed. “But he’s much too valuable to sell. Its’ damn near impossible to find a decent cook that can do Trollox food proper-like!”

  “Don’t I know it,” Yark said dryly. “Which is why I had to borrow yours. Well, thank you for lending him to me for tonight, my friend. This has truly been a memorable occasion.”

  “Here-here!” one of the Trollox bellowed, lifting a grease-smeared goblet in one clawed hand. “A cheer for Gorn who brought us such fine fare!”

  “Here-here!” the other Trollox shouted, also raising their glasses.

  “Thank you, thank you!” Gorn’s right head nodded and smiled slyly.

  “And let’s have a cheer for Yark’s new heir—such a fine, three-headed Trollox as I’ve never seen!” the left head bellowed.

  “Here-here!” they all shouted again.

  Dark saw that their focus had drifted away from him and was greatly relieved. He didn’t want anyone else offering to buy him or asking if Gorn would lend him out. He needed to stay in Gorn’s house near Anna and the Shannom-rah so that he could complete his mission and keep Anna safe.

  He began walking quickly and quietly back to the kitchen but just as he was entering the hallway that led to it, he heard a piercing cry—a feminine cry.

  “No, no, please!” a soft voice pleaded. “Please, don’t! Please, just leave me alone!”

  Anna! She’s in trouble! Dark’s eyes went wide and he took off at a dead run down the hallway.

  What he saw when he shoved through the swinging doors made his fangs grow long and sharp and his lips peel back from his teeth in a protective snarl.

  Standing in the middle of the room was Anna. The white feather cloak was puddled at her feet, revealing a sheer white dress through which her breasts and the rest of her body was clearly visible. She was trying to cover herself with her hands but Targo was pulling at them, forcing her to show herself.

  “Look here at the pretty little girlie the Replicant’s in love with,” he was sneering. “Looks pretty ripe to me, boys—what do you say we all have a turn in her sweet pussy?”

  As he spoke, he grabbed a pair of kitchen sheers and used them to cut right down the center of Anna’s dress, baring her breasts completely.

  “No, please!” she begged and then her eyes widened when she saw Dark. “Oh, Dark!” she exclaimed. “He…he won’t leave me alone. Please!”

  “Oh, is pretty boy back?” Targo demanded, turning with the sharp scissors still in one hand. His double-pupiled eyes narrowed. “Come on then, Replicant—you won’t catch me off guard again!”

  Dark snarled at the ex-head chef and a curtain of red Rage dropped over his vision, turning everything crimson.

  “You fucking dare to touch my female,” he growled, advancing on Targo. “You’re going to fucking die!”

  Targo’s pale purple face turned a belligerent shade of puce.

  “The hell I will, Replicant! Come on!”

  Dark sprang on him and grabbed him by the wrists, grappling with him and pushing him against one of the solid plasti-steel countertops. Still the other male wasn’t deterred.

  “Dumb fuck!” Targo grunted, trying to get free of Dark’s punishing grip. “You don’t even have a weapon! How do you think you’re going to take me down?”

  “Like this,” Dark snarled. Striking as quickly as a snake, he sank his long, sharp fangs into the other male’s throat and ripped it out.

  Targo’s double-pupiled eyes went wide. Dark let him go and he clutched at his throat, staggering to stay upright. Dark purple blood fountained out around his fingers and he made choked, strangling noises as he slowly went to his knees.

  “Oh my God.” Anna’s soft, trembling voice finally cut through the fog of red Rage that had clouded Dark’s vision the moment he saw the other male hurting her.

  “Anna?” He turned to her but she took a step back from him, her eyes wide.

  “You…bit him.” Her voice was little more than a whisper and her eyes were so big they threatened to swallow her face.

  “I had to—he was hurting you.” Dark realized he had the other male’s blood on his face—in his mouth. Taking the towel from his