“Raped me?” she asked softly.
“Yes.”
I was biting my lip when she looked at me with a calm expression. “No, Christina, Finn didn’t rape me.”
“Oh, thank god.” I sighed.
“He and I had a discussion and in his lack of verbal ammunition he used other means to intimidate and dominate me, but you shouldn’t worry about me. I’m not easily intimidated.”
“But, didheundress you, or did you?”
“It matters not,” she said in a voice that somehow was too deep and mature for her age. “He’s just a young boy.”
I frowned. Finn had to be in his early to mid-thirties. He wasnota boy; it was a strange thing for her to say.
She smiled. “I’m older than I look.”
“All right, and how old are you then?” I asked and admired the symbol on her forehead with the elegant mark of a priestess.
“I’m thirty years old.”
I couldn’t help a small laugh. “No, you’re not. You can’t be more than twenty; you look very young.”
“Iamyoung!” She smiled vaguely. “So are you.”
“How can you be my age?” I was looking at her flawless skin, apple cheeks, and clear green eyes. Everything about her shouted youth.
She shrugged and took my hand. “My dear, do not let your eyes fool you. Not everything is what it seems.”
“I know that,” I said and felt a slight irritation. I was the one coming toheraid and she behaved like she didn’t need it.
“I smell something nice,” she said and gave me a bigger smile.
“Oh, yes, of course.” Bringing the tray to the bed, I said: “I brought you breakfast.”
“That’s very kind of you; please, let us share it.”
“It’s okay, I just ate downstairs.”
“Good, then tell me about this place,” she said and picked up some grapes.
“Okay.” I crawled up on the bed and took a seat with my legs crossed. “This place is called the Gray Mansion and it’s the home of the ruler and his family.”
“Khan Aurelius?”
“Yes. His mother, Erika, lives here too and his brother Magni.” My voice grew brusque. “Magni is the beast who kidnapped you.”
While she ate, I spoke. “I’m with Boulder… Or I mean, he’s my protector.”
“Okay.”
“There are other men here at the mansion. Guards, staff, and friends of the ruler, but no other women. Only Erika, Laura, and me.”
“And Laura went missing.” It wasn’t a question. Athena already knew this part.
“Yes. And when Magni found out, he lost control of his emotions and threw things around in a rage,” I explained. “He wants her back, badly.”
“Hmm. Do you know why she left?”
