Page 19 of Seduction

Haldor hid a triumphant grin. His strategy had worked. Bristling at the idea that the pitiful little creature would be mistaken as her master, Selena had stopped wallowing in misery.

“No offense meant,” he replied mildly. “Have you set out a plan for today’s training? And a goal?”

“I have. I’ve calculated the progress you need to make to be fit for transport through the portal and divided it into incremental units. We’ll begin slowly and step up the pace over the next eight weeks. Two moons,” she corrected, when his brown wrinkled.

“That sounds agreeable. You are the doctor. You set the goals. Would it also be agreeable if, as the patient, I set the rewards for which I strive?”

She cocked her head, considering. “Yes, that’s a good idea. There’s no point in my setting a reward in which you have no interest. It gives you no incentive to work hard. What reward did you have in mind?”

“Hmm. It’s a pity you have no ale here. Let me think on it. Do you give your word that when I earn a reward, you’ll give it to me?”

She gave him a suspicious look. “I suppose so, as long as it is within my power to give. All right, yes. You have my word.”

Haldor found it harder than he’d thought it would be to go through the exercises she’d designed. The muscles of his left arm and shoulder hadn’t knitted themselves fully to the new bones she’d put in. That side of his body felt clumsy and slow to respond when they began. Later in the day, even lifting the arm over his head made him want to whine like a cranky child. He tired quickly and fought to hide the fact that he was panting for breath every time she gave him a break.

By the time Selena called a halt to the morning’s training, it was all he could do not to sink onto the bed, moaning, curled up in a ball. Had he been with Kylar and Gunnar and the others, they’d have shamed him into going on longer, cheering when he finally collapsed on the ground, puking.

“Haldor, that was wonderful! You’ve made great progress for your first day.”

He wiped the sweat from his eyes, and her blurred face came into focus. “When does this ‘training’ you promised begin?”

She laughed. “I underestimated you. You’re even stronger than I thought. I’ll step up the pace tomorrow, to really challenge you. Now – have you decided what you’d like for your reward?”

He stifled a groan. Damn my stubborn hide. Why couldn’t I keep my tongue still? Step up the pace? I’ll die here after all.

He felt every moon of his forty years. Blood pounded in his ears, through his veins. Everywhere – except his limp prick. His masculine pride was saved by the fact that he’d decided before they even began not to start off demanding a sexual act that, no matter how enjoyable she might find it at the time, would plunge her back into guilt and turmoil afterward.

“I want to go out. Walk among the trees. I want you to show me your world.”

“Out? But…”

“You gave your word.”

“You’re right. And you’ve certainly earned a reward. Fine. We’ll go. In fact, it may be a good idea to get you away from all this medical equipment for a bit. You’re going to love our nature area. It’s so green there. And the trees are majestic. It will make you feel like you’re back home. Sit down and rest for a while first. Let me get you something to eat after that workout.” She glanced at his bare arms and shoulders, the sweat-soaked uniform clinging to his body. “Maybe you’d like to shower and change before we go?”

He missed his sauna back home, but Selena showed him how to bring forth a waterfall in a small enclosure off his room. He leaned wearily against its clear wall, letting the hot spring pour over his aching body, soothing his muscles. Then, with no snowdrift to roll in, he summoned an icy blast, turning around and around in the spray until he felt like himself again.

An hour later, they stood outside the building. The journey in the narrow metal box had been swift but frightening. His stomach lurched as they fell and, for a moment, he feared he’d shame himself and lose his midday meal. Thankfully he stood behind Selena in the box, and she hadn’t seemed to notice.

The free fall slowed, finally came to a stop. An unseen hand silently opened the doors. His legs were still trembling as he crossed a large empty room and stepped outside.

Haldor stood still, taking it all in. Here, the glaring white all around him was even more unrelenting than it had been looking down from above. Buildings stood shoulder to shoulder, their walls clad in shiny surfaces that reflected the light. Stretched to the heavens, so tall his eyes could barely follow them to the top. Selena said the city was surrounded by something she called a dome. He imagined it must be similar to the walls of a fortress, but he could see no sign of it.

Underfoot, smooth white stone stretched out in every direction. No sign of joints or tool marks. He wondered how such a massive stone could have been transported. Or had a giant marble mountain been hewn away by the Earthers over the ages, one chunk at a time, leaving behind this great slab on which they built their city?

Around him, people moved in every direction. Speaking softly, nodding pleasantly as they passed each other. None of the men shouted out a friendly insult then laughed and gave their brother a hearty embrace. The women didn’t stroll arm in arm, talking nonstop, while their little ones ran around them, giggling. The few children he saw walked as solemnly as the adults.

Some of the passersby glanced furtively out of the corners of their eyes at him. A few stared openly. As they’d been about to leave, Selena had run back to his room and come out with a sheet she tied around his neck like a makeshift cloak. Draped around him, it covered the upper part of his body. But when he strode along, it swung freely, exposing his bronzed arms and powerful shoulders.

One look and those nearby disappeared into buildings or picked up their pace, put distance between themselves and him. Others heading toward him turned and walked back the way they’d come.

“It’s all right,” Selena murmured. “Most citizens aren’t used to seeing beings from off-world in the flesh. By tonight, you’ll be in every living room in East Metropolis as a life-sized hologram.” She sighed. “I’m probably going to get in trouble with Symon. I didn’t get permission from the ministry for this outing.”

Haldor stopped dead. “You will be punished? Because of me? I will not allow it!” he thundered. “Take me to them. Now!”

Bystanders fled, as though they’d encountered a dangerous beast. A snow leopard or hungry wolf wandering into the city, lost in a storm.

“Shhh!” She glanced up at him then away, blushing. “It’s not the kind of punishment you’re thinking of. We’re already out here, so let’s head to the park while I explain.”

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