[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.”* * * *Tana scurried to the door as soon a she heard the soft knock.Cracking it open, she smiled at Kallon.“Good, it’s you.I don’t know about you, but my stomach is about to cave in on itself.I was so freaked out thinking what I wanted to say to him today I couldn’t eat the food they sent up last night.”Kallon chuckled and stepped back from the door.“Well, then hurry up.We’re running late for breakfast.I got sidetracked on the way up.I found Keos leaving the palace with a busted lip and a cut under his eye.He wouldn’t go to the clinic.Just grinned at me and said he deserved it.Something about a boot.I swear, those elite guards are the strangest of the bunch.”Tana laughed and linked her arm around his.“They’re funny, too.They kept me sane.I haven’t seen them since I left the ship.Where was he off to?”“I believe he said something about a hunt.If they’re not fighting each other, they’re usually on the mountain looking for kruthka.That’s a beast about the size of an Earth cow, but meaner.”“After what I saw those guys kill, then they’re not going to have any problem bringing about ten of those back.Remind me to tell you that story some time.When you see the horn, you’ll understand why their craziness comes in handy.”“Deal.I’m not sure who will be at breakfast, but I’ll introduce you as soon as we get in there.Don’t be nervous.Everyone will be very excited to meet you.The ladies are going to love you, Tana.”Kallon walked her through a double set of doors and her eyes widened at the sight in front of her.Lucien sat at the end of a long table with a beautiful brunet practically attached to his side.Two other couples sat to each side of the table, but they were just blurry blobs on the edge of her tunnel vision.Her heart was in her throat and pounding to get out.Tana didn’t know whether to leap over the table and shove the curvy woman out of her chair or haul ass back to the room.What was he thinking? It was so cruel she was finding it hard to breathe.She knew Kallon was pulling her closer to the group and he was introducing them, but she couldn’t take her eyes off of Lucien.Then he smiled.She squinted her eyes and knew something wasn’t right.The dimple was deeper and his hair was longer.What the hell?“Tana, this is Prince Drusus.The emperor’s son.”Trying to keep from dropping in relief, Tana let out a loud, hysterical laugh and then promptly clamped her mouth shut.The gorgeous blonde sitting next to an equally gorgeous man started laughing.“The minute you walked in the room, I knew he’d freaked you out.Looks exactly like his father, doesn’t he? Happens to everyone.Hi, I’m Cassie.This is Severus, the love of my life.The one you looked at like you wanted to tear her eyes out is Lina, my best friend.On the other side is Cato and his mate Luna.Come on, sit by me.We’re going to get along just fine, red.I like a woman ready to fight for her man.”Tana felt a hot flush rip up from her chest to her hairline before she could get a word out of her mouth.“Oh! No, you’re mistaken.Lucien isn’t…I mean the emperor isn’t…you know…mine.”Cassie reached over and pulled out the chair next to hers.She threw her a lopsided grin and snorted.“Lie to yourself all you want, sweetie.You’re a dead giveaway.”Chapter 30The sweetest voice rose up and saved Tana from further embarrassment as she gawked at the pretty blonde.“Cassie! You’re going to scare her.Don’t worry, Tana, she’s a total sweetheart.Like she said, we’re best friends and I’ll make sure she behaves herself.Sit, please.I’m sure you’re starving.The kitchen staff said your dinner plate was untouched.”Goodness, Lina was too adorable.She would’ve felt bad if she’d actually kicked her ass.“Uh, yeah.Sure.Thank you.”Sliding onto the chair next to Cassie, Tana glanced to Kallon.He was leaning over and placing a gentle kiss to the cheek of the dark-haired beauty named Luna, then took the seat next to her.She had fabulous blue eyes and was just as breathtaking as the other two.The huge, extremely handsome man sitting next to her couldn’t keep his eyes from roaming every inch of Luna’s face.Tana could tell he was totally smitten as he held her long braid in his hand and caressed the strands.He was intimidating as hell with a monstrous tattoo running down his right arm and ball studs lining one ear.The blue tips on his spiked hair just made him even more unique.He flipped his eyes up and caught her staring.When he smiled, Tana couldn’t look away.The words “fallen angel” whispered through her brain.He had the same intriguing eye color as his mate.Geez, were there any ugly Insedi?“Nice to meet you, Tana.I’m Cato.This is Luna, my mate.She’s also Kallon’s cousin.”Luna graced her with a brilliant smile and Tana immediately liked her.“Hi, Tana.I’m glad you made it safely off that planet.The way the emperor spoke of you, I knew you were extraordinary.He said that you saved them.”Tana felt heat hit her cheeks again.“No.I didn’t do anything special.They all rescued me.” From the corner of her eye, she saw the prince lean forward.“I beg to differ.Confiscating the device that held my father captive was miraculous.He told us that you acquired it while two males were fighting and you were injured.You were very brave.The way you handled the weapons that allowed the warriors to continue the battle with the Dar Kan is commendable.You’d make a fine warrior, according to my father.I would have to agree.”Tana had tried to follow what he’d been saying, but the resemblance to Lucien was uncanny and kept her mind in a wild spin [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]