phantomlike elegance in the nimbus of light cast by the

lantern. „Good evening, Monteith.“

„You look charming, my dear,“ Monteith said. „Perhaps I

should offer you a position in my circus. I’m sure the

gentlemen would flock to see you.“ His voice lowered silkily.

„And you appear to be so comfortable among us. May I ask if

you intend to be here long this time?“

„Only a few days.“ Silver glanced down at Etaine. „Khadil

said it would be all right if I shared her tent and there are a few

arrangements I wish to make before I leave.“

„Nonsense. When I heard you were here, I told Khadil to

move in with one of the other freaks for the night and let you

have exclusive use of her tent. A young lady must have her

privacy.“ His gaze flicked to Etaine and his smile glittered in

the lantern light. „I believe I told you to go to bed,“ he said

softly. „You’re not usually so stupid, Etaine. I don’t wish to

tell you again.“ He snapped his fingers.

Two bright spots of color appeared in the child’s ivory

cheeks and she scrambled quickly to her feet. „I’m going.

Good night, Silver.“ She ran toward the door, carefully

avoiding brushing her father. „I’ll see you in the morning.“

Monteith turned to watch her leave and then his gaze

returned to Silver. „Children can be terribly disobedient, can’t

they, Silver? I must remember to do something about that in

the near future.“

Silver felt a ripple of fear. Monteith’s physical presence

seemed to encompass and smother her. He was being far too

polite and charming to her. Mon-teith maintained a pleasant

facade only for his audiences and had never been hesitant

about displaying his displeasure for both her presence at his

circus and her association with Etaine. „You don’t seem

unhap--py to see me here. If I remember correctly, you weren’t

this cordial the last time I saw you.“

„I can afford to be generous. We won’t be here much

longer, so your interference with Etaine will cease to be a

problem.“

„I help Etaine. Surely no one could call that a problem.“

„No?“ His brow rose. „But then, we all have our own

viewpoints.“ He turned to leave. „And our individual purposes

in life.“

„The reason I came back was to talk to you about Etaine.“

„Really? How interesting. Tomorrow we must make time

for that conversation.“ He glanced back over his shoulder, his

dark blue eyes glittering coldly. „Sleep well, Silver.“

Silver gazed after him. Monteith’s presence always held a

strange fascination for her. She supposed it was his

resemblance to Etaine that bothered her so greatly. Being with

him was like peering into a broken looking glass and seeing a

beloved friend’s reflection twisted and fragmented. Etaine s

zest and warmth, her loving nature and joy in life were the

precise opposites of her father’s traits. His cold beauty and

mocking cruelty were repulsive, and the aura of power he

emanated disturbed Silver even more.

She got up and blew out the lantern, then settled down on

Khadil’s pallet and closed her eyes. She was so tired, and

seeing Monteith had made her realize how many problems

confronted her; Etaine, Monteith, her own plans for the future.

And the other possibility that she had been afraid even to

think about.

She swallowed, fighting down the panic that persisted in

rising within her. It was foolish to worry, when she would

probably have her monthly flux any day. If not, then it meant

she would have to see Nicholas only one last time. She would

certainly not lie here sleepless, thinking about possibilities that

might never come to pass. She would need all her strength and

control tomorrow, when she would try to persuade Monteith to

give up Etaine.

„Don’t move!“ A hand clamped down over Silvers mouth,

smothering her outcry as she was jarred out of a sound sleep

into half waking. „And if you sink your teeth into me, by God,

I’ll gag you. I’m not at all pleased with you, Silver.“

Nicholas!

Even in the darkness she could never fail to recognize him.

That musky scent, the deep vibrance of his voice… Joy

cascaded through her in a blinding tide. Something lost was

found. A bond that had been broken was now newly forged.

He was astride her, she could feel the iron-hard strength of

his thighs through the layers of clothes that separated them.

That was wrong, she thought hazily. There should be nothing

separating them. Not time, nor distance, not even the flimsy

barriers of fabrics.

„Silver?“ There was a sudden note of concern in Nicholas’s

voice. „Are you all right? Dammit, Mon-teith said you were

only tired. I should have – “

„Monteith?“ She was abruptly wide awake and began to

struggle beneath Nicholas’s weight.

„That’s better,“ Nicholas said dryly. „It’s not like you to be

so meek. For a minute I was afraid you were ill. I was sure –

Ouch!“ He jerked his hand away from her teeth. „Get your

fangs out of me. I told you I’d – “

„Let me go!“ Silver said fiercely. „Not again, Nicholas!“

„Oh, yes,“ Nicholas said softly. „Again and again and

again. It may never stop. If you run away, I’ll only follow.

Haven’t you realized that yet, Silver?“

The darkness of the tent was soft as ebony velvet and

vibrant with the essence of Nicholas, reaching out, enfolding

her. She could feel his heat, and her heart began to pound

harder. „There is nothing to realize.“

„You think not?“ Grimness threaded Nicholas’s voice.

„Well then, I’ll have to convince you. But not here, you’re

coming back to the Rose with me.“

„I’m not leaving here.“

„You will. I told Monteith I wanted no one sharing your

tent because these people are your friends and I didn’t want to

chance harming them.“ His voice hardened. „But I have no

intention of leaving without you, Silver. If you fight me,

someone will no doubt hear and try to help you. Do you want

to risk their being hurt?“

She stopped struggling. Nicholas’s tone was unrelenting,

and she knew he meant every word he said. She drew a deep

breath. „Monteith sent a message to you telling you I was

here?“

„He was very well paid to do so. You’ll be happy to know

you cost me a great deal of money. Monteith is an

exceptionally greedy man.“

„He’s a complete bastard.“

„I surmised as much, but it made no difference as long as I

could buy what I wanted from him.“ The muscles of his thighs

were hardening and his voice was thick. „And I want you. I

believe it will be better if we leave here immediately. Mikhail

is waiting outside the circus grounds with a hired carriage.“ He

moved off her, one hand encircling her wrist, and he pulled her

to her feet. „Are you going to fight me?“

„No,“ she said curtly. „Not here. There will be time enough

to get away from you without involving my friends.“

„Excellent reasoning.“ He pulled her toward the entrance of

the tent. „And extremely convenient for me.“

„When did you arrive in St. Louis? I thought perhaps you

would give up.“

He laughed softly. „No, you didn’t.“

He Was right. She had known he yvould never give up

something he wanted any more than she would have.

„I arrived here nearly a week ago.“ He was leading her past

the silent darkness of the tents. In the distance she could see

the glow of a carriage lantern and Mikhail’s huge form on the

coachman’s seat. „I remembered you said Monteith was no

friend of yours, so I went directly to him and struck a bargain.