“Maybe. What do you think these are?” Thraceindicated four tiny black dots, one at the middle of each bedpost. They werepositioned to give a perfect view of whoever was lying there—if they were whathe suspected.

“Oh!” Trin looked at them. “Hidden vidcams? Do youthink they’re wired for sound?”

Thrace frowned. “I doubt it. The acoustics in this roomwould be terrible for it. High ceilings, too many echoes. If they wanted sound,they would have put us in a much smaller, more insulated room. No, if I had tobet I’d guess that Lady Tam-tam just likes to watch.”

“You really think so?” Trin asked, wide-eyed.

“I wouldn’t be surprised. I’ll try to find outtonight.” Thracefinished her right foot and reached for the left. He was pleased when shedidn’t try to pull away this time. “I’m going to go out while you’re gettingdressed and talk to some of the other slaves. Need to get some insight on howwe’re supposed to behave here.”

“You’re right—we need to know the exact rules ofetiquette for the grand reception tonight,” Trin said thoughtfully. “We don’twant to offend anyone and I have to admit…” She sighed. “I have no idea how tobehave toward you. Am I still supposed to treat you as a slave, or are you myequal?”

“Since they’re doing a whole night devoted to the‘beauty of male submission’ I’m pretty sure I’m not supposed to act as yourequal,” Thracesaid dryly. “But I don’t think you’re supposed to abuse me publiclyeither.”

“Well, that’s good anyway. I never wanted toact like a bitch mistress from the Seven Hells to begin with.” Trin sighed ashe pressed his thumbs to the delicate arch of her foot. “Goddess, you’re goodat that!”

“Glad you’re enjoying yourself, Mistress.” Thracegrinned at her. “Just your devoted slave here, doing everything I can to giveyou pleasure.”

“Very funny.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “Youwere very convincing back there with Lady Tam-tam you know—telling her how you,uh, fell in love with me when I bought you.” She cleared her throat and hischeeks got flushed again. “You had her completely fooled.”

“I wasn’t trying to fool her—I was telling thetruth,” Thracepointed out. “About the way you bought and rescued me, I mean.” He grinned atTrin. “Of course, you’ll notice I didn’t mention anything about the way youkept me chained to my bed for the next several days.”

“Or the way you tried to choke the life out of me,”Trin reminded him but a little smile was playing around the corners of hermouth. “Or the way you rescued me from B’Rugh and a fate worse than death. Ugh.”She shivered.

“Well, she doesn’t need to know everything,”Thracesaid.

“She especially doesn’t need to know that we’reonly together until we do this deal.” Trin spoke casually but her words causeda strange hollow sensation somewhere in the pit of Thrace’s stomach. Which made nosense.

“Of course, the deal,” he muttered, frowning.

“I’m worried about it,” Trin admitted. “I don’tthink Lady Malroth was too thrilled that we got her room and LadyTam-tam’s instant affection. It might ruin everything.”

“I doubt it,” Thrace remarked. “She seems like ashrewd businesswoman and you’re offering good quality crystals for a very fairprice. She’ll still want the deal. Get her alone after the reception tonightand talk to her then.”

“All right, I will. And I hope you’re right.” Trinlooked at him. “I know you hope so, too. Even though I’m not required to treatyou like dirt, this can’t be easy for you—being my slave and having to act likeyou’re madly in love with me. I mean it’s just…silly.” She coughed.

“Uh-huh. Ridiculous,” Thrace said softly, though hedidn’t know who he was trying to convince—her or himself. “Anyway, we’ll be outof here soon. Until then, let’s just play our parts. And let me find out howwe’re supposed to behave.” He let her small foot slip from his hands and stoodup. “Wish me luck, Mistress—I’m going on a fact finding mission. Or, if anyoneasks, I’m searching for some calming mint oil to rub into your temples becauseyou feel a headache coming on.”

Trin smiled. “You’re too much, Thrace. Okay, be careful. I think Imight just lay down here for a little while and take a nap.” She yawned. “Idon’t know why but I’m so sleepy.”

“Aftereffects of the passion berries,” Thracetold her. “It’s all out of your system but it still leaves you feeling drained.Sleep while you can, I’ll come back in time to wake you for the reception.”

“Okay…” Her eyes were already closing and her long,black hair was spread over the blue and gold embroidered pillow. The thin lacepanels covering her breasts and sex showed her warm brown curves and herbeautiful face was tranquil and serene.

Thrace couldn’t help thinking what a lovely sight shemade lying in the center of the sleeping platform like a princess out of an oldstory. On impulse, he took her hand in his and bent to place a soft kiss in herpalm.

“Oh!” Trin opened her eyes and looked at himuncertainly.

“Sleep well, Mistress,” he murmured. Then,reluctantly, he let her go and left.

Chapter Sixteen

“Wake up, baby. Time to get moving.”

The deep voice in her ear was familiar. But whocould be calling her ‘baby’? Everyone she knew called her by her surname, aswas the custom on Zetta Prime. Well, except for her mother who called her byher first name, Lonnara. So who…

Thrace. It’s Thrace,a little voice in her head whispered. Sure enough,when she opened her eyes, he was sitting beside her on the bed holding aturquoise lace and Neptharian silk gown in his hands.

“What’s that?” Trin asked groggily. Goddess, shefelt like she’d been sleeping for a hundred cycles and her head throbbed like arotten tooth.

“Your outfit for tonight. I just resized it. Sit upand put it on—the reception is in fifteen minutes.”

“That soon?” Trin sat up in a sudden panic but themotion caused a spike of pain to pierce her brain. “Goddess of Judgment, my head.”She put a hand to her forehead and winced.

“Here. Hold still.” Large warm fingers weresuddenly at her temples, rubbing something cool and soothing into her throbbingflesh.

“What’s that?” Trin muttered.

“Calming mint oil of course. Told you I was goingto get some. Breathe it in—it’ll help.”

“I thought that was just your cover story,” Trinsaid, inhaling deeply as he instructed. A cool, faintly sweet scent reached hernose at once. And to her relief, it did ease the headache. “That doeshelp.” She looked at him. “Did you know I’d have a headache when I woke up?More aftereffects of those damn passion berries?”

He nodded. “Afraid so.”

“Well how much longer am I going to keep havingthem? Feeling so fatigued and waking up with my head pounding…” Trin frowned.“I mean, it’s ridiculous—I barely took one tiny sip of that wine!”

“It was laced with three berries,” hepointed out. “That’s enough for three people your size. “You’re just lucky youdidn’t drink any more.”

“But isn’t there a way to get rid of all ofit—after effects and all?” Trin demanded. “You should know—you said the passionberries were native to your planet.”

He shrugged obliquely.

“Sure—the same thing that’s the only cure if youtake the second and third sips.”

Trin bit her lip. “You mean…penetration and…andinsemination?”

“Uh-huh.” His eyes were half-lidded now for somereason and his deep voice was a soft growl.

“That’s…unnatural.” Trin felt her heart pound atthe thought…I am one of the Unpenetrated. I have too much self respect toallow such a thing. Besides it’s wrong. Allowing a male to penetrate youwith his shaft was like a slap in the face of the Goddess—or so said thepriestesses who served in her temple. And while Trin had outgrown many of herchildhood beliefs, some were far too ingrained to get rid of. Not that shewanted to. “It’s unthinkable,” she said firmly.