Apollo.
“Well?” Kadar asked.
“It’s Vaden.”
He must have heard his name. He froze, his gaze left the face of the woman.
Selene instinctively braced herself as she met Vaden’s gaze. In the space of a heartbeat she felt weighed, judged, and dismissed.
Vaden returned to his coupling.
She was disconcerted. “What do we do now?”
“Well, we don’t interrupt. He should be finished soon.”
She hoped that was true. She felt very awkward standing here watching him couple.
And not only awkward.
“No one would notice,” Kadar murmured in her ear. “We could find our own corner.”
She shook her head.
But watching a man as beautiful as Vaden perform was causing the heat to flow through her. She had never understood the tapestry in the tower room, the excitement of watching others couple.
She did now.
Thank God, they were finishing. A moment later he was rising, pulling the whore to her feet.
He was laughing as he pulled on his tunic and searched in his money pouch. He patted the woman on her backside and pressed a coin into her hand. He turned to Selene and smiled. “I’m a little weary now, but give me time. It’s a long night.”
Kadar chuckled at the shocked expression on Selene’s face. “What did you expect? I told you, only whores come here. She doesn’t wish you to rut with her, Vaden. That’s not why we’re here.” He took another step closer. “Do you remember me?”
The amusement left Vaden’s face. “Kadar.”
“I thought you’d recognize me. We never actually met, but I was with Ware during the many years you watched and stalked him.” He pulled Selene forward. “You may not recall Selene. She was much younger when you encountered each other.”
“I think he should remember,” Selene said dryly. “Considering he pulled me from my horse and threatened to kill me.”
Vaden smiled. “I do remember you. You’re the sister of Ware’s woman.”
“His wife,” she corrected. “They are wed.”
Vaden shrugged. “I cannot remember everything.” He dropped into a chair and reached for his wine goblet. “She shouldn’t be here, Kadar.”
“I know. She insisted on coming. Could I persuade you to leave this place with us?”
“No.” He lifted his wine to his lips. “I like it here.”
“It stinks,” Selene said succinctly.
“True. You should leave before your delicate nose is further offended. But I’m a little drunk, and I make it a habit to never go out into dark alleys unless I have all my wits about me.”
Selene dropped down in the chair across from him. “We want you to help us.”
“I helped you once before.” He smiled. “Don’t expect more from me. I’m not a generous man.”
“We’re not asking for generosity,” Selene said. “We want your sword. You’ll be well paid.”
“Ware?”
She shook her head. “Ware knows nothing about this. Tarik. You remember him?”
He sipped his wine. “How could I forget? I sold him my birthright. Is he enjoying it?”
“It’s a beautiful villa.”
“Yes.” His gaze went to Kadar. “You’re hovering over her the way you did Ware. Don’t you weary of protecting those around you?”
“It’s become custom.”
“I always found it strange. Particularly after I found out of your association with the assassins.”
“Ware told me you spent some time with Sinan. Did you ever meet Nasim?”
“He came twice to the fortress while I was there. Sinan seemed to lean on him.” He smiled. “It was amusing watching them together. I never could decide who had the darker spirit.”
“Nasim,” Selene said.
“Possibly.” He leaned back in his chair. “I gather it’s Nasim you wish me to vanquish?”
“Yes.”
“Then I hereby end this discussion.”
“Not without help,” Kadar said.
“You know the power of the assassins,” Vaden said. “They never stop. If I killed Nasim, they’d be pursuing me for the rest of my life.”
“You wouldn’t be the one to strike the death blow.”
“Then they’d pursue me for only half my life.”
“Tarik would pay very well,” Selene said. “What do you want?”
“I have what I want.” He waved at the dim room. “Uplifting surroundings. Good company. Fine wine.”
“What do you want?” Selene repeated.
“To live another year.”
“If we promised to see that Nasim did not know-”
“He would know.” His gaze fastened on her face. “You’re very determined. Why me? There are other warriors. I grant you, not as magnificent as me. And not many who would face Nasim, but I could name you one or two.”
“I want you.”
His eyes gleamed. “I told you I was weary. But if you insist, I’ll try to-”
“Stop it.” She could feel the heat rise to her cheeks. “You’re trying to discourage me. You’ll not succeed that way.”
“And the suggestion of intimacy is beginning to annoy me.” Kadar smiled sardonically. “Selene feels your involvement was meant to be. In truth, your appearance at this particular time and place seems heaven-sent.”
“I have nothing to do with heaven and no credentials from that quarter.”
“I don’t care. I
Kadar pressed her shoulder. “Let’s leave him to think about it. We’ll be at the villa. When your head is clearer, perhaps you’ll let us know your decision.”
She reluctantly rose to her feet. She supposed Kadar was right. They were making little progress with Vaden. “Help us. Nasim is a monster. He hurts everyone.”
Vaden looked at her, his eyes blue and cool as a mountain lake. “Did he hurt you?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “He hurt me.”
He glanced down into his wine. “He hasn’t hurt me.”
She turned on her heel and strode toward the door.
Kadar caught up with her outside. “It’s not entirely hopeless.”
“I don’t see how it could be any worse.”
“I’m not certain. It’s hard to judge what Vaden’s thinking.”
“He told us what he was thinking. No.”
“That doesn’t mean that will be his final decision. Even Ware was never quite sure of Vaden. We’ll wait for a few days and then I’ll approach him again.”
“I don’t know if I still want his help. He’s an arrogant, self-indulgent, brutal-”
“And a greater warrior than even Ware. You want him.”
She sighed. “Yes, I want him.”
Vaden appeared at the villa two days later. He wore light armor that shone bright in the afternoon sunlight. He was clean, sober, and even more startlingly comely in daylight.
“Good heavens,” Layla murmured as she saw him walking up the steps. “Magnificent. Who is this?”
“Vaden. And I’m sure he’d agree with you.” Selene eagerly moved forward to greet him. “You came. Why?”
