His expression softened at her desperate plea.“It is true that my charms do not seem to work as well on you as they should.”Shaking her hand from his wrist, his hand rose to her face and wiped the tear from her left eye.“Do not cry, little one.This, too, shall be resolved.”
“But you’re angry with me?”She closed her eyes, feeling his fingers gently collecting more of her tears.
And you’re going to put me back in that room, on my own, with no way out.
She trembled at the thought, knowing there was nothing she could do to prevent the outcome.Although she didn’t understand its source, she was under no illusions about Kronos’ power.If he wanted her back there, he would deliver her to the suffocating white room, and she would have no choice.
“Let down, maybe,” he replied.“But not angry.We shall revisit my rules again when I return.I must do a better job of reiterating them to you.”
Her breath caught at the thinly veiled warning, but the thought of more penance was strangely warming compared to the idea of being abandoned in the hideous white room.
“Master.”She opened her eyes, appealing to him.“I’ll take whatever punishment you decide I warrant, but please don’t leave me in that room again.”
“My goodness, little one.”The dark glint gleaming in his gaze spoke of repercussions to come.“What a predicament.”
***
Kronos
Looking at Kristina, he didn’t know whether he wanted to turn her over his knee and blister her backside or kiss her.Both were tempting propositions, but he had time for neither.Shelley was waiting, and even though she’d been well trained, even her patience and good behavior weren’t infinite.He needed to settle Kristina and decide her fate while he took Shelley back to Earth.
Kristina blew out a breath, her focus falling to her hands cradled in front of her.“I know, Master.”
“You should have told me you’d felt such panic in your room.”
He’d known something was wrong with her.The way she’d been huddled in tears had given her away, but he hadn’t been able to get to the bottom of her fears until that moment.She had thought about leaving him, but it seemed she’d done so, at least in part, because she’d been so traumatized about being in her cell.
Looking at her, he shook his head.She had an almost celestial ability to overcome his magic.His charms worked for a while, but while other women were subdued by them for the intended quantity of time, Kristina seemed able to shake off the incantation.He didn’t know how or why.It was something he’d need to explore, but it had meant she’d woken far earlier than he’d intended and left her vulnerable to the terror she’d experienced.
She pulled in a shaky breath.“I know that now.”
“And we will be returning to this matter when I get back,” he reminded her gently.“Rule number one, little one.Omission of the truth is still a lie.”
She nodded, her expression despondent.“Yes, Master.”
“But in the meantime, I can cede to your request.”He glanced behind her, identifying a suitable place to set up an impromptu bed.“You’ll sleep here, but be warned, I am going to intensify your sleeping charm.Youwillrest until I return.”
Large, grateful eyes met his.“Thank you, Master.”
He didn’t know why he’d succumbed to her entreaty.Plenty of others had made appeals for less significant requests over the years, and he had refused them all without a flicker of guilt.As always, though, Kristina was more challenging to rebuff.He’d denied her pleasure because he enjoyed doing so, but the idea of leaving her sad and terrified without him did not thrill him.On the contrary, the thought was crushing, reminding him that he was responsible for her health and happiness as well as her subservience, and that, even though he didn’t understand his growing fondness for her, her wellbeing mattered to him.
Waving a finger in the area he’d designated for her nap, he watched as the bed he had in mind manifested.A small single divan, with multiple blankets and a pillow, similar to the sort she had in her cell.
Hooking another finger under her chin, he leaned closer to whisper in her ear.“Remember how kind your master is being.”
“I will,” she gasped, her voice hoarse.
“You’ll be asleep before you know it,” he murmured.“But remember, this is your opportunity to impress me, little one.If you’re a good girl, I won’t need to keep punishing you.We can focus on pleasure.”
She swallowed at his instruction.“Yes, Master.”
“Okay.”He gestured to where the bed had materialized.“Get into bed now.”
A crease appeared in her wonderful brow, but as she twisted to look behind her, those deep blue eyes widened.Evidently, she hadn’t expected her sleeping arrangements to have already been organized.She still doubted his capability.
His magical ability was another conversation he’d need to have with her soon.Thus far, she’d seemed overawed and bewildered by his abilities, but he had the distinct feeling she’d passed them all off as coincidental one-offs.No doubt the scientist in her was struggling to make sense of the things that were happening.The last thing she believed in was gods and monsters, but Kronos had news for her.
Deities and mythical beasts were all real, and she was under the dominion of one.