Luke's manner changed abruptly. He smiled, anger vanished. It didn't fool me. He was like a sandcat, all sweet temper until you were too close. And then the sandcat ripped out your throat.

"I wish you to be extra charming tonight," Luke said. "I have important guests. You will convince them that you wish to remain here with me. You will say nothing of being kidnapped." He made a face. "Such a nasty word. I have treated you with nothing but courtesy, haven't I?"

"Only courtesy," I lied and smiled at him. I read the threat behind his genial voice. He could and would torture me in any way he chose at any time he chose. I had no wish to experience more. One taste of his cave had been enough.

"Sweet Miya, you must learn to lie more convincingly," he said, stepping close and pulling me up from my chair. "Go to your room until I send for you. I brought you a present. You must wear it for me tonight."

I didn't want anything he bought for me. I smiled and pretended to be pleased that he would give me a gift, but both of us knew it was a sham.

Rinth took me back to my prison and locked me in. The gift was waiting for me, spread across the bed. Under any other circumstances, I would have hardly dared to breathe. The dress was made of the most expensive fabric I had ever touched. It was spun gold so fine and delicate that it stirred with every breath. I looked at it and swallowed bile. It was strapless, sheer, and would leave little to anyone's imagination. I was going to have to wear it.

I spent a very nervous afternoon pacing and avoiding looking at Luke's present. What game was he playing now? Why did he want me wearing the dress? Why didn't Lowell hurry Hom Daviessbrowun and his ransom money and get me out of here? I would have joined the Patrol as a toilet scrubber if it would have gotten me out of that room. I would have signed anything Lowell handed me if only it would get me away. Torture didn't have to involve physical pain, I realized. Luke was playing mind games with me. And I was losing. Miserably.

I put off dressing until the last minute. Rinth grew impatient enough to actually come into the bedroom where I sat at the vanity, wrapped in a towel and playing with the cosmetics.

"You must dress now," Rinth said. I looked at the hard gray pebbles of his eyes and knew that he was capable of dressing me whether I wanted to be or not.

I put the dress on. It was as bad as I'd feared. I didn't look in the mirror. I didn't want to know what was showing. There were shoes with the dress, little more than straps of sparkling dust.

"You are late," Rinth said. "You must come now." His chubby hand closed on my arm. I had no choice. I went.

The dining room was wide open to the night. The lamps burned on the stone patio. People drifted in the night, their talk and laughter a pleasant sound. Rinth let go of my arm when I was safely inside the dining room. He gave me a slight push towards the open door. I got the hint and walked across the room.

Talk stopped when I stepped outside. Faces turned to me. I didn't recognize any of them. Five men and two women. Older men, distinguished looking. Important people, my brain said, disconnected from the rest of me. The women wore evening gowns in jeweled colors. They were older, biosculpted into a semblance of youth. I guessed they were wives of two of the men. I finally focused on Luke, at the center of the gathering. He wore black, flowing sleeves looking like evil wings as the night breeze plucked at the shimmering fabric. He smiled at the reaction I'd caused, at the dress I wore.

"My house guest." Luke gestured with a glass half full of a drink the color of fresh blood. "May I introduce Miya Daviessbrowun to you, gentles?"

One of the men started, face astonished.

"But she was kidnapped!" one of the women blurted out.

"She is here as my guest," Luke said and laughed. "With her father, do you blame her for arranging to run away? I assure you, Miya is here by her choice." His eyes warned me as he sipped his drink.

I made myself smile. "I am here," I gave it a slight emphasis, "by my choice, yes." It was either appear and behave as he wanted me to, or face the cave or worse. I made the choice to cooperate with him.

"You see, Representative Tyell, this whole kidnapping story is an attempt by Hom Daviessbrowun to gain attention and sympathy. He is using you." Luke took the older man by the arm and drew him towards me. "He wishes you to make allowances for his manufacturing plants on your world, doesn't he?"

"How did you know that?" Representative Tyell said, astonished.

"He is, isn't he?" Luke dropped the man's arm and took mine. I repressed the shudder I wanted to give at his touch.

"Yes, and he's using his daughter's kidnapping to play on my sympathy," the man said, his piggish eyes trying to look shrewd. "He told me some story about her living in a hole."

Luke squeezed my arm. I forced a smile.

"This is a very luxurious hole," I said. "Luke has been a most gracious host."

That must have made Luke happy, he shifted his hand to my back and handed me his drink. "You look thirsty, my sweet." His eyes told me that I'd better drink and enjoy it.

I lifted the cup, fully aware of the unspoken message he was forcing me to send. He wanted these people to believe I was here as his lover. I sipped the drink. It burned like acid in my mouth. I swallowed and handed his glass back. He smiled his approval. I felt sick.

"I do believe dinner is served," Luke said. His hand pressed on my back, turning me around.

He seated me on his left, close enough so he could give the illusion that I was with him because I chose to be and close enough so he could interfere if I decided not to play along. The other guests were directed to their seats. Luke introduced them as they were seated. They were important people, including the most influential members of the sector government and business owners. One of the women owned most of the retail businesses of an entire system. Her husband was chief of police of the same system. I kept my thoughts on that arrangement to myself. The fact that they were here with Luke meant that they were corrupt, naive, or stupid.

Talk over dinner revolved around new legislation and business regulations. Luke charmed his way into their confidence. He laughed at their jokes, complimented them on their foresight in coming to him, and downplayed his own role in sector politics. He told them he was considering dabbling in business. He told them he'd inherited a family fortune and was looking for ways to invest it. I could almost see the gleam of avarice in his guests' faces. Luke did an impeccable impersonation of a rich playboy with more money than brains. They believed him completely.

None of them spared any sympathy for me after that first introduction. Luke was careful that I gave the impression that I was happy. He kept one hand on top of mine through the dinner. His guests believed he was besotted with me. In reality he pinched me every time he thought I wasn't being happy enough.

Dinner finally ended. They lingered over the exquisitely icy dessert, complimenting Luke on his chef and trying deviously to find out who it was so they could hire him, her, or it away. Luke suggested we move to the patio.

The night air was chill. A breeze wandered across the patio, smelling of pine and wildness. The stars overhead were far away, a thick sprinkling of diamonds across the sky.

"It's so isolated here," one woman complained. "Why should you choose to live here?"

"My retreat," Luke said, winking at the woman. He raised my hand to his lips.

She glanced at me, a look of mixed envy and smug superiority. She wrapped her arms possessively around her husband's arm. I wasn't unaware that the men had been watching me during dinner, or rather they watched my neckline and the sheer golden fabric.

"Why are we out here?" one of the men asked. "It's chilly."

"A surprise," Luke said with his most charming smile.

A sunburst of green light exploded overhead. The women gasped, then giggled. Another burst, this one red and silver, floated over us. Luke squeezed my hand, his eyes dark and unreadable in the night.

The explosions grew more frequent, the colors stunning. The booms of the explosions echoed against the stone mansion. His guests made appreciative noises. I watched with them, my eyes searching overhead.

I saw the flitter as it exploded. The other guests didn't. The yellow of flames mixed with an intense sparkling orange pinwheel of light. Another burst of blue washed out any traces. I stiffened, wondering who had just died.

"Your father does not honor his agreements," Luke whispered in my ear. His breath was warm, his cologne smelled of spices. I shifted away. He slid an arm around me and pulled me next to him. "Smile, Miya," he ordered.

His arm was hard and heavy. I'd been locked in real iron chains before. I would have happily traded Luke's embrace for them. The fireworks exploded over the mansion, lighting up the night in garish colors. I endured his touch, because I had no choice.

The show ended with an enormous spiral of green, white, and gold. The light faded and the darkness returned. The patio lamps brightened, spilling yellow light over the stones.

"Marvelous," breathed the business woman.

"You know how to entertain," Representative Tyell added. "If you ever decide to fire your cook, let me know."

"He's been with the family for years," Luke said, the gracious host. "Your flitters are waiting. It has been a most entertaining evening."

He escorted them to the side of the house. A wide apron of plascrete served as a landing pad. They said their goodbyes and lifted away. I watched them longingly.

"Idiots," Luke said as the last flitter lifted away. He dropped his gaze to me. "You performed beautifully, my dear Miya. I should reward you with something." He put his hand on my back and escorted me through the front door of the house into a wide marble foyer I'd never seen.

"Would you like to claim this as yours?" Luke said.

I stepped away from him. He looked me over, like a trophy he'd won. His smile was possessive.

"That dress suits you," Luke said. "I am pleased you chose to wear it for me."

"You left me little alternative."

His eyes flicked across my face. "I have changed my mind. Your father won't get you back at any price. You will be mine." His smile spread over his face like oil.

"Who did you kill tonight?"

"You saw the flitter. Good. I meant for you to notice what happens to those who cross me. Your father is stalling. His men delivered a message tonight, one I did not wish to hear. Your father has been sent his reply."

"What do you want?" I asked, my voice thin.

"Since your father chooses not to pay, I will take my payment from you."

He came closer. I took one step back and froze. His eyes promised pain if I retreated again. He traced the neck of the dress with one finger, slowly running it along bare skin. It left a trail of gooseflesh behind. My stomach clenched. My hands doubled into fists. I fought to keep control. I hated the feel of his hand on me.

"You try so hard, Miya." His breath stirred my hair, warm and sweet with the smell of wine. "You would have me believe you are ice." He drew out the last word, his hand sliding over my bare shoulder. I shuddered. "You keep your distance, but I can sense the fire in you. Let me wake it, Miya." He lifted his other hand, stroking my other shoulder.

I looked up into his face and wished I hadn't. His eyes were smoldering, he licked his lips. I looked away.

"Fight me," he whispered. "Make me believe you feel no attraction to me. I see the lie in your eyes. Miya."

His fingers traced my neck, rising slowly. They slipped along my jaw and out along my cheeks. He lifted my face, his fingers splayed through my hair. His palms were hot on my face, holding me against my will.

"Look at me," he commanded. His fingers tightened on my hair when I didn't immediately respond.

I blinked tears of pain away and looked.

His gaze dipped to the low neckline of the dress. His fingers gripped my head. "Fight it if you must, but I see the fire in you."

He kissed me, dragging me up against him. He kissed me hard, his lips pushing against mine. He moved one hand behind my head, crushing my lips against his. I pushed back against him and felt him laugh. I could have maimed him in half a dozen ways, I knew more about dirty fighting than I did about any other kind. An inner voice warned that I couldn't strike back that way. He couldn't suspect me, I couldn't let him. So I used my hands to push against his shoulders, trying to break the painful kiss.

He shoved, until I pressed against the wall. He broke off, leaning his head back and laughing. I beat at him with my fists. He caught them easily and dragged my arms behind my back. He held me there, imprisoned in his grip, tight against him. I was breathing hard, trying to escape. I hated what he was doing to me. The tiniest part of me wanted him to kiss me again. I mentally shoved it away, sickened by my own body's reaction.

"Fight me, Miya." His eyes glowed.

He kissed me again, tilting his head and driving the kiss deeper. I jerked back, knocking my head into the wall. He pressed closer, trapping me. He bit my lip, hard. I blinked against the pain and tasted blood. He licked it off my lip.

I fought in earnest then, not caring what he thought. He had me tucked in too tightly, he knew too many tricks himself. I couldn't escape. His hands kept mine pulled tightly across my back until my shoulders ached. My legs were tangled in the skirt.

He slammed his mouth against mine, forcing his tongue into my mouth. I froze in disgust. He wasn't human. He was Rigellan. They were human in every way except one. His tendrils crept over my teeth and tongue. I tried to vomit. He crushed me against him for an eternity. His tongue finally retreated.

I shoved him as hard as I could. He stepped back, oozing satisfaction. I broke his hold and stumbled away, retching. He laughed. I ran as fast as I could, not caring which direction I went, knowing only that I wanted away.

I could taste him in my mouth, smell his cologne with every breath. I ran blindly into a wall and gagged again. His laughter echoed behind me. I ran again, not caring when the delicate straps on the sandals broke. I kicked my feet loose and ran barefoot.

I stumbled to a halt at the end of a hallway less opulent than the rest of the house. I leaned against a door and fought to catch my breath again. The door opened.

"Well, look what the boss sent."

I looked up at the whistles and crude comments. I'd mistakenly thought the mansion was almost deserted. The room beyond was full of men packaging white powders into containers and cleaning nasty looking weapons. All of them leered at me. I backed away from the door, hand over my mouth to hold in the screams. If I gave in, I wasn't sure I could stop again.

I ran into a furry wall. My hand told me it was Rinth, the top of his head came up to my chest. I backed to the wall, wondering if he was also going to attack me. His hand came out. I cringed away. He took my arm in his familiar grip and led me away. The crude suggestions faded behind me.

I was almost happy to see the familiar door to my rooms. Rinth opened them and pushed me through. The locks clicked.

I went to the bathroom, ripping off the dress. I didn't care how much it cost. I didn't care if Luke had ways of monitoring me. I felt used, filthy, and sick. I sat in the shower, the nozzles spraying at full blast, wanting the pounding water to make me feel clean again.

I hunched my shoulders, tears running down my face to mix with the water pouring over me. I hated myself. I hated living the lie that had been forced on me. With sudden clarity, I understood what it had cost Tayvis to admit he cared for me.

He was an agent, he did this kind of thing all the time. I realized that for all the time I'd spent with him, I knew almost nothing about him. He'd never talked about personal things, except the reason he hated his first name. And now I understood. You kept yourself locked away in the deepest part of your mind or you risked losing everything. You had to be someone else, you couldn't let yourself show. Despite the risks, he'd helped me in every way he could. And I'd answered him with scorn for following the orders he had to follow. I hated myself then, for my own stupidity in pushing away Tayvis. In letting myself end up here with Luke.

I raised my face, letting the water wash the taste of Luke out of my mouth. I held my head in the spray until I had to breathe. I wanted Tayvis so badly it hurt. I wanted him to hold me, to erase the feel of Luke on my skin. I wanted to talk to someone who knew my name, who cared who I was.

I had been stupid, as Jasyn had told me over and over. Tayvis had tried to recruit me because he had to. Lowell gave him no choice. And I had sent him away with angry words, defending my pride. I had none left now. Not even Dadilan had stripped me this bare. Luke violated me, without even knowing who I really was. Of course, if he knew that I wasn't Miya, he would have just killed me. It would have been cleaner.

I shivered as the spray grew cold. I didn't care. I wanted the charade over. I couldn't pretend anymore. I wanted to go home. And cried as I realized I really had a home. And people who cared about me. I had to go on, I had to keep pretending, if I ever wanted to see them again.

I pulled myself together and forced myself out of the shower and into clothing that made me ill just to touch. I got into the bed, because I knew if I didn't do what Luke expected, there would be more punishments. And if tonight had been a reward, I preferred the punishments.

I lay awake a long time, trying to forget. I cried until I ran out of tears, and lay awake with burning eyes until finally exhaustion won.

Chapter Twenty.

Jasyn muted the com. "They want to know why I'm hauling equipment for the Patrol." Her eyes expressed exactly what she thought of Lowell's plan.

"Because it isn't for the Patrol," Lowell said, leaning in the doorway of the cockpit. "It's on contract from the conservationist movement. Planetary Survey is being paid to conduct a population study of large carnivores. To see how the fur trade is affecting them. They are sponsored by the conservationists who hired you. We went over this before, Jasyn." His tone was only mildly reproachful.

She rolled her eyes but passed on the message. She argued with the port authorities for a while. She was acutely aware of the attention her half of the conversation got. Clark and Juen guided the ship down. The other chair in the cockpit was occupied by the Sector Chief, herself. Jasyn finally received the permission she was after and switched off the com.

"They didn't believe me," she said flatly.

"They will," Lowell said and absently patted her shoulder. His eyes strayed to the viewscreen.

"Don't touch me, Lowell, or I will rip off your fingers and feed them to you," Jasyn said.

Lowell moved his hand back.

"Scans are still clear, sir," a voice called from the lounge.

Jasyn's eyes drifted over to where the scanning equipment had been. Cables snaked out of open fronts and into the cabin. Lowell had brought his own equipment, much more sophisticated than the units he'd arranged for Dace to *find' on Tebros. There were new drives installed in the engine as well. Sleek control boards, with the Patrol emblem still on them, looked out of place in slots that were the wrong size. Jasyn imagined what Dace would say when she saw them.