Sure enough, I was summoned by the Shah's mother the next day.
My injury was nearly healed, but my seething anger was not. If she dared to push me too far… well, she might sustain a few injuries herself!
I arrived at the harem and was ushered into her softly lit rooms, and left alone. I glanced around. Everything, from the rich drapes on the wide windows to the lavish rug on the floor, positively reeked of spoiled luxury. This was not a woman accustomed to being refused.
"Erik…"her serene voice came from behind a curtain, and she stepped into a pool of muted sunlight.
I stared.
The Khanum was dressed in nothing but a thin gossamer veil that didn't try too hard to conceal her figure. And what a figure!
With some difficulty, I wrenched my eyes away and stared furiously at a potted plant in the corner. The room was suddenly very hot and my pulse was pounding in my ears.
She was standing next to me!
"What is wrong, my dear?" she purred seductively, "Why don't you look me in the eye?"
Then, suddenly, she reached up and snatched off my mask. I stiffened and my hands clenched. I forced myself to stay exactly where I was, staring at the plant as though it was the most interesting thing in my life.
I was trembling with rage and counted it a miracle that I hadn't already turned on my tormenter and broken her neck.
"Come, now," the Khanum said, drifting into my view. She waved the mask teasingly in front of my face. "If you want this, you will have to come with me… and that is not so hard, is it?"
"Madame," I growled, feeling my self-control begin to slip away, "please…"
She laughed lightly. A bead of sweat slid down my face. I was desperately hoping for someone—anyone—to walk in and interrupt this madness. Who cared if they saw my face? I just wanted to escape!
An arm brushed my shoulder as the Khanum twined her fingers in my hair.
"Come to me…" she whispered, "you know you want to, darling."
Part of me did want to. Very badly. Any other girl and I might have done it, but… I made up my mind.
Suddenly, afraid that I would give in to temptation, I whirled around and slammed the shocked Khanum against the wall, my hands curling around her fragile throat. I leaned close to her. In her eyes was undisguised terror now, and she tried frantically to break my iron grip. Our faces were inches away.
"Listen,Madame," I hissed, "do not try to toy with me. You have no idea what you are dealing with. I will build for you and I will even kill for you, but I will not play your games! If you do anything like this again, I swear to God, or Allah, or whoever the hell is up there that you will not live to see the night. Is that understood?!"
She nodded wildly, her face purple. I let go and watched her slide to the floor, gasping. The mask had fallen from her hands, and I picked it up and replaced it. Then, turning my back on her ladyship, I strode from the room.
I shoved past the startled guards and went straight into the jungle. I walked around aimlessly for a while, fuming. I felt like banging my head repeatedly into a tree just to get the image of the Khanum out of it!
I had done the right thing, hadn't I? Surely…
I stopped. Something had made a noise, very close. There it was again: a sort of chirp.
Curious, I bent over and pulled back a fern, and gave a cry of astonishment. A leopard cub the size of a large puppy was nestled in the leaves, staring up at me with frightened eyes.
It was thin and dirty, but the dark spots were unmistakable. I crouched down, trying to calm it.
"Where's your mother, little one?" I asked softly, a horrible suspicion building in my gut. At the sound of my voice, the leopard came forward hesitantly and rubbed against my outstretched hand. At that moment, I knew I couldn't leave it.
If its mother was the leopard the hunters had killed, or if it was a different cat altogether, it didn't matter.
The cub was hungry and scared, and if nothing was done, it would die.
Quickly, I picked it up and hurried towards my rooms, being careful to avoid other people.