Page 49 of Stars in Halo

Noted. It turns out its anonymous owner is the King of Rhesia, and he has authorised me to retrieve it on their behalf and deliver it to himself. But only after I have the name of Katya’s patron and sponsor.

He returned the jewel to the hold and shut it.

His metanoids completed the locking procedure as Xion stood in the small corridor, staring at the hangers and dresses in the open closet.

He swung back to the bedroom.

Where one beautiful woman was sprawled.

He let his eyes drink her sleeping beauty.

Thrumming with desire, he pursed his lips and glided under the covers, willing himself to behave.

Katya woke up to Enia’s noon sun streaming through the windows.

She stretched her arms and jolted, memories flooding her mind.

Turning her head with care, she took in the allure of the man beside her.

Draped like a lithe, sexy beast in all his glory.

Pivoting away from his raw, half-naked magnificence, she slipped out of bed and headed to the bathroom to freshen up.

Splashing cold water on her face, she couldn’t stop thinking about the events of last night.

Their prolonged conversation had been a revelation, and it was like she had known Xion for years, not just one evening.

He’d set off feelings in her heart, which she’d long thought were dead. Staring at her reflection in the mirror, she was beset with second thoughts on her plan for him.

She didn’t think she could live with herself if she didn’t change tack.

After getting dressed, Katya wandered to the living area and accessed Sys-Net on her comm tab.

There was nothing in the news about the Serpent’s Iris.

The clone they’d substituted it with was holding up for now.

She checked her messages and replied to one from Korin.

I’ve changed my mind, was all she texted back. We need to find another way. Please give me some time.

Shutting down her devices, she arranged brunch, given it was midday.

She ordered omelettes from the hotel menu and took delivery of two plates not less than ten minutes later, along with crisp toast, herbed tomatoes and sizzling bacon.

The delicious aroma of the food must have filtered to the bedroom because shortly, Xion strolled out.

He was the vision of sin in just pants and an open shirt.

Again, she took a deep breath to control her reaction to him.

‘Turns out anyone can sleep with another person,’ he drawled. ‘But it takes a lot more for two people attracted to each other to fall asleep next to each other without sex being on the table. That’s where the magic lies.’

‘Magic, Sable? You believe in all that?’

He shot her a long, leading look and curled those luscious lips. ‘When it comes to you, I have faith in anything.’

She smiled.

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