Page 9 of Stars in Halo

The woman’s voice was smooth and sultry, like honey dripping off velvet. It triggered a series of shivers down Xion’s spine, further stoking his gnawing hunger to own her.

All of her.

‘Let’s get started.’ Mirage gestured for the woman to take a seat, and she slid with an elegant move into the only empty chair at the table.

The other players eyed her, their faces reflecting their curiosity.

She leaned forward, revealing a glimpse of cleavage that sent pulses racing around the room.

Not even Xion could tear his gaze away from her fast enough. He jolted when her eyes sliced and locked onto his, and a dynamic charge passed between them.

A wild tingling went all over his body.

He inhaled sharply as his metanoids magnetised and a heightened wave of prescience kicked in.

A swirl of images hit his mind.

Of him, impossibly her, a gaggle of children, a home, laughter, the essence of happiness.

It was such an intense sensation that it felt like he was peering into a parallel universe. Where they were living a different life, one that was filled with love, warmth, and the joys of parenthood.

He jerked his head, snapping out of the future vision.

Still, it lingered, and heart pounding, he stared at her.

No woman at any time had triggered this response in him before.

It freakin’ shook him to his core, given he’d never met or spoken to her.

He tried to dismiss the visions with a huff, but the images wouldn’t leave his mind. He took a deep breath, trying to ground himself in the present.

Mirage, always the sardonic operator who’d seen it all, glanced from him to the mysterious newcomer with a slight smirk. ‘You in?’

The woman smiled. ‘Naam. Please.’

Leaning back in her chair, she crossed her legs, revealing a glimpse of a small calibre laser weapon strapped to her thigh.

She was gunning, but for whom it wasn’t yet clear.

She placed the clutch in her hand on the table and withdrew a silk purse, upending it onto the surface.

Out of it tumbled gems, rubies and a sizeable diamond.

Mirage raised a brow. ‘Your wager?’

‘Tis. Plus, my lucky charms.’

Lifting her jewel-tipped fingers, she blew on the enormous crystal and placed it back down.

With a subtle nod from the woman, the baccarat tournament began.

‘Place your bets,’ Mirage announced. ‘I advise the 3:1 ratio as a good start. If the shoe goes off balance, you can further increase your bet that it will not remain so unstable.’

The game allowed seven seats for players and a dealer’s chair. Two hands of cards—the player’s and the banker’s—were dealt before them.

The players complied, picking either the banker’s hand, the player’s hand or a tie.

Once the bets were placed, four cards were dispensed on the table.

---