EXCERPT Niko-chan, the second book in the Nicholas Boyd series, finds Nick in hot water
again. Nick Boyd passed his Test, a grueling challenge to prove his worthiness
to serve James Ligatos, one of the ruling cabal called The Eight. Now, he finds
himself swept from his native Memphis to The Eight's training compound outside
of Rome.
In the city called The Great Harlot, Nick must learn new lessons, from the
mysterious Mistress Benta, from his tutor, Steven, and from the imposing Master
Michelino. When he fails to learn fast enough, he is sold to become a Daughter
of the Dragon...
Excerpt
Benta looked at the men kneeling before her on the terrazzo tile of her Villa.
Steven stared at the floor, unable to meet her eyes, his handsome ebony features
set in lines that spoke of barely hidden pain and suffering. She smiled to
herself. Contrition was the first step to forgiveness, forgiveness the first
station on the road of love. He had hurt his lady, true enough, but he had done
it in a fit of passion, and not from intent.
She laid a soft hand on his face. He did not nuzzle into it as a sensual child
would. His breathing slowed instead and he closed his eyes. Yes, he desired
Tanis' well-being and her forgiveness; she could tell. "We heal what we hurt,"
she said softly, her Italian almost like singing. "Always. We must do it
quickly. Minute by minute, day by day, the girl-child grows colder toward those
who abused her. It may be what my child wants, but it isn't right."
She moved to stand before Nicholas. Yes, she could see why this handsome young
man had her James so enthralled. He did not stare at the floor. His piercing
blue eyes glared straight at her. She stroked his narrow jaw, then along the
side of his straight, sharp nose. His full, soft lips tempted her fingers. He
was not strikingly beautiful in the way so many protégées were.
"As long as she obeys, Mistress Benta, what does it matter?"
Benta looked at him, showing only love and pity, and none of the horror she
felt at this statement. "Heartless child. You could have been a man, but he will
make you a monster if he can."
She saw the fury rise in Nick's face. He sneered back at her. "It's a real
short trip to hear some folk tell it." He slipped back into his deepest Memphis
accent, a deliberate move, she could tell.
Benta turned to a pair of white-clad men standing nearby. "Remove this beast
from my sight. He will not return until he is human again. Take him to Cabin 17,
at the far edge of the compound. Until he is a man, he is to be treated as a
dangerous beast. He will go upon all fours, speak only when commanded, and be
chained at all times."
Nick was too shocked by the pronouncement to fight the men. They took him out
of the palazzo of Benta's villa and stripped him. One clipped a leash to his
collar ring. After a moment, he recovered himself and struggled.
The young, dark man pressed him to the ground. "Do you think it wise to fight
us, beast? Obey Mistress Benta, learn and grow in her good graces, and become a
man. Crawl, then walk, then run. And someday you will stand astride the heart of
Master James, which is to say astride the whole of your continent. But for now,
crawl as a beast."
Nick knew he couldn't take both men and the man's words made sense. He went to
his hands and knees. "Lead the way, master, for I do not know it," he said in
Italian.
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