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King Eben frowned and stopped, the guards around him stopping as well to watch Zier approach.

Zierno was oblivious to them. His cloak wrapped around the small shape he carried. He was focused on his task.

Eben’s sharp eye caught droplets of blood falling down Zierno’s pant leg from who he carried.

Where was his Kelpie head? Glowering he watched Zierno until he finally looked up and saw them.

Zierno stopped abruptly meeting the king’s unwavering look. His eyes darkened with guilt.

Eben stood with a question on his lips. Opening his mouth to speak he was shocked into silence when the creature in Zierno’s arms lifted her head to look at him.

Eben stared mesmerized at the petite woman in Zierno’s arms. Fascinatingly huge brown eyes watched him, expressionless. Her face was small and oval dominated by the wide eyes and a full lush mouth. Her small nose was perfectly formed and delicately upturned. High cheekbones drew down to that mouth, causing a an aggressive stirring inside Eben. As she leaned up the cloak had slipped down, exposing perfect white shoulders with arching collarbones. The shadow of cleavage and the rising mounds of her upper breasts rose over the cloth.

Eben’s eyes traveled over her hungrily. Glancing around him he saw that his guards were equally as affected. Suddenly furious he turned on Zierno.

“Give her to me.”