His eyes half closed as he continued to study her, beginning at her sandaled feet, lingering longer on the swell of her breasts before moving to her face and again centering his attention on her dimpled chin. “I seek one who is called Lady Thalia.”
Stark terror poured into Thalia like water over a waterfall, and she shook with dread. “You should leave,” she said, inching toward the path.
He took a step toward her, and she took one back.
“I would not have you fear me,” he said with concern.
“You are a stranger, yet you speak too familiarly to me.”
He paused in mid-stride. “Forgive me. I feel as if I know you. I have thought of you so often, and now to actually …” He watched the way the light from the torches fell on her golden hair. “You are the one I seek.”
Fear crawled down Thalia’s spine. Three days ago she’d accompanied her mother to the goldsmith’s shop, and she’d felt nagging unrest, as if she was being watched. Although she had scanned the crowd, she had seen no one. At the time she had not wanted to upset her mother, and had quickly pushed the incident to the back of her mind. She should have trusted those instincts that had kept her alive as a child. Taking a quick step toward the path, Thalia gauged her escape route. “Why are you here in my garden?”
“I was sent by someone who fears for your safety.”
Thalia’s hand went to her throat as she stared into silver eyes that reflected the moonlight. A chill stole over her, and she inched farther away with the intention of running. “Please go away.”
“Thalia, the last thing I wanted to do was frighten you. Can you not think of me as a friend?”
“You are not my friend, or you would not have come under cover of night.”
He reached out to her, then let his hand fall. “If I had meant to harm you, the deed would already be done.”
Ashtyn stared at the woman whose life had been tied to his. She was not what he’d expected—she was more. There was no sign that she’d ever been an urchin on the streets of Rome. She had grown up cherished and protected, and was so beautiful it took his breath away.
The words kept echoing in his mind.
Mine.
She is mine.
Chapter Four
Thalia attempted to look away from the stranger’s scrutinizing gaze, but she was held fast like a mouse cornered by a cat. Just when she thought she could not stand the tension another moment, she heard a footfall on the graveled path. Her courage returned and she faced her terror, asking the question that had haunted her all the years she had been pursued as a child. “Who sent you, and what do you want with me?”
“My allegiance is to a man who cares greatly for your safety. If you do not heed my warning, you will find yourself in grave danger, Lady Thalia. Come with me—trust in me to keep you safe.”
Like a dark foreshadowing of dread, a sudden gust of wind struck, tearing at the trees, stripping leaves and sending them careening to the ground to gather at Thalia’s feet. Her gaze met silver-blue eyes, and she seemed to have no will of her own.
She had been watching him so closely, she noticed the moment he became alert to the footsteps on the pathway. Relief washed over Thalia when her maidservant, Safra, called to her.
“Mistress, your honored mother has asked that you join her to pay your respects to the departing guests.”
With profound relief Thalia answered, “I am here—wait for me.” She had looked away from the intruder for a mere instant, but when she turned back, he was gone. There had been no sound to announce his departure; not a leaf stirred, not a twig snapped. The only sound she heard was her own ragged breathing.
The stranger had faded into the shadows and disappeared as if he’d never been there.
With fear driving her steps, Thalia fled toward Safra. “Let us go inside at once.”
Safra had been her personal maid since she’d first come to Egypt, and the woman’s concerned gaze swept Thalia’s face. “Is something wrong, mistress? You seem distraught.”
Thalia considered asking Jamal to search the garden, but instinct told her he would find no sign of the intruder. “Let us hurry,” she urged, glancing over her shoulder. Instinct also warned her she’d not seen the last of the stranger.
When they passed the archway, Jamal, the stern-faced captain of the guards, lowered his gaze to Thalia, and she feared he’d sense something was wrong. “Post an extra man in the garden tonight. But say nothing about it to my mother. I do not want to worry her unnecessarily.”
The Badari guard frowned. “Has something occurred I should know about?” he asked, his gaze already sweeping across the darkened corners of the garden.
Jamal was too shrewd to miss anything, so Thalia decided to tell him a half-truth. “I thought I saw a stranger lingering at the back of the garden. To be safe, have a look around.”
Jamal frowned. “If there was an intruder, Lady Larania must be told at once.”
Thalia shook her head. “Nay. Do not mention it to my mother. It was probably nothing more than my imagination.”
Jamal’s brow creased with worry. “As you will, Mistress.” He bowed and stepped away to allow her to pass into the house. He then hurried down the pathway to search the garden.
When Thalia joined her mother, most of the guests had already departed. Determined to conceal her fear, Thalia pasted a smile on her face.
“You look pale,” her mother commented.
“With so many people in the chamber it was sweltering, so I sought the cool of the garden. I just got overheated, that’s all.”
Lady Larania turned to Thalia so she could look into her eyes. “Heat never bothered you before. You love the desert.”
“That is true.”
Lady Larania sighed. “I had so wanted you to enjoy the evening.”
Thalia’s face brightened as she sought to distract her mother. “Soon we shall be leaving for the Badari encampment, and I will be happy to join the rest of the family.” She dared not tell her mother that someone had breeched the garden walls, because her mother would worry.
“I am always contented when I am with my Badari,” Lady Larania replied, watching the servants cleaning the room. “Aye, it will be wonderful for all of us to be together.” Her gaze settled on Thalia. “I will be happy when you are settled with a man you can love and respect.”
“There is no such man in my future. I could never be as fortunate as my brother and sister in their choice of life-mates.” She smiled, linking her arm through her mother’s. “But like you, I am content. I will be happy to remain with you forever.”
“Nonsense. Your future will take you in another direction. One day you will meet a man who will make you happy.”
“Where is Ramtat?” Thalia said, looking around desperately. “I wanted to hear how the children are faring.”
“Ramtat was eager to rejoin Danaë at the encampment, so he left early. He asked that you go to the marketplace next week for the ring the goldsmith is crafting for Danaë. He does so love to surprise her.”
“If I could find a man with the honor and intelligence of my brother, or my brother-in-law, I might consider marriage. But I have seen no one who can make me want to leave my home.”
“Dearest daughter, have patience. The man you speak of is looking as hard for you as you are for him.”
“Do you really believe that?”
Lady Larania gripped Thalia’s hand and led her down the corridor.
“Indeed I do.”
Thalia’s mind wandered back to the man she’d encountered in the garden. Eight years had passed since she’d arrived in Egypt. The stranger was not one of the men who had pursued her as a child in Rome, but she knew the old fear was back. Danger had found her even in Egypt.
“Thalia?”
Her attention returned to her mother.
“Did you hear what I said?”
“I’m sorry, my mind was wandering.”
“I merely mentioned that you should seek your be
d. You look tired.”
Thalia touched her mother’s hand and moved to the door. “We are both weary, Mother.”
Lady Larania nodded tiredly. “Sleep well, Daughter.”
Thalia smiled. “Just think of it—Adhaniá and Marcellus will be arriving from Rome very soon. Their two sons must have changed greatly in the last year. And you shall see your new granddaughter for the first time.”
Her mother smiled. “It will be a joyous reunion.”
As Thalia made her way down the corridor, fear still lingered in the back of her mind. The man in the garden was a threat. There was no doubt in her mind he’d come for her. When she stepped into her bedchamber, she was glad to find Safra waiting for her. Thalia leaned her head against the door and watched the maid pull down the covers and plump the pillows.
Why was this happening to her? she wondered, trying not to give in to the terror that lurked at the back of her mind.
What was it that kept people searching for her after so many years?
Thalia didn’t know who to fight or who to run from. How could she battle what she could not see?
Lying on her bed, Thalia fought against the sleep that tried to claim her. She was still frightened. Her thoughts traveled back to her childhood and the one-eyed man who had been determined to capture her.
Since she’d left Rome, he had only appeared in her nightmares. And what about the man who had invaded her garden? Was he somehow connected to the one-eyed man?
Thalia realized she had been too complacent in thinking she’d left that frightening part of her life behind in Rome.
Her eyelids were so heavy, and still she fought against the drowsiness that threatened to take her. She clutched her hands, digging her fingernails into her palms, hoping pain would hold back the dream.
Shadows swallowed the sunlight, casting her into total darkness—her head was spinning, and terror tightened inside her because she knew what came next—it was always the same, never deviating in any way. The same beautiful woman grabbed her up in her arms and ran down a long hallway. Thalia did not know who the woman was, but she could feel her fear, and she knew the woman was trying to save them. Flames licked at the walls, all but devouring the house. The woman stumbled and fell. Thalia felt pain rip through her body as she hit the stone floor. The woman scrambled to her feet, gathering Thalia in her arms once more, then handed her to the serving woman. Shoving Thalia into the servant’s arms, the beautiful woman spoke in a language Thalia understood, although it was not Latin. “Take her to safety. A ship is waiting to take you both away—they will be expecting you.”
At this point the nightmare always worsened.
A horrible man with long stringy hair and a twisted expression blocked their escape. The servant ran with Thalia clutched in her arms, but the man drew steadily closer. The wind tore at her hair, tangling it about her face, and Thalia could not see what was happening. A dark void yawned before her, and she was sliding toward it, clawing and trying to save herself.
She was falling, falling.
It always ended the same way, and try as she might, Thalia could not push aside the dark curtain that shrouded the past, because there was nothing behind the black void.
She took a deep gulp of air, not realizing until that moment that she’d stopped breathing. Even as darkness swallowed the dream, her heart was thundering inside her. Terror kept her pinned to the bed, then slowly Thalia was able to raise up on her elbows. She searched her chambers, not because she thought anyone was lurking in the shadows, but because she was still cautious after all these years.
This was her home—a place that was dear and familiar to her—a place where she had found love and kindness, and until tonight she’d thought she had escaped her past.
Easing off the bed, she padded across the cool floor and stepped out into the garden. Obviously her encounter with the man earlier in the evening had caused her nightmares to return. Even if he was not the scarred-faced man she feared, he was a threat nonetheless.
Thalia remained in the garden until soft light chased away the shadows and dark clouds moved away from the moon. Fear had invaded her home, and the past had caught up with her.
A sudden movement across the pathway made her cringe until she recognized one of the guards. Good Jamal had taken her fear seriously and posted more men around the villa.
What could be so important about her that whoever pursued her would not stop?
The man in the garden had said she was in danger.
From whom?
From him.
Thalia was still pondering what she should do as sunrise struck the garden walls. If only Ramtat or Adhaniá’s husband Marcellus was in Alexandria, they could advise her.
Danger was stalking her, waiting for her to become careless.
Chapter Five
In the light of day the bad dream had faded, leaving Thalia feeling somewhat foolish. Walking toward the stables, she’d convinced herself that she had overreacted to the stranger the night before. She even smiled when she remembered how frightened she’d been. The poor man must have thought her reaction to him was odd.
But how was she supposed to react when he warned her of danger?
Moving beneath a grape arbor, she reached over her head, snatched a cluster of grapes and bit into one, savoring the taste. The sun was just dropping below the horizon, and the workers were coming in from the fields. She knew many by name and waved to them as they passed her.
The family had many holdings, but here at Tausrat Villa, near Alexandria, was where she had spent most of her time. The estate was substantial, with fields, outbuildings and stables. As she ambled along, enjoying the quiet of the evening, one of her sandals came unlaced and she almost tripped. Thalia bent to retie it, and a shadow fell across her face. Thinking it was one of the workers, she glanced up and smiled.
But this man was not one of the slaves that toiled in the family fields. He was the same person who haunted her nightmares. He was older now, and his long hair had thinned on top, but his one good eye was just as piercing, and the scar on his face just as frightening.
She stepped back, glancing over her shoulder, wondering whether anyone would hear her if she called out for help before the man overtook her.
“It’s been a long time, lady,” he said, stepping closer. “Many times you eluded me in Rome though you were but a child. But no matter; I have found you. You will come with me now.”
His accent was different from that of the man she’d encountered in the garden the night before—this man’s voice was guttural and less cultured. Anger, more than fear, prompted her to take a step toward him. “You must be crazed. I have no intention of going anywhere with you.
“I would prefer if you came willingly, but it matters little. I shall take you by force if need be.”
Thalia’s only thought was to escape—there were no catacombs where she could hide, but she was no longer alone. Far to her right were the workers’ dwellings, but most of them had already gone inside. Between her and the safety of the garden walls was a long stretch of open ground.
Without pausing to think, Thalia turned and ran, her heart pounding, her pulse racing. She heard the man’s lumbering footsteps behind her—he was gaining on her. When Thalia reached the grape arbor, she saw Jamal hurrying toward her, his sword drawn—but would he reach her in time? Suddenly the workers were coming out of their houses, and they too were racing to help her. Knowing rescue was near at hand, Thalia turned back to face her pursuer—something she had never had the courage to do when she was a child. “Who are you, and what do you want with me?”
The man held up his hands as if in surrender. “We shall meet again, lady.”
“If you come near me again, my guards will slay you.”
When he smiled, his scar tugged at his lip, and it looked more like a frown. “Until we next meet,” he said, moving back down the tilled row. For such a big man he moved with surprising agility as he ran to his horse and rode away.
; By the time Jamal reached her, Thalia was still trembling. “Are you harmed, Mistress? Who was that man?”
“I am not harmed, but he frightened me,” she said, pressing her hands together to stop their quaking.
“What did he want of you?” Jamal asked, knowing he could not catch the man since he was on foot and the intruder had a horse.
Thalia could do no more than whisper. “He wanted me to go away with him.”
“Come,” the guard said, motioning for the workers to go on their way. “I will escort you to your mother. Describe the man for me, and I will send out a search for him.”
She paused. “I would not have you cross swords with that man even if you could locate him—he is dangerous. And something more, Jamal—say nothing to my mother of this incident. I do not want to worry her.”
He frowned. “She must be told that you are being threatened.”
“I will explain it to my mother in my own time.”
“What can you tell me about that man, Mistress?”
“When I was a child he ruled me through fear—I will not allow him that much power over me now that I am a woman.” Her words were brave, but she was frightened.
“But, Mistress, we must tell—”
She held up her hand to silence him. “We will tell my brother when next we see him. But I forbid you to upset my mother.”
By now they had reached the gate to the inner garden, and Thalia turned her gaze on Jamal. “I will be safe when we reach the desert. Until then, I shall be careful.”
“I will double the guard.”
Thalia nodded in agreement. “Do it in such a way that will not draw my mother’s attention.”
His breath hissed through his teeth, but the habit of obedience was strong within him. “As you will.” Jamal bowed stiffly and stalked away.
When Thalia reached her bedchamber, she dropped down onto a stool and removed her sandals. Could there be two men after her? she wondered. Were they collaborators or enemies? Perhaps the man in the garden had been trying to warn her about the one-eyed man.
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