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  “Look deep within yourself. Look inside of me. I cannot lie to you, Rianna. A part of me resides within your mind, just as a part of you is within mine.”

  “I don’t know how I can believe you.”

  “We’d met under very trying circumstances. How do I go up to a complete stranger—someone who knows nothing of my world or our abilities, who was frankly repulsed by the idea of someone being able to delve her thoughts.” Color mounted Rianna’s cheeks but she didn’t deny the charge. “How do I tell this woman ‘Oh, by the way, psychically we are compatible. We must marry or I am doomed to a life of being half a man’? That she would suffer the same sense of incompleteness?”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  Jhaan lifted one hand to smooth her hair back behind her ear in a gentle motion. “Your life would have been just as barren as mine, Rianna, maarai. You might have wed the Turnisian heir, shared his bed, bore his children.” His stomach clenched at the thought, but he forced himself to continue. “But you would have been just as unfulfilled, both sexually and mentally.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “I do know that. Whatever cosmic fluke caused you to be born on Salazar rather than Dakar also ensured you were never, nor would ever be sexually attracted to another man.”

  Rianna was silent for a long moment before she raised her eyes to his. The look she gave him was filled with conflicting emotions.

  “So, you chose to deceive me. I’m trying very hard to understand, but once again the decision concerning my future has been taken out of my hands.”

  A trained assassin…a man even the deadliest of warriors fear. To cross him is foolish. To steal his heart is pure madness.

  A View to a Kill

  © 2007 Mandy M. Roth

  Book two in King of Prey series.

  Sachin, head advisor to the king of the Accipitridae realm, has been forced to put his trips to Earth on hold. He’s not been honest with himself or King Kabril about his need to visit the primitive planet. The king thinks him to be a womanizer, out to bed as many human females as possible.

  In truth, a woman he should have been able to woo with little to no effort—his mate—has found someone else to fill that void in her life. She wasn’t supposed to be on Earth. She wasn’t supposed to be human. And she sure the hell wasn’t supposed to agree to marry another man while Sachin was away.

  Sachin must make a choice, give up the one woman he knows to be his true mate and let her live in ignorant bliss of what walks among her people, or fight for what’s his, taking it at all costs. A trained assassin…a man even the deadliest of warriors fear. To cross him is foolish. To steal his heart is pure madness.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for A View to a Kill:

  Paige looked for signs of a car but like always, she found none. He certainly had odd ways of arriving. None of that mattered. He was here and that was what was important. She stood, suddenly embarrassed by how dressed up she was. Normally, when Sachin came for a visit, he helped her tend to the horses and they laughed, talking about everything and nothing at all. She had something different in mind tonight. It was her twenty-first birthday and she wanted to celebrate. Sarah had prepared a birthday feast and Paige wanted to head into town shortly after, hopefully with Sachin by her side.

  She was on break from school and lonely. It wasn’t as if she was terribly social so it was hard for her to make and keep friends. Sachin was the exception to the rule. He was outgoing enough for the both of them. He did tend to shy away from places that were too crowded but she couldn’t blame him there. Crowds bothered her as well.

  He smiled and dimples formed on his cheeks. A cleft chin and eyes so silver they were like liquid mercury made for a striking man. It didn’t hurt he had a body that could rival a bodybuilder’s. The dark gray, V-neck shirt he wore gave her a glimpse of his tawny chest. It was hairless and smooth. She knew from seeing him work around the ranch without a shirt on. She also knew he had the start of black hair just below his navel and that she would give anything for the chance to lick her way down his body. On the verge of drooling, she averted her gaze.

  Sachin came to a stop just before her and put his hand over hers, prying it loose from the pendant. “You rang, my lady?”

  His playful, knight-of-the-Round-Table banter always lightened her mood. It was easy to picture him with a sword in his hand, fighting some epic battle. A soft sigh slipped past her lips and she blushed.

  Sachin bent, putting his face close to hers. “Is Sarah awaiting us?”

  She stared up at him, fawning over him. When she realized, she stopped and tossed her shoulders back, hoping to salvage some piece of her dignity along the way. “She is. I think she gave up hope you’d make it in tonight.”

  He lifted his hand and touched her cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned into his palm. “I promised I would come. Did I not?”

  Skimming her hand over his forearm, Paige nodded and stopped when her fingers brushed over shallow cuts. She grabbed his arm and turned it to get a better view. It looked as if he’d been clawed. “Sachin, what happened?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Uh-huh, try another one, buddy. It looks like someone tried to take your arm off.”

  He stiffened. “Nonsense. It was,” he seemed to fumble for the right words, “a result of a night of passion. The woman I just left was rather rambunctious.”

  Woman?

  Paige tossed his hand away from her face and backed away. “We should go in. Sarah has dinner waiting.”

  “Paige?” He took her hand in his. “You’re angry. Why?”

  “No reason. I’m fine.”

  As Paige brushed past him, Sachin cringed. Why had he said he’d been with a woman when he hadn’t? He’d been caught detaining a traitor, one who’d tried to infiltrate the castle and kill the king. The man had nearly succeeded in removing Sachin’s arm. Thankfully, Sachin was the more skilled of the two and killed the man before he could finish what he’d started.

  He’d had to wait a few hours to ensure the wound was mostly healed over before flying to be with Paige. Telling her the truth wasn’t an option but the lie he’d chosen caused her pain. She cared for him a great deal. More than a woman should for a man she called a friend. He didn’t mind. He cared for her as well. Much more than a warrior from another realm should for a human female.

  Paige disappeared into the house and Sarah appeared on the front porch, her look pensive. “I told you not to build her up if your heart wasn’t in it.”

  “Sarah, nothing can come of my feelings for Paige.”

  “Who says?” She posed a question he asked himself often as of late.

  Prophecies telling of Kabril needing to take a mate seemed to be everywhere. The pressure for Kabril and other healthy young males of their race to figure out a solution to the lack-of-children issue was great. Sachin would never help bring a child to his people by bedding a human. No one had ever heard of a successful mating between a human and a member of his race. He ought to know. He’d asked around enough. His guards were beginning to whisper behind his back about his obsession with this realm.

  Sarah crossed her arms over her chest. “You planning on standing out there all night or are you going to come in, be a man and face the girl I know owns that rugged heart of yours?”

  Letting out a long breath, Sachin chuckled. “You are a wise woman. My people would cherish one such as yourself.”

  Sarah winked. “Well, I’m lovable like that. Come on in, boy.”

  “Boy?” he echoed. “I’m older than you think.”

  She grinned. “I know. Now, get on in there and eat. And while you’re at it, tell that young lady in there that you were just being a horse’s ass. Beg her to forgive you.”

  He’d never begged for a thing in his long life but knew in that moment he would if it meant he’d be back in Paige’s good graces. “Lead the way.”

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