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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