Free Marked for Surrender by Jennifer Leeland Page A

think I don't know?"
    "Know what?"
    "I know what she gave you. I know what she can do for you that I can't.” Zevon paced the room, his shoulders tense.
    "You're right,” Christophe admitted. He couldn't lie to Zevon. “She does do something for me that you can't."
    Zevon froze and then nodded, numb pain in his dull gaze.
    But Christophe went on. “She made you whole. Why didn't you tell me you liked pain?"
    The only movement from Zevon was his throat when he swallowed. “I didn't think it was important."
    Christophe couldn't believe it. He studied this man, his lover, his friend. “Didn't think it was important,” he echoed.
    Zevon moved his shoulders impatiently, an action Christophe was achingly familiar with. “I didn't want that kind of thing from you.” Zevon's words hit him like a blow.
    Three years and it had all been bullshit. Zevon had settled for Christophe, believing he couldn't have what he really wanted.
    But then, he had to think about how Zevon had taken his words. Christophe had admitted Mistress Andia filled a hole inside him he hadn't known existed. Yes, she dominated him. But unlike the force of a man's domination, the only thing Christophe had ever known, she drew his surrender from him rather than taking it. Instead of the violence of being overwhelmed, her style was to wait until he gave it willingly. There were parts of himself Christophe kept hidden, savoring the day when he would want to give those tidbits to a lover. He'd always believed that lover would be Zevon.
    Christophe had never felt like he'd settled for Zevon. With Zevon, Christophe was able to be the sub he'd always wanted to be but had been too afraid. It was through Zevon's dominance that Christophe had recognized his need for more.
    Besides, he was greedy. He wanted both of them.
    The dark recess of the cave was still hidden, untouched. Andia breathed a sigh of relief. So far, whoever was after them hadn't discovered her guard's getaway. Mya had been almost paranoid about her privacy, and now it paid off. But not for Mya.
    Andia tightened her lips. Someone was going to pay for Mya's death. Had they thought the Ball Breaker would let this pass? Well, they thought she'd be dead.
    The cave was a contrast to the ancient Old Earth feel in the other part of Mya's fortress. Every technological wonder filled the space in this well protected and shielded room. Mya had wanted her privacy, but she hated being out of the loop. Consequently, she'd bugged every conclave to keep up on the Mistress gossip.
    With a smile, Andia pressed several buttons on the console, remembering when Mya had finally revealed this room to her. She hadn't been surprised or angry when Andia found her mountain home, but Mya hadn't shared herself willingly. Until that day. They'd been colleagues for over eight years when a prisoner had almost killed Mya in a freak accident. It had been Andia who had killed that man, saving her guard's life and earning a place in Mya's life forever.
    Mya had been amused at Andia's squeamishness at listening in on conversations of other Mistresses. Somehow it had seemed like cheating to play politics with that kind of advantage. But Mya had no qualms at all, believing that the petty bickering at other conclaves could become useful.
    Now Andia had to know what was being said about the attack at Muan.
    She switched the various screens on and watched as the other seven conclaves came online. With her parameters, the system filtered through video, only focusing on discussions about Muan and Mistress Andia.
    The conversations shocked her.
    The council had informed the Mistresses that Muan had been retired permanently, that the building was too remote to remain active. Her own “reassignment” had been announced as a special envoy to the council.
    No one knew she'd been attacked. Her two prisoners weren't even mentioned.
    Did this man, Pavlik, really have that much power?
    She increased her search parameters, including the council and