Free The Devil's Concubine (The Devil of Ponong series #1) by Jill Braden

last
choice.”
    “Fair enough. You’re my last choice for an
ally too, but since you gave a little information, I’ll return the favor. I
always pay my debts.”
    “A scoundrel with honor. We’re not so
different after all.”
    With an admonishing smile, she shook her head
slightly. He had nerve.
    “The Ravidians aren’t the only newcomers.
Levapur is overrun with mysterious strangers these days.” Mysterious was a bit
of a leap, but more travelers than usual had come to the island, considering
the time of year.
    “Am I focusing on the wrong group?”
    “Subtle, Mister Zul, very subtle. I think I’ve
given you enough information today.” She couldn’t blame him for trying, though.
    “Not that I’m keeping score, since this is a
debt of honor, but I gave you more information than you gave me,” Kyam said.
    “In the future, if I hear something that is
of no value to me but might be useful to you, I might be tempted to pass it
along.”
    Kyam didn’t like that answer. “Coyness doesn’t
suit you.”
    “How is this, then? My people are watching
the Ravidians and all suspicious newcomers. I agree that the Ravidians are up
to something.” She put up her hand when he leaned forward. “However, they aren’t
my enemies.”
    “That you’re aware of. I’ve heard rumors that
you have separatist sympathies, but Thampurians look like the Goddess of Mercy
compared to what Ravidians do to the native populations of their colonies.”
    There might have been some truth to that, but
sworn enemies usually exaggerated about each other. She could imagine what the
Ravidians said about the Thampurians. It probably wasn’t all that different
from what she said about them. “There are only three Ravidians on Ponong. I’ll
take my chances.”
    Kyam said, “Don’t underestimate how
determined I am to get what I want. I’d rather have your cooperation, but I
have other means.”
    She sensed the same change in the power flowing
around him as she did when the werewolves shifted. She crossed her arms over her
chest to hide her gooseflesh.
    He said, “Don’t force my hand, Lady QuiTai.”
    “You will never be able to force mine, Mister
Zul.”
    His mouth tightened. Then he hunched over his
pad, barely looking up at her as he furiously erased something with rubber gum.
He had no right to be angry. She was the one who should have been insulted. Did
he really think she’d help the Thampurians?
    As his pencil swept along the paper, he said,
“The drugs, the smuggled rice, the murders, the burglaries, the extortion
– our soldiers could interrogate you about those crimes for hours. They’ve
wanted to get their hands on the Devil ever since he killed his competitors and
became the face of criminal activity on this island. Only he’s not the face, is
he? He’s the coward who hides in the shadows while you run the syndicate. I
could have you arrested right now. I could have you tortured.”
    It was true. If not for her generous payments
to key Thampurians in the colonial government, she probably would have been
taken in long ago. She knew that was an illusion of safety. A bought man wasn’t
to be trusted. No one would protect her if the soldiers dragged her to the
fortress.
    But Kyam forgot that she knew he wanted her
help. It was the trump tile in this game.
    “Go ahead. Have me arrested. I dare you,
Mister Zul.”
    He flipped the cover of his drawing pad
closed and stood. “That’s enough for today.”
    She ambled over and extended her hand. “Let
me see.”
    He thrust the pad at her.
    In his sketch, there were harsh lines around her mouth, and her eyes
were cunning. It was the portrait of an unrelenting, cruel woman. The drawing
was quite good, which surprised her. She handed it back without comment.

Chapter 4: Death of a Vapor Addict

 
 
    As
QuiTai went to collect Ivitch from his game on the wharf, she saw Kyam head
toward the funicular. The attendant shut the door, and the train began to rise
up the slope to