Free Dark Seduction by Shaun Jeffrey Page A

either.
    “They wouldn't dare risk anything if you're with me. As for the others: Te potshinen penge lajav . They must pay for their shame.” Her expression looked hard and cruel.
    “Others?”
    “The sons and daughters.”
    Zen frowned. “You'll have to explain it to me in plain English.” He looked at the bag of money sitting between them and wondered if it was counterfeit. Why else would Melantha have so much money and yet be travelling around in a caravan. If it was real, she could afford to buy a bloody palace.
    The horse trotted along, the melodic sound of its hooves as they struck the road almost hypnotic. The rain hid the vista, nature's watercolour painting, a hint of colour, the outline of a building, and the semblance of a figure running for shelter.
    “My people have been persecuted throughout history. Do you know what it's like to be shunned wherever you go, called a vagabond and a thief?”
    “Yeah, actually I do.” He gritted his teeth.
    “It's not the same. They hunted, branded, hanged and mutilated my people, all because they were Roma. We’re still the only race of people that don't have laws protecting us.” She spat on the ground. “Do you know how that feels?”
    “Look, you're missing something here. Look at me. The way I dress, the way I look. I'm different.”
    “Yes, I guess dressing in women’s clothing is a little strange.”
    “This isn’t mine. It’s a long story, but I lost my clothes.” He hesitated. Swallowed. “Did you send Jade to kill me?”
    Melantha shrugged.
    “Is that it? No remorse?”
    “She didn’t succeed, so take that as a bonus.”
    Zen clenched his fists as anger boiled in the pit of his stomach. “I've been attacked just walking down the bloody road because my face didn't fit. Gangs of lads have chased me out of pubs; that's if the bouncers let me in the pub. I'm covered in tattoos which people take as a sign that I'm a hard case, and they want to try their luck, impress their mates ... So don't tell me I don't know what being persecuted is like.” He pursed his lips. Even remembering some of the things felt painful.
    Melantha nodded. “And what if you could pay those people back?” She looked at him, her green eyes sparkling. “How would you like to get revenge on those people?”
    “Too damn right I’d like it.”
    Melantha smiled. “Then we're more alike than you think, Zen.”
    Although still unsure about everything, he saw where she was coming from, and he felt a connection. His adoptive parents always turned the other cheek, Zen couldn't. Perhaps that’s because they weren’t really his parents, but if he believed that, could he really believe the strange woman beside him was his real mother?
    He sat with his legs parted, but as they rode into town he realised he offered an eyeful to anyone who looked up, so he closed his knees together. The fewer reasons he gave people to stare, the better.
    Not that he had much to worry about as there was no one around, and when he did finally see someone, they bowed their head against the elements.
    When they reached the high street, a large grey dog padded towards them. At least it looked like a dog, but he couldn't be sure. A strange hybrid, it made his skin crawl. Melantha reined the horse in and looked down at the creature.
    “What is it?”
    Zen thought she was talking to him and he frowned, confused until he saw her looking at the dog.
    The dog displayed an unnatural smile, revealing large teeth. It made a guttural sound.
     “She’s followed me here?” Melantha said, frowning.
    The dog nodded its head and turned to look at the Salvation public house.
    Melantha grinned.
    Zen looked on, amused.
    “Follow me,” Melantha said.
    Zen realised that now she was talking to him.
    He watched her climb down from the caravan and walk towards the public house.
    “I can't go in there looking like this,” he shouted after her, lifting the hem of the dress and raising his eyebrows.
    Melantha turned and