“No? What do you mean, no?”
Jess felt like she’d been pole-axed as she stood in front of Daaynal, looking up into an expression that lacked the normal warmth and smile she was used to seeing on the big emperor’s face. Now his expression was closed off and forbidding as he lounged on the throne, green eyes so like Laarn’s boring into hers.
“Have a care, little human,” he rumbled, an edge of anger in his deep voice. “That you do not overstep your bounds as my guest.”
She shivered at the note in the last word, all her illusions about her place at court stripped away in one spine-chilling moment. He’d lauded Jess and her companions as honored guests but the Lathar were ruthless. It seemed as soon as having them as guests was no longer useful, they’d be downgraded back to the prisoners they’
