Her eyes softened. “I wouldn’t like that, either. If it makes you feel any better, I have only tried this once before, and it did not result in the desired outcome.” She frowned. “I am not sure this would work, either. Offhand, I can think of several legitimate reasons why we shouldn’t mate.”

“Like insanity?”

She looked alarmed. “Are you?”

He winced, then said, “No.”

Liar, the cat snickered.

Go chase your tail, he replied.

The woman gave him a wary glance. “I would not wish to cause anyone to break a sacred vow. An exceptional man like you is probably married.”

Exceptional? That made his heart leap. “I’m single.” When she looked relieved, his heart did another leap.

“You might prefer men.”

“No.”

“You might have a disease you do not wish to—”

“No!”

“Or you might be unable to do the—”

“Hell, no!”

Her mouth twitched. “Then all that false bravado about multiple positions and—”

“Not false.”

She gave him a pointed look. “I know you were trying to frighten me into changing my mind. So there’s only one reason left that I can think of.” Her shoulders slumped as her gaze fell to the ground. “You find me undesirable—”

“I’ll do it.” What the hell was he saying?

Her gaze jerked up to meet his. “You agree?”

“Yes, but with . . . three conditions.”

Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. “What are they?”

How the hell would he know? He was making this shit up as he went. “Number one. I need to know your name.”

“Oh. That’s easy enough.” She sat beside him, crossing her legs. “I am Neona.”

Neona. He repeated her name in his head. He liked the sound of it. “Greek for ‘new moon’?”

She ignored his question. “What is your second condition?”

“You have to untie me.”

She winced. “I don’t believe that is wise.”

“How do you expect me to give you ten cl**axes if I can’t use my hands?”

She scoffed. “You were in jest.”

“You think so? Untie me and find out.”

She bit her lip, considering, then pulled out the knife sheathed to her calf. “I will not hesitate to use this if you hurt me.”

“I would never harm you.”

She gave him a doubtful look, then sawed through the ropes that bound his wrists.

Once released, Zoltan sat up and, rubbing his sore wrists, watched her slip her wickedly sharp knife into the sheath strapped to her leg. Her linen trousers looked worn and ragged along the hem. Homemade, he thought, just like the leather moccasinlike slippers on her feet.

Where did this woman live? Why had she attacked him? “The third condition is that we get to know each other.”

A wary look crossed her face. “I don’t see why that is necessary.”

“It is. I find you very . . . interesting.” Not to mention beautiful, brave, and fascinating.

She shook her head. “I don’t think you need to know me in order to—”

“On the contrary. I need to be in the mood to have sex. And my mood will improve the better I get to know you.”

“There is not much I can tell you.”

“Do you have secrets?” He leaned toward her. “Now you’re even more intriguing.”

She winced. “Can we please get on with it? I’m running short on time.”

“Because Freddy will show up? Who is he?”

“A friend. Winifred.” After a pause, she added, “So she’s female.”

“I gathered that,” he muttered. “And how did you learn English?”

She hesitated, her gaze shifting to the woods as she considered her response. “From an Englishman.”

Zoltan’s mouth twitched. She was as clever as she was beautiful. “And where is this Englishman? Is he tied to a tree somewhere?”

She scoffed. “Of course not. He went home.” She glanced at Zoltan and added, “To England.”

He gritted his teeth. Apparently, she still doubted his intelligence.

“Do you know enough now?” She unfastened the ties on her breastplate. “Shall we begin?”

He swallowed hard when she pulled off her armor. The breastplate must have been hot, for her thin linen top was damp with sweat and molded to br**sts that were sweetly rounded and firm. “I . . . I’m not in the mood yet.” Hopefully, she wouldn’t notice the ever-growing bulge in his pants.

She frowned at him. “Is it normal to be this slow?”

He groaned inwardly at the sight of her ni**les hardening in the cool air.

You might as well enjoy yourself while you can, the leopard grumbled. Since you don’t have long to live.

Zoltan glanced up at the cat. What do you mean?

She’s going to kill you when she’s done.

He flinched. You’re lying!

She told me herself. The leopard licked a paw. Once she’s done with you, you’re out with the garbage.

A chill ran down Zoltan’s spine. Could this be true? Was Neona intending to kill him? His mind tensed, rejecting the thought. He couldn’t believe it. He wouldn’t.

And yet hadn’t she tried to kill him from the start? Was she so heartless that she could have sex with a man and then execute him? If he had sex with her, could he impress her enough to change her mind?

He winced. Performance anxiety had just taken on a new meaning. He’d be a fool to risk it.

“We’re running out of time,” she reminded him. “This mood that you require—is there something I can do to help you achieve it?”

“Yes.” He studied her carefully. Somehow, she didn’t seem like a cold-blooded murderer. “I’ll need a kiss.”

Her brows lifted. “I don’t see how that can help, but very well.” She leaned closer and gave him a peck on the cheek.

“I mean a real kiss.” Her confused look twisted his insides. Dammit. Was she an innocent or a killer? “Didn’t you say you’ve done this before?”

“Yes, once. But he did not require any kissing beforehand.” She slanted an impatient look at Zoltan. “He wasn’t slow. I found him remarkably quick and efficient.”

Zoltan winced. And that was her first time? The as**ole must have hurt her. If she’d killed him, the jerk had probably deserved it. “Not all men are alike. Close your eyes and keep them closed till I tell you to open them.”

She frowned. “What are you going to do?”

“Kiss you.” He took hold of her shoulders. “Now close your eyes.”

Her eyelids flickered shut, and he eased closer till his breath feathered her cheek. She trembled slightly. He ran the tip of his nose along her cheek, headed toward her mouth. Glancing down, he noted her br**sts moving as she breathed faster. She was reacting.

He glanced at her eyes. Still shut. He slid his hands up her neck to cup the back of her head. Lightly, he brushed his lips against hers. Another tremble.

He kissed her, moving his lips slowly and gently. When she moaned, he glanced up and found her eyes wide open with a stunned look. “It’s all right,” he whispered.

She shook her head. “I feel strange. My stomach is . . . quivering.”

Was she truly that innocent, or was she luring him in for the kill? “Close your eyes and kiss me back.” When she hesitated, he took her hands and placed them on his shoulders. “Neona.”

Her eyes searched his.

“Kiss me.” He pulled her close, and this time, when his lips molded to her mouth, she responded. Tentatively at first, but then with growing boldness. He deepened the kiss, invading her mouth with his tongue. She flinched, then stroked his tongue with her own.

With a groan, he covered her breast with his hand. She gasped against his mouth.

“Neona,” he whispered, glancing up to make sure her eyes were still shut. He flicked a thumb over her hardened nipple, and she moaned. “Remember me.”

He teleported to the top of a nearby tree.

She sat there a moment, her eyes still closed, her lips pink and swollen. He winced at the uncomfortable bulge in his pants. Even with the threat of imminent death, he’d still found himself growing hard. He wanted her. He wanted to believe she was sweet and innocent, not a cold-blooded seducer and killer of men.

She opened her eyes, and with a gasp, she looked around. “Where did you go?” She scrambled to her feet. “How did you leave? I didn’t hear you.”

She spun about, surveying the woods. “Zoltan? Where are you?”

A noise to her left made her jump to face it. The leopard paced into the clearing, and she sighed. “Oh, it’s you.” She turned, scanning the woods once again. “Why did he leave?”

She crossed her arms as if suddenly cold. “I thought he liked me.” She regarded the spot on the ground where they had sat and kissed, then her shoulders slumped. “I should have known that men cannot be trusted.”

She put her breastplate back on, and the leopard nudged her leg with its head.

“I’ll be all right.” She patted the leopard’s head. “After all, men have no place in our lives.” With a sigh, she sheathed her sword.

I know you’re there. The leopard glanced up at him. You’re not a normal human, are you?

Was she really going to kill me?

The leopard stretched, arching its back. I guess we’ll never know, since you chickened out and ran away.

I didn’t run. Zoltan winced. But he had chickened out. In the throes of lovemaking, she might have been able to catch him off guard. And if she had stabbed him in the heart with that knife, he would be dust.

She located her bow and quiver, swung them onto her back, then picked up her helmet. Headed downhill, she moved at a quick pace, the cat trotting alongside her.

Zoltan teleported from tree to tree, following her.

Jerk, the leopard called up to him.

He groaned inwardly. He felt like a jerk, spying on her, but how else was he going to find out who she was? And where she lived? She’d made it clear that she didn’t want to tell him anything.

“Neona!” a female voice called from the bottom of the hill. Three women, all dressed in armor, were waiting by a small stream.

Neona greeted them in a language he didn’t understand—Tibetan, most likely— and they talked for a moment before traversing the valley. Who were these women, Zoltan wondered. All four of them had quivers on their backs filled with arrows that looked like the one that had killed his father.

What did they say? he asked the leopard.

Why should I tell you? the cat sneered back.

You’re a male. I’m a male. We should be on the same side. Unless you’re just a big momma’s boy.

The leopard stopped, its fur ruffling. She lied. She told them she didn’t see anyone.

His heart leaped. Was she trying to protect him? Or forget him?

The four women approached the other side of the valley where a rock wall extended high overhead. There was a hole in the wall about shoulder high where water gushed out into the valley to join the stream. Above the hole, there was a ledge. The leopard jumped onto the ledge, then scampered from ledge to ledge till it reached the top of the wall.

Apparently someone was waiting there, for a rope ladder was tossed down. One by one, the women climbed up the ladder and disappeared over the top of the wall.

Where are they going? Zoltan asked the leopard.

Home, the leopard called back. Don’t even think about coming here. They’ll kill you. Men are not allowed in Beyul-La.

Zoltan waited ten minutes, then teleported to the top of the rock wall. His breath caught. Before him lay a beautiful valley, completely hemmed in by mountains. He spotted five women walking toward a village of a half dozen stone houses built in a circle. In the center of the circle, another woman lit a fire.

The six women stood next to the fire, talking, while the cat lounged on the grass.

So this was Neona’s home. Beyul-La. Where men were not allowed. Zoltan snorted. They couldn’t stop him from coming back. He still had questions he needed answered. And he needed to see Neona again. One kiss was not enough.

Chapter Four

“You didn’t see anyone?” Queen Nima asked as she heated up a skillet over the central fire.

“No, your majesty.” Winifred used her knife to gut the six fish she’d trapped earlier in the stream that traversed their valley.

“Not a soul,” Freya added, taking the fish from her sister to scale them.

Neona cast a nervous glance toward Zhan. He was lounging on the grass, his nose twitching at the smell of dinner. Tashi and her mother, Lydia, could both communicate with animals, but since they’d said nothing, it appeared that the leopard was keeping quiet about Zoltan.

“The owl said the invader came from the north.” Nima looked at Neona. “You didn’t see him?”

Neona shook her head, then pretended to be entirely focused on stirring the pot of rice. What on earth was she doing? She’d never lied to her mother before. Or her friends. At first, she’d told herself she was simply avoiding unnecessary embarrassment. Who, among the female warriors, would want to admit that she’d captured a prisoner, tied him up, and then managed to lose him?

It was embarrassing, but now Neona ackowledged there was more to it than that. Meeting Zoltan had been special, and not simply because of his extraordinary strength and handsome appearance. She’d never seen an unarmed man survive one of her attacks before. He’d also proven a worthy opponent during their verbal sparring.