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enough for Ricki to hear. Jo watched as her friend turned and looked at the huge male coolly again
before tossing her head in dismissal and walking away.
Manota gripped Risteard s arm when he made to follow Ricki. The humans are under my
protection, he said in a quiet voice. All of them. I suggest you focus on the plans for the evening.
Risteard looked down at Manota s hand on his arm. The muscles in the Grand Ruler s arm flexed,
showing Manota the man was solid as steel under the silk long sleeve shirt he wore. Cold eyes moved
from Manota s hand to his face.
If you want to keep your hand attached to your arm, I suggest you remove it, Risteard responded
coldly. I take what I want. For now, it is the heads of the assassins and the Kassisan councilman who
thinks to play me. Make no mistake, if I choose to take the female I will and there is nothing you or
anyone else can do about it, he growled out in a low menacing voice before he shook off Manota s
hand and turned to walk into the Big Top.
Ajaska looked at Manota for a moment before he winked at Jo who stood with her mouth open at
the Grand Ruler s words. Her mouth snapped shut and her eyes glittered with fury. The big ox was
definitely asking for a kick to his you-know-what!
Deep down, he isn t so bad, Ajaska tried to reassure Jo as he turned to walk in with them.
Jo sniffed and shrugged her shoulders. Well, he better watch it. Ricki won t put up with his
arrogant ass. He ll find himself being shipped to Timbuktu if he isn t careful, snail mail.
Ajaska chuckled as he slipped Jo s slender arm through his. Manota quickly took up the other side
so she was cushioned between the two of them. Her eyes searched out Star and River who were
already sitting in the space reserved for the Royal family.
They grinned at her and waved. As soon as the lights went out, they would join the other casts
members. Until then, they would appear as defenseless as all the other crew who would not be
performing tonight and were sitting next to the warriors who had been carefully chosen for the night s
confrontation.
She took her place, turning to chat with Star and River. She knew the exact minute Tai Tek s men
started to enter. Manota and the other men stiffened slightly. A glance showed they were casually
looking around them. Jo felt the hand gripping hers tighten as a man with long, black hair walked in
with two beautiful women on each arm. They were closely followed by several other men.
Tai Tek, she heard Jazin growl out before Star pulled his head down to hers and kissed him to
hide the rage on his face.
Jo acted like she was looking around so she could study the man she had met only briefly a few
times. She frowned as she bent toward Manota, picking at an imaginary piece of lint on his shoulder.
Her eyes swept over where Tai Tek moved to sit as the Mimes, Marvin and Martin, guided him and
his entourage up a few steps. The audience chuckled as the two Mimes acted like they wanted to fight
with each other to guide the small group to their seats. One of the clowns popped up and finished
guiding Tai Tek s group away during the mock battle.
He looks different, she whispered.
Facial reconstruction, Manota responded. Unfortunate for him, his DNA cannot be
reconstructed. It is him.
Those don t look like his typical ladyloves, River murmured as she sat forward as far as her
swollen belly would allow her.
Assassins from Cruthera, Risteard replied with a curl of his lip. I ve killed a few of their
females who thought to kill me first.
Oh, Star said looking at Jazin with wide-eyes before she looked over as Ricki walked to them.
Good evening, everyone. It is a pleasure to have you join us this evening. May I remind you to
please remain seated until Marcus tells you, Ricki said in a calm, husky voice. Her eyes turned to
Manota, a silent plea in them. I would ask that you also keep my father safe, she whispered.
We will, Lady Ricki, Manota promised somberly.
Thank you, Ricki said, flushing slightly as her eyes looked at the huge blue male sitting to the
right of where she was standing. Good luck tonight, she added before turning to leave.
She stopped in surprise when she felt a hand reach out to grab her wrist when she turned. She
looked into the intense silver eyes of the huge warrior who had been staring her for the last two days.
She pulled on her hand but he refused to let her go.
The man who touched you earlier, he is your mate? Risteard inquired.
Ricki frowned at his question, confused. It took a moment for her to realize he was talking about
Stan. Stan had been trying to get her to go out on a date with him for months as had a few of the other
performers. Ricki made a rule of never dating anyone that worked for her father. She never knew if
they were interested in her or her father s wealth and contacts.
That is none of your business, she hissed out. Now, please remove your hand before I remove
it permanently!
Risteard grinned at the fierce look in her eyes even as his gaze moved over her flushed cheeks.
Good, I am claiming you as mine. You may go for now, he said, releasing her hand and sitting back.
Why you arrogant& Ricki started to say before she clamped her lips into a tight line.
Asshole, she muttered as she turned away.
Jo s mouth opened as she heard Ricki s muttered curse. She glanced over at River and Star who
were hiding their amusement behind their hands. She couldn t help but silently mouth snail mail to
them causing all of them to burst out into laughter.
Risteard frowned as he looked at the three women. What is so funny? He demanded with a dark
scowl on his face causing all three girls to laugh even harder.
Chapter 26
Manota sat back in the specially designed seats. He pretended to be focused as the last of the
clowns and Marvin and Martin bowed dramatically and disappeared behind the flaps of the huge Big
Top. The moment they shut the flap the sensors connected, turning on the defense system. No one else
would be able to enter the area as an invisible shield descended over the top reaching down to the
posts that had been installed over the last week.
Manota, along with Jazin and Jarmen, had modified the shield so that it created a barrier. If
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