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rose between them, shutting Marisol out.
    Marisol crouched behind the pedestal and statue, her mind reeling, her breaths coming in short ragged gasps. Two truths had been burned indelibly into her mind.
    Imac had the medallion Marisol sought, hanging on a leather strap around her neck.
    The second truth was that Imac wasn’t human.

 

    Chapter Five
     
    Gunnar sat up straight when servants entered his chamber bearing a tray of food. At first all appeared normal, just like any day in Cusco. Until he remembered what had happened right before he’d fallen asleep.
    Marisol Vasquez and the most amazing sex he’d ever experienced. Never had he felt so close to the heavens.
    His gaze shot around the room, his stomach twisting when he realized the woman who’d sent him to the stars had disappeared.
    Gunnar leaped to his feet.
    The young servant girls’ eyes widened and they backed up so quickly the golden goblets on the tray teetered and tipped over, falling with a splash to the stone floor.
    One of the girls dropped her tray and burst into tears. The other ran from the room, food bouncing off the tray she still carried.
    Guilt pulled at Gunnar, but he didn’t have time to waste on the servants’ feelings. If Marisol got caught snooping through the palace, Gunnar might not be able to stop Pachacuti from punishing her, and the emperor was known for sentencing offenders to death.
    Gunnar ran for the door, so intent on finding Marisol it never crossed his mind that he wore no clothing.
    The young woman on her knees backed into the wall, her body shaking.
    Her fear made Gunnar pause in his headlong rush to the door. It was then he noticed he was naked. He was about to turn back for his clothing when the heavy wooden door slammed open and Marisol stood poised on the threshold.
    Gunnar let out the breath he’d been holding since he realized she’d disappeared. Then his gut tightened as he registered her ashen face. He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into the room.
    To the young woman crouched on the floor, he ordered, “Out!”
    She stumbled to her feet and ran from the room, leaving the tray and its spilled contents strewn across the floor.
    Gunnar let go of Marisol and shut the door behind the departing servant. “What happened? Were you discovered?”
    Marisol had her back to him. “No.” She shook her head and walked deeper into the chamber. After several paces, she spun and faced him. “I just can’t believe…I don’t know what to say.”
    Gunnar laughed. “I’ve only known you for a short time, but from what I’ve witnessed thus far, you are never at a loss for words.” His laughter died as he stared into her pale face. He closed the distance between them, lifting a hand to cup her cheek. “What has frightened you, my precious?”
    She gazed up into his eyes, her forehead creased, her mouth pinched into a straight line. “Did you drug me while I slept?”
    “I don’t know what you are talking about. I fell asleep. When I woke, you were gone. Why would I drug you?”
    She shook her head, her gaze dropping to his chest. “I don’t know. I just…I can’t…What I saw…” She shook her head again. “Unbelievable…” Marisol leaned her forehead against his chest, her arms wrapping around his waist, pulling him so close he could feel the rapid beat of her heart.
    “Where were you?” He stroked the loose tendrils of hair from her face, his fingers sliding over her head to the braids falling down her back. He liked her hair loose, flowing around her shoulders.
    “I was going to search Pachacuti’s quarters.”
    Gunnar gripped her shoulders and shook her. “Don’t. If he catches you spying, he can kill you, and I could do nothing to stop him.”
    “I didn’t go there. I didn’t have to.” She caught her bottom lip between her teeth and looked up at him. “While I was out, I learned that Kentar is pushing Pachacuti to send you to Machu Picchu.”
    Gunnar frowned. “You said you didn’t spy