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“But I don’t care what you prefer.” His face was suddenly twisted with anger.

“I chose it. And what I choose comes to be.” He grabbed her arm and shoved her down another aisle so that she was facing the opposite wall.

Another gold-framed photo was on that wall.

“Here is another choice I made, but Caldwell hasn’t been able to give her to me yet.

Is she not beautiful? She’s the one I chose for you to use as a model for the mask. ”

Celine Kelly! Eve stiffened but tried not to show any expression. “I guess she’s attractive enough. But why her, of everyone in the world? How did you know she even existed?”

“The miracle of modern technology. My advisors used online search engines to find close modern matches for Nefertiti. This young woman’s face kept popping up. Caldwell did a good job finding her.”

“Hmm. Naturally, I’ll do whatever you wish.”

“Of course you will,” Zakira said. “Because you know what will happen to you if you don’t.” His gaze was raking her face. “You recognize her, don’t you? She actually attended one of your seminars. Fate may have played a hand, but Caldwell was there. He photographed you both.”

“I’m usually busy at my seminars, and I don’t remember ever seeing her or Caldwell before.”

“Well, naturally Caldwell had to check with me if she’d be adequate.

so there was an annoying delay. But he told me that his men had recently seen her visiting you at your cottage.

” He frowned. “He made a mistake in not finding a way to get her for me then. Though if you please me, I might forgive him.” His voice lowered to a silky murmur.

“And you have a much better chance of surviving than does that violet-eyed Kelly woman.” He smiled.

“Because I’ve already made a definite choice regarding her fate.

While you might still be able to convince me you may be useful. ”

Eve moistened her lips. “What fate?”

“Why, look at the beautiful toys I’ve given her to play with. Don’t you think she’ll enjoy them?”

Eve’s gaze dropped to the glass case below the photo.

She inhaled sharply and looked quickly away so he wouldn’t see her horror and repulsion.

“I see you recognize what some of those toys are.” He laughed.

“Since I’m sure you’ve done a good deal of research on ancient weapons in your career, I’m not surprised.

I’m particularly fond of the machetes. Don’t you believe they have a certain deadly style?

A lovely weapon to show my power over an equally lovely symbol that any man would want to possess. The idea has a certain flair.”

She still didn’t look at him. “I’m afraid I don’t understand the concept. I don’t like the idea of any beautiful object being destroyed. It seems an incredible waste.”

“Not if I choose to make it happen.” His lips twisted.

“Not if it gives me pleasure. You have no concept of the rush of power it would give me if handled properly. But you seem surprised I’d want to use them to make my point.

You obviously have no respect for me or my position.

” He frowned. “I’ll have to correct that immediately. ”

She shrugged. “It will be difficult. I’m afraid I have real problems with people like you. I’ll try to do what you wish, but I usually don’t get along well with people who have a penchant for destruction.”

“You will learn.” He took a step closer to her. “Because you have a son.”

She inhaled sharply. “I told you that I’d do what you wanted.”

“I find that’s no longer satisfactory.” He reached out and touched her throat. “I have to know that you respect me. I’m afraid that I have to teach you.”

She stiffened. “I’ve agreed to do what you wish. Caldwell said you’d leave my son alone.”

“For the time being. I’ve decided I’ll only take the first step and see how you respond. Anything else would be down the road if you fail to show me that you’re not the skilled sculptor Caldwell promised.”

“First step?” She didn’t like the way the bastard was smiling like a cat about to eat the canary, and she hated the feel of his touch on her throat. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to go and see my son, Michael, now.”

“Presently. As it happens I do mind. You haven’t had that lesson Caldwell went to the trouble of arranging for me.” He turned and snapped his fingers at one of the guards. “Fetch the child.”

“Child?” Eve’s gaze flew to his face as the guard ran out of the room. “You’re bringing him here?”

He chuckled. “That’s not the first step.

It’s not your son. He has a certain value to me.

I chose to use the girl child of one of my soldiers to give you that lesson.

I believe they call her Nieva. He wasn’t pleased that her mother didn’t give him a boy.

He wanted a son who would serve me in the army as he does.

He knows that women are useful for only one thing, and since she’s only ten it will be too long before she can be sold to be used in that way. ”

Eve suddenly heard a piercing scream and her gaze flew to the door.

It was being flung open and a young girl was being dragged into the room by two of the guards.

Her long dark hair was flying around her face; she was sobbing uncontrollably, and her eyes were wild and frantic.

She was shaking her head in bewilderment and panic as the guards forced her to kneel at Zakira’s feet.

“Hello, Nieva.” Zakira tangled his hand in her long hair and jerked her head back. “Stop fighting. I’ve decided you’re to be chosen.”

“What are you doing?” Eve asked as she saw Zakira reaching for the ornate jeweled knife in the holster at his hip. She had a horrible feeling that she knew, and she started toward him. “Let’s talk about this. It doesn’t make sense. She’s only a child.”

“A useless child.” He shrugged. “Except for one purpose. To demonstrate that only I control what happens to those who serve me. Her father will be relieved that I have rid him of this burden, and she’ll show you that you must never question me.”

“It won’t happen again. I didn’t understand.

” Eve was running toward him. “I’m sorry if I offended you.

I’m sure that the little girl has some use.

” She pushed herself between him and the child.

“Perhaps I can teach her. I have a ward I raised from the time she was very young, and I’m sure you won’t be sorry if you let me try.

Jane turned out very well.” The child was screaming again, and Eve reached out and frantically grabbed Zakira’s wrist. “Please. Don’t do this. How can I stop you?”

He looked down at her hand gripping his wrist. “You cannot. I told you, I’m the one who chooses.” He motioned to the guards. “Hold her!”

“No!” It was too late. The guards were gripping Eve’s arms and dragging her from between Zakira and the child. She watched Zakira draw his dagger.

Now it was Eve who was screaming as he stepped toward the girl and lifted the dagger.

He looked back at Eve, and his smile was cruel. “Now you understand. Choice!” He plunged the dagger into the little girl’s chest.

Blood spurted. The knife went down again.

This time there was no doubt the child was dead.

Eve watched in horror as the girl fell to the floor.

It was too much. She bent over clutching her stomach, fighting nausea.

She looked back at Zakira and gasped, “Why? You didn’t have to do it.

I could have helped her. Why didn’t you let me? ”

“I told you, it was the first step. Caldwell said you needed a lesson, and I agreed with him.” He looked at her appraisingly. “But you must be even softer than we thought. You look as if you’re ready to faint. I thought someone of your experience would be a bit tougher.”

She wanted to scream—no, she wanted to kill him. “She didn’t have to die! Yes, and it does make me ill to have watched you do it.”

“Then get over it. I’m done with you for the time being. I’ll let you have a little time to recover before I show you the sarcophagus.” He gestured to one of the guards. “Take her to Caldwell.”

Caldwell was leaning against the door of a hut a few yards from the temple when Eve ran out of the arched teak entrance of the museum a few minutes later.

“You seem to be in a hurry.” He motioned to the guard following her to let her come toward him.

“And you look a bit under the weather,” he added mockingly. “Now, I wonder why?”

“You know very well why,” she said fiercely as she glared up at him.

“He’s a monster, and so are you. He was the one with the knife, but you sent me to see him use it.

” She swallowed, fighting the overwhelming sadness and nausea again.

“That poor child… What you did was hideous and without reason. There was no excuse for it. Zakira has to be mad and totally without conscience—but I don’t know which one of you is worse.

You’re the one who evidently set up that entire scenario and persuaded Zakira that he should execute it. Do you deny it?”