Dragon Lords Books 1 - 4 Box Set: Anniversary Edition

by Michelle M. Pillow

  With a sigh, she opened her notes to look at the formulas, but her concentration was broken. Instead she thought of the coronation banquet. As long as there wasn’t any intergalactic news coverage of the event, a party didn’t sound all that bad.

  Chapter 22

  Nadja took a deep breath, giving Pia a pointed look. They were in a long rectangular exercise room in Pia’s home. The wood floors were perfectly smoothed and polished. There were weapons everywhere—some of which Nadja had no clue as to how they were used. The paper-thin door leading between rooms was opened and Nadja could see Pia’s dining room table from where she stood. Someone had left a couple knives on it. After seeing Pia’s skill firsthand, combined with Zoran’s taste in decorating, she determined she’d hate to see what one of their marital spats looked like.

  “Okay, Nadja,” Pia said, trying to draw her friend’s attention back to her. Nadja was drifting off again. “I want you to kick my hand.”

  Nadja was in a pair of comfortable black pants and a cotton shirt Pia had lent her for the lesson. Her own clothes hadn’t been suitable for what they were about to do, according to Pia. Taking a deep breath, she looked at the woman’s hand high in the air.

  “Just like I showed you,” Pia urged.

  Nadja kicked, giving a light jump as she did so.

  “Again,” Pia ordered. Nadja kicked a second time and then a third and fourth on command. Pia smiled. “You’re getting a lot better.”

  Nadja tried to catch her breath. “I’m sorry. I’m just so distracted today.”

  Pia lowered her hand. “What’s going on?”

  Nadja shrugged. “Have you been told about our coronation?”

  “We have a coronation?” Pia asked, before laughing.

  “I guess not,” Nadja said. “Olek told me about it last night. He said it’s important to the kingdom that we go and act happy.”

  “Ah,” Pia said, perceptively. “He didn’t say that it was important to him that you go.”

  Nadja nodded. “He’s so frustrating. One minute I want to kiss him and the next I want to practice kicking at his head, then I want to…grr!”

  “Kiss him some more?” Pia finished with a small laugh.

  “Exactly,” Nadja said with a bashful smile. Pia lifted her opposite hand and Nadja kicked it repeatedly, taking small pauses to speak in-between whacks of her foot. “And I shouldn’t want to kiss him. He’s not what I wanted…at all when I came here. I wanted a sweet country doctor…who was old…and didn’t make me want…to kiss him all the time.”

  “Instead you got a prince.”

  “Exactly.” Nadja kicked harder and faster. Losing her breath, she was finally forced to stop. “I got the perfect prince. Sometimes, it’s like I married a title, not a man. I have no clue what he does all day. I know he’s an ambassador and working on trade agreements, but every time I ask he changes the subject, like I’m some kind of alien spy sent to gather intelligence.”

  “Now a low kick,” Pia instructed, holding her hand down low near waist level.

  Nadja turned to use her other leg.

  “Nadja,” Pia began, the word edged with curiosity and caution. “Why did you come here?”

  Nadja froze. Her leg lowered to the ground without striking. Pia dropped her hand. Taking a deep breath, Pia reached forward. Nadja, thinking she was to resume training, kicked.

  Pia bent over to grab a glass of water just as Nadja’s foot struck out and hit her in the stomach, sending her off balance. Nadja inhaled sharply in horror as her foot made contact. Pia stumbled back in surprise, and crashed right into a display of swords. Her mouth opened in shock as she fell over.

  “Oh, Pia!” Nadja ran forward. She reached to help her up. “I didn’t mean to. I thought—”

  “No,” Pia grunted. Her somber expression kept Nadja back. The woman looked down at her side. Blood spilled onto the floor next to her. “Don’t move me. Get a medic.”

  Nadja teared up and ran for the front door.

  “Open,” Pia yelled weakly.

  The door slid open and Nadja thought she heard Pia fall over on the floor and say, “Please hurry.”

  * * *

  Nadja had been fortunate enough to find a servant in the halls who directed her to Tal, the royal household’s personal medic technician. Somehow the man understood enough of Nadja’s tearful rambling explanation and urgings to hurry, and to ascertain that he needed to bring a handheld medic unit. They rushed to Pia’s side and, after a thorough examination, Tal declared the princess was going to survive. Pia had lost a fair amount of blood and her wound needed to be seared closed with a laser. He did the back wound first, before moving to the front. Nadja felt awful, pacing worriedly in the background as the man worked. The sight of blood and open wounds didn’t bother her so much, as the fact that she’d actually caused harm to another person—and a person she considered a friend. Pia told her to quit fussing, that it was just an accident, and she’d been through much worse.

  Nadja didn’t feel better. She had never hurt anyone. To think her only female friend might have died because of her stupidity made her want to retch. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw her father’s laughing face. He would think it a great irony.

  Pia flinched, barely making a sound as the medic worked. She lay on her couch, arm raised above her head. Her clothes were drenched with sweat and blood.

  “Are you sure you wouldn’t like me to deaden the pain, my lady?” the medic asked when she jerked at a particularly deep section of the wound.

  “No,” Pia answered between her tightened lips. “It’s fine. Just keep going.”

  Nadja stood behind him, wringing her hands. “I’m so sorry, Pia. I didn’t mean to kick you that hard.”

  Pia chuckled, sucking in a breath as she was again seared with the laser. Through gritted teeth, she said, “It’s nothing, Nadja, quit fretting. I should have been ready for it. You’ve got some power in those legs of yours. Next time, we’ll just make sure we’re nowhere near the sword display.”

  Nadja relaxed some, watching the medic closely for any errors. He was very competent and she sighed when his task was almost completed.

  Pia closed her eyes and waited for the man to finish. Hearing the door slide up, her eyes popped back open. The woman moved to stand. The laser bumped and seared off course onto her undamaged skin. Pia grunted lightly. The medic huffed and turned the laser off. Nadja gasped and resisted the urge to take his laser away from him to do it herself.

  “You have to sit still,” Tal ordered.

  “Zoran,” Pia breathed, ignoring the man as her eyes went to the door.

  Nadja turned to the door in dismay to see the Captain of the Guards. Prince Zoran lived up to the rumors. He was a large man, with an overbearingly commanding face, broad shoulders, and a hard set to his jaw. He was terrifying.

  She shivered in fear as the extremely large man looked at her and frowned in what Nadja could interpret as displeasure. Then, stepping forward, he eyed Pia’s side. His voice harsh, he commanded, “What happened? Who did this?”

  Nadja took a step back ready to run. Zoran looked angry enough to kill. But she couldn’t abandon Pia to his wrath.

  “It…it was an accident,” Nadja said to the warrior, hoping to direct some of his ire from her injured friend. She trembled before the prince as he gazed menacingly at her like she was one of his soldiers. She had the impression she shouldn’t have spoken out of turn. Slowly, she glanced at Pia, feeling sorry for the woman.

  Pia stared up at Zoran, not looking nearly as afraid as Nadja felt. “Nadja, thank you for visiting. I hope you’ll see me again soon.”

  Nadja was thankful for the dismissal. Olek might be a large man, but Pia’s husband was monstrous. At least Olek smiled and had the most brilliant laughing eyes that danced in gaiety and mischief. Zoran looked as if he didn’t know how to smile, let alone laugh. It was no wonder Pia didn’t talk about her husband too much. He was absolutely terrifying. Nadja started for the door. �
��Pia, I’ll see you later.”

  “Open!” Zoran barked, opening the door to let her out.

  “Thanks, Nadja,” Pia called after her. “Remember to practice.”

  Nadja didn’t look back. She skirted around the warrior prince as quickly as she could without touching him. To her immense relief, Zoran ignored her. Reaching the hallway, she had the strongest urge to run. Zoran looked fit to kill. Now, that man truly looked like a beast. Pia was injured, and even though she claimed she was fine, Nadja felt horrible about it. Pia was her first and only female friend and she had almost ruined it. She didn’t see how the woman could forgive her.

  Chapter 23

  “What’s wrong?” Olek asked, as his wife rushed inside their home. He stood up from the table, shoving his sketches into a folder to hide them. He’d been thinking about her, almost tempted to send a guard to for search her—only he was having a hard time coming up with a good enough excuse.

  “I met your brother,” Nadja said. Her rounded blue eyes glistened from the frame of her porcelain skin.

  “Oh?” Olek asked, wondering why she was so shaken. Her hands trembled as she stepped forward. She stopped by the fountain and swayed lightly on her feet, prompting him to question, “Which one?”

  “Zoran,” she answered, weakly. The word was a delicate whisper and her lips quivered.

  “What happened?” Olek came for her, unable to keep from gathering her into his arms. His eyes devoured her, searching her for injury or a clue as to why she was upset. He trusted his brother to be honorable, but he couldn’t deny his wife’s expression. She trembled beneath his hands and, to his amazement, the reserved Nadja began to cry. He pulled her close and cupped the back of her head to his shoulder. “Nadja, what happened? What’s wrong?”

  If Zoran has done anything to her, I’ll kill him!

  “Pia and I were practicing. She was trying to show me how to defend myself and I accidentally kicked her in the ribs,” Nadja managed between sobs. She gasped as she tried to get her story out. “I thought she was ready for me, but she wasn’t, and she fell on a sword display and was stabbed and there was blood and I didn’t mean to hurt her, but there was so much blood, and Tal—”

  “Nadja,” Olek interrupted as she began to babble incoherently. He brushed back her hair. “Is Pia going to be all right?”

  “Yes, the medic said that she’d be fine.” Nadja sniffed. Pulling back miserably, her wet eyes studied him. “But I think your brother wants to… He looked really angry with me.”

  Olek frowned as her head dropped forward and she burrowed into his chest. He wasn’t sure what to say to her. He’d never seen her this vulnerable, this willing to stay in the comfort of his arms. His body stirred with hot desire—that always happened when she was near—but beyond the desire there was more. He wanted to keep her in his embrace, to protect her. It was a new, deeper feeling, a connection that stirred between them, pulling them together. He felt every nerve in his body drawing her closer, as if he could fold her inside himself and keep her next to his heart.

  Feeling her shiver, Olek soothed, “Zoran has a temper but he’s a reasonable man. He won’t hurt you, Nadja. I’m sure he’s just worried. I would be if it happened to you.”

  Nadja pulled back to study him. She didn’t appear so sure. “You didn’t see his face, Olek.”

  “I’ll tell you a secret. He always looks like that. It can’t be helped.”

  Nadja laughed through her tears and hit him lightly on the chest. “You’re not funny.”

  “Ah,” Olek murmured softly, brushing a tear back with his thumb. “It’ll be fine. You’ll see. I’ll even talk to Zoran first thing tomorrow for you.”

  “You’ll tell him I didn’t mean it?”

  Olek nodded. His eyes dipped to her mouth. Nadja lifted up on her toes and kissed him first. He groaned in surprise. Her hands wound up into his hair, pulling him closer. Her soft body pressed along his. Her lips were tentative, but she didn’t stop. With a moan, she forced him back toward the couch.

  Olek’s knees hit the side and he was instantly pushed down. Before he knew what was happening, Nadja had his hips straddled with her thighs and was rubbing her warm sex against his full arousal. He felt her getting wet for him, her heated center dampening her clothes. She pulled back from her kiss, holding his face as she panted for air. Her eyes bore into him, pleading. He read her passion for him, but also saw her confusion. She didn’t know what to do next. It was an appeal he couldn’t resist answering.

  * * *

  Nadja had looked into the deep, liquid pools of Olek’s green eyes, eyes that were so soft and giving, and was unable to resist them. His hands stroked her gently. She’d seen he wanted to protect her and for the first time in her life, she felt as if nothing could reach her—not even her father’s wrath.

  She couldn’t stop herself. His lips moved beneath hers and it was all she could do not to devour him. The temptingly masculine scent of him urged her onward and she had to keep kissing him. Her hands moved over hard flesh, wishing he was naked so she could better explore.

  Olek took control. His hands ran up into her hair to free the silky brown locks before moving down to her hips. He pulled her onto his clothed erection, grinding her hips against his harder. Nadja moaned, liking the added pressure, as she moved along the extraordinarily thick length of his cock.

  Olek groaned into her mouth as he thrust his hips up. His lips slid form her mouth as she bounced on his lap. He kissed her throat, tilting her head back so her hair fell over her shoulders. He gripped her, forcing her down so her sex pressed hard against his shaft.

  “My sweet solarflower.” He growled against her flesh.

  Nadja didn’t try to fight him. She was tired of fighting her body. She only wanted to feel him and the safety he provided her. He artfully swept her onto the couch so she lay beneath him, his hand cradling her head. His body rocked into hers. His hands were everywhere at once, on her stomach, curving to her hip, digging beneath her shirt to free her swelling breasts to the onslaught of his searching lips. When he touched her it was as if nothing could ever harm her again. She was safe.

  “Tell me you want me.” Olek moaned hoarsely, desperately.

  “Yes,” Nadja said and was rewarded with another press of him between her legs. Her body arched. “I want you, Olek.”

  Her hands went to his shirt, and she frantically pulled it over his head. She glided her fingers over his chest, tracing the solid bulges of his muscles. Olek reached for the drawstring tie on his pants, intent on freeing his arousal.

  Suddenly, he stopped.

  Nadja gasped, about ready to smack him if he dared to pull away now.

  A groan left his parted lips and he nearly collapsed in frustration. That’s when she heard it. Someone was knocking on the door.

  Taking a deep breath, Nadja’s mind began to clear. She covered her chest from view and began to unwind her legs. A blush crept over her features.

  Olek grabbed her face and kissed her. “Just leave it. They’ll go away,” he said, ready to continue.

  “But…” Nadja said, having regained a bit of her sanity. “What if it’s about Pia? What if she’s hurt worse than I thought?”

  Olek slowly nodded and climbed off her. With a frustrated sigh, he yelled, “One moment!”

  He grabbed his shirt, tugging it over his head. Nadja followed suit. Her body hated her. Her sex ached, nearly throbbing in protest. Tiny waves of desire shot up from her neglected sex. Her nipples stood at hard points against the material of her shirt.

  Leaning over, Olek kissed her cheek and whispered the heated promise, “We’re not finished with this, solarflower.”

  Nadja’s fingers fumbled at the admission. She trembled, now that she had time to stop and think about what she was doing. The old insecurities hit her hard. Olek had been so passionate, so bold, and she became frightened she wouldn’t measure up to his expectations.

  Olek strode to the door, walking around the fountain, as i
f eager to send whoever it was away. Nadja righted her clothes. Still on the couch, she used the fountain as a blockade between her and the door until she felt she could properly receive their guest. Her cheeks and neck were flushed and she tried to fan her face with her hands.

  “Draea Anwealda,” a servant acknowledged. Olek glanced over his shoulder to where Nadja still sat. She dropped her hands to listen. “The king bids you to join him immediately in his office. Prince Zoran is back from his mission and has reported. The king wishes to discuss his findings with you. Furthermore, he said to tell you there is a problem with the trade agreement and he wishes to go over the final preparations for tomorrow’s event.”

  Stiffly, Olek nodded. “Inform my father I’ll be there in a moment.”

  “Very good, my lord,” said the servant, leaving to do as he was told.

  Nadja stood as Olek turned to face her. The door slid shut behind him. Her clothes were smoothed and she kept her gaze guarded.

  “Nadja,” he said hoarsely, as if feeling the need to explain.

  “Go,” she told him calmly. “I was a little emotional. I’m fine now. Your kingdom needs you.”

  “But…” His eyes roamed over her.

  “I know, you have work to do.” She tried to keep the sour note out of her voice and failed. “Duty is duty. Now, go. The king is waiting.”

  He hesitated before nodding once and striding to the door.

  Nadja watched him leave. As soon as the door slid shut behind him, she let loose a ragged breath of air and fell back onto the couch. She couldn’t move to save her life. Her body sang with the tumultuous fire of his touch. But, as she had time to cool her thoughts, she grew frightened by the passion in him. His eyes had been so determined, so possessive. His hands were so forceful and confident. After what she’d done to Pia, she had been so vulnerable, and his arms were so comforting.