Dragon Lords Books 1 - 4 Box Set: Anniversary Edition

by Michelle M. Pillow

  Olena didn’t want to go to the castle, despite her pirate instincts telling her it would give her rich rewards. As a princess, they would be watching her very closely. They would expect her to act in a certain, civilized way. She couldn’t do it. The idea of trying petrified her, though she didn’t readily admit it to herself.

  Besides, how would her crew find her if she were locked away in a castle under protection? She didn’t want them to go up against the Draig army to rescue her. They would possibly be slaughtered if they came unprepared for it. Never in a million light years would the crew think she’d married a prince.

  “Yusef is at the palace,” Zoran said.

  Olena turned to the large warrior in disbelief. “What? That knight is lounging at the palace while I—ooooh!”

  The brothers shared a frown. Olena shook her head in anger.

  The traveling party had made it to the small village and rode through the center street. None of them spoke. People came out of their houses and shops to watch them. Young boys waved at the passing princes, some cheered and shouted. They all pointed in excitement to see their blood stained clothing. The princes waved back, acknowledging them.

  A courtyard was before the hidden fortress. Once they had passed the villagers and were making the shallow climb up the side of the mountain base to the front of the castle, the king stated, “Yusef was stabbed.”

  Olena spun around in surprise to stare at him. Olek stopped the ceffyl near the front gate. She felt the blood running out of her face.

  Olek swung down, lifting a hand to her to help her from the mount. Olena ignored him, jumping off the other side on her own. Her sore leg caused her to wobble. She looked down at the roughly bandaged wound, having forgotten completely that she’d been injured.

  “What do you mean he was stabbed?” She gave the men a hard look. “He was in Draig, wasn’t he? So he’s fine. He was protected by that thick skin of his.”

  The brothers exchanged looks. The wound in her leg tingled now that she’d put pressure on it. Her hands shook and she clenched them into fists to hide the weakness.

  “He was attacked from behind and stabbed in the back,” Zoran stated. He tossed his mount’s reins to Ualan, and Olek took the king’s. The two men walked the ceffyls to the stables. Zoran continued, “He didn’t have time to shift.”

  Olena’s heart nearly stopped beating. The anguish she felt was worse than any injury she’d ever known. Her eyes teared. She felt as if her whole body was being sucked into an abyss. “He is dead?”

  “No.” The king took a step forward, ready to catch her as she swayed.

  Olena took a deep breath and stepped away from him, not wanting him to touch her. Hardening herself, she waited for them to continue.

  “He’s in the medical ward.” King Llyr dropped his hand. “He’s alive, but he is in bad condition and unconscious. The doctors say they are hopeful, but his life is still in danger.”

  “Take me to him.” Olena stopped quivering by mere force of her will. She might not want to stay as Yusef’s princess, but she definitely had no desire to see him dead. He had saved her life. It was time to repay the favor. Whatever it took, she would make sure he lived.

  * * *

  Olena stood frozen in the entryway to the medical ward. There was a row of large empty beds along one wall and a reception desk by the other along with rows of glass cases. In the back were two private rooms and an operating room. Seeing Yusef on one of the beds, she ignored everything else. He was as still as a corpse, his naturally tanned complexion had paled. His eyes were closed, purpling around the sides of his lids. His handsome lips were edged with an eerie blue.

  Pressing her lips tightly together, she refused to cry.

  As Zoran and the king had led her to the medical wing, Olena hadn’t taken in her surroundings. Her mind worked furiously with the lingering fear that Yusef might not be alive, that he might have died while they came for her. Damn her stubborn pride. If she would’ve just relented and said she was his wife, he would’ve taken her with him to the palace and she would’ve been able to protect him from whoever did this.

  Now, seeing his chest rise in a shallow breath, Olena could relax enough to breathe.

  Queen Mede was by her son’s side, her face drawn. If she had any lingering doubts about who he was, they were squelched the moment she saw his mother. Olena stiffly nodded to the woman, before taking a step toward Yusef.

  With so many eyes on her, she grew uneasy, knowing they watched to see how she would react. How was she supposed to react? What was normal for wives? Did they expect her to cry and scream? Did they expect her throw herself into a womanly frenzy? She wasn’t that type of woman. She didn’t show weakness to anyone.

  Their eyes alone kept her from crying out and rushing to him. She stared coolly at Yusef’s unmoving features and went to his side. She wanted to touch him, but held back. “Has he woken up?”

  “No, dear.” The queen said. Seeing the bloodied front of Olena’s borrowed tunic, she frowned.

  “Princess Olena?” The king gestured at her leg. Olena stiffened as she heard the title. “Perhaps you should have that examined.”

  The queen glanced to where her husband motioned. The bandage on Olena’s thigh was seeping. Queen Mede gestured to the doctor. Olena dutifully followed the doctor’s command, hopping up onto a bed next to Yusef. The queen ushered the men from the room to give the woman privacy as the doctor ripped through her pants. Before leaving, Queen Mede told Olena she would be back in a while to take her to Yusef’s home within the castle.

  Olena ignored them all, letting the doctor work. Lying down, she stared at Yusef. He didn’t move, save for the rise and fall of his chest. Inside, she felt as if she was falling through empty air with no landing in sight.

  * * *

  Olena refused to go to Yusef’s wing of the palace, telling his family that she was tired and content to spend the night in the medical ward. Later that evening, Tal came in carrying a mug of steaming blue liquid. The man looked at her in surprise, but then slowly shook his head and continued back to one of the offices without saying a word. Moments later, he passed by again, nodding to her as he left.

  Once they were alone, Olena sat up and hopped off her cot to go to Yusef. Looking around to make sure no one saw her, she touched his forehead. He was warm, not anything like the deathly cold she imagined. She trailed her hand down his neck, feeling for a pulse. It beat steadily against her fingers. She sighed in hesitant relief. Next, she moved to his naked chest to feel the rise and fall of his lungs. His breath was shallow, but it was there.

  Olena frowned. She didn’t know what she was doing. She wasn’t a nursemaid. She was a pirate. Taking the pirate approach, she leaned over next to his ear. Goading him, she ordered, “Get up off that bed now, you lazy good-for-nothing knight.”

  She pulled back and studied him for a reaction. He didn’t move. She leaned over again.

  “Did you hear me, knight? If you don’t get up right now I’m going to rob your family blind and burn down your precious mountain fortress.”

  She pulled back, swallowing. Not even a twitch.

  Olena frowned, standing tall. She didn’t touch him again. Not knowing what else she could say to convince him to wake up, she crawled back into her bed and pulled the blankets over her body.

  “If you survive this, Yusef,” Olena said softly, turning her back on him. “I’ll kill you for scaring me.”

  Chapter 26

  The next morning, Olena was awakened by Queen Mede. The queen smiled at her when she noticed her opened eyes. Brushing back a strand of Yusef’s hair with a tender, motherly hand, the woman stepped around the bed to look at her son’s wife.

  “Did you get some rest?” Queen Mede asked, her voice gentle and kind.

  Olena nodded. She had indeed slept, though her dreams were as troubled as always. Only this time, instead of Sage dying, it had been Yusef. She stretched her arms above her head.

  “If you like I can
take you to your home here in the palace,” Queen Mede said. Olena started to refuse, but the queen added, “He won’t be going anywhere for a while and you look as if you could use a change of clothes and a shower. I had some of the soldiers go to the Outpost and retrieve both of your belongings.”

  Olena tensed, thinking of the floral bags. She had hid them in the closet and had put her ID’s up in a crevice. Her gun was still missing, but she didn’t have time to ponder where Yusef might have hidden it.

  Olena allowed the queen to lead her through the red passageway halls. She made sure to pay attention so she could find her way back to the medical ward. Tapestries, statues, and paintings decorated the halls. Olena saw that both human and dragon-shifters were depicted on the tapestries. The paintings were mostly landscapes and portraits.

  The queen stayed long enough to program Olena’s voice to the command-activated front door so she would be able to get out of the house. She told Olena to make herself comfortable—that it was her home as much as her son’s. Olena nodded, not really speaking to the woman.

  Yusef’s palace home was nothing like the beautiful Outpost. There were hardly any windows, except a large ceiling dome in the front room, to let in light, and smaller domes in the bathroom and bedroom. The floors were wide and made of marble. Everything was pristine and white, and to Olena it looked extremely sterile. She much preferred the earthy, comfortable feel of the lodge.

  A large black banner hung over one wall, a white dragon embroidered on it. The fireplace was an overbearingly large construction of light block marble. A white couch, which looked as if it had never been sat upon, was before the fireplace. Between the fireplace and the couch was a white fur rug.

  The kitchen was clean, the cabinet and refrigerator empty. Yusef’s bedroom was a little better. The bed had a black coverlet with red pillows. She found her clothes already put away in the dresser. The closet was nearly bare except for some formal, princely tunics. She found a large silver crown next to a smaller one, some weaponry, boots, and house slippers.

  Taking her clothes, she went to the bathroom. A shower was fitted in one corner, long and wide with many showerheads and spouts. There was an immaculately clean sink and countertop. The cabinets were stocked with the barest of essentials. This house wasn’t exactly lived in.

  Seeing a natural hot spring growing up from the floor with the red sides of the mountain, Olena sighed. She tested the hot, bubbling water before climbing in. With a groan, she sat down on one of the carved seats and let the bubbles massage against her feet.

  Washing at leisure, she got out and dressed. She found a brush and made quick work of her wet hair. She hated to admit it, but she did feel a little better. Thinking of Yusef lying in the hospital made her feel a lot worse. Not bothering to pick up her old clothes, she left the house without a backwards glance.

  Her boots hit upon the stone passageway as she walked. The halls were empty as she made her way back to the medical ward. Not saying a word, she sat on the same bed from the night before. Yusef hadn’t moved since she’d left.

  * * *

  “Olena?”

  Olena had been staring at Yusef’s chest for so long that she’d become hypnotized by its movement. It took a moment for her name to register. Turning, she saw Nadja from the Galaxy Brides’ ship.

  “Nadja?” Olena tried to smile. Nadja’s hair was pulled back at the nape of her neck. Her eyes were kind as they shone from her porcelain skin. “What are you doing here?”

  “I married Prince Olek.” Nadja’s smile faded slightly. “The youngest brother.”

  “I’m sorry,” Olena said before she could stop herself. Nadja laughed.

  “I am too most of the time,” Nadja admitted. “Morrigan Blake married the oldest son, Ualan. He’s moody from what I can gather. And I don’t know if you remember Pia?”

  Olena nodded.

  “She married Prince Zoran. He’s a frightful creature.” Nadja shivered.

  “I’ve met him and the other princes.” Olena thought of her kidnapping.

  “Oh,” Nadja said, as if she suddenly realized her comments were foolish. “I forgot, you would have, wouldn’t you?”

  Olena glanced back at Yusef.

  “I only came to see how you were,” Nadja said. “And Prince Yusef, obviously.”

  “The doctors say he is making a quick recovery. But, I don’t see a change in him.”

  “And you?” Nadja asked.

  “I’m fine,” Olena answered, not caring to get into it. She didn’t mind Nadja, found her to be a likable woman, but she wasn’t about to start playing nice and making friends.

  “Oh.” Nadja smiled shyly, not looking at all offended by Olena’s short tone.

  “Has anyone heard anything about who did this?”

  “No,” Nadja said. “I don’t know anything. Morrigan was poisoned the same night. She’s recovered now and I believe the princes are pretty sure King Attor is behind it. He is the ruler of the Var, the kingdom to the south. The men spend a lot of time together and one can only assume they are working on finding out what they can. Everyone has been really concerned about the both of you.”

  Olena didn’t answer. She was sure Nadja was just being polite. The family was most likely only concerned about its reputation and the life of their prince. They didn’t know her so couldn’t possibly be concerned about a stranger.

  “Well, they’re about to serve dinner. You’re welcome to come to the common hall with me if you like. The family usually dines together there.” Nadja offered.

  Olena shook her head, and mumbled something by way of a quick goodbye.

  When Nadja was gone, Olena frowned at Yusef. She wasn’t sure what she should do. She didn’t want to leave him, but she didn’t want to be in the palace either.

  Olena waited as a doctor came and took some readings from his patient. He gave Yusef an injection. The doctor’s wife brought Olena a tray of food. She tried to eat, but in the end pushed the tray aside.

  Finally, everyone left for the evening and she was alone with her husband. A tear slid silently down her cheek. It was easy to be mad at first, but as the day turned into evening and he still showed no signs of waking up, she could hardly take the suspense of waiting.

  Going over to him, she sat by his side. She placed her hand over his heartbeat, and felt an overwhelming fear that he would never wake up.

  “Damn you, Yusef,” she said. “It’s not like this is going to make me stay here with you. I don’t even care about you. As soon as my crew comes I’m leaving you behind.”

  Yusef’s chest rose and fell. Other than that, he didn’t move.

  Chapter 27

  Another day passed with Olena staring at Yusef, more than looking after him. The doctors attended to most of his needs. She was pretty much in their way, but they never complained and she refused to leave. His parents and brothers came and went. They had few words for her, and she had even less to say to them. Olek watched her cautiously, careful to keep a distance. This amused Olena, though she doubted she could take Olek in a fair fight.

  Olena told herself she was just going to make sure Yusef was fine and then she would concentrate on leaving him. She was lying to herself. She knew it. She refused to acknowledge it.

  Yusef wasn’t a bad man. He’d been nice to her, taken care of her when she was sick. The least she could do was return the favor.

  Yeah, so he left her tied up a few times. It’s not like she was winning any awards for being perfect. Hell, if she was married to herself, she’d tie herself up too.

  Olena eyed the king and queen watching over their son. They appeared so pitiful with their worried faces and tenderly murmured words. No one she ever knew was helped by such open grief.

  Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore—all the half-gestures and whispered words of distress. Dwelling wasn’t doing anyone any good. It was time to light a fire under Yusef’s very immobile backside.

  “Give me a moment alone with him,” Olena said. It
wasn’t a request. Her voice was hoarse from little use and the royal parents seemed surprised to hear her speak after being silent for so long. When they didn’t jump to obey, she said harshly, “Please.”

  The king glanced at his wife. Queen Mede nodded him toward the door, saying, “We’ll be just outside if you need us.”

  Olena waited for the door to close. Oh, but Yusef was handsome, even lying there so sick and helpless. His color had improved ever so slightly, though not enough to please his wife. As far as Olena could come up with—and she’d had many hours to contemplate how to rouse him out of his coma—there was only one way left to try. Slowly, she kicked off her boots. Eyeing him, she said, “I’ll get you up, knight. If this doesn’t work, we might as well tag your toe and eject you out of the airlock. Hell, I’ll even push the button myself.”

  Licking her lips, she pulled the covers off his naked chest. The hard muscles hadn’t softened from his days in the hospital bed. He wore a pair of light cotton pants on his legs. His feet were bare.

  Climbing up on top of him, she straddled his hips and let her body press intimately into his relaxed member. She leaned back to look at the door and swallowed nervously. All was well. They were alone.

  She watched Yusef’s features for any sign of a reaction. Taking her fingernails, she ran them over his chest, scratching his skin lightly from thick neck to strong stomach. His body was so firm. There was no fat deposited on his muscular frame. His warm flesh felt so fine against her palms that she stroked him a few more times.

  Olena could easily remember how expertly his body would move against hers. Despite herself and her mission to rouse him, she grew excited by what she was doing.

  She became more caressing, pressing her hands firmly to the flesh she explored. She rubbed his small nipples, raising them to her touch. For a moment, she thought she felt his breath catch. But she had been so wrapped up in her own exploration, she wasn’t sure. Pausing, she watched him. There was no change.