Heinrich instantly shifted back to human form. He bowed, answering in kind, “My lady wished me to show her my scariest face so that I may prove I’m worthy of training under you, my lord.”
Zoran took in Pia’s trembling lips and her death grip on the sword. She kept her gaze steadily on Heinrich.
“I think you were too scary,” Zoran said to the boy. “Report to the field for training tomorrow morning. You will start as an apprentice warrior to the men. Now go.”
Heinrich nodded and jogged out the door.
“And from now on,” Zoran barked to the boy’s retreating back, “be more delicate around the ladies. They are not used to such fierceness.”
Pia watched the boy run off. Zoran ordered the door to close and went over to her. Pia dropped the sword from her shaking fingers. It clattered loudly to the floor, but she didn’t care. She rushed forward into Zoran’s arms, too shaken to do much else.
“He’s not human,” she breathed into Zoran’s chest. He folded her into his embrace. “He’s like a...dragon. I didn’t know.”
“Shh,” Zoran whispered, holding her close. He stroked the back of her hair. His body was stiff, as he witnessed her rejection of the Draig form. Inside, he tightened into knots. He had to tell her the truth.
Pia pulled back, looking up at his rigid face. Suddenly, she shook herself. “Some warrior I’ve turned out to be. It’s not like I haven’t seen shape-shifters before, but I really thought he was going to attack and I didn’t relish fighting off a young boy. I was so scared I was going to have to defend myself against him.”
Zoran smiled, though it was tight.
Pia pulled out of his arms and he let her go. “How’s your brother?”
“Not well,” Zoran answered.
“What happened?”
“He was stabbed in the back,” he said, cautiously.
“Any witnesses?”
“No.”
“Any idea who?”
“No.”
“Do you think it was the Var?” Pia asked, clearly growing exasperated with his short answers.
“Possibly,” Zoran said in frustration. Before she could ask another question, he said, “Listen, Pia, I need to tell you something.”
“What?” Her expression was confused. “Are we in danger?”
“I am Draig,” he said bluntly, before losing his nerve.
Pia’s eyes narrowed, not following. A quizzical smile came to her mouth. “Yes, I assumed you were of the House of Draig, as apparently we all are. Galaxy Brides tended to refer to everyone here as Qurilixian. Though technically true, I somewhat doubt their attention to certain details. But, yes, I understand. We are Draig. The enemy is Var. We’re the royal family—”
“No, Pia,” Zoran broke in. He allowed his eyes to shift fully to a golden yellow. The skin on his face hardened and turned to brown armor. Pia jerked in surprise, stumbling backwards into the couch as she watched his handsome face contort. His hair remained the same, but his forehead jutted low as his brow protruded. Fangs grew between his parted lips and talon-like claws formed on his fingers.
The tougher skin protected them from the elements. The eyes allowed them to see more clearly and to greater distances. In many ways, it was the human form that was handicapped. Although, it was the human form that could really feel. Its softer flesh could tremble at a woman’s touch, could mold to a woman’s gentle body, could claim her and make love to her.
When his lips parted to speak, his voice was hoarse and came out in a fierce demon-like growl. “I am Draig.”
* * *
Pia gasped loudly. She suddenly knew that all those times she’d seen Zoran’s eyes change in color, she hadn’t been imagining it. He was a dragon-shifter. Her heart felt as if it momentarily stopped beating. Her legs weakened and she fell back to sit on the arm of the chair. She should’ve guessed when she saw Heinrich. This meant all the men on the planet were shifters. They’d never let on.
She eyed him carefully. In a way he looked to be the same powerful man as before. She’d been all over the galaxy, had seen many creatures, so the transformation itself wasn’t shocking. But, to see the only man she’d ever been attracted to transform himself into something not quite human, unnerved her greatly. If she’d been scared about intimacy before, she was now petrified. Seeing him in Draig left her feeling vulnerable to him and Pia didn’t like feeling vulnerable.
“Just give me a minute,” Pia said, eyeing him. He wasn’t growling and snarling like the boy had been. She knew this man. It was the same man who’d danced with her earlier.
Zoran seemed to relax at her softly spoken words. He shifted back to his human form and took a step forward. She stood and moved away from him to sit on the couch.
“Pia, I wanted to tell you earlier.”
“It’s probably a good thing you didn’t, considering the way I handled seeing Heinrich for the first time.” Pia laughed lightly. Her eyes met his for a brief instant before turning away. “It’s not like I’ve never...albeit not one like you.”
Pia glanced up at him and then away again. He still wore the long red tunic. It made him all the more commanding and handsome. Shivers racked her body, as she silently added, None as breathtaking as you.
He sat on the opposite end of the couch, not touching her.
“I,” she hesitated, “ah, does it hurt?”
Zoran chuckled. “No, it doesn’t hurt. My Draig form is most comfortable.”
“Can you control it?”
“For the most part. If I’m in danger, I shift as a reflex.”
“Oh.”
“I’d never hurt you, Pia, if that’s what you’re asking me.” He moved as if to touch her.
“No,” she gasped. Pia’s wide eyes met his and she drew back. “I mean, not yet. I need to get used to it first. It’s still a little bit of a shock. I didn’t suspect...”
Zoran nodded. He was about to answer when a knock sounded on his door.
“Open,” he called, standing to meet whoever came. He half expected it to be the soldier with Yusef’s bride. It wasn’t. It was a doctor’s wife.
“Draea Anwealda,” the woman rushed. Her panicked voice switched to a thick English as she saw Pia. “Come quickly, you and the princess!”
“What’s happened?” Pia joined Zoran, but didn’t touch him.
“You are needed in the medical wing,” the woman said, her Qurilixian accent came out fast and garbled her words. “It’s the Princess Morrigan. She has been poisoned.”
She gave the prince a meaningful look and then glanced at Pia. Zoran studied his wife. “Come on, Pia,” he said. “We have to go.”
Pia followed him out to the hall, lifting her red skirt as she moved. Seeing a tapestry when she turned a corner, she noticed it had a depiction of the men in Draig form. Pia wondered how her usually observant nature hadn’t noticed it before. The dragon obsession made perfect sense.
Zoran’s family was already gathered in the medical ward when they arrived. Ualan looked tortured. He stared blindly at the operating room door. Yusef was on the bed in bad shape. His skin was pale and he was bandaged over his entire upper body.
Pia stepped next to Zoran, looking for Morrigan. She couldn’t see her. She did see Queen Mede. The woman was shaking her head, speaking frantically to Olek as she motioned at Nadja and Pia.
“Go with the doctor, Pia,” Zoran said gently, looking at her. He motioned his head, careful not to touch her. The doctor was covered completely with protective gear, down to his goggles. It didn’t look good. “He just wants to check you to make sure you’re fine.”
“I’ll go with them,” the queen announced in support of her daughters. Pia frowned. She was secretly glad when the doctor turned and indicated that Queen Mede should stay out of the room. The queen blinked in confusion but obeyed the man.
“But,” Pia began in protest of Zoran’s insistent shove when she didn’t move fast enough to suit him. “I feel fine. I haven’t been poisoned.”
&n
bsp; Nadja’s eyes widened in horror at the statement, and she spun around to stare at Olek. Pia frowned, realizing the woman didn’t know what was happening.
Queen Mede pushed Nadja forward. “Go, dear. Hurry.”
Pia was led into the room followed by Nadja. The doctor turned to the women, taking out two handheld medic units. Without comment, he grabbed their arms and took a sample of their blood. Neither woman spoke as they watched the man go to a counter to test them.
Outside the room, the men were quiet, their faces drawn in worry. Pia didn’t feel sick, or poisoned, but didn’t fight the doctor’s examination.
* * *
Zoran stared at his wife, fighting for each breath as he waited for the doctor to finish. Morrigan had fallen to poison and possibly lay dying in the other room. Yusef was unconscious.
Suddenly, Ualan spoke, stating what they were all thinking. His voice deepened into a growl as his face hardened with a shift. “If any in our family die, there will be blood.”
“There will be blood either way,” Zoran said. His chest squeezed tight in worry. He couldn’t lose Pia. Regardless of what was between them, she was his whole world, his future.
Minutes later Pia and Nadja came from the back room. The doctor announced that their blood tested fine. Pia went to stand by Zoran, her expression hard. They sat quietly together in the medical wing by the motionless Yusef, waiting for news of Morrigan.
Morrigan was very ill and didn’t stop throwing up, even in her sleep. Her body fought with bravery, and in the end she won the battle for her life—albeit barely. Ualan sighed heavily with the news, and was instantly ushered to his wife’s side where he clearly intended to stay.
The king ordered all the food and wine tested, starting with Morrigan’s. The poison was found in a goblet. The servant responsible for serving her the drink had been dealt with. It was soon learned he wasn’t at fault. One of King Attor’s men had distracted him as he was preparing to serve the royal drink.
The drink had been meant for the king and queen. But when King Attor went up to speak to them, the servant had placed the goblet before Morrigan instead, so as not to get in their way. He never realized Princess Morrigan wouldn’t recognize the king’s seal, and would instead take the drink for herself. It was a grim blessing that Morrigan drank it. If one of the royals had taken a sip, they would’ve died instantly. The poison worked slower on humans.
The family relaxed to discover Morrigan was going to live. Their relief didn’t last long, as the soldier Zoran sent to gather Yusef’s wife, came back alone.
“Where is she?” Zoran barked, as soon as he saw the man.
Pia jumped slightly by his side at the harsh sound of her husband’s ire.
“My lady is gone,” the soldier announced. “There looks to have been a struggle. We smelled Var blood, but no human. She should still be alive.”
The king growled.
“We picked up their scent in the forest. I ordered the others to follow it,” the soldier said to Zoran.
“You should call the soldiers back and get one of your best trackers on it,” Olek stated quietly. “Let them think they have escaped into the shadowed marshes. Once we find their location, we’ll go after them alone and reclaim her for Yusef.”
“Olek’s right,” Zoran stated, switching his language to the native tongue in deference to the listening women. He didn’t want to alarm them. “If they wanted her dead, they would’ve killed her right then. They took her for a reason. If they hear the men coming after them, they could be forced to get rid of her to escape.”
Pia frowned at him, but did not ask him to translate. The men looked at each other, nodding in agreement and knowing that revenge was going to be theirs.
When it was determined that nothing else could be done, the royal family departed for their homes. Only Ualan stayed to sit vigil over his wife and brother, promising to send news if there were any changes.
Chapter 29
As the door opened to their home and Pia stepped inside, she stopped to study Zoran. It was late, but she wasn’t anywhere near tired. She was too on edge after the night’s events. Pia didn’t really know Morrigan or Yusef, but seeing how close the family was, reminded her of her parents, and she felt their pain. She had no wish to see any of them harmed.
They’d walked home in silence, but now that they were alone, Pia wanted some answers. “Yusef’s bride was kidnapped by the Var tonight wasn’t she?”
Zoran didn’t answer.
“You’re planning on getting her back, aren’t you? Or do you think they’ve killed her already?”
Still no answer.
“What did you say to your brothers?” she asked pointedly. “What are you planning to do?”
“Don’t concern yourself with it, Pia. We will handle it.”
“Why aren’t you telling me anything?” Pia frowned. “Aren’t I part of this? Tonight you twice acted as though my life might be in danger—first in the hall when Yusef was attacked, then with the poison. Yet, when I ask to be told what is going on, it’s as if you don’t trust me with the family secrets.”
Zoran didn’t say anything.
“You don’t, do you?” Pia questioned, hurt. “Yet, you expect me to follow your word blindly when you tell me to do something. Pia, don’t go to the practice field. Pia, go home. Pia, listen to me for I know what’s best for you. What am I to you? Another one of your men to be ordered about? You are not my commander, Zoran.”
Zoran’s expression darkened, as if he didn’t trust himself to speak. She pulled completely away from him, shaking her head.
“I give up, Zoran.” Turning her back on him, she walked away. “I don’t understand you at all.”
* * *
Zoran watched Pia leave. He didn’t know how to answer her questions. The truth was he was preoccupied. He didn’t know what he was going to do to rescue Yusef’s wife—only that it was up to him to come up with a plan. His brother lay dying and he didn’t want to let the man down. Frowning in growing irritation, he stormed after his frustrating wife, following her into the bedroom. She was going to lecture him about trust when she refused to tell him anything about her past?
Pia glanced up, blinking in surprise to see him. She was sitting on the edge of the bed about to unzip her boot. Zoran strode directly for her, grabbing her about the shoulders and pulling her up to face him.
“Why should I trust you with my family secrets when you don’t trust me with yours?” Zoran’s nerves were shot and he was boiling for a fight of any kind. Seeing Pia’s face, he picked the battle that he knew would be the easiest to stir up.
“What?” Pia demanded, incredulously. She tried to shake loose, but he didn’t let her go. “What are you talking about? I have no secrets about my family.”
“Why are you here, Pia?” Zoran demanded hotly. His eyes glowed with all the torment and passion inside of him. Too much was happening out of his control—Yusef, the Var, the kidnapping, his achingly gorgeous wife whose heart of ice he couldn’t seem to touch.
“Where?” Pia asked confused. “Why am I in the bedroom?”
“Why did you marry me?”
“W-what?” Pia shivered. The word was no more than a whisper. Her eyes turned down.
“Why do you tremble and pull away whenever I try to touch you?” Zoran questioned, his voice lowering, though it was still hard. He gripped her tighter and refused to let her go.
“I told you,” she hesitated. “I have to get used to your—”
“Don’t give me that excuse,” Zoran said. His eyes flashed again. He could sense that she wasn’t scared of the Draig. She was hiding something from him. “You’ve been scared of me since that first night in my tent. I say you’re beautiful—”
“Don’t,” Pia pleaded, again trying to break free.
“I say it,” Zoran persisted darkly, “and you push me away. I touch you and you nearly jump out of your skin. I try...I try to make love to you and you won’t have me. Why, Pia?”
<
br /> “It’s not...” Her lips tightened and she didn’t finish.
“Who was your father to you? Why did he give you that scar? Why do you owe Galaxy Brides all that money? What are you running from? Why are you here, Pia? Why?” Zoran shouted. He was tired of trying to figure her out. “Why did you marry me?”
“That’s not fair,” Pia whispered. “You made me marry you. I tried to end it, but you wouldn’t let me.”
“I don’t believe that,” Zoran yelled. His breathing became labored as he tried to control himself. He didn’t want to hurt her. He didn’t want to say anything he might regret. “I can tell you want me. I can smell your desire for me even now. So don’t tell me you—”
“You won’t tell me what I deserve to know,” Pia interrupted, not letting him finish. “But in return you would have me bare my soul? It’s not like we’re in love, Zoran. Yes, I’m your wife and I’ll be loyal, but don’t act like we weren’t an arranged marriage. You bought me from a corporation. I’m paid for, that’s all you need to know.”
“If you want to know my feelings, all you have to do is ask me and I’ll tell you,” Zoran said. The thought didn’t necessarily bring him pleasure, and he wasn’t sure she wanted to hear what he had to say. “I’ll be honest with you about them.”
“Let go of me,” Pia demanded instead of asking. She gazed steadily to him, staring him down. She ripped out of his hold. “How dare you yell at me? I don’t owe you an explanation for any of it. It’s none of your business what I did or who I was before I got here. I don’t ask you about your past. All I ask is that you trust me now. That you tell me what is going on. Why are we in danger? Why was the royal family attacked? Why do we need to fear the Var? Who are they to us? Nothing I ask has anything to do with your past. It’s a threat to us now.”
“You want my complete trust?” Zoran questioned. His gaze bore into her.
“Yes, by all means,” Pia answered wryly. “I haven’t done anything not to deserve it.”
Dragon Lords Books 1 - 4 Box Set: Anniversary Edition Page 94
