“Nothing was achieved,” he admitted.
Pia sighed, sensing the truth in his words.
Reaching behind him, he pulled out a box and set in on her chest. “I wanted to give you something.”
Pia blinked, looking down. The wooden box was old and very worn. “What is it?”
“A gift.”
To her surprise, she noticed he almost seemed embarrassed. That piqued her curiosity. “For what reason?”
“I was going to give it to you the night of your coronation, after we got home, but...well,” he lightly shrugged. “So much happened I never had a chance.”
“What is it?” she asked again, almost too scared to touch it.
“Just open it.”
Pia did, unhooking the delicate latch. Inside were five very beautiful knives. They were used, but in good shape. Touching the engraved silver hilt encrusted with black onyx, she whispered, “They’re beautiful.”
“I know they’re old, but they were the set given to me by my parents on the day I became a man. I don’t know, maybe I should’ve gotten you jewelry instead.”
“Are you kidding?” Pia countered in excitement. “You can’t maim a man with a set of earrings. These are perfect.”
Zoran chuckled, nuzzling her neck with a soft trail of kisses. “Ah, my bloodthirsty wench.”
“Can I try them out tomorrow? I’ve been promising to teach the other princesses how to throw knives. It will be perfect!”
“Who do you want me to get as your target? I believe Hume is still fairly taken with you,” Zoran offered.
Pia punched him. “I meant the knife post out at the field.”
“I don’t see why not,” Zoran said. “We can go tomorrow morning if you like.”
Pia lifted each knife in turn as she spoke. When Zoran tried to move the box away, she growled and made as if to bite his hand.
“You can’t sleep with them.” He buried his face into his pillow and yawned.
“But—”
“No, I’m enforcing my will in this.”
Pia giggled but let him take the box and set it on the floor. He came back to wrap his arm around her warm body, trying to dig his fingers beneath her cotton shirt to the flesh at her waist.
She stroked back the hair from his face, saying, “Good night.”
Zoran kissed the tip of her nose. Pia turned in his arms and pretended to go asleep. It wouldn’t do to keep tempting fate until she learned a little bit more about this pregnancy thing. She’d have asked Nadja, but the castle had been on high alert and she hadn’t been allowed to leave her home.
“Goodnight, Pia,” Zoran sighed, nuzzling her neck. Holding her in his arms, he fell asleep.
Chapter 37
Pia nodded in pride as Olena took aim at the post. The woman did well, as each knife made it into the center. The gathered soldiers clapped and stomped in approval. Pia had the impression that, had she not insisted Zoran let the princesses take over the practice field, the warriors would have been knee deep in some grueling task.
Olena constantly glanced at her husband, Yusef, trying to act like she didn’t seek his approval. A white bandage slashed across the man’s arm, but he looked much better than when Pia saw him in the medical ward.
“Just like I told you,” Pia whispered to Nadja. “Breathe and aim.”
No matter how much instruction Pia gave Nadja, the woman was hopeless when it came to wielding a blade. Nadja missed the target completely on all five tries. The fact she managed to throw the knives in the right direction was the only positive thing Pia could say about the woman’s throw.
Nadja, too, glanced at her husband. Pia was thankful that the watching men applauded anyway. She liked Nadja and did not fault her for her lack of warrior skills.
Morrigan managed to hit the post on her turn, though they weren’t centered. She curtsied as she received her cheers. Ualan wasn’t there to watch her victory. She had told Pia that her husband was still sleeping.
“Maybe you ladies should let a man show you how it’s done,” a familiar voice from the crowd called.
“Ach,” Agro cried. “You’re hardly a man, Hume!”
Pia flashed a grin at Hume, who immediately crushed his hand over his heart. She took the new set of knives Zoran had given her, weighing them carefully in her hand as she tested them. Getting to the third one, she lifted it and studied the blade. Frowning, she went to her husband and handed it to him. Zoran uncrossed his arms and took it from her, letting his finger slyly glide over the pulse at her wrist. His mouth twitched but gave nothing away as Pia shivered.
Pia looked him directly in the eye, moving her hands to his hip, she lifted his tunic aside and let her nail scrape lightly over his skin as she retrieved a replacement blade from the back side of his waist. His stomach tensed, but his face gave nothing away as she withdrew a blade and began testing it as she had the others. His eyes, however, glinted with just enough liquid fire to leave her very excited.
When he glanced curiously at the replacement blade, she announced loudly for all the men to hear, “You need to check the balance on that one. It will pull a fraction to the right.”
Hardly moving a muscle, Zoran threw the blade over her shoulder. It stuck just to the right of the target. The men laughed heartily in approval.
Not turning around, Pia said, “Told you.”
Zoran’s lip curled up at the side. He waited for his wife to take her first turn, as if he wanted to judge her skill for himself.
Going before the target, Pia took a deep breath. She’d seen the challenge in Zoran’s gaze. She would make him proud.
Flinging one of the blades at the post, she didn’t wait for it to land before rapidly dropping to the ground to throw two more while rolling. Then, coming to kneel, she threw the last two. The fourth blade struck against Zoran’s to knock it free, before sticking in its place. On the fifth throw, she turned her arm and it missed the post completely. The warriors watched in stunned silence, their eyes following the path of her last throw. It was a foot before Hume, sticking hilt up and tipped forward to the man.
“You missed,” Hume said, to break the silence. The men went wild cheering. Pia took a graceful bow. The princesses jumped in excitement, basking in Pia’s victory.
Pia and Olena exchanged looks of amusement as Morrigan’s husband appeared in the distance. Morrigan’s face lit up in pleasure to see him.
“Careful,” Olena teased Morrigan, pulling close to the woman. “Or else we might think you actually like the barbarian.”
Morrigan blushed, turning her eyes away. Pia handed Olena the blades for her next turn.
Ualan went to Zoran. Pia watched as her husband frowned, worried that something may have happened with the Var. Without uncrossing his arms, Zoran nodded his jaw to where Morrigan stood. Pia relaxed. Ualan merely searched for his wife.
“Olena, are you ready to…” Pia began. Olena gazed at Yusef, not hearing her. Pia, seeing the woman’s expression, nudged her and teased, “It would seem Rigan isn’t the only one enamored by her warrior husband.”
Olena let a mischievous smile light her eyes. “We’ve got a bet going. All I have to do is hit this post with these five blades and I win.”
“Come,” Prince Ualan announced.
Pia and Olena watched Ualan leading Morrigan off to the forest.
“Zoran tried to lead me around like that,” Pia said, shaking her head in disapproval. “I kicked and screamed and I nearly got away, too. I did get a few good punches in.”
Olena laughed, “I hid in the forest for a night, but broke my arm. Yusef had to come and rescue me.”
“We’re waiting!” came a cry from the crowd.
Pia glared good-humoredly at Hume. “Don’t make me aim higher, Sir Hume.”
Pia meant his chest, but the rowdy warriors were only too ready to guess something much bawdier.
Zoran frowned. Pia looked in confusion at the men’s snickering. Olena laughed.
Pia crossed over to
Zoran as Olena threw. Standing beside him and affecting a similar, cross-armed stance, she said from the side of her mouth, “What did I just say?”
“You indicated you were going to rid him of his manhood,” Zoran said, cracking a smile.
“Oh,” came her reply. Pia bit her lips, but gave nothing away. “Want to wager on my next throw?”
Zoran turned to look at her. “What did you have in mind?”
“If I hit the post five times, I win,” she stated under her breath.
“Too easy,” he dismissed, shaking his head.
“Blindfolded?” she suggested.
“No consideration for distractions,” he added. “You miss, you lose.”
“Fine,” Pia said. They barely looked at each other. To everyone else it would seem like they discussed Olena’s technique. Olena threw her last blade. It hit, but went too far to the side and instantly fell back out with the weight of the hilt. The men cheered as she went to retrieve them. Nadja, who was standing by Olek, waved away her turn, too embarrassed to try again.
“What are the stakes?” Zoran asked.
“When I win, you have to...dance for me,” she answered. A small blush threatened her at the admission.
“I would do that anyway,” he answered with an unashamed shrug.
“No clothes,” she added boldly.
“If you miss, you wear no clothes, too,” he said, instantly taken with the idea. “And we both dance.”
Pia turned red, but she knew she wouldn’t miss. “Fine.”
“Agreed,” he said. A little tremor racked up her spine.
Olena was looking at her expectantly, holding out the knives.
“We need a blindfold,” Zoran called. The call was quickly answered as one was passed over the crowd to Zoran. The prince crossed over to Pia and tied it around her head. Leaning into her ear, he said, “Perhaps we should keep this blindfold. It might be fun.”
Pia blushed profusely. Zoran smacked her hard on her ass and the men laughed. Quietly he backed up. Pia took a deep breath trying to remember where the post was. Luckily, she’d angled her foot when Zoran tied the blindfold on.
“Make your throw!” Zoran called.
Pia lifted her arm, taking aim. Holding her breath, she threw, hearing the blade land on wood. She threw the second and third time. Each blade landed in the post. Suddenly, a loud cheering came up over the crowd.
She had no doubt that Zoran motioned the men to make noise.
Pia lifted the blade, trying to concentrate over the shouts. She threw. The fourth hit, though it didn’t sound as deep as the others.
“Oooo,” the men in unison shouted.
“Zoran!” came a sudden panicked shout. “Olek! Yusef!”
Pia frowned, recognizing Prince Ualan’s voice. She tore the blindfold from her head. Agro motioned the men to stay where they were. Seeing movement, she watched Zoran run toward his brother’s panicked call. He held his sword and the blade slashed through the air as he ran. Yusef and Olek were right behind him, also armed for battle. Pia didn’t think. She took off into the forest after the men. The last throwing knife was gripped tightly in her hand. She heard the lighter steps of Olena and Nadja following her.
Twelve light blond Var warriors pursued Prince Ualan from the trees, over the forest path. Their bodies grew with fur as they shifted with the vicious, snarling features of wild cats. Ualan dragged Morrigan with one arm. She was unconscious, a dart sticking out from her throat.
Ualan had been forced to shift to his dragon form as he used his free arm to deflect the enemy’s blows as he fought them off. He tried to protect Morrigan whose feet trailed in the dirt. Soon the princes were by his side, shifting into Draig as they fought against the Var. Even the one-armed Yusef bravely hacked forward with his sword. They gave Ualan enough time to get Morrigan to safety.
Ualan dropped his wife behind the battle on the ground and rejoined the fight against the cat-shifters. Pia didn’t hesitate as she ran to help the men, throwing her blade into one of the creature’s throats. As Zoran swung his arm, she ducked beneath him, grabbing a knife from his belt.
Soon the Var were retreating into the forest. Pia crossed over to one of the fallen men and took the two blades she’d used from their unmoving necks. Ualan nodded his thanks at her. Zoran turned to his wife in pride, shifting back.
Ualan took off down the path, Yusef and Olek were behind him. Zoran hung back, looking at his wife. Not bothering to clean his sword, he sheathed it.
“You did well,” he said. “You did not hesitate to protect the family.”
Pia lit up at the compliment.
“Do we give chase?” she asked, motioning to where the Var retreated.
“No,” he answered. “Let them go for now.”
Pia crossed over to him and, wiping his blade on her pant leg, she looked deeply into his eyes as she slid it back into place. She let her fingers linger on his waist.
“You owe me a dance, wife.” He grinned with a meaningful nod at her blade. “That one missed the post.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I demand a re-throw, I—”
“Tsk, tsk,” Zoran answered, his eyes flashing. “We had a wager. Distractions don’t count. I want my dance.”
“Let’s go check on Rigan,” Pia said, shooting him a challenging look. She was thrilled by the answering promise in his eyes.
Zoran laughed. “You do not lose gracefully, do you?”
“Rigan,” she repeated.
“Yes, and after we can go find that blindfold,” he whispered.
They followed drag marks to where Olena and Nadja had pulled Morrigan away from the fray. As Zoran and Pia approached, Nadja was kneeling by Morrigan and looking at Prince Ualan. The dart was still in Morrigan’s neck. Pia frowned in concern. Nadja sighed heavily and whispered, “Let me think. I need to concentrate.”
Pia glanced at Zoran, moving quietly closer to his embrace.
“Give me your knife,” Nadja said to Pia.
Pia instantly handed it over. Taking a deep breath, Nadja cut into Morrigan’s throat where the dart embedded into the skin. Instantly, green began to drip and ooze from the wound. Soon, she had the star tipped points of the dart out of the woman’s neck. Nadja dropped the blade and continued to bleed the poison.
Pia turned to Zoran to whisper, “Why would they target Morrigan and not your brother?”
Zoran didn’t answer.
“It’s as I thought,” Nadja said. “I’ve seen this kind of poison before. Usually jealous old lovers do it for revenge. If you had torn the dart out of the skin, it would have released a poison into the blood stream. She would have lived, but you would never have been able to touch her again. It’s ironic really. That way, it is the current lover who poisons the woman, sealing their fate. You should get her to a doctor.”
Nadja stood, warily trying to edge away from them. Her round eyes looked over each of the brothers before turning toward the forest.
“I would say that whoever poisoned her didn’t want you to be with her,” Nadja said to Ualan. Within seconds she was running away from them. Olek was right behind her.
Olena stood, watching the woman. “She didn’t know about the Draig.”
Poor Nadja. Pia almost went after her to make sure she wasn’t too scared. Nadja was so delicate and sweet. Surely such things as dragon-shifters would terrify the poor soul.
Ualan picked up his wife and carried her toward the medical ward.
Pia touched Zoran’s arm in question. He looked down at her before motioning that they were to follow Ualan. No one said another word.
Chapter 38
“Why do they attack the princesses?” Yusef frowned. Olena stood by his side, her expression giving nothing away. Nadja and Olek hadn’t joined them, but Zoran and Pia stood next to Ualan. Morrigan was on the hospital bed, having been checked by the doctors and given some medicine to help her recovery.
Zoran’s hand came around her waist and he touched her lower stomach. The gesture cau
sed Pia to think of her husband’s tender hand on her belly when he mentioned the possibility of her pregnancy. During the night, while he slept, his hand had found a hold on her lower abdomen and she’d lain awake wondering at the naturally slow circles of his twitching fingers on her skin. It hadn’t been hard to conclude what he’d been dreaming about. With sudden insight, she whispered, “Because without us you will have no sons. Your line will end.”
Zoran stiffened at her soft words and looked at her, his eyes searching.
Pia stiffened. She was very aware that further talk about pregnancy would be better handled when they were alone. Taking a deep breath, she continued, “I’ve seen you all fight. Especially with all four of you banded together, you would be a formidable opponent. You expect the attack. We are new here and it would be assumed that we had no clear idea of the dangers. Plus, we are women. Men—ah, no offense to anyone here—men, especially those from warrior classes, often misjudge women as unworthy opponents.”
The princes listened closely to her words, giving away none of their thoughts.
Pia gazed up at her husband. Her features were pulled with concentration. “If you were to destroy an enemy, Zoran, would you attack their weakness or their strength?”
“Only a fool would choose to fight a strength if a weakness was to be had,” Ualan said, nodding at the insight.
“Only they have obviously underestimated the strength of our women,” Zoran added. Pia felt her cheeks turn the slightest shade of pink.
“What better way to end this age-old feud than to wipe out the leaders before they are born?” Yusef frowned, unconsciously drawing Olena under the protection of his good arm.
“For, if we were to die,” Ualan added, “there would be an heir that could sometime rise against them. If they ensure that our line is ended, when we die there will be no one to avenge us. With no king or protection, our people will be left without defense. Everything will be in chaos.”
“It’s imperative that we discover who is spying for the Var,” Yusef said. Whoever had stabbed him knew the back passages well enough to escape through them.
Dragon Lords Books 1 - 4 Box Set: Anniversary Edition Page 100
