Dragon Lords Books 1 - 4 Box Set: Anniversary Edition (41 page)

“
W
here did
you learn to do this?”

Nadja blinked in surprise, looking up from her notes to where Olek stood in his office doorway. He appeared as if he’d been watching her in silence for some time. Not quite processing his question right away, she glanced down to the table where she sat figuring different formula combinations. It was a like a giant riddle begging to be solved, and she loved every agonizing, headache-making moment of it.

“Nadja?” Olek prompted. When he hadn’t been working with his father, he’d been in his office getting ready to work with his father. She hardly saw him, and when he was there, she hardly felt like he was. He was always so preoccupied.

“What?”

“Where did you learn to do this kind of thing? Like what you did to the medic unit.” He placed a glass of wine in front of her and took a seat.

“My father taught me,” she answered, lost in his eyes for a moment as she stared across the table at him. They seemed so kind and gentle, not like the hard gaze that had stared back at her for the last couple of days. Just one soft look from him and her heart fluttered.

“Your father?” he questioned, obviously surprised by the admission.

“He’s a doctor.” Her hand trembled and the pen fell to her paper. She closed her notebook and took the wine.

“Where does he practice?”

She avoided meeting his gaze. “He travels all over.”

It was the best answer she could think of. This was not a conversation she wanted to have, but she also didn’t want to start another fight. She sipped the alcohol, unable to meet his expectant look for more than a second. His expression was too kind, too inquisitive.

“I couldn’t tell you where he is at the moment,” she said.

Well, that much is definitely true
, Nadja thought.

“Will he travel here? He’d be welcome to visit anytime. We have a wing specifically for guests.”

Nadja wasn’t so sure how welcome her father would be in a place like this. Reason would dictate that he’d like being able to say his daughter was a princess. Reason would be wrong. Doc Aleksander wouldn’t be impressed with a planet like Qurilixen or Draig royalty. To him a princess of barbarians was still herself a barbarian. Plus, he’s promised her to his crony. He’d punish her out of spite for marring his pride.

She nervously drank more of her wine to avoid answering.

Olek gave the empty glass a quizzical smile as she set it down. “More?”

Nadja shook her head in denial. “No. I have work to do. Too much wine and I won’t be able to concentrate.”

She tried to stand. Olek reached a hand out to stop her. His fingers wrapped her wrist. Her pulse raced beneath his fingers.

“I don’t want to talk about this,” she said. “My father won’t visit us here. He doesn’t know where I am and I prefer to keep it that way.”

“Nadja,” Olek began, only to sigh. “Here family is very important. He’s your father.”

He’s a madman!
her mind screamed. She took a calming breath. “He’s not in my life anymore. I don’t want you trying to contact him on my behalf. So can we forget it?”

“Yes. If that is what you wish.”

“It is.” Nadja tried to relax, but she found herself glancing over the room, searching the darkened corners for something that wasn’t there. Thinking this ended the conversation, she again tried to stand.

Olek wasn’t finished talking. “What about Pia? Were you able to fix her hair?”

Nadja smiled. “Your brother didn’t do it. She actually cut it herself and it looked really cute, but she did let me grow it back for her. I don’t think she knew everyone would consider it a disfigurement. I didn’t have much contact with her on the ship, but she’s really nice and witty, and offered to teach me how to throw knives.”

At that Olek chuckled.

“She’s very good,” Nadja defended.

Olek’s smile widened. “I’m glad you like your new sister. I’m sure she’s a wonderful person, but do be careful when playing with weapons. I would hate to see you hurt yourself.”

Nadja blushed in pleasure at his concern. She nodded dutifully.

“So, how’s your work coming along?” Nadja hated to admit it, but his secretive nature when it came to his occupation made her very curious. Several times she’d
almost
dug through his office for a clue. Only her self-respect kept her from going through with the snooping—and a tiny thread of fear as she remembered what would happen to traitors who’d ransacked her father’s private office.

“It’s coming along,” he said, sipping his wine. “I’m almost finished with what I was doing and will start a new project soon.”

The vague answer caused her to frown. “Can’t you tell me any more than that? What is it you’re doing? What will you start on next?”

“It wouldn’t interest you. It’s just intergalactic politics—very boring stuff.”

“A very diplomatic answer,” she said hesitantly in the Qurilixian language.

Olek laughed, “Not bad. I see you’ve been practicing.”

“Thanks.” She tried not to let her cheeks pinken. What was it about this man that made her blush all the time?

“Ah, Nadja?” Olek looked down at his glass. He swirled the wine. “There is something I need to ask you.”

Nadja sat back, worried. “What?”

“I know you don’t like being a princess,” he said, clearly apprehensive.

“Yes,” Nadja answered carefully. Her heart beat quickened as panic unfurled inside her. Was he going to get rid of her? The idea terrified her more than she thought it would have.

Olek sighed. Hesitantly, he reached forward, taking her hand in his. “There is a big celebration in two nights and I want you to go with me…as my princess.”

Nadja’s heart let loose and she was able to again breathe. Green eyes studied her expectantly.

“It’s very important to the kingdom that you attend,” Olek said, “or else I wouldn’t ask it of you.”

And, her heart stopped. He wasn’t asking her out on a date. He wasn’t asking her because he wanted her there with him. He asked because duty required him to bring her. Nadja tried to hide her disappointment.

“It’s to be your and the other princesses’ coronation into the royal family.” Olek traced the long line of her unmoving fingers. “There will be some diplomats visiting from a neighboring kingdom to bear witness. It’s very important they think you’re happy—that
all
the brides are happy—to be here with us.”

A coronation? Those usually were intergalactic events. That would mean cameras and reporters and, worst of all, her name being printed all over the galaxy like a walking advertisement for trouble.

But did she really have a choice? What excuse could she give?

“Fine,” she answered. “I’ll go.”

O
lek studied her displeased expression
, wanting desperately to ask her if she was happy with him. She never said anything one way or the other, except to state she hated being a princess and wished for a simple life. Thinking of the politics involved with this celebration, he knew simple was the furthest thing from it.

He was all too aware of how little he knew his wife. Now that his trade negotiations were well in place, he could concentrate more on his home life. He’d been avoiding this conversation, but with the coronation in a couple days he had no choice but to bring it up. His father had been relentless in asking him about it. Olek couldn’t blame the king. After all, he’d practically been hiding in his father’s office.

He drew his hands from hers. Her touch distracted him.
She
distracted him. Most of the time she didn’t seem to notice he was there, but he was always aware of her.

“I know it’s a lot to ask, being as you are…that you didn’t want this.” Olek was sorry for her unhappiness. An ache started in the pit of his stomach. He really wanted to take her with him. He wanted her to
want
to be there as his wife, proudly proclaiming herself as his bride.

“I said it’s fine, Olek,” Nadja answered softly. Her eyes dipped, hiding her expression. “It’s a planetary event? There won’t be intergalactic dignitaries attending, will there?”

“No, we don’t really host intergalactic events. Occasionally, we will entertain a foreign ambassador, but it’s rare, and often they arrive in groups of one or two people, never a large number. Even then they are usually greeted by my cousin, Lord Mirek, at the mountain fortress. He negotiates trade agreements on our behalf. If a royal signature is needed, he’ll send a runner with the documents here for me to look over.”

“Runner? Lord Mirek doesn’t trust technology?”

Olek chuckled at the very idea. “Quite the opposite. As mining ambassador he often travels offworld to meet dignitaries who have come to our airspace. If anything he embraces technology much better than most Draig. The reason we use runners is because the communication lines between the palace and the mountain fortress are old and need to be repaired.”

“I thought you were the ambassador.”

“I handle mostly onworld politics. Mirek sees to ore trade agreements. We work together when we need to.”

“So, at the coronation, what will happen?” she asked, softly. “What do I need to do?”

“Just show up and smile.”

Nadja gave a small laugh. He loved the sound of it. “Show up and smile?”

“The coronation is simple,” Olek assured her. “The preost will crown you as you remain seated in your chair at the head table in the dining hall. People will be watching to see your reaction. Give them one of your smiles and they’ll be as charmed as I hear the villagers are. You aren’t required to make a speech or do anything special. We’ll have dinner, dance if you wish, and that is all.”

“I think I can do that,” Nadja murmured. Her eyes again dipped to his mouth. He wondered if she would taste like wine if he tried to kiss her.

“I greatly appreciate your cooperation in this matter, Nadja.” Olek couldn’t read her expression as she stared at his face. When she didn’t speak, he stood to go. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your work.”

N
adja wanted
to stop Olek from leaving, but couldn’t think of anything to say as he stepped away from the table. His boyishly handsome grin made her heart tighten. Her eyes dipped to his mouth, longing to kiss him. Her hand twitched to reach for him, but he turned away before she could get up the nerve to touch him.

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.

N
adja 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.”

N
adja 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.