Dragon Lords Books 1 - 4 Box Set: Anniversary Edition (80 page)

Zoran frowned, but answered, “He wants to know why I have disfigured you, and if he should leave your presence. He thinks you might be preparing for exile.”

“What did you tell him?” Suddenly, she became extremely self-conscious. Annoying Zoran with her haircut was one thing, but eliciting pitying looks from outsiders was another completely. She didn’t wish to be pitied. She hated the looks people sometimes gave her when they’d seen her scarred face. That’s what this man’s expression reminded her of.

“That you weren’t disfigured,” Zoran answered.

She scowled at the man. He continued to stare at her. Her jaw lifted regally. The man turned away first. It was a grim victory.

Zoran said something in his language. The assistant rushed forward. Zoran nodded at his wife, going to the kitchen and leaving them alone. Lifting her arm, the assistant ran his measuring device over her body. He finished quickly, without looking directly at her again, and turned to leave. The door slid shut behind him.

“Please tell me not everyone is going to react like that,” she said in ill humor.

“Like what?” Zoran asked. He pretended not to know what she spoke of, as he came out of the kitchen wiping crumbs from his mouth.

“Never mind.” Hands on hips, she looked over the packages. “Where do you want me to put this stuff? The closet or dresser?”

“It’s up to you,” Zoran answered. “I cleared out the right side of the dresser and half the closet for you before the festival.”

The comment struck Pia as odd. It made her realize how much he’d actually planned on getting married. Was that why he picked her? Because he’d already set his mind to finding a bride and wouldn’t change it? Was she like the only girl left and he had to take her? Well, she had not been the only unchosen bride. It was good to know she’d at least beaten the obnoxious Gena for the spot.

“Uh, thanks,” she mumbled, for lack of anything better to say. To hide her nervousness, she picked up the bags and carried them to the bedroom. Within minutes, she had everything in its place. Then, going back to the hall, she took the perfumes and went to the bathroom.

Zoran was in the hot spring when she walked in, and she jumped in surprise.

“Oh, sorry,” she said in distress. “I didn’t realize...that...you...”

She threw the bag on the counter a little too hard. The bottles clanked as she began her retreat, trying to keep her eyes diverted from his naked body.

Zoran laughed, completely unashamed. “Pia—”

The slamming door cut off his words.

T
he next morning
, Pia was lying on the couch, lazing away the morning hours when she heard the door slide up. Zoran was gone when she awoke, not that she expected him to be home.

Not moving, her heart skipped. Her eyes turned to the door, waiting for him to come through.

“Hello?”

Pia froze. That wasn’t Zoran. Sitting forward, Pia tried to smooth back her hair. Queen Mede entered the home. She looked very formal in her regal dark blue gown.

“Zoran...?” the queen began.

Pia stood from the couch, wishing she’d taken the time to change from her cotton shirts and slacks. She felt very out of place standing before royalty. She had no idea what to say.

Queen Mede’s eyes found Pia. The smile faded from her features.

“So it’s true,” the queen said, coming forward. She lifted her hands as if to touch Pia’s shortened hair before drawing back. She shook her head sadly. “Zoran’s disfigured you.”

Pia frowned.

The queen studied the woman before her. “Do you know who I am, dear?”

“Oh.” Thinking the queen thought her rude, she quickly moved into a curtsey. “Yes, of course, Queen Mede. I’m sorry, you caught me off guard. Please, come in.”

The queen nodded royally.

“Zoran is, um, well, he’s working. I don’t know where but I do know he was on guard duty at the swamps earlier this week if that helps,” Pia said nervously. The queen stared at her hair, and Pia didn’t dare glare at this woman as she had the seamstress’ assistant.

“I was actually looking for you, dear,” the queen said politely.

“Oh?” Pia asked, fidgeting.

“It was reported what he did to you.” The queen motioned to her hair. “I know he had to do something to cover that little stunt you pulled the morning of the festival, but I never thought it would be this.”

Pia paled.

“Which I might add, the king and I were thoroughly amused by,” Queen Mede said with a good-natured chuckle. Pia only stiffened more. “Lord Zoran is a tough man. We were glad to see he’d met his match.”

“Lord Zoran?” Pia asked. She didn’t know that she was Zoran’s match, but she didn’t correct the woman. Her knees weakened a little. “He’s titled?”

The queen tilted her head to the side and didn’t know how to answer. “I’m told our culture is complicated for someone new to it. I’m sure Zoran will explain it to you if you ask him.”

Pia smiled, though she wasn’t so sure.

Queen Mede’s eyes turned over her again. She looked mournfully at Pia’s hair. “I just had to see for myself that the rumors were true. I’m terribly sorry about your disfigurement.”

The last thing Pia wanted was the queen stopping by to pay her condolences for her shorn locks. She didn’t need the woman’s pity. She didn’t want it.

This is getting ridiculous. Maybe I should’ve had a funeral for it,
Pia thought wryly,
so everyone could pay their respects to my hair.

Pia touched her blonde locks. She unconsciously frowned. “I don’t see it as a punishment. Actually, all that weight on my head was the punishment. I like it short.”

“You’re right to look at the positive,” the queen said, as if approving of Pia’s bravery. She nodded at her in encouragement. “It’s only hair and luckily it will grow back someday.”

Pia thought of her scars. She’d hate to see how these vain people would’ve reacted to those.

“I’ll give Zoran an earful,” the queen continued, “that’s for sure. In the meantime, I have some beautiful headdresses I’ll send you.”

“Thank you,” Pia said, still at a loss.

The queen looked like she wanted to say something more, but drew back. Pia’s nature wasn’t exactly open to friendship.

“Well, I will take my leave of you.” Queen Mede headed toward the front door. Pia slowly followed behind her. “Tell Lord Zoran I stopped by and I wish for him to call on me as soon as it’s convenient.”

“Please, don’t bother on my behalf,” Pia said.

“No, no, of course not,” the queen mumbled. There was an uncomfortable silence between them, before she said, “There are other matters I need him to tend to.”

Pia nodded and tried to smile. The queen left and she was relieved. She shook her head, more annoyed by the visit than anything else.

Q
ueen Mede eyed
the closing door and frowned. It was clear Pia didn’t know she was a princess or a royal daughter. As much as she wanted to, it wasn’t the queen’s place to intervene. She knew her son would tell Pia about it when the time was right.

The queen was glad to see Pia’s spirit wasn’t broken by her son’s actions. She’d known women who cried and went into self-imposed exile while waiting for their hair to grow back. In their society it wasn’t just the loss of hair, it was the loss of honor it represented that shamed them.

“My sons, what are we to do with you?” the queen whispered to herself. “Who would have imagined such great men would make for such bumbling husbands.”

“
F
ather
,” Zoran called, leaning his head into the king’s royal offices. His father looked up from his desk and waved him inside. Zoran silently crossed over the plush carpet, and took a seat across from the king. His back was at rigid attention as he watched his father expectantly.

“Zoran,” the king stated. He finished writing on a document and turned his full attention to his son. Reaching over, he grabbed a stack of papers that needed Zoran’s attention and handed them over. “How are the men shaping up?”

“Fine,” Zoran answered, knowing that wasn’t the reason his father had asked to see him. He put the documents on his lap, aware that he would be required to read over them later. “I’ve pushed them hard these past few days. We have a few weaknesses but I’m working it out. Some of the men show great promise.”

“Glad to hear it.” The king rested his chin on his folded hands and studied his son. After a long moment, he leaned back and pressed his lips together in thought. “Yusef stopped by last night.”

“Is everything well at the Outpost?” Zoran asked in concern.

The king sniffed wryly to himself. “Militarily speaking.”

Zoran arched a brow in question.

“Yusef’s bride is in chastisement,” the king said. “She took a blade to his...anyhow. I decreed that the chastisement stands until he releases her. Officially, I need your agreement on the matter and then it will be settled.”

Zoran tried not to laugh. He failed miserably. Chuckling, he managed to say, “Agreed.”

“Ah, wipe that smile off your face,” the disgruntled king ordered, waving his hand. Zoran wasn’t worried by the fatherly tone. “Your marriage is giving us just as much of a headache. Do you know I had to listen to your mother for nearly three hours this morning? It seems she took it upon herself to visit Pia.”

Zoran’s expression gave nothing away. His heart tightened in his chest and his stomach rolled into knots. Had Pia tried to divorce him despite her contract?

“I honestly don’t know what to do with you boys,” King Llyr admitted wearily. “I’m planning a celebration in about a week to coronate the princesses. But it seems only Olek’s bride is aware she’s a princess and, apparently, Nadja is none too thrilled with the fact. Yusef’s wife is in chastisement and even he admits he doesn’t know her real name. Ualan’s wife, Morrigan, has declared herself a slave and can’t leave his home. And then, I have to hear it from your mother that you disfigured your own wife.”

Zoran felt his heart beat again and he almost sighed with relief. Pia hadn’t tried to divorce him.

“I don’t know what you’re smiling about,” the king scolded, seeing Zoran’s lips tilt slightly, though the look on his son’s stern face could hardly be called a smile by most standards.

“I didn’t cut her hair,” Zoran said. “She did it to herself.”

The king blinked in disbelief. “Regardless of her disfigurement, I need your wife at the coronation. Now, I have excused Yusef’s bride from attending. Since she’s in chastisement and will undoubtedly not repent, your mother has agreed to spread the word that this nameless woman is ill and in recovery. Enough people have seen the medic going to the Outpost these last several days to validate the story.”

Zoran grimaced. A week to turn his bride around and tell her she is a princess? He wondered how Pia would take the news. Laughing humorlessly to himself, he wondered which she’d hate worse—the fact she was a princess, or the fact she’d have to spend an evening in a formal gown.

“Can’t the coronation be set back?” Zoran asked. “There’s no reason to have it so soon.”

“There have been rumors that the brides have not been seen within the castle and that all four marriages are in ruin.” King Llyr’s look said he was well aware the rumors weren’t completely unfounded. “If anything, we need to keep up the appearances of being a united family. You are all mated, my son. If the people feel that our line is ending because each of you had an unlucky marriage and cannot produce heirs, there could be panic. People need to trust that our crystal tradition is still blessed by the gods and that our trade agreement with Galaxy Brides is the right course for our futures.”

Zoran nodded, understanding what his father said. If the people felt their royal line was too weak to continue ruling, they would overthrow them. It wouldn’t matter how much they liked and respected the royal family, or how long they’d ruled. Once overthrown, there would be chaos. Not many dragon-shifters would want the responsibility of the throne.

“Olek and I have spoken on the matter,” King Llyr stated, “and we feel that a quick coronation with healthy, accounted for brides is just the thing to stop this threat to our house and to our traditions.”

Olek was the Draig ambassador and had to meet with the neighboring kingdom of Var on a regular basis. Zoran didn’t envy his brother’s job, for he’d much rather fight the cat-shifters in battle than talk to their forked-tongued nobles on a regular basis.

“And, if one of you boys can manage to breed before next week...” The king let his words trail off as he looked pointedly at Zoran. The prince didn’t move and King Llyr frowned in disappointment. All four princes knew how much their parents wanted grandsons. “Just settle this matter and make your mother happy. If she’s happy, I don’t have to yell at you.”

“Yes, my king,” Zoran answered. He knew it irritated the queen that she couldn’t openly go to her new daughters and proclaim their relation. No doubt she had grand feminine plans in store for all the new brides.

“Olek has been to meet with King Attor’s ambassadors and feels the Var grow restless. I fear the cat-shifters will try to invade. It’s quite possible they have spies within our walls already,” the king continued. Zoran listened in his customary silence, giving none of his thoughts away. “This matter with the brides needs to be resolved so we can focus on what’s important.”

“I’ll work the men twice as hard,” Zoran said, seriously. “If battle comes we will be prepared. The Var will not make it past the borderlands.”

“Fine.” The king wasn’t worried. Zoran was the best at what he did. “I have already invited King Attor to the coronation, to prove to the entire kingdom we’re not scared of him.”

“I’ll personally see to the security,” Zoran said. As captain it was his duty.

“No, I’ll have Yusef keep an eye on him since he’ll be free that night.” King Llyr stood and leaned over his desk to stare at his son. “I’m ordering you as your king to get your house in order by the coronation. I want to see happy brides. I want to see dancing and singing and merriment. Gods’ bones, I want to see some inappropriate kissing and groping as well. A little scandal in that direction would do this matter a world of good, and would change the flow of those wagging tongues. I want your bride completely besotted with you.”

Zoran’s jaw flexed. Pia besotted? It was an order from his king and he couldn’t refuse. He could just imagine if he kissed Pia in public. She’d no doubt take him and his army of warriors on. Standing, he nodded his head and said the only thing he could. “It will be done.”

“Good,” the king answered loudly with a wide smile. He had full confidence in his son’s abilities, undoubtedly because Zoran’s prowess with the female sex was legendary amongst his men. He walked Zoran to the door. As he ushered him out, King Llyr said, “And no more of this disfiguring nonsense. If you have to, put the biggest accursed headdress you can find over her head to hide it.”